MY EX LOST ME TO HIS BOSS

Chapter6

My grip on the paper tightened as I stared at the man in front of me. He looked calm as ever. He always did.

A smile tugged on his lip as he stared back at me. I found my voice as I sprang up, causing the glass cup to fall and shatter.

“What is the meaning of such nonsense? What sort of ridiculous contract is this? Am I that pitiful that you would draft such degrading words on me?” Every question came after another as I tried to catch my breath.

“Sit.” He ordered calmly.

“No. You don't command me, You don't own me, for f**k’s sake!” My brows furrowed as I shot daggers at him, he remained calm regardless.

"I want your complete obedience. I won't marry a woman who thinks she can use me for my money. If you become my wife, you're mine.”

“Use? Who was the one who proposed marriage?”

Silence.

“I'm not doing this, I'll sort out my situation. Take your damn contract and shove it where the sun doesn't shine.” I said as I threw the booklet on him, and he let out a slow sigh.

I took my clothes and let him know that I'll send his clothes his way tomorrow, then I stormed out, banging the door as I hurriedly dashed out. My breath came in uneven bursts as my steps quickened as I left his mansion. He didn't chase after me, I didn't look back either way.

In the taxi, I forced myself not to cry, even as my eyes twitched and became sultry, I shook off the urge to cry. This wasn't the time for this, crying won't solve the problem, I need a concrete plan to get my Dad out of this mess.

The balance in my bank account was disappointing. If only I had gotten a job in the past. If only that incident hadn't happened. I chided myself not to think about such dread. Then my phone rang, I reached into my bag and my heart skipped a beat when I saw the name on the screen.

“Hello?” I said in almost what came off as a whisper. The other end replied almost immediately

“Hello? Ms. Leah, your father is in a critical condition and we need you to come to the hospital now….

The call dropped.

I instructed the driver to take me to the hospital and a few minutes later, the car stopped at CREST and I paid the driver and hurried out of the car, I tapped my feet on the floor frantically while waiting for the revolving door to turn and when it finally did, I pushed through to the lobby and made way to room 224 and when I got there I met the doctor talking to dad's family.

When I came in I caught his words…

“We managed to stabilise him now but his blood pressure is too high causing him seizures”…. he went on and on and then he dropped a bombshell, Daddy needed to get immediate treatment unless they wouldn't be able to do anything to save him next time it happens, his condition is getting worse and the medical bill cost a lot.

My knees gave out and I sank slowly to the floor, bowing my head on my knees.

I couldn't hear the doctor's voice anymore. His lips continued moving, but every word became distant. My ears rang as if the world had suddenly gone silent.

I heard the door shut and I slowly raised my head, the doctor and his assistant had left, I got up and walked to my dad who was fast asleep.

The wrinkles around his eyes looked deeper than I remembered. Just a few months ago, he had laughed so loudly the entire house echoed with it. Now he lay motionless beneath white hospital sheets, connected to machines that breathed louder than he did.

A cough came through the room, and words followed shortly.

“What are you planning to do regarding your Dad? Don't you have any plans?” I turned towards the questionnaire, it was my step-mom.

Since when did she refer to him as “your dad”, it had always been “my husband” I guess because his business has collapsed, that's why she remembers that he's my dad. I thought in disgust as I looked at her wondering if I should respond or not.

“Plans? you say. What do you expect from me that you utter such words?” I said calmly.

“Well, if you've got none. I have an important announcement, there's a friend of mine, who's decided to help us settle the bills”

My eyes glistened in hope…

“But he would help us if you agree to be his wife, you're just gonna be the 5th one, it's nothing serious, besides you're single.”

My eyes darkened in horror

What did I expect? I thought to myself.

These people must really think I'm a robot to control.

“What's this supposed to mean? You want me to marry someone that old? Hell! He's not even Dad's age mate. If you're that eager to help “your husband” my father, why don't you give Emily to him or better still marry him”

She stared at me in dismay and I met her eyes without flinching.

“How dare you talk to my mother that way? besides he suits you, he still got the balls to f**k you don't you think” Emily uttered, her face giving in a coy smile.

