Drowning In His Lies

Chapter 5: He Begs On His Knees

I did not sleep that night.

I sat on my balcony in my Old GRA apartment, watching Port Harcourt lights, drinking palm wine from a plastic cup. Just like old Mimi used to do. My hand was still shaking from slapping him.

6am. My phone rings.

Jaden.

I ignore.

6:05am. Rings again.

I ignore.

6:10am. A message enters.

JADEN: Please. We need to talk. Not about the contract. About us. Please Mimi.

Us? There is no us.

7am. Another message.

JADEN: I am downstairs your office. Please come.

I look down from my 15th floor. His black Range Rover is parked there. He is leaning on it, looking up. He has been there since 6am.

Tola enters my office. "Madam, Mr. Cole is downstairs. He says he won't leave until he sees you. Security is asking what to do."

"Let him come up," I say.

Two minutes later, the door opens.

Jaden walks in. But this is not the CEO Jaden from yesterday. His suit is rumpled. His eyes are red. Like he cried all night. He has a small black box in his hand.

"Mimi," he says, his voice broken.

"Don't call me that," I say coldly. "It's Ms. Jones to you."

He kneels down.

Yes. Jaden Cole, the billionaire heir, the man who owns half of Port Harcourt, kneels down in my office. In front of my desk.

Tola gasps and quickly runs out and closes the door.

"Mimi, please forgive me," he begs. His voice is shaking. "I was 21. I was stupid. My friends... they told me to do it. They said you were just a small girl looking for money. I was drunk. I swear, after that night, I hated myself. I searched for you for months. I went to your former house in Diobu. Your mother said you ran away."

I am standing now. Tears in my eyes but I refuse to let them fall.

"You searched for me? After you posted my naked video in your school group chat?" I shout.

"I didn't post it!" he shouts back, tears falling now. "My friend Chima did! I fought him! I beat him! Mimi, I have never forgiven myself. That video ruined your life, but it ruined mine too. My father almost disowned me. I had to go to rehab in London because of guilt."

He opens the small black box.

A ring.

Not just a ring. The same cheap silver ring he bought me one year ago at that market when he said "One day I will marry you, Mimi."

"I kept it," he whispers. "For one year. I kept it because I knew... I knew one day God would bring you back to me."

I look at the ring. My chest is paining me.

One year I planned this revenge. One year I told myself I hate him. One year I built this CEO life just to destroy him.

So why is my heart beating like this? Why do I want to kneel down and hug him?

"Get up," I say, my voice very small.

"No. Not until you forgive me."

"Jaden, get up! People will see!"

"Let them see!"

He crawls closer, holding my leg. "Mimi, I still love you. I never stopped. Give me one chance to fix what I broke."

I look down at him. This powerful man on his knees for me.

And for the first time in one year, Mimi and M.C. Jones are fighting inside me.

M.C. says: Destroy him. Take his money. Post the videos.

Mimi says: Forgive him. He is crying for you. No man has ever cried for you.

What should I do?

I have his fate in my hands.

And I have to decide before 10am — because at 10am, the board meeting starts, and I have to either sign the 200 million deal with him...

Or destroy him forever.