Chapter 46 I'm not falling for him

Chapter forty-six
I open my eyes and behold Nancy in front of the dressing mirror.
"Are you going to keep watching me? Or will you get up and get ready? It's eight already"
Wow, so I slept last night, even in my office wear.
Wait, I can't believe I didn't wake up.
I woke up four hours back to make dinner. Then, I slept back and here I am.
I roll on the bed and close my eyes. I am not going to work again. I don't even see the reason why I should. I was working with Dave because of Michael. And now that I don't even want to see Dave or Michael again, I might as well just stay at home.
I will try to find another job. I'm seriously tired of seeing their faces. I open my eyes again and watch Nancy apply her makeup.
"What? Are you not going to get dressed?" Nancy whirl around to look at me with those raised brows.
I shake my head negatively, "No. I don't feel like going anywhere today."
" Good. But you wouldn't dare do that to me. You promised".
I sit up and rack through my brain," What did I promise you for?"
Nancy's mouth drops open in shock, "what's wrong with you? Have you been thinking? You always have the best memories ever."
I laugh at her praise. I still don't want to tell her anything. I mean I don't even know how to start. I will tell her some other time, "Just answer my question"
She shrugs slightly and turns back to check herself well in the mirror," Today is the first time I will be opening my store and I told you that you would be my first customer".
OMG! I had forgotten about it.
" Wait, does that mean today is Saturday?" I say incredulously, still finding it hard to believe.
Nancy raises a brow unaffected, "Yes, were you expecting today to be Monday?"
I laugh slightly," Exactly, so I won't have to go to work.".
I'm so silly, sincerely.
" Come on, get up girl. I will be waiting for you downstairs," Nancy says and walks out.
I sigh. I am really silly.
"Wow," I exclaim softly as my eyes take in everything in Nancy's store.
"Did I do a great job?"
I smile at her, "You did a better job here. I'm very much impressed," I say and walk deeper into the store. It kind of reminds me of the day I went to the supermarket with Nancy and I got a wristwatch.
I thought I was going to give Michael that wristwatch.
I walk around the store for a few minutes, looking through the dress and the necklaces and the bags and the shoes. Nancy did a great job.
"So, which one are you going to take here?"
I smile again and look over at the bags section. I pick a gold purse, "How much is this?"
She smiles at me now, "It's a gift. For being my friend, for allowing me to be so close to you. Forgiving me your house to stay in. I can never thank you enough Jones"
I pull her into a bear hug. I feel so elated. I must say it over and over again. Nancy is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
She pulls back after some minutes, "No girl. The next five things you will pick will be on me!"
I scream out in ecstasy, "Go girl!"
Just immediately, music blares from every corner of the store. I look at the speakers, then back at Nancy.
"Today is celebration day girl. We are still going to a big restaurant to celebrate all this"
I whoop in delight again, my dad's thoughts forgotten already. I pull Nancy with me and we go to the clothes section. I pick a gown and go-ahead to wear it. When I walk out, Nancy shakes her head negatively to tell me I should choose another dress. I take pink high waist Jean trousers and a black hoodie.
When I walk out, Nancy whoops again. I take a pink trainee. I take a short necklace.
All done! I look so cool.
I sit while Nancy does the same too. I let her wear the same as mine. She looks so beautiful in them too. And we both look like a twin except for the fact that she's taller.
"Why don't you want to go to work?" Nancy asks me when I was going through the wristwatch section.
I look up at her briefly, "I don't want to," I still don't want to tell her about the things that happened yesterday. Maybe I will tell her when we get home. Today is a joyous day, I won't spoil it for her.
"Well, Dave is one of the annoying men I have ever seen and meant. It's normal if you suddenly change your mind about going to work. Guess who is coming to see you?"
I look at Nancy again, my heartbeat increased," Who are you talking about?"
Nancy grins, "Michael will be here soon"
What!
My eyes went wider and darker with shock.
" Why will you let him come here?" I ask in such horror that Nancy discovered what I was desperately trying to hide from her. Nancy'sface was suddenly free of emotions, "What happened? Did something happen you aren't telling me?"
I sigh," I planned to tell you tonight"
She opened her mouth in huge terror," I shouldn't have called him here. He called me earlier while you were changing and I told him you are here with me. And he said he would be here. What should I do?"
I sigh and stay calm," It's ok. Just tell him I just left"
" Too late, I'm here already," a voice teases.
Nancy and I look up at Michael.