“Shut up you w***e, go f**k yourself and my dumpshit you-know-who” I said raising a brow as I smirked coyly while picking my bag from the floor and walking out on them.

Those two will never beat the allegations of being dumb. Well the apple doesn't fall far from the tree I suppose. I shook off the thoughts of them from my mind.

My phone vibrated. The caller ID flashed Vero, our house keeper. My face tightened as I listened to the voice from the other end. In a hurry I left the vicinity, hailed a taxi and directed the driver to take me home.

Back at home, I met some men sitting down in the living room. Vero came out with a worried look and I demanded from these men to identify themselves and state their purpose.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Vaughn. We regret to inform you that this property has officially entered foreclosure proceedings. We are here to serve the legal notice.”

One of them said, he seemed like their head.

We're from Platan Bank Ventures and this is our Legal representative, the other man continued pointing to the man beside him. We're here on behalf of the bank. This property has been placed under foreclosure. We've come to serve you the official notice.

The legal representative stepped forward and served me some papers which I looked at briefly and shifted my gaze back at them.

“You all will have to vacate the premises by the date stated in these documents” The lawyer said and stepped back.

“No.. please hold on, this date is too soon, we need time please, my dad…he's in a critical condition too, please…” I cried out in despair but my plea fell on deaf ears.

“We're sorry to hear that but procedures must be strictly followed, do have a good day Ms Vaughn.”

The door clicked shut and the room fell in abrupt silence. I slowly found my butt on the sofa as I tried to figure out what to do.

Then I remembered what Mr. Duke had said, Only a big investor could save us, and my mind went to him—Shawn PETROV. The man whose terms though ridiculous I needed to fall back on. There was no hope any more, I couldn't think anymore, I didn't want to.

My hand moved inside my bag, hoping it was still there, and then I felt it and luckily it was the card, his card. I have to do this, I hope he's not angry I hoped as I dialed the number on the card and called.

No answer. I dialed the number again, and within some seconds a lady picked it up, I lowered the phone staring at the last digit of the card and the last digit of the number on the screen, it was the same.

“Hello? this is the secretary of Mr. Shawn. You've reached PETROV HOLDINGS, how may I help you?”

Obviously there's no way the number on the card would be his direct contact, I rolled my eyes and responded.

“Hello. I said calmly. May I speak to Mr Shawn? I'm Leah Vaughn.”

“I'm sorry ma'am but my boss isn't in the office at the moment.”

“Okay thank you.”

The line dropped. I stared at my phone and it was getting a bit late.

I let Vero know that I'll be going out and I left to see him. I don't know what fate awaits me, but if it's for my dad, I will definitely do anything.

***********

The taxi dropped me at his gate, I paid him and stepped down from the car. Then I looked at myself, I was still in his clothes, I had forgotten to change into mine.

When I pressed the door bell, the gate opened almost immediately, the gate keeper greeted me and I returned the greeting and walked to the entrance of his penthouse.

I pressed the doorbell, before I could do it again, the door opened wide and my eyes met his. He rubbed his wet hair with a towel whilst looking at me, a smile tugging at his lips, then he stepped aside and gestured me in.

While inside, I sat down calmly, when he came back to where I was, he sat down across from me and without saying a word to me, he pushed the contract to me. I picked up the pen on the table slowly managing to control my shaky hands, I stared at it, for what seemed like a minute.

Closing my eyes briefly, I thought of Dad lying in that hospital bed.

Swallowing hard, I scribbled my signature.

“Now, where do we begin” he got up and moved towards me, he dropped to my face, raising my chin.

“Aren't you surprised I came back?” I asked while avoiding to meet his gaze

“No. I was waiting, I knew you would come back soon Leah…”

I perceived his cologne as he stepped away from me, took his cell phone from the table.

“Get it sorted, Make no mistakes” He dropped the call and walked back to me.

Extending a hand towards me…

“Now, where did I stop wifey?”

I rolled my eyes at him as I stood up slowly taking his hand.

Then my phone beeped and I lo

oked at the screen. It was from Luke:

Your nudes will be posted at 8:00p.m. tonight if you don't take me back.

Call me now.