Chapter 7

THREE YEARS LATER

Arthur's POV

I step out of the bathroom, padding naked towards the glass window and stepping out onto the balcony of my penthouse, leaving droplets of water on my trail.
Stretching my hand, I grab the last cigarette from the small glass table and light it, pushing it into my mouth and taking a long drag relishing in the smoke that exits my nostrils.

I lean against the wall, watching the city with total disinterest. My gaze fixated on the roundabout in front of my home. The same roundabout that leads to Natalie and her fucking husband's home. The path that l've come to memorize so well I could shut my eyes and walk there, return and walk back there without hurdles.

I take another long drag, watching the road. Knowing fully well that their house is just a few miles away. Sure I know where they're living. l've known for the past three years since I moved to New York.
I know where they live, where they work, what time they leave for work in the morning, and what time they return. I know of their favorite restaurant where they go to eat every Saturday.

I know everything.

No, I'm not stalking them, and no they don't know I'm in New York and I haven't bothered to go see them or cross paths with them. Because the day I do, the day I allow them set eyes on me again after that heart-wrenching betrayal, l'd make sure to make it such a memorable day for them.

As memorable as my wedding day was for me.

The day I willingly go to see them, l'd have them eating from the palm of my hand. I'll have them rolling on the floor in the dirt.

But that day hasn't arrived yet. It hasn't. But soon it will.
Soon.

The knocking at my door snaps me out of my thoughts as I turn, walking back into the bedroom to grab some clothes to wear.

"Enter," I watch the door slide open as the familiar face enters. I roll my eyes

"What now?" I asked.

"You destroyed the punching bags again, Arthur. And this time, you destroyed two," he drops the bags at my feet, irritation clear in his voice.

"So?"

"So you and I are going out to buy new ones. I can't have you destroying them while I end up buying more to replace them by myself," he said.

"You just need an excuse to make me step out of the house, Julian." I frowned at him, taking another drag of my cigarette.

"Nope, not today. I'm serious. It's high time you start going out to buy new punching bags yourself anytime you destroy them. And also you start doing grocery shopping by yourself. I'm not your mama for heaven's sake!" He says dramatically.

"Aww, but I always thought you were my mama until today Julie," I say purposely to aggravate him. And it
works every time.

"Stop calling me Julie you douchebag, it's Julian. Stupid dork," I chuckle when he glares at me. "Stop laughing. I'm serious. I mean come on! You basically use all sorts of weapons on an innocent punching bag. Who does that? That's twisted. Note, the keyword is punching. Repeat after me punch-ing. You punch it, not use knives and other weapons you have on it" he explains like he's talking to a five year old.

I snort.

"I know what a punching bag is used for, thank you. Besides, it's not my fault I like to view the bag as my opponent. Punching won't be enough to take down an opponent in a ring, you know," I laughed.

"Whatever. Get up, we're leaving for the market"

"Can't you, like, go alone?"

"No. Get up else we're both going to starve in this house. You have a fight tonight Arthur, you don't want to fight on an empty stomach, do you? Because if that happens you're gonna lose for the first time."

My face darkens at his words. Ever since l joined the illegal underground fighting, two years ago, I've never lost a match. I channelled whatever anger and hateful feelings I harbored into the fight and I never stopped kicking and punching until my opponent was face down.

I sigh, getting up as I pick my wallet.

"Come on, let's go," I grumble.

I hate grocery shopping.

"And stop smoking Arthur, drop that thing," he rebuked.

I roll my eyes.

"Yes mama." I dip the butt of the cigarette into the ash till it burns out

"Dick!" he mutters.

"Twat!" I retort following him.

*****

Anna's POV.

Wiping the sweat off my brow, I remove the apron and hang it in the kitchen. I walk towards the dining table and look over everything before nodding in approval. Everything is set for dinner for the Monroe's tonight.

I stare around the living room and then nod again feeling satisfied with my work. The house is sparkling clean and dinner is set.

Grabbing my small bag, I walk out onto the veranda where Mrs. Monroe is seated on a lazy chair reading some sort of magazine.

"I'm done ma'am," I said as I go to stand before her.

She closes the magazine and looks up at me, smiling.

"Oh, I almost forgot you're still here Ann," she tells me, pulling her purse from the bag that sat
beside her.
Pulling out several wads of notes, she hands me my money.

"Here, this is $70" she said.

"Thank you, Mrs. Monroe," I grin as I accept the money, pocketing it. "See you tomorrow, ma'am."

"See you Ann, and say hi to Sean for me."

"Will do." I reply as I sprint towards the gate.

Sean must be home by now waiting for me. I stayed much longer than usual today.

I began working as Mrs. Monroe's cleaner almost a year ago. I had been job hunting for months, jumping from one menial job to another. No permanent job. I was getting frustrated. No one wanted to hire a high school dropout, especially in this part of New York.

Yep, the boss had brought us all to New York, where I must say his shady business keeps increasing a thousand folds than it did back in Ghana.

If there is anything I| dont regret, it's coming here

because after that near death experience I had with Mr. White who almost recognized me at the airport three years ago, I decided not to return to Ghana.

At least for a while.

I couldn't risk getting seen. I almost had a heart attack when Mr. White wanted to know my name that day. Luckily, our time for departure was announced just then and I rushed, more like ran, out of there towards the plane without looking back.

It was a close save. Really. I may not be lucky next time.

*****
Author's POV

Anna met Mrs. Monroe during another one of her numerous job hunting when she was doing grocery shopping.

The older woman's purse had fallen down while she picked up some foodstuffs from the stand. A signed cheque along with a few pieces of jewelry and some money fell from the purse.