I feel a stab of annoyance just looking at him.
I didn't move, I didn't take a step away from where I am. Nancy was the one that excused us while Michael moved nearer.
"You look gorgeous," he complimented but I just stared, unable to say a word. I still can't get the image of him kissing Betty out of my head, "It's fine if you don't want to talk to me but I am here to tell you something. I'll let you know what all this is. I know I've offended you_"
" You broke my heart, not to offend meI cut in sharply, amazed at myself but it's the truth, isn't it?
He sighs and looks away thoughtfully, "Why didn't you give me a reply when I told you about the way I was feeling about you?"
Well, I don't need to think much about it. I knew and confirmed the reason why I didn't reply to Michael all this while yesterday.
"It was because I doubted you. Especially after Betty came to threaten".
He sighs again," perhaps you don't love me enough to accept me. Perhaps you wanted my happiness first. Have you ever had these reasons?"
I didn't want to say a yes to him because I feared he could still be in love with Betty. Normally, I could have said yes to claiming him before Betty made a step to take him from me. Why didn't I do that?
"I know you must see me as someone who isn't serious. But even me, that doesn't know how I felt then have now realized my true feelings. I have always loved Betty and I do love you too. I just love her more. I thought we broke up so I wanted to move on with my life with you. I'm so sorry".
I was expecting that same pain that I felt earlier but it wasn't there and I wonder why. I now feel so peaceful.
I smile at him, "I understand you and it's ok."
He looks into my eyes, "Have you forgiven me?"
"Yes," I reply sharply, "But I will only be your friend on one condition".
" And what might that be?"
" If you can make me yours . I don't want to be Dave's assistant anymore".
His eyes brightened up and he let out a smile," Alright, I will do just that"
I laugh and hit him playfully on his shoulder, "Then you have my blessings already".
"Thanks so much, Jones. I don't know what I would do if we stop being friends".
" Me too, I've been thinking for a while now. Seems great minds like, "I say and we both burst out laughing real hard.
I'm so happy he's happy. And I'm happy he's back with Betty. Maybe Betty was the truth. I can't wait to meet her again and give her an audience. I need her to explain some things to me. Like how she and Dave had to kiss when they weren't in any romantic relationship.
And that was about that. Yesterday was really fun. Aside from the fact that Nancy treated me well as a friend, Michael treated me too. Michael eventually became the first person to patronize Nancy.
He left immediately before Nancy got ready to take me out.
We visited the La Queen restaurant and I ate almost everything on the menu. Nah, I'm not a glutton, it's just coupled with the fact that I didn't have breakfast before I went to Nancy's store.
In one word, yesterday was a day I would never forget in my entire life. I got to realize who Nancy takes me as and the fact that she does love me.
Also, I got reconciled with Michael and I made him promise to make me stop going to work in Tianshi company. I'm not going to work today unless Michael calls me back.
It's three in the noon and Dave has given me ten missed calls. I'm not going to pick his calls or call back. He of all people knows I was forced into working for him. And I can choose to stop at any time.
I don't know why I feel so angry at him. Maybe it's because of what he said the other day. I haven't been able to get past it.
Dave is always meddling with my dignity. I will rather run away from him than stay close.
If the worst comes, I will just sell this house and go meet my mom and my brother.
The phone rings suddenly, jerking me out of my thoughts. It must be Dave again. Nevertheless, I pick up the phone and look at the screen. It's my mom calling. I pick up immediately, "Hello mom"
"I didn't expect you to pick up so quickly. Is everything alright?"
I don't want to bother my mom, that's why I haven't told her things that have happened since her absence. And I'm not ready to start saying them.
"I'm alright mom. How is Sam?"
"Sam is doing great. Can you imagine one of his friends called yesterday to ask about him. He has made a lot of friends in a short time".
I smile now, glad of it," I'm so happy he's settling down for real".
Mom went silent for a while, "Do you know I've been called back? And Sam too, they want him to resume school".
At first, I didn't get what she meant. But when the words sank in, the meaning came to my head.
I knew it was Dave's doing. So, he has eventually let go?
I don't even care. He's not doing anything to entice me. Anything nice he does now will only be replaced with something harsh. He's always unpredictable
"Mom, I don't think you need to think about them. You've gotten a new job even if it's not a teaching job and Sam is already getting used to his new school".
" You are right Jones. It's just that they promised to double my salary if I come back".
Nice try Dave but you won't get to me this time.
Not again. I won't fall for his tricks.