I don’t like it

Janelle.

Next day …..

8:00am ….

I slowly walked into my office expecting the very worst, nobody suddenly ghosts work like that despite several calls from the big boss herself and goes scot free.

My grip on my handbag tightened as I took further steps into the office, Every other staff greeted me excitedly, clearly happy to see me again after a long while, I forced a smile in return also, but nobody was really saying what I wanted to hear, would I lose my job or not?!.

After the whole pleasantries with them I slowly turned around and made my way towards Diane’s office, as I approached her office, my heart was beating out of my chest but I still managed to hold my self in place.

As soon as I got to her office, I placed a small knock on her door before pushing the door open and walking in.

She was seated behind her laptop, her gaze slowly shifted from the laptop as she looked up at the door, I gently closed the door and took slow cautionary steps towards her, as soon as she saw it was me she exhaled deeply, entwined her fingers and rested her jaw on it.

“I’m sorry,” I muttered, all the speech I made up in my head all the way here slowly dematerializing right before my eyes, she rolled her eyes to the back of her head, pushed her drawer open and took out a big brown envelope, she gently placed it on the table and pushed it forward towards me.

Can my life just get any better?!, I stared at the brown envelope on the table definitely containing my termination of employment letter, I slowly bent forward and picked it up, I tore it open and gently dipped my shaky hands in it and took out the file that was in it.

“I’m sure Bella called you regularly to update you, so that’s everything you would need to lead the investigation going on,” I heard her say as I glanced through the paper in my hands quickly, I swiftly dipped the paper back into the envelope and looked up at her jaws dropped and lost for words.

“I -i D-d-don’t ….” I spluttered in an attempt to speak but no meaningful words came out of my mouth, she exhaled deeply and slowly leaned in her seat.

“I heard about what happened, so don’t worry, next time do well with communication!” She said and I shook my head rigorously, every of my actions and movements depicting deep gratitude.

“You can go now,” she added, I nodded slowly, turned around and headed out wordlessly still having no idea what to say to her.

As I made my way to my office, I could not stop thinking of what suddenly possessed Diane, Diane wasn’t one to be swayed by emotions, she was very strict and definitely my mother’s illness on a normal day wouldn’t have been enough excuse for her.

Either ways, I was grateful that I didn’t have to lose my job, thank you to whatever made her that lenient with me.

My phone dinged in my pocket signalling the arrival of a new message, I slowly dipped my hands in my pocket and took it out and peered in it.

“Contract Husband” was written boldly on the screen specifying who the message was from, I clicked on it and opened the message as I walked into my office and slammed the door shut behind me.

-I changed my mind, we’ll see tomorrow at the wedding, And I added a little bonus asides our agreement as wedding gift,- The message read, I exhaled deeply placing the phone back in my pocket, I just knew something had to make Diane just let go like that.

I pulled my chair out, midway to sitting the door went open, I looked up to see Angela walking in, I stood up immediately as I walked away from behind my table and walked up to her.

“What are you doing here,” I demanded, anger starting to course through my veins again at the sight of her face.

“No matter what happens between us, you’re still my bestfriend and I wouldn’t want to wed without you in attendance,” she replied calmly as she dipped her hands into her bag and pulled out a wedding invite.

I raised my eyes at her as I slowly folded my hands across my chest, I couldn’t believe my ears, I couldn’t decide if I was more impressed by her audacity or by the fact that she had the balls to open her smelly mouth to say we are still best friends and wouldn’t want me to miss her wedding to my ex Fiancé or I was just plainly mad at her.

I looked down at the wedding invitation she still held stretched out to me,

“You really do know how to make an entrance, Crashing into my office to be invited to a comedy show?!” I replied as I lazily looked up from the card and to her face.

“But hey,” I continued as I unfolded my hands and walked back to my seat,

“If I think about it well enough, I just might grace your occasion with my presence, just don’t expect my presence to be the highlight,” I added a thin smile forming in my lips.

I gently took my seat on my chair, pulled it closer to the table and looked up at her.

“Since we’re not missing each others happy day, why not attend my wedding tomorrow,”

“Grandeur Event center, I wouldn’t have given you an invite but it wouldn’t be nice to waste one invite on you right?!, it’s quite expensive,”

Her eyes widened in surprise as she stared at me,

“Janelle I- ..”

“Now run along dear I have work,” I cut her off before she could even complete her reply, probably seeing the need to not exchange words with me she turned around wordlessly and made her way out, as soon as she slammed the door shut, I released a very deep breath I had no idea I was holding, my hands flung to my chest as I rubbed it slowly trying to stabilize my breath, no matter how I try to overlook it, her betrayal cut me deep.

Later that day …

I exhaled deeply as I stepped out of my car, I slammed the door shut and made my way into shopping complex, without breaking my stride I made my way directly to the bridal dress store, I already booked an appointment, so as soon as they saw me, a staff stepped forward and attended to me immediately.

“Is your husband here too?!” She asked, I slowly looked up at her meeting her eyes directly, I released my grip on my purse as I looked away and headed inside.

“I already specified my style please let me see what you have,” I replied instead, she bowed immediately muttering an apology under her breath as she led me towards where I was to change.

I walked out of the changing room, I slowly turned to stare the chair where my supposed husband was supposed to sit as I test out different bridal dresses, I had looked forward to this special moment of my life for a very long time and it’s just so sad that it gets to be this lonely as against every imagination of it I’ve had in my head prior.

“Ma’am would you like to take a look in the mirror,” The attendant said to me, I shook my slightly as I slowly walked up to the small platform facing the mirror and stood on it, she tried to adjust the dress on me and I just stood there and stared at her through the mirror do her thing.

“I don’t like it,” I said bluntly immediately she was done with all the adjustments,

“Ohh,” she muttered slightly as she led me back to the changing room and brought another dress, we kept on trying and trying and trying different dresses, maybe it was the anger that I was doing this alone or whatever, all the dresses she brought out didn’t just sit well with me.

“I can see you do not have good eyes for anything,” I heard a deep male voice rumble behind me as I walked towards the mirror, my movements stopped immediately and my body tensed at the sound of his voice.

I slowly turned around, my jaws dropped and my hands involuntarily let go of the gown I was holding up in my hands immediately my eyes met his face.