Anna had chased Mrs. Monroe all the way to the other side of the market to give her back her purse.

When she found her, the woman was already bawling her eyes out after realizing she couldn't find her purse containing such huge amounts of money.

She had thanked Anna profusely when she handed her properties to her. She told Anna how she had planned to use the items to pay a debt she had been owing.

She gave Anna her complimentary card and asked her to put a call across as soon as possible, and that's how lucky Anna landed the part-time job of being her cleaner.

She couldn't afford to do it full-time because of Sean, he too needed her time and attention though he claims he's a big boy now.

As for the cooking, Mrs Monroe had pleaded with Anna once to help her cook when she couldn't arrive home early to cook for her husband and children.

Let's just say ever since then, she occasionally prepared dinner as part of her job and that also increased her pay.

It's a win-win situation for her.

Tucking the money into her back pocket, she walked towards the nearest supermarket to buy something nice for Sean on her way back. Perhaps His favorite pretzels or pickles? Hmm.

Suddenly, she bumps into a hard wall.

"Oomph!" she exclaims.

She took a step back, rubbing her chin when my eyes come in contact with a grey shirt.

'Walls do not wear shirts, right?' she thought.

Her eyes travel up, widening as she noticed the hard ripped muscles beneath the grey shirt. The shirt clings to the body so perfectly she could almost count the packs.

Okay, seems it was a man after all and not a wall.

Her eyes continue to travel up, ready to apologize to whoever she just bumped into when she stopped short.

Fuck! Brown.

Deep brown eyes are what met her as soon she looked up. So brown it reminded her of chocolate.

Nose. Sharp, pointed nose seated perfectly on his face.

And his lips. Damn. Small, yet plump dark lips.

So inviting.

Her eyes resume traveling back up and that's when she noticed his hair. Long flowing hair in loose faux braids falling effortlessly over the man's shoulders.

Gosh, she almost screamed ecstatically.
Never has she come across such a beautiful man.

His eyes are so brown, so intense as they stare back at her.

"Are you blind, girl?!" Mr. Chocolate eyes barks at her, snapping her out of my daydream.

She blinks to regain herself.

Oh hell, she was not taking that insult lightly. She is a full-grown ripe woman, not a girl.

Her nostrils flare, anger surging through me. "I'm no girl, Mr chocolate eyes, I'm a woman!" she wag her finger in front of him.

She hear chuckles and that's when she noticed another man beside Mr. chocolate eyes.

He too is handsome. Very hot except, he's got short-cropped hair.

"And I'm not blind! You bumped into me, so let's
apologize together!" she added.

Mr. Chocolate eyes frowns.

"Apologize? You've got to be fucking kidding me girl. You're delusional. I apologize to no one," he said.

Okay, this man is rude and Anna does not find him attractive anymore.

"Delusional? How dare you. Are you this rude?" she countered.

"My apologies ma'am. My friend here is in a bad mood. Come on Arthur, let's go." Mr. second handsome man says.

Well, at least he's polite.

And oh, Mr chocolate eyes name is Arthur? Such a nice name for a rude man.

"Why are you apologizing, Julian? She's supposed to be apologizing. She bumped into me not the other way around." Then he looked at her suspiciously and added. "We should check our pockets, I've heard this is the new strategy for pickpockets. They bump into you, distract you with stupid talks, and by the time they're gone, you realize your wallet is missing. She could either be one of them or some whore looking for her next target." Mr. Chocolate eyes says nonchalantly like he's been learning the word 'whore' his entire life.

Anna let out a profound gasp, did he just insinuate she was a thief or whore? No one has disrespected her in public like that before.

Anger surged through her as she lifts her hand without second thoughts and slap him across the face, hard.

"If you didnt want to apologize, you could have walked away. No big deal. There was no need to insult me in such a manner. Don't you have respect? What kind of a man are you?!" she spat out the words.

Mr. Chocolate eyes darken further with fury as he advances towards her. In the blink of an eye, he pushed her against a wall hard.

She winced in pain as he grips her neck, squeezing.

He looks like an entirely different person. Like he hates her already. Or has probably hated her long before now.

Anna's eyes widen as she struggled to breathe, trying desperately to pry his hands away.

"What kind of a man am? You dare ask what kind of a man I am? After everything I did for you, you have the fucking effrontery to spew rubbish in my face. You bitch!" Arthur growled.

Okay, wait. What exactly is he talking about? What does he mean by after everything he did for her?

"I'll make you pay. I swear by what I hold dearest. I'll make you wallow in mud by the time I'm done with you. You dare ask what kind of a man I am? I fucking hate you. I loathe you with every fiber in me" he spoke with so much anger.

'Oh my God, is this how I'm going to die? Getting strangled by a stranger who's mistaken my identity for someone else? Lord have mercy.' Anna thought to herself, silently praying for divine intervention. Black dots were already blinding her vision.

Suddenly, the other guy, whom Mr. Chocolate eyes called Julian, rushes to him, grabbing his hands.

"Stop it, Arthur! You're creating a scene. You'll kill her. Stop it!"

His efforts were useless as Mr. Chocolate eyes stares at her with so much hatred. So much that she begins to wonder if she actually knew him. Or was he one of the clients whom she had duped for the boss in the past?

"Snap out of it, Arthur! Snap out! She's not Natalie! Stop it damn it!" Julian yells and immediately Mr Chocolate eyes lets go of her, so fas like her skin was fire and he was already getting burnt.

Anna dropped to the ground heaving loudly. Mr. Chocolate eyes storm past her angrily.

'What the hell just happened?' she thought. 'And who the heck is Natalie!'