Chapter 8: More Pain

CHAPTER 8

Subtitle: MORE PAIN

(Loving you wasn't part of the deal)

Henry's Apartment...

Henry woke, and his eyes went to the watch that was hung on the wall.

"Shit! I'm late for work." He thought.

He quickly stood up and he ran into the bathroom.

****

Few minutes later, he was done, he creamed his body and he wore his black tuxedo together with a designer shoe.

His phone rang, Mr Gomez flashed on his phone screen.

Henry sighed before answering the call.

"Good morning sir." Henry greeted.

"What's going on in my company Henry?" Mr Gomez's voice boomed in his ears.

"Umm...sir, I don't get what you meant." Henry said.

"You don't? Fine, I'll tell you, I heard you're abusing the employee, they worked diligently yet you refused to pay them on time, is this how you run my company?" Mr Gomez yelled furiously.

' Who the hell snitched on me?' Henry thought with gritted teeth.

"Sir that's a fat lie, they're just trying to frame me, I'll never do anything that's harmful to your company." Henry pleaded.

'Bastard.' Henry cursed under his breath.

"Henry, I and my daughter spend years just to expand that company, I won't let you destroy my company, just because I traveled to America with my daughter doesn't give you the right to act high and mighty, remember I'm still your boss, and I can replace you anytime I want." Mr Gomez stated.

Henry twisted his fists, he felt like punching something.

"Yes sir." He said.

"By the way, Mr Herewith will be coming tomorrow to see the company's financial situation, he'll also be in charge of the marketing team." Mr Gomez explained.

"What!?" Henry half yelled, finding it hard to digest.

"Is something wrong with my decision?" Mr Gomez asked.

"No, I was just surprised." Henry managed to reply.

"Good, you'll introduce him to the team by tomorrow morning. " Mr Gomez stated and he ended the call.

"Damn it!!" Henry yelled and he punched the wall.

"Ouch!" He yelled when the pains got to him. "This can never be, I won't sit down and watch someone take my position, never!" He screamed out loud.

He quickly dialed a number,the person picked up after the second ring.

"Hello Draco, I have a job for you." Henry said.

"Who and where?" Draco asked, already knowing about the job.

"I love how your thinking works fast," he said with a dark chuckle. "I' ll forward all his pictures and details to you, and be sure to do a clean job." He said.

"Of course I will, he's already six feet under." Draco said and they both laughed maniacally.

Henry ended the call and he said. "No one can take my position, it's mine."

★

Arianna sat down in the living room, playing games on her phone.

She decided to stay at home for today, her PA would cover her shift at work.

The doorbell suddenly ranged.

"Susan!" She called her maid, but she got no response.

She stood up and she went to open the door herself.

"Ari." Both her friends screamed as they engulfed her in a tight hug.

"Oh my God. Karen, Mary, I've missed you guys so much, what a pleasant surprise." Arianna said, returning the hug.

"Hope you like the surprise?" Karen said.

They both disengaged from the hug.

"Like it? I love it." Arianna said, and the trio laughed.

"Come, let's sit," She said.

They all went to sit, and Arianna immediately called for her maid.

"Susan! Susan!!" She yelled, and Susan came rushing to her.

"Yes miss." She said with a little bow.

"Please get some refreshments for us." Arianna smiled.

"Right away miss." Susan replied.

She said her greetings to Karen and Mary before leaving.

"You haven't changed, Ari, you're still so beautiful, you look too great babe." Mary complimented with a smile.

"Oh, please Mary, I should be saying that to you, how's Jefferson and the twins?"

"He's fine, he also sends his regards, he would have come along, but you know, he's busy with work, the kids are at my parents home for holiday." Mary said.

"Awwn, I would have loved to meet them. Bet they must be all grown up now?" Arianna said with a big grin.

"Of course, it's been years since you last saw them, and besides, they were newly born when you saw them." Mary smiled.

"True." Arianna laughed.

"Okay ladies, enough with the whole formalities now, I've got some good news of my own."Karen said, bubbling with excitement.

"Seeing how excited you are, I can't wait to hear the good news." Arianna said.

"Same here." Mary added.

"Excuse me please." Susan said as she came to drop the refreshments.

She set the drinks and cookies on the table in the center of the ladies, then she left.

"So tell us, what's the good news about?" Mary demanded excitedly.

Karen stood up, she raised her left hand up, showing them the diamond ring on her finger.

Arianna and Mary gasped, then they screamed in joy.

Both ladies stood up to embrace Karen.

"Congratulations Karen." they said, disengaging from the hug.

"Wow, I'm so happy for you girl." Arianna said.

"Jeez, can't believe I failed to notice it before."Mary pouted. Karen laughed.

"Don't forget, you were busy talking about Arianna and we were going to surprise her, you must have been too excited to notice it." Karen laughed.

"Don't mind me Karen, congratulations, I'm so happy for you, when did this happen."

"Well, let's take a seat first, then I'll tell you guys everything." Karen said, and they all sat down.

"You know, last night, Michael invited me over, and when I got there, the whole house was so empty and dark, man, I was scared as hell, I was about losing it when the lights suddenly came on." She smiled , remembering the whole scene.

"He had decorated the whole place, giving it this romantic sight, and to top it all, he had remembered how I had told him I would love him to propose to me, you know, just the two of us, candle lights, romantic music and all that." She laughed.

"Awwn." Arianna and Mary said.

"Michael is such a romantic man, I should give him a medal." Mary said, and they all laughed.

"When is the wedding taking place? " Mary said.

"Pretty soon, probably in a month or two, Michael can't wait for us to get married, so he wants to speed things up." Karen smiled.

"Wow, it's so nice hearing that, what about you Ari, when is your wedding taking place, and I've got an idea, you and Karen can get married on the same day, it'll be great."Mary smiled.

The smile on Karen's face vanished, while Arianna got tensed.

Mary noticed the change, and she furrowed her brows.

"What's wrong guys? Did I say something bad?" She asked.

"Of course not Mary." Arianna replied with a nervous laugh.

"I just remembered that I've got some work to see to, I didn't go to the office today, so all the work will be done at home, and I've got to see it now." She added .

"But..." Mary was saying when Karen interrupted her.

"That's alright Ari, I totally understand, and besides, Mary wants to go shop for some clothes for the kids, right Mary?" Karen said, nudging her other friend's arm. Mary frowned.

"I do?" Mary said in confusion.

"Of course babe." Karen laughed, then she stood up, and Mary followed suit.

Arianna also stood up to see them off.

"We'll see you soon Ari." Karen said, then she kissed both sides of her cheek. Mary did the same.

"Bye Ari, take care." Mary said.

"You too , and please send my regards to Jeff and the kids." Arianna smiled.

"Sure." Mary said, then they both left.

Arianna tried to ignore the pain in her heart, she knew Karen had done that on purpose, she must have seen through her lie, and did that to help her.

She felt grateful to Karen for what she did, she has no idea what Mary would have said to her if she finds out she's still engaged to Mason and not even close to getting married to him.

But no matter how hard she tried to ignore the pain, she just couldn't.

Arianna fell to her knees,and she wept bitterly.

TBC…