Chapter Five - Are you still going to refuse my help?

Cherry's POV

Just like yesterday, it's been a week since I started my new job. Nothing much has happened since, my car has been repaired, Daisy has been good though she hasn't apologized and the stalker hasn't been stalking me. I just had my debts to pay, first, my house rent, then I have to pay Miss Rosie the money I owed her and lastly, the loan I owed. 

"Take it one at a time, no problem can bring you down," I told myself as I walked into the building that Monday.

"Good morning, Good morning," I greeted several people.

"Good morning," I finally greeted Everly when I got to my desk. Surprisingly, she came early this morning.

"How was your weekend? Did you miss me?" she asked.

"Fine and I didn't miss you," I teased.

"That hurts," she said with a fake sob.

I looked carefully at my desk and I was shocked to see the pile of files on my desk waiting to be typed. I looked at Everly's, hers was just average.

"Why do I have a mountain of papers to be typed?"

"I was thinking the same before you came. I asked the director and he said the company got a new task, that's why employees might have to work more this period," she explained.

But still, the explanation was not suiting. Anyways, I've been given a task and I have to do it, maybe, it was a test to get promoted. I took my seat and began working.

"Another pile of files?" I cried out when I saw a lady heading to my desk with a trolley of files. I had not even finished the ones I met earlier, and now this? Everly offered to help but I refused, she had been nice to me and I did not want to bother her after all the lady specifically said it was for me.

I check the time, it was already 5:00 p.m. I typed faster but the pile wasn't going down and the most annoying part was that I even had to type many irrelevant documents.

By 8:00 p.m. I was the only one left at the office and the documents to be typed were still laying for me to type.

I finally finished work by 10:00 p.m. and I rushed out of the office to the garage.

I took out my keys, started the engine, only to realize the car wasn't moving because it had a flat tyre. No, not a flat tyre but two flat tyres. I kicked the left tyre and I almost cried, not now. How could my car decide to become faulty now, at this hour.

It was impossible to take the subway and the fees for an uber will be doubled at this time of the night. I didn't have much money to spend. I sat on the car's bonnet, thinking of what to do next. Why did my car have to develop a fault today of all days? today, a day that has been strenuous for me. 

Not knowing what to do next, I walked towards the gate but then a car stopped by, a red car, the name of which I did not know, but, it looked really expensive.

"It's late,would you mind if I gave you a ride?" the driver said. I remembered the accent, it was that stalker.

"You again?" I asked quickly.

"I don't know why I happen to pass by when you do," he said and I knew it was a lie.

"Seriously?"

"Yes, so, are you still going to refuse my help? it's late," he persuaded.

"And how would you know I don't have a car or I'm not waiting for someone," I asked.

"I don't, but, I just wanted to give it a try. It won't hurt if you accept help from me, would it?" he asked sarcastically.

"Well, you don't have to bother because I've already booked a taxi," I lied. Then I took out my phone, booked a taxi and showed it to him.

"See, I already booked a taxi. You may leave now," I told him feeling satisfied with my action.

"One more thing, stop stalking me," I told him before leaving.

Andrei's POV

I looked blankly at Cherry as I watched her leave. She still choose to refuse my help though she desperately needed it. 

It has been almost a week, I have been busy with work ever since and had not seen her. She never left my mind and that's why as soon as everything about work became stable, I developed a new strategy. I was the one who ordered that Cherry be given extra workload and I hired people to puncture her tyres.

I thought when she desperately needed help, she wouldn't deny my offer, then I could ask for friendship in return, and then I would have a chance in her life. But then, she still refused. From the way she looked, she was not rich. A little more torture would do the trick. 

"Cherry, please forgive me but I really want you," I said to myself as I watched her leave.

I got a message alert and when I checked, it was from Steph. It was a congratulatory message about the success of my proposal to those ISPs.

Yeah, I got those ISPs to do business with us and yes, global tech was on the leave. I've met up to grandpa's expectations, things are finally working for my good. Luck finally is on my side, except when it came to Cherry, I thought as I drove home.

Cherry's POV

This week was one of the worst weeks of my life, it has been from mishap to another. First, it was the extra workload I got daily, then it was the fact that my car developed one fault or the other daily and then, the company stopped free meals for all interns. 

I had to spend for dinner now, I closed late so I either had to book a cab or join the queue of people in the subway. 

Miss Rosie's daily calls, and the Landlady's daily threats, along with that stalkers daily appearance almost got me on the verge of breaking down. The only thing that kept me going was the fact that the week would definitely be over and so would its storm.

It was Saturday today and I was happy this week was finally going to end. I sat close to the mirror as I dressed up for work. I put on my shirt and jacket and found out my trousers were loose, I was getting thinner. 

"Week, please be over," I almost begged.

I did my hair into a bun and was sure I was done with my dressing, after all I never applied makeup. But then Daisy came towards me.

"Sit down, you're not properly dressed," she said.

"But I dress this way daily and you never complain," I told her.

"Well, today is different. Let me change the style of your hair, remember when we were younger, I always made your hair," she said in a very calm tone.

"Yes, I remember," I said casually.

She untied the bun and started combing my long hair.

"Your hair has grown even longer, it's been a while since I last made it," she muttered.

I couldn't stand it any longer, I knew Daisy so well, she never becomes nice for free.

"Daisy, go straight to the point, what do you want?" I asked her. She immediately let go of my hair and took the seat closest to mine.

"Cherry, you know me very well. I need a favour from you, I need cash," she spat out.

"I knew it, you'd never change," I yelled.

"Cherry, I'm asking you peacefully, it's high time you gave me money, I have been fending for myself for over a week now," she said.

"Can you hear yourself?,"

"Why are you always acting so stingy, must I beg you every time before you help me?" she complained.

"Daisy, I'm so ashamed of you. I've never seen someone as selfish as you. Have you ever asked me about my work? Or my welfare? Let's leave that. How about last time, did you apologize for what you did? Because of your carelessness, I've been having a hard time. You squandered my money, the money for the rent and I'm still trying to get over it," I almost screamed and then exhaled. 

"I have no business with you and I don't care how you fend for yourself, after you don't care about me," I finally said as I took my bag and left the house for work.