Unwanted Matrimony

Chapter2

Reuben’s POV

“Reuben Cephas speaking. How may I be of help to you?” I said into my phone mechanically as I fixed my cufflinks.

“Not everyone needs your help, son”, a voice replied from the other end.

“And who is this?” I questioned with a raised brow, causing the person on the other end to gasp.

“I’m incredibly hurt that you’ve forgotten me”, the voice muttered and tsked. “What has that old hag done to you?”

“I have better things to do than engage in unyielding conversations. Speak if you have something to say”, I ordered, giving my briefcase to my assistant.

“I see. You don’t remember your mother?” my mother, Ariana, mumbled.

“What do you want?” I questioned.

“I called to check up on you”, she replied, and I could imagine her smiling connivingly.

“You only do that when you need something. What do you need?” I stated.

“You’ve grown to be a smart man”, she cackled “I need my new husband to get into the HR position in Alexander’s company”.

“You actually need my help, contrary to what you said previously”, I replied with a smirk and got into my car. “If your new husband is deserving of the post, let him get it himself, through hard work. Have a blessed day”.

With that, I disconnected the call and saved the number, so I didn’t pick up next time.

“Good morning, Sir”, my assistant said from the front seat.

“Good morning, Josh. What’s my schedule like for today?” I asked as I popped a piece of gum into my mouth.

“We have to solve Mr. Alensso’s company issues, you have a meeting with Mr. Blackford, with Mr. Alensso, and with Mr. Iman Monnetz concerning the recruitment of new bodyguards, and you have to be in attendance at your niece’s birthday”, he summarized.

“Thank you”, I appreciated and returned to my phone station.

***

I walked into my company, and my workers gave slight nods and mumbled good morning.

“Good morning”, I replied and walked into my elevator, my assistant following closely behind me.

“Check if Alex is in his office. If he is, send him over. Do not forget my coffee and tell Audrey to see me on your way to your office, thank you”, I spoke and went behind my desk.

A few minutes later, I heard a knock on my door.

“Come in”, I permitted, not raising my head.

“You requested to see me”, Audrey spoke, walking into the office.

“Yes. Had Alex visited Mr. Baker?” I queried.

“Yes, Sir. He just got back, and the data retrieved from Mr. Baker’s phone is going through analysis. I’ll have the analysis presented to you immediately after we’re done”, Audrey stated. “I have done everything necessary for your traveling tomorrow and that includes informing those in charge of the private plane”.

“Thank you so much, Audrey. I appreciate it”, I stated with a smile. “Don't forget to send the Analytics to me. Did Alex clear any damaging information on every device in his office?”

“He said he did”, Audrey replied.

“Alright, you're dismissed”, I said and went back to my laptop.

***

I had my meeting with Mr. Alensso. Protective measures to protect his company's sensitive files were deliberated upon. We explained the entire procedure and precautions to him for better understanding..

I walked into my office, my assistant hot on my tail, after the meeting. Immediately I got in, I was met by my ex-girlfriend’s presence.

“What are you doing here?” I queried, not looking at her as I dismissed my assistant and got ready for my next meeting.

“I just wanted to see you,” Anne said with a whine.

“For what, Anne?”I grilled as I met her stare with my hardened one. “I already relieved you of the burden of being my girlfriend months ago, and you never thought to see me for those months”.

“I said I’m sorry. Things came up after, and I had to attend to them”, she pleaded, coming to my side. “I was trying to process the whole break-up situation”.

“Then go back to processing it. It’s forever going to remain like that”, I stated as I kept myself busy.

“Really?! You’re just going to forget a relationship of five years because of a silly mistake?” She flared as tears welled up in her eyes.

Here we go again, guilt-tripping and manipulation.

“Yes, cheating on me with a business rival is not a silly mistake, it’s choice”, I snapped as we both held our stares, tears rolling down her face. “Now don’t come at me with the “everyone cheats” line, you didn’t have to do what everyone does but yet you did. If you had communicated with me, I would have found a solution without any of us having to get hurt”.

“I tried communicating, Reuben. I tried so badly but you were never available”, she sobbed. “It got tiring and the only person who was willing to listen to me rant was Connor. I didn’t mean for it to happen”.

My heart beckoned for me to hug her, but I knew better than that. Me hugging her only allowed her to know she had a hold on me.

“You could still have communicated. I always made time for you during my weekends, and you never said you felt neglected. You never spoke about the issue, and now you’re here telling me you tried to communicate. Anne, you were always so closed off. If I tried to pry just to get more out of you, you would leave the house and not come back for days with the excuse that you needed space. Do you know the number of gift wrappers and letters you left as evidence in the kitchen cupboards to indicate that your cheating on me wasn’t a mistake?” I detailed as I stared at her, letting her feel the pain in my voice.

I loved Anne with everything in me and a part of me still does. I was willing to forgive her, but after the gift wrappers and letters, I decided against it. There were different gift wrappers and letters with different names of men I had never known of, professing their love for her and how they couldn’t wait to see her one weekend or the next.

“Why can't you just let go of the past and forgive me?” She screamed, nearly pulling her hair out.

“Because this mistake is not worth forgiving. Get out of my office before I call security on you…trust me, that won't be pretty”, I threatened while she laughed.

“You wouldn’t be able to bear seeing a man manhandle me”, she laughed, and now it was my turn to chuckle.

“Really? I watched Connor have s*x with you in my own house, called you names you truly are, and manhandled you in ways I wouldn’t dare, and I didn’t move an inch”, I mocked, my hand hovering over the button beneath my table.” Do you think the security dragging you out of my office would affect me? Jokes on you”.

A few minutes later, the security came in and dragged Anne out with her kicking and screaming.