The Wedding Night

“I like criticism. It makes you strong.”

LeBron James.

*********

Melody POV

It’s been two days since I left the office. Seeing Lorenzo again was one and finding out that Franklin was alive all this awhile was another. It was like a shock to me but I cannot question fate.

With confidence and bravery, I entered the company on Friday morning. I could feel all eyes on me but I didn’t care what people thought of me.

As I took the elevator ride to the 35th floor that morning, I thought of what would happen if I come face to face with my boss.

He doesn’t give a flying fuck about you. He doesn’t remember you are alive.

I rubbed my hands on my black pencil skirt and inhale deeply. When I got to the 35th floor, I came out of the elevator and walked down to my desk. My desk was arranged exactly how I left them. It was left untouched.

I got settled in my chair and looked over my boss’s meeting schedules. Most of it was marked and wondered who helped me with it. I looked at the transparent glass on his door and didn’t see any movement so I concluded there was no one there.

I stood up from my chair and went into the department’s office. There I met Anita, Peter, Kennedy, and Lindsey in the office.

“Hello, guys!” I announced my presence.

Anita exclaimed and rushed to give me a warm hug. “I have missed you so much melody.” She said.

“I missed you too,” I replied.

“Good to see you back,” Kennedy commented.

“Thank you,” I replied.

“What happened melody? You were gone for two days.” Anita questioned.

“It was an urgent and important matter,” I replied with a smile.

“So how have you been? It’s been two days.” Peter said.

“Well,” I paused and looked at their faces. “I took some days off to clear my head,” I told them.

“To clear your head because you felt guilty about stealing someone else’s position,” Lindsey commented from where she sat.

“What are you saying, Lindsey. That’s is rude!” Anita scolded.

“Oh please,” Lindsey said and pointed a finger towards me. “Why do you feel like you have some kind of power in this company?” She questioned. ” you probably think you have it all now that you are in charge of the new brand project but just so you know, people like you don’t last in a company like this.” Lindsey said and stood up from her seat. She walked closer to me and pointed a finger at me. “Know your place,” Lindsey whispered into my ears.

“If only she knew,” I thought and smiled at her.

“I wish I knew but I don’t,” I said that aloud with a grin on my face. “Why do you feel threatened by me?” I questioned her.

Lindsey cleared her throat burst into a form of laughter. “Why should I feel threatened by someone like you? You ain’t up to my reach.” She commented.

“Oh really!” I laughed and also whispered into her ears. “If only you know the true secret behind everything,” I told her and she looked confused by what I had just said. “Don’t blame me if I ignore you later in the future.” I smiled at her and turned to face Anita. “I’ll see you guys later,” I told them and then walked out of the office with a smile on my face.

Thanks to my confidence.

When I get back to my desk, I reviewed the schedules of my boss and I drafted out a new one. When I was done, I got busy with a business plan Anita gave to me. When I finished reviewing the business plan, I looked at the transparent glass but didn’t see a sign that my boss was inside the office.

Where could he be?

I checked my time and gasped when I saw that it was 10:00 am and my boss wasn’t in the office.

My boss is never late.

“Why isn’t he around yet?” I checked my time again and looked towards the elevator but I didn’t see or hear any movement so I gave up and continue working.

Few hours had passed but my boss hasn’t stepped foot into the office. I was worried about what might have happened to him. I was worried that something had happened to him. I couldn’t concentrate on the computer in front of me. I was so worried that I stood up from my seat and paced back and font. My heart was beating fast and I bite my finger to avoid getting any panic attack. I was restless.

“Stop acting like an idiot. He doesn’t remember who you are.” My inner mind said to me.

“Uh, are you alright?” Anita’s voice sounded behind and I jumped in fright.

“Oh my God!” I exclaimed and placed my hand on my chest. “You almost gave me a heart attack.”

“Sorry,” she apologized. “Why were you so jumpy?” She asked.

