After She Fell

Chapter 4

Rather, Lottie Wade’s face burned with rage and fury as she glared at the man staring up at her in mischief. Her hands ached from the thought of hitting his cheek so hard. The whole thing wasn’t even Kelvin’s idea. Kelvins only supported her because she pleaded!

Even if he had planned it, who was he to talk about Kelvins? He was neither her husband, fiancé, brother nor a family member to begin with.

All these incidents happened because they were betrothed. Just betrothed.

“What do you want to do to him?”

“I don’t know, you tell me.”

“Kelvins is innocent. "Don’t meddle with him, like you’ve done to my family!” She threatened. His countenance subtly changed.

“What about me, Lottie? Don’t I mean anything to you, too? How long will you continue to run from me? Aren’t you tired?” His voice dropped to a whisper, but his eyes held intense feelings.

His heart felt stabbed as if a two-edged sword hit them as he watched her defend another man with so much passion.

He felt the need to pull her closer and confess how much he cherished her right from childhood. How much he loved her, and wanted to make her happy.

But it wouldn’t matter— she had loathed him for his violent actions. More importantly, he was now her archenemy, wishing for his downfall every blessed day.

Lottie could only laugh hysterically at his questions and swore thoughtlessly, “I would rather perish than have anything to do with you!”

Jones didn’t respond to that harsh statement. Rather, he smiled bitterly, his eyes tinged with sadness as he swung back to the system.

At that same minute, Seans Jr rushed into the room, oblivious of the tension between the onlookers. All he had on his mind was delivering the latest event.

“President Jones, you have to hear this. Right now, the Standard Group members are in our headquarters. Not just members, but the heads of departments! According to our schedule, we have no business with them this time.”

“I asked them to appear at the Optimus Group,” Jones clarified casually, then he clicked the power button, and arose, his full height towering above others.

He adjusted the collar of his white shirt, and snatched his suit from a hook nearby, and then said, “Let’s go.”

It wasn’t until they left that Lottie recalled why Standard Group sounded familiar - Kelvins worked there as a financial secretary.

Having a hint of what Jones might intend to do, she fished out her phone from her pocket, sending a call across to him. The call rang through, but he didn’t pick up. She called again, and he picked up almost immediately. His voice was so cold and distant.

“Hello Lottie, you seem to be in a hurry to speak with me. You left me stranded the other night just to end up in his mansion. Have you been released from the dungeon now?” Kelvins mocked in derision. It was surprising that the listener couldn't comprehend anything.

“I’ll explain when next we see. Right now, President Jones is about to harm you. He wants you sacked from your job. He asked me about it a few minutes ago.”

“And what did you say?”

“Of course I disagreed!” She exclaimed. “ You need to save your job, and yourself. Jones hates that we’re together. He would do anything to make us at his mercy.”

A long silence, before vigorous laughter erupted on the other side of the call. Kelvins laughed his ass off in satisfaction. The young lady was so naive that it sometimes baffled him.

If it weren't for her irresistible beauty, he wouldn't have looked twice in her direction. She was too foolish and not the classy type.

“President Jones is powerless with regard to firing any worker from Standard Group. His authority stays within his business group. Also, I’m not just anyone he can toil with. We can discuss this later. I have to go.” He cut the call before she could speak any further.

Thereafter, Lottie exited the room. As soon as she came out, she sighted Ms. Ariel, the housekeeper, climbed down the stairs to the first floor.

Ms. Ariel was in her mid-fourties and had worked for Jones for nearly a decade. She first worked for his parents before Jones employed her to work for him.

Her right foot was already on the second stairs when Lottie called out her name. “Ms. Ariel.” The woman paused, turned and smiled, recognizing the caller’s voice.

“My dear. I haven’t seen you for a couple of days. President Jones refused to tell me either. Why are you on bandages and in that garment?” Ms. Ariel observed, her sharp eyes running through her body.

Lottie gazed down at the loose white gown, the black pair of slippers, and shook her head nervously. “Just a small fall - and this gown was lent by a friend.” If Ms. Ariel had no idea. Surely, every other worker was kept in the dark.

By the time they reached the lower floor, most workers had retired for the day, leaving alone a few of the cooks in the kitchen whom Ms Ariel instructed to serve Lottie. While she left, Lottie reclined at the dining table, and surfed the internet.

A text message beeped, and she wiped down the screen to read it in full. The message stated that when Mr Wade heard that Jones had come for her, his condition grew worse, and he was now in a terrible state of health.

His temperature had spiked a sizzling one hundred and four degrees, sending confusion and panic to all members of the family. Additionally, he barely responded to the doctors’ questions no matter the pleas.

So then the doctors decided not to finalize the treatment until Lottie saw her father. And now, Ophelia was asking if she had been locked up or not.

“I am not caged. Tell father that, and I will be there soon.” She clicked the send button, and sprang up from her seat only to have two cooks appear with a long tray of varieties of food: fruit, vegetables, and water.

But Lottie barely glanced at them before rushing out of the living room. But then, the exit door located at the end of a long hallway was the problem.

Two newly replaced guards stood, suspiciously watching the moves of every worker that passed by. And being the only route to the gates, Lottie had no choice but to reach out to them.

However, their faces twisted into a snarl, and they replied for the third time, “You are not permitted to leave the mansion, madam. President Jones will have our heads on a platter if we disobey. Please go back inside.”

Lottie felt lost and dazed. Every anger she felt for Jones was indescribable. Now, she was not even permitted to see her sick father. All because of Jones. He was so self-centered.

Lost in thoughts, she slid down the wall, clueless about what to do when a harmless thought crossed her memory.

There was only one who would help her get out.

“Please, I need your help—”