Mr. President’s

Mercedes recalled vividly the car in question but hadn’t seen it anywhere near yet, the facts laid on the table that it might be Nathan’s. “1..1…I’m sorry. But was it. L.mean Yours? She was stammering and her words didn’t make sense.

Nathan sighed, “why don’t we sit in my car and talk?” Mercedes‘ head ached so bad and her heart wouldn’t stop thumping. Was he going to fire her? When she was coming out of the elevator, she saw the message on her phone which was an alert for her job switch allowance. All the excitement disappeared while she followed Nathan to his car, a Rolls Royce but not the Lambo she hit a few days ago.

Mercedes fidgeted with her hands like a child caught stealing. Nathan was thrilled but his temperament would not permit him to show it. He was looking for a way to hail her and the opportunity just presented itself on a platter of gold. It won’t hurt him to be mean at a time like this.

“Look. I will pay for the damages, I mean in instalments, Mercedes begged. Being caught by the law was something she never wanted. She would rather dance to his tune than end up in jail. She needed money to take care of her sick brother, her mum and dad, before Griffin. Nathan shook his head in resistance, “you don’t get it, do you?”

Mercedes paled. Her brown eyes were teary. “What do you mean?” She asked, trying to shove the tears behind while she bolded up.

“Let me spell it out like I am explaining to a ten–year–old. If Mercedes wasn’t in trouble, she would have flipped. Did he just call her dumb: Nathan had a knack for throwing hurtful words but it wasn’t intentional. He just never got anyone to stand up to him, not even his dad.

“One, you are in trouble with the law. If I press charges right now, you will spend a few months in jail, and your license will be revoked. Two, you will also pay for the damages and last of all your record will be soiled. So, my proposal is still valid. The day hasn’t ended yet. You work for me for the rest of your life or do you face the law? Your time starts now!” Nathan said indifferently.

“Do I still have my rights as a normal employee?” She carefully asked him. She only hoped her job wouldn’t cross the line with her personal life.

That depends but wou

don’t have much of a choice, Nathan was so unfeeling because he had an edge over her but only if Mercedes knew how much he couldn’t bear not having her around. Years back, there was a woman who gave him that feel but the relationship turned sour and he now loathes her. Mercedes poked a side of him that screamed that no man was an island He needed someone he could always rely on and Mercedes fell into that category,

“Ok, but what happens if you fire me?” Mercedes’s eyes lit when she asked the question. Vincent had already informed her that no assistant lasted for more than three days. Not only did Nathan have a temper but he was also difficult to understand and didn’t like people in his space, which gave her hope. Meanwhile, Nathan was also unpredictable.

“Well, from your work ethics so far, that isn’t going to happen,” he said to her disappointment. Mercedes’s shoulders dropped in dismay, as she let out, “okay.”

“Good night, Miss Winters, I will see you tomorrow,” Nathan said to Mercedes’s relief. Being with Nathan, she had hot flashes. His presence awoke nervousness in her, which made her glad to be away from him. She couldn’t understand why he gave her that discomfort as strode back to her car.

Nathan drove off as soon as Mercedes alighted from his car, a wry smile in the corners of his mouth. It seemed to him that everything was working in his subtle favour. Mercedes kicked her car several times as soon as she got to it. She just had her right taken away because she broke the law. That fun night has really messed up her life. Her eyes were blurry with tears throughout her drive home.

However, life, as they say, had a pleasant way of taking away our pains and sorrows. When she entered the room, it wasn’t

what she was expecting “Welcome home, bestic? Excitement laced Griffin’s tone as he welcomed her.

Mercedes‘ sorrows dissipated instantly “What’s going on Grif?” She asked with the same enthusiasm. “Nothing. I just want to apologize and make it up to you. Best friends forever right?” Grifin was already pulling out a chair for her.

“Thank you,” she said, lowering herself to the chair. The aroma of the grilled chicken made her gulp and the salad made her mouth water as she gaped at the neatly garnished food before her.

“Don’t thank me yet. Go and wash up before you eat,” Griffin beckoned for her to leave.

Mercedes let out a pout. “Why did you make me sit then?”

Griffin shrugged, just a teaser”

Mercedes shook her head and ran off to wash down as fast as possible, while Griffin shook his head in amazement. His best friend was a very wonderful person. She looks cute when she pouts. She was so close to his heart and he loved her like a sister. Mercedes put on her pyjamas and when she returned, Griffin couldn’t help laughing. “So fast?”

“Tm hungry,” she shrugged. Griffin pulled a chair for her. This was how it used to be. In the past when Griffin did this, she thought he was in love with her. Not until her birthday when he posed the same surprise. That day, she thought he was going to propose to her. Instead, he introduced her to Penelope as his best friend and Penelope as his girlfriend. Mercedes almost fainted but wondered how she was able to hold it all in by then

How did she do that? She didn’t have the answer to that question. She only woke up to realize that she had lost the only man she ever loved. Sometimes, she thought that it was her fault. Maybe if she had told him, things would have been different. “It’s delicious.”

“I know, I made it just for you” Mercedes was flattered. She would have thought he was in love with her but she had past that notion. Griffin was the man she would never have or call her own.

grown

“So, how was your first day?” He asked after a while. Mercedes had been eating in silence with a few moans along the way. She really enjoyed Griffin’s cooking

“Is there a word to describe it? Everything was going well till we closed. That hit and run incident, he happened to be my new boss and he made me out,” she said after gulping down a glass of juice.

Worry knit Griffin. “How?”

Mercedes dropped her cutlery and sighed, “the car and he wanted to either press charges or I work for him for the rest of my life. I took the second option. Working there isn’t bad. The salary is great,” she tried to sound convincing. She didn’t want Griffin to be worried.

“I’m very sorry, Mercedes, as soon as I get a job, I will make sure you regain your freedom,” Griffin’s voice was solemn. His cute face was now contoured in a frown but he meant every word.

Mercedes forced a smile of disapproval. “It’s not that easy. You can’t go against Nathan Legend.*

“Nathan what?” Griffin was aghast

“Yeah and he’s the same person I kissed at the club,” Mercedes revealed. She could talk to Griffin about anything.

“Fuck I should have known. He was messing with you. Was he the same person who gave you those hickeys?” Griffin recalled those horrible Hickey’s and got even more upset.

“Unfortunately yes and it was more than that, Mercedes bitterly expressed.

B

“He took your first time: Griffin gritted his teeth. It wasn’t a question. It was a confirmation.

“Yes.

Griffin was furious. All Mercedes heard was a loud thud on the table before Griffin stormed to his room. Mercedes ran after him but he had locked the door. ‘Open up Grif,” she pleaded with him but Griffin didn’t oblige. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Please. Let’s talk. You owe me remember? Promised to repair my car? I got the money so come out and let’s talk about it,” Mercedes tried to coax him. She knew that no matter what, he liked to do things for her to make her happy and truly, it worked. The door pushed open.

“I failed to protect you Merce, I’m so ashamed,” his voice was soiled with grief and Mercedes felt helpless.

“It wasn’t your fault. It was bound to happen either way, Mercedes tried to let go. Before Griffin responded, her phone rang. It was an unknown number so she answered it. A familiar deep voice resonated in her ears. It was Nathan.