Chapter Nineteen: Pain

Eliora POV

"Ma'am, the documents are in the car with your coat. I have also prepared you hot coffee." The driver said as I received the flask from him and stepped into the car, he entered the driver's seat and start the engine.

R- Industry... the place I would be spending half of my life in. I walked into the building with my driver as we proceed into the elevator, unfortunately the elevator wasn't empty as I wanted.

"Do you really think Mr. Triple R will marry Ms. Jenny?"

"Of course! Can't you see how they flaunt around the office playing romantically? They are the world best couple" some young staff continue discussing between themselves and I smirked.

"Mr. Triple R indeed" I smiled deviously as the elevator opens and I walked out of it with my driver into the passage.

"Why are you following me around? Aren't you my driver?" I asked in surprise as he has followed me down to my office alley.

"I'm not just your driver but also your personal assistant in the office" the driver said.

"Oh! I don't even know your name" I bluffed.

"I'm Tony." The driver introduced.

"So, Tony. You'll be with me everyday, is that what you mean?" I asked anxiously.

"Yes ma'am" Tony nodded.

"You're my housemaid, my driver and my secretary... Wonderful" I exclaimed as I walk into my office with Tony.

"I'm grateful ma'am" Tony said as I take my sit.

My office wasn't dreamy but it was comfortable and moderate.. and based on the little gossip I heard when coming in, my office was the second best after that of the Chief Executive Officer. I don't care but as long as I have my desk, armchair, safe cabinets and air condition, I'm satisfied.

"What do I have to-do today?" I asked anxiously.

"You've a general meeting to attend in floor 17 by 9:00am, you also have to meet with the offloading staffs by 12:30pm, you have a private meeting with Mr. Luke by 1:00pm and lastly you have to submit feedback to the CEO by 3:30pm" Tony said fluently.

"Scrap out 3:30pm, you'll go in my stead" I said confidently.

"Sure ma'am" Tony said.

"Let's get ready for the general meeting then" I said.

"Sure" Tony turns to leave the office.

"Hold on" I call out and he paused.

"Is the CEO also attending this meeting?" I asked.

"He rarely attend meetings like this but it's general... There's a probability he may attend" Tony explained courteously.

"What if I don't attend?" I asked nervously.

"You'll be scolded by the CEO or maybe fired but then you have to attend so as to meet other colleagues" Tony informed and I nod.

"I'll wait for you in the elevator" Tony said with a short bow and leaves with the laptop, I sighed.

"Hope I don't get to meet him" I exhaled and leave my office.

I walked into the meeting room with Tony, other staffs were ready seated thus I made way to my seat. I lift my eyes synchronizing the room when my gaze stopped at ... Romans.

I quickly gave Tony who was standing beside me, a "How come?" look and he replied with an "I don't know" expression, I sighed and focused on the ongoing meeting.

"We won't be having much activities today.." Romans begins.

"R- Industry now have a supervisor and she's here in our midst. Kindly introduce yourself" Romans said and staff's eyes began to wander in the room as I gradually stand upright.

"I'm Eliora Ganes, graduated this year as an agricultural student... I was the best" I boasted.

"Un-deletable pride...." if there's any word like that, I said inside of me.

"Any experience?" a chubby lady asked politely.

"Nope. I'm a clean graduate" I said.

"Do you have any idea on how supervision works in this industry?" a young lady that looks like an intern asked annoyingly.

"As long as I've worked as an off loader, I know the stress in it and supervision work doesn't have any difficulties as long as you're focused" I said courageously as the past event of how I fainted flashed into my mind, I smiled in mockery.

"You've worked as an off loader, before?" Romans asked. He look baffled, surprised and confused.

"Yes. I had a rough time during my final year, I needed to pay up some loan" I paused.

"Well, that's the past. I won't do it again after my worst experience" I said.

"Welcome Ms. Ganes" everyone said in unison and applauds and I waved shortly with smile on my face.

Tony had to finish up with few meet ups thus I decided to rest in my office, I entered the elevator without looking and found myself in the same elevator with Romans... alone.

"Nice one, Eliora. I can see you're no longer proud" Romans said.

"Change is constant" I said sternly.

"Yeah it is" Romans said.

"Stop it" I said.

"Stop what?" Romans asked anxiously.

"Stop giving me kind treatments. I mean the best car, awesome mansion with collection of my favorite movies" I paused.

