CHAPTER TWO: MEET THE DEVIL
1475 Words
ISLA'S POV
Life in a new place was not easy. I began job hunting the next week while Micheal took on babysitting duty and took good care of Theo until I returned. I had to apply to a lot of companies. But I never got a response from any of them. Each failed attempt always brought about a dampness in my mood.
He was always there to give me the moral support that I needed to carry on.
"One day at a time, darling. You don't need to let this get you down. You'll have a breakthrough. I know it."
His words of encouragement found me exactly when I needed them. It was the weight of his words or, instead, the impact of his words that enabled me to carry on my search.
On a Saturday morning, I was scrolling through my mail on my phone. I was sitting on the bed with Michael. My son, Theo, was on the floor playing with his robot toys.
I was randomly checking my email, nursing a tiny hope that any companies I had applied to would respond. As I was scrolling through, I got an email from Redford Enterprises—one of the companies I had used to.
The email stated that they had reviewed my credentials and invited me for an interview on Monday morning. I couldn't believe what I was reading. I passed my phone to Michael to confirm whether the ad was correct.
It was his shouts of joy that led me to believe that I had the correct thing.
"Baby girl!!! Congratulations!!! I'm so happy for you."
"I can't believe it...oh my gosh!! Finally, the search is over." I was beyond happy as I danced around the room.
Michael congratulated me wholeheartedly and hugged me. My happiness knew no bounds. I could see he reacted as I was. This was the breakthrough we had been expecting.
I had been invited for an interview, which was my final hurdle. So, I made preparations for Monday morning.
The weekend breezed by so fast, and soon, Monday knocked on the door.
I had woken up early and prepared breakfast for Theo and Michael. Michael was going to babysit Theo while I went for the interview.
With an expectant heart, I left the house, not knowing what Fate had in store for me that blessed day.
I got to Redford Enterprise a little before 8 am. I checked in at the counter, and the receptionist behind me confirmed that they were expecting me that very morning.
She led me to what appeared to be the main boss's office. I wondered what we were doing there. Perhaps it was the main boss who would conduct the interview. She stopped me at the entrance and went in first. Minutes later, she asked me to go in.
I adjusted my dress and walked in. There was a man in a black suit seated in a swivel chair on a call. His back was turned to me so I couldn't see his face.
Since he was on a call, I had to wait till he was ready to have me. I stood there waiting for his call to end. In the short time I was in there, my eyes darted to and fro checking out the office. His office was exquisitely furnished. It was screaming wealth.
He finally ended the call, and I took one good look at him. He was a beauty to behold. His golden hair was perfectly permed to one side. His deep blue eyes reminded me of the sea, and the last of his brilliant features was his perfectly chiseled face.
He had sharp jawbones which were enticing to the eyes.
I almost got lost staring at this man. But something about him seemed familiar; I just couldn't quite place where I knew him from.
"Please introduce yourself." I heard him say.
The moment I heard his deep voice, it resonated in my head. It all made sense. This was the stranger I had an affair with who left the following day, dropping a wad of cash on the bed. And because of him, Lucas and I had severe issues, leading to him sleeping with my mum. Seated in front of me was the man responsible for all that!
The intense emotions I had felt that morning two years ago came coursing through my veins with full force.
I was annoyed and pissed that it took all my willpower to control myself from lashing out at him right there and then.
"My name is Isla Ohana sir." I replied politely.
I saw him go through my files, taking down notes.
"I like what I'm seeing, Miss Ohana. Your credentials are top-notch." He said, raising his head to get a good look at me.
"Thank you, sir," I said dryly.
He had just asked me more questions, and I could no longer contain my irritation. Before he could ask another question, I lashed out at him because he had the power to either employ me or not. I didn't care then, and he would have a piece of my mind for what he did.
I rushed forward to his ta. By taking him by surprise, I brought my head low to his level to maintain eye contact with him.
"Do you remember two years ago, you met a young lady at a bar? She was drunk that night, and you ended up sleeping together. You disappeared the next morning, leaving a wad of cash on the bed for her."
I could see him trying to remember. I studied his eyes for seconds and saw a tiny hint of amazement.
"Yes, I believe I remember that night. You were that lady?" He asked with a cold demeanor.
"Yes!! I was the lady you slept with that night. The lady you treated like a hoe."
I noticed the disbelief in his eyes at my words, but I couldn't care less. For all he had done, he deserved every piece of rage thrown at him now.
"You're inhumane!!!" I raised my voice.
"Mind the tone of your words, Miss Isla. Try not to jump to conclusions." He warned sternly.
"Oh wow?! So, I'm jumping to conclusions now? A man treating me like a slut is jumping to conclusions? This shows what kind of a man you are." I raised my voice even higher.
"Will you listen!" He shouted a voice, slamming his fists on the table to get my attention, but I cut in immediately, not giving him a chance to speak.
"Listen to what?!!! Excuses? Do you even know what you cost me? I lost everything because of you. My marriage, my family....everything!! And you think I will listen to a word you must say?"
"Look, I apologize for what happened. You need to calm down and let me explain." I heard him say.
"I will not calm down!! You're nothing more than a beast. I wish I had never met you that night...I wish...I wish..." I broke down in tears. I couldn't handle my emotions anymore. The pain of what he did and how it cost me so much stung harder than a bee's sting.
"If you would just listen. I had no intention of leaving you like that. I had a genuine reason. I left that morning because of an emergency meeting." He tried explaining.
"Oh..." I muttered silently. "That is still not enough reason to leave me like that. Do you have any idea how demoralizing what you did is? Do you have any idea how I felt afterward?"
"Okay, that does it!! You keep rattling on and on about how demoralizing what I did is. I never knew you from Adams. We had just met that night and slept together under the influence of the drinks we had taken. Did you expect anything to come forth from sleeping with you?? I even paid you, for god's sake!!" He shouted angrily. "If you had any problems after, that's none of my business!!"
His words hit me like an arrow, causing me to bleed more in the process.
"No!! I hold you responsible for whatever happened to me afterward. You are the genesis of my problems. You do not know the damage you've caused me. Do you know the pain of losing your fiance or the stinging pain of watching him sleep with your biological mother?"
"No, I don't. But i've explained myself to you, do not try to damage my reputation further. I am not that kind of man."
"A proud one you are." I blurted out. "Let me tell you what you've missed over the years. I got pregnant, and because of that, my wedding was almost called off. I eventually gave birth to your child."
"Did you just say, child?" He asked, still in shock.
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