I sighed a breath of relief and turned to face her. “It’s nothing,” I told her and scratched my left ear.

I smiled at her and went back to my seat but then again, I found myself looking towards the elevator.

Anita seems to notice me and also looked at the elevator.” expecting someone?” She questioned.

“Oh no.” I quickly replied and pretend to work on the computer.

“Well, I came to inform you about the press conference with the boss. It concerning the new brand project.” She explained.

“A press conference?” I shouted because I found it hard to believe that a press meeting was fixed while I wasn’t around. ” when was it fixed? I was only gone for two days” I counted my fingers.

“It isn’t fixed yet but the press is demanding for an audience.”

I sighed a breath of relief yet again and stood up from my seat. “I’ll check the boss schedule and fixed a date.”

“Alright,” Anita agreed and then turned to leave but I called her back.

“Wait,” I visibly gulped and looked at the elevator again. “Why is the boss not in his office? Did something happened while I was gone?”

Anita gave me a long stare before giving me a reply. “Nothing happened. He is just running late.” She said and walked away from my desk.

That’s was awkward.

After Anita left, I couldn’t help but stand up and seat countless times. I was having a panic attack all because of him. I was so lost in my thought that I didn’t hear the ding of the elevator. The slow but loud footsteps made me raised my head. The first thing I saw was a pair of brown shoes and long legs.

It must be him.

I smiled and raised my head to look at the face but it was not what I was expecting.

Lorenzo Aderemi.

He smiled back at me but soon, his smile turns into a frown.

“So you came back? After all the warnings.” He said as he walked down to my desk.

“What do you mean by that?”I questioned back with a smile. When he didn’t reply to me, I gave him a satisfying answer. ” I work here and I believe your brother hired me not you.”Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“Don’t play games with me, Melody.” Lorenzo retorted and when I tried to reply to him, he shut me off. “You think you can come back here and try to win my brother back. News flash melody, he has no memory of you.” He shouted and slammed his fist on my desk.

“Don’t try to blame me for something I didn’t do!” I shouted back. “I suffered too. I suffered and you wouldn’t know it because you think I try to murder your brother.”

“That’s exactly what you did melody.”

“But I didn’t do anything,” I shouted and felt warm tears flow down my face.

I was upset that he blamed me for what happened to his brother. He didn’t even know what I had to face for five years.

“Your pointless tears won’t solve anything. If you know what’s good for you, leave my brother alone or I’ll force you to.” He threatened.

“I wish you could see that I meant no wrong for your family. I… I .”  I tried to defend but I stuttered.

I stuttered because I didn’t know what to say.

“I’ll believe you when you finally leave my brother for good.” He said and then turned to leave but the ding sound made us turned our heads towards the elevator.

Giovanni stepped out of the elevator looking good as ever with his blue blazer and black trousers . he walking down towards us with a sense of pride and courage.

That’s him.

I wiped the tears off my face before he could notice and then smiled at him. “Good morning sir,” I greeted him but he didn’t reply instead he walked past me and entered Into his office with his brother.

Old habits die hard.

I went back to my chair and sat down and then looked at the transparent glass. I saw him sitting on his chair and that was when I noticed his head. It was bandaged.

What happened to his head?

I stared at the bandage on his head and then our eyes met. We both stared at each other for a while before he shut the transparent glass. I couldn’t see him anymore and I cursed silently.

A few minutes past and I still wondered what happened to him. How did he get a bandage on the head? I was still pondering on the matter when I heard the harsh voice of my boss sounding through the intercom.

“In my office now!” He commanded.

I wondered why he was calling me into his office. Did Lorenzo tell him anything? Did he tell him about me? Those were the questions that ran through my mind until I heard his voice again.

“Melody, I need you in my office!” He commanded but this time around, he shouted.

“Right away sir,”  I replied and stood up from my chair.

I fixed my skirt and walked to his door. I took a deep breath and let it all out. As I opened the door, I thought of what he could be calling me for.

I wish I knew but I don’t.