"You don't have to do it" I added.

"And why will I do that? Do you think I have that sort of leisure time?" Romans asked annoyingly.

"If not you, then who?" I asked desperately.

It was HIM, it's obvious he did it. Why is he denying his actions?

"Jennifer handpicked everything for you" Romans paused.

"The car, the mansion next to ours, the movie collection... It's her way of surprise and she did that for you" Romans added vividly.

"So, it isn't you?" I said rhetorically.

"I wouldn't do that. Eliora, we're past and I will never do anything to hurt Jennifer... I love her" Romans said.

"It's normal to do it... for a friend" I said sadly.

"Yeah which Jennifer did. I will not like to interfer with you, Jennifer is very jealous and I won't want her to stress herself over our friendly relationship whole thing" Romans said rudely.

"You love Jennifer that much?" I asked.

"If I don't love her, why will I want to marry her?" Romans asked staring deeply into my eyes without blinking, I blinked... twice as the elevator slowly opens.

"Do a good job and cause no trouble" with this, Romans leave the elevator and walked into the passage while I watched him in silence.

"He doesn't love me any longer" I muttered pitifully as the elevator closes again.

The day finally ended, I walked into the living room yawning in fatigue as I heard something chopping in the kitchen.

"Did you employ any maid?" I asked Tony anxiously.

"No ma'am" Tony said with certainty.

"Drop my things in my bedroom then" I said politely.

"Sure" Tony leaves into the elevator with my handbag and documents while I walk into the kitchen.

"Who's there?" I asked as I slowly push the door.

"Jenny?" I called out in surprise.

"Eliora" Jennifer calls happily.

She was wearing an apron and chopping some vegetables, I smiled.

"What are you doing here?" I asked slyly.

"Missed you" Jennifer paused.

"How do you see your place?" Jennifer added anxiously.

"It's cool. You did a great job in the theater room" I said.

"Really?" Jennifer asked enthusiastically.

"Yeah" I nodded turning the yogurt into the glass.

"I'm so glad you love it" Jennifer continued chopping.

"What are you preparing?" I asked.

"Vegetables, chicken soup and rice" Jennifer said.

"Sound delicious " I salivated and she laughed.

"Lazy bone. Go freshen up and come downstairs" Jennifer said.

"Thanks dear" I smiled.

"Go ahead" Jennifer nudges, I rush out of the kitchen.

As the water from the shower roll down to every part of my body, I felt warm, fresh and alive. I rubbed every part of my body with the liquid soup in silence but in my head was something else.

The angry voice of Romans, the voice of Romans defending another lady echoes in my head but I hold it in including the tear swelling in eyes.

"I can do without him",

"I have been doing very well without him",

"Romans is dead" I tried to convince myself in my mind but it kept on failing, what rode on my mind was... Jennifer has taken my spot, she has stolen my lover. And if I want to get him back, I need to distance myself from Jennifer.

"But she's so nice to me... very nice" I whimpered to myself.

"ELIORA" the bathroom microphone echoes loudly waking me up from my deadly thought and I smirked.

"I'm coming" I washed up gently.

I went downstairs in my sexy night wear and found Jennifer already sitting with Tony.

"You're here" Jennifer smiled.

"Sorry for keeping you both waiting" I sit across Tony while Jennifer sit on the head seat.

"Let's eat" Jennifer said.

"Sure" we began taking the food we'd love to eat from the main bowl.

"How was your first day at work?" Jennifer asked.

"It was hectic" I frowned and she laughed off.

"It's alright. You'll get use to it with time" Jennifer assured.

"Sure" I nodded and continue eating delicately.

"How's your weekend going to look like?" Jennifer asked.

"Tony?" I lift my gaze at him.

"It's empty at the moment since you just started working" Tony said courteously.

"Then you'll join me to the airport on Saturday" Jennifer said happily.

"What's happening at the airport?" I asked cryptically.

"I'm going to pick up my hubby's junior sister" Jennifer said.

"Mr. Romans' sister?" I asked anxiously.

"Yeah" Jennifer said.

"Does Romans have siblings?" I asked in surprise.

"Of course. Just Jane" Jennifer said with certainty.

When did Romans have a sister? I didn't even know about it. Does this mean... He truly loves, Jennifer?

Don't you dare laugh at me... What do you think, do I have hopes in winning an almost married man's heart back?