Devastated
MandyNôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.
Pacing through my office, I bite my fingers agitated and scared at the same time. Dad’s words kept repeating itself in my head. I could feel the tense air around me, my skin flared up at the irritable thought of my uncle’s son taking over what I built with a lot of hard work. It was as if I could see my whole work crumble right before my eyes, and that image sent a shiver running down my spine. I got cold chills, one that made my body shake violently.
“No, I can’t let that happen. I have to do something. Dad can’t possibly do that to his daughter, right? I mean at some point he was definitely bluffing, ’cause this company is still his,” I thought fervently, blowing air out of my mouth. I was still in the midst of my scattered thoughts, when I heard a knock on my door, making me frightened.
“Come in,” my tone was clear, and I returned my gaze to my laptop when the familiar smell hit my nostrils and I could tell from the smell of the perfume that it was my secretary “Camila”.
“What’s going on?” I asked my tone stern, but my order of approach threw me to the Lion’s den already.
“Are you okay ma’am? You seem a little disturbed,” her voice was low…
“Excuse me, how does that affect the amount of work piled up in the company huh? Is the social marketing team working on Mr. Thoma’s ideas? Are you overseeing that?” My tone was harsher, and I laid all my frustrations on her…
“No, I’m trying to… I just wanted to,” she fidgeted, fear lacing through her voice as she responded stammering while taking a step backward.
“No? Then move and leave me alone,” I screamed out and she jumped at my tone, while I noticed her eyes got filled with tears, making my mood soften as I realized what I’d done.
“Camilla, I’m __ sorry,” my voice broke out recalling her situation but she already ran out of my office, while I sighed and slumped back on my seat and I thought of what to do when I decided to dial Maliah.
“Hey babes,” I heard her cheerful tone over the phone, I bit my lips hard and tried to stop myself from bursting out in tears.
“Hey,”. My voice came out awfully low.
“Come on Mandy, you can’t break down right now. Maybe that’s what Daddy wants. I’m so strong to be this week, I can’t be caught crying, never,” I mentally told myself, biting my lips and shaking my legs.
“Mandy! Are you okay? Is something wrong? The concern in her voice had my eyes filled, as the hot tears rolled down my cheeks. I sniffed in trying to hold my outburst in, but I failed and busted out in tears.
“Oh, my God! Mandy? Where are you? What happened? What the fuck happened?” Maliah’s voice was somewhat frightened. She breathed out, calling out my name and asking me if I’m alright, but I couldn’t utter a word, my throat felt dry and it burned so much.
“I’m calling Camila to know where you are. Just stay still, don’t leave until I get there, okay,” she commanded and swiftly hung up the phone. I took in a deep breath, and released it almost immediately, I continued the pattern until I felt my tensed body relax a little.
“Everything’s going to be fine Mandy, you’re going to find your way through this and you’re going to be okay,” I kept repeating those words in my head like a mantra, or possibly a way to get my mind distracted from the thought of losing my hard work to prove myself yet I got no approval unless I have a man standing beside me.
Still, deep into the thought, the creaking sound of my door made me raise my head up. I looked up, and I saw Maliah running in my direction, and my eyes got filled up with tears again.
“Oh my love, what happened?” She asked and cooed me into her tight embrace, while I engulfed her tightly too, inhaling her comforting smell, before bursting out into a loud cry on her shoulder.
“Mandy, she called and helped me to the sofa in my office, quickly using her handkerchief to clean my face. I stared back at her, and she gave me a tight smile while Patting my head.
“It’s going to be okay, you hear me? She said, lifting my chin so that my eyes meet hers and I nod my head agreeing with her.
“Good! So just take a deep breath and explain to me what exactly happened,” she said using her hand gesture.
“So this morning, I was getting ready for work as usual, and well Mom and Dad joined me for breakfast today. You know how it always ends up with the topic of marriage, but I always have my ways of getting them off my back,” I started sniffing while using the tip of my fingers to rub my eyelids with the intention of stopping the tears.
“So Dad started by complimenting my hard work, and I thought he was finally noticing me, only this time he chipped in the talk about marriage again – but with a threat,” I bit my lips, and she stared at me in bewilderment.
“A threat? What! What are you talking about?” She questions, curiosity filled in her eyes.
“He said he would hand over the company to Derrick,” I broke down again, unable to hold it in…
“What? Derrick, like Derrick? Your uncle’s son? The overly entitled brat?” She repeated looking confused, bewildered all at the same time. The expression and emotions on her face weren’t hidden.
“No, your Dad wouldn’t say that, he’s definitely bluffing. He wouldn’t sit back, relax and watch his whole hard work go down the drain, I’m sure of it, he wouldn’t,” she shook her head pacing down the office, possibly even more restless than I am.
“But what if he did,” what if he possibly doesn’t care and does as he says if I fail to find a husband in one year,” I said.
“He can’t,” she became persistent, as she sat beside me, rubbing my palms…
“But what if he can? What do I do then Maliah? What do I do when Dad isn’t bluffing anymore?” I asked, feeling cold chills run down my spine as I thought of what could possibly happen to everything I’ve worked so damn hard for…
“The company might be just an inheritance to me, but it was where I found comfort, peace, and recognition. I work hard to make it to the top and stay on it, I can’t just let anyone take all that from me,”