FORCED MARRIAGE, TRUE LOVE

Chapter 1

"Sir, there's something important I want to tell you." Natasha said as she dropped the files on his table.

"Natasha, how many times have I warned you not to disturb my peace whenever you step into this office? Do you think I'm here to help you get over your miserable life?" Henry yelled at her, as though she were his housemaid.

"But sir, this one I want to tell you now is very..."

"Shut up and close my door behind you." He interrupted without giving her audience time before she could finish her statement.

"Blue C is not a charity organization, so stop asking me for favors. I'm not the cause of your family's poverty-stricken condition, so I don't care if all your family members are on the journey to death! And any more words from you, consider yourself fired!" Henry added.

Natasha felt bad; her fist was swollen already, and she was just imagining the hot slap she would have landed on her boss's face for saying those hurtful words if she had secured another job already.

She mumbled as she left, "My God knows that I've tried to salvage you from this forthcoming destruction, but you don't want to give me an audience. At least, my conscience will not judge me when it finally happens."

"Ah, why did you hit me in such a manner now? Is it now difficult for you to just call my name if you need my attention? Besides, I don't think I'm ready for any gossip now." Natasha frowned at Lizzy, who was her closest friend at the office.

"Ah, thank God you're not deaf and dumb at the same time," Lizzy said.

"Now what do you mean by me being deaf and dumb?" Natasha asked.

"Even the windows and the doors can hear me; I've been screaming your name four times without getting even a signal from you." Natasha had been busy sliding through her phone. With her head on the table, she was listening to some motivational quotes online with her earphones.

"Moreover, I'm not here for gossip, as you may think. I noticed the change in your countenance since you came out of that highly egoistic man's office.I hope he didn't bark at you like a mad dog, as he always does, because unlike you, I've never seen you on earphones during work," Lizzy said.

"Maybe he baptized her with a cup of coffee," Deborah chipped in as they all laughed.

"Never mind that asshole of a man. My dear sister, had I known, I would have listened to my instincts. But it is fine, though. Let me eat my lunch, abeg." Natasha stretched her hands and reached out to her food flask.

Last night, when she was about to leave, she bounced into Darwin, the second-most senior staffer in the company, making some calls, whom she suspected to be the board chairman.

"What could this man still be doing in the office by this time? I thought he was supposed to close work by 5:00 p.m. I feel he's up to something!" She hides herself and watches every move he makes.

"Hello, sir, you're speaking with Mr. Darwin of Blue C Company. Please, there's a case you need to treat as an emergency before it brings down the reputation of this prestigious company," Darwin said.

"If there's anything like that, I think Mr. Henry should be in the position to make this call," the person on the other end of the phone answered.

"You're right, sir. But this concerns him as well; that's why he didn't say anything. As I speak, I'm still at the office.

****

His phone was on the loudspeaker, as he was confident that he was the only one left in the building except the gateman at the entrance. Little did he know that Natasha was still at work and eavesdropping, as she was trying to put everything in order for her boss before the appointment day. She recorded every conversation they had to give her boss evidence.

Little does Mr. Henry know that she brought life- and career-saving information for him, he allowed his rude nature to take the best of him, and he dismissed her without giving her an audience. The board chairman drove down to the office to understand in detail what Darwin was saying on the phone.

****

"Mr. Darwin, you know that the appointment of the new managing director is in two days, right? And it is clear that Mr. Henry will be the appointee, so if you knew all this, why wait for this time before revealing it?" The board chairman asked.

"Sir, I assure you that I will move this company to a greater height if given the opportunity to serve as the MD."

"And one more thing, sir, I promise to give you 30% of my salary for the first two years as a token of appreciation if given the appointment." Darwin added.

He has been Henry's adversary because Henry was always applauded for hard work and dedication, making him have a grudge that Henry is the reason why his own hard work is acknowledged.

Darwin had put every plan in order, he paid different bloggers to post fake evidence that the famous billionaire businessman of Blue C Company is a ritualist and is gay, hence the reason for him being single at forty because that's the condition for his riches and success.

Darwin reached out to his phone inside his pocket and called one of his allies. "Hello, P-Man, everything is set now. As one of the biggest blog owners, ensure you post that scheme on all social media on Thursday night.'' Darwin said. He wants it done that way so that Henry would not have the opportunity to hire any woman to pretend as his girlfriend or wife when the news is out before the appointment on Friday morning.

"Bro, I feel this is the perfect time to engage Emilia. She has been with me all through this journey, and it will be nice if I promote her status in my life, just as I'll soon be promoted at work," Henry suggested to Thandeka.

"Wow! Could this be real, or if I'm not hearing clearly?" Thandeka exclaimed in astonishment.

"Glory to God! I almost thought that my friend was into men. I kept looking forward to the day I'd catch you in the act." Thandeka added.

"C'mon, man, I'll be visiting her tonight and engaging her. It is high time I stop hiding my relationship and make it go public," Henry said as he brought out the shiny, expensive golden ring from his pocket and stirred at it continuously, memorising his choice of words on how to propose.