Antoine walked proudly in his big, new office. He was very happy for himself and he could not contain his happiness to himself. He was wearing broad smile in his face and he let others know how contend he was. He had no reason to hide his feelings. He was wearing his best pair of shoes and the best and most costly suit he owns. Good clothes certainly give good impressions and he wanted that. He wanted everyone cheer him and celebrate with him but he also wish for everyone to get jealous on his success. He looked at everyone while walking towards his office and everyone was looking at him back with wary expressions.
They must be jealous or wondering about me, Antoine assumed but he had no idea what was waiting in his office.
As Antoine entered his office, a big centre table was there to welcome him but that was not all. A huge bouquet of beautiful flowers of unknown species was there. Antoine was not sure what kind of flowers were they but they were surely beautiful. Antoine’ smile widened and he closed the glass door behind him. Antoine stepped forward where his chair was and he realized that something was not appropriate. Someone was sitting in his chair with his back on. Only the back of chair was visible but some hands were in sight to who were holding a file, presumably for Antoine and someone else was sitting on his chair and touching the stuff meant for him. It was not how Antoine imagined this day will then but then he had no idea what was ahead of him.
“I think you are in wrong cabin and this chair does not belong to whoever you are” Antoine said angrily. He wished to be rough but he had to maintain the decorum of office. Besides he believed that it should be some honest mistake which can be rectify easily but the least he knew that everything was happening for a purpose and the purpose is not going to be benefited for him at all.
“I am exactly where I should be and I am the most capable and deserving for this chair and for this office too” Jerika said turning her chair so that she can see Antoine’s shocked expressions clearly and enjoy them.
“You… YOU” Antoine said shockingly. He could have thought of anything in the world but Jerika’s return was out of option. It was not something which should have or could have happened after what transpired in the party. Jerika was gone and she should have stayed like that so what were she doing there and why exactly she was there, Antoine wondered and the question swirled in his mind.
“YES… ME… You do not look very pleased to see me” Jerika mocked Antoine. Jerika had broad smile on her face. She too came prepared with her dressings, hair and jewelry altogether. There were two leaders but only one throne and they both desired for the same.
“What are you doing in my office, sitting on my chair? No… what are you still doing at Zion? You yourself left Zion and you are not needed here so go away” Antoine said making Jerika chuckled lightly. Antoine was acting and speaking funny. He was so shocked that he was making all kinds of hand movements. He was just not sure if all this was actually happening to him or he was still on his bed having a very bad dream, possibly a nightmare.
“I am not a fly to which you are trying to shoo away and your suggestions on my need and requirement to the Zion does not match with the upper management of Zion” Jerika said only to watch the disbelief and denial all written on Antoine’s face which was very pleasing to watch and enjoy for Jerika. She had waited for this moment entire her life and here she was enjoying every bit of it.
“The upper management?” Antoine said in disbelief. The thing he did not understand was why the upper management will take decision about the title of Project Manager/Project Head. It was the lower management job and mostly the decision was taken by John Riley so why upper management.
“Yes… I did left but upper management felt like I should not and they did believe that they made a mistake. They brought me back with the position I like to have as I deserve it and this office of course” Jerika said. Of course Antoine did not know that the upper management meaning Greg Zion is Jerika’s father. Nobody actually other than Daulat knew about that and she used this opportunity to get back to the Zion under her conditions. When he visited her father about the issue, her father did not welcome the idea of Jerika becoming a project head wholeheartedly and he even ended up hurting Jerika instead of understanding her or helping her but when she left, Greg changed his mind although Jerika was not sure why and how he changed his mind. Jerika tried asking from her father but her father never speaks straight. He just said he did it for himself and he is investing in something. Daulat said he was just being fatherly but jerika did not believe that. Her father was anything but fatherly in times like this. He never let his mind rules his heart. He must have some reason for the things he did for her and the time must reveal everything in light and so does her father intentions.
“You are bluffing” Antoine said.
“Am I? I really couldn’t tell but seriously… am I bluffing or you are having a nightmare?” Jerika said making Antoine feel more awful.
“I will not accept this” Antoine busted his anger out by yelling making the staff outside get his unwanted attention. Antoine was not ready to keep down his voice anymore or even he was not even ready to keep his true emotions and frustration to himself. It was just so unjustly for Antoine that he feels that it was not actually happening but he was a grown man and he knew he was neither dreaming nor hallucinating. How hard he wished for all this to go other way round, it was actually happening to him and he has to accept that even with bitter heart.
“Oh I do not expect you to accept any of this and the changes which might occur in future” Jerika said by giving him a sweet little warning that this was just a beginning and lot is yet to come in future so he better be ready about all of that. Antoine knew Jerika had only one reason there and that is to make Antoine’s life hell but Antoine was not sure if Jerika realized that she had already done the major damage to Antoine with a single blow only.
“This is an insult” Antoine said and he looked the satisfying look on Jerika’s face. She was actually enjoying his pain and Antoine cannot even argue with that. She utterly hates him and now hatred had started to build up inside Antoine slowly.
Jerika looked outside from the glass door that all the staff has started gathering around the office and there was quite a crowd whispering and discussing about the debate with Jerika and Antoine. Everyone witnessed the tiff between Jerika and Antoine in the party and it was very well known to others that Jerika left the office because of that. Some felt bad and most of the people just did not care much that to have a topic of gossip for few hours or days but now Jerika’s return to Zion was a start of power play between Antoine and Jerika. This matter was not just about a quarrel or difference in opinion; it had become the matter of pride. Jerika was ready to bring everything to stake but Antoine had no option. His pride, his honor and everything was already at stake and Jerika was prepared to challenge him and to attack him now and then whenever he gets the opportunity and the opportunity was the only thing Jerika was waiting for from last two years. She will have her bitter sweet revenge everyday from now on. Antoine knew it and he knew that the best day of his life was just becoming the start of his worst days to come in future. Jerika will make sure of that.
“It indeed is” Jerika whispered to Antoine so that only he can hear it. Jerika again looked outside ad she knew she was successfully able to create a scene. Antoine followed Jerika’s eyes and her sight only to see people staring at him and whispering to each other. He felt the utter humiliation. He left the office at that instant in rage and disbelief that this was happening to him whereas Jerika watched him leave, contended with her first strike and its impact. The revenge could bring so much satisfaction and peace to heart, Jerika realized it that day.
Antoine busted inside John Riley’s office. He made quite an entrance by slamming the door both open and shut and the way he stood in the office was totally out of decorum. John Riley was with his subordinate and hence the whole scene did not quite look sober to John but he knew the reason behind such actions from Antoine. It might not be very pleasant but John was not very sure of scolding Antoine in front a junior. It might make him more angry then he already was and who knows what transpired in a disturb mind and what other actions take place by Antoine in his state of mind so he kept his silence and just dismissed the other person quietly without wasting any further second.“She is in my office” Antoine said while making an entrance. John instructed the other person to leave and then said to Antoine, “I know. I was told about it earlier only”“Told? Who told you? Who can tell you? I thought you own the decisions” Antoine yel
Jerika reached hospital only to find Daulat waiting for her outside. Jerika parked her car and took big steps towards Daulat who was leaning to an ambulance and doing something in his phone. His whole focus was there and it was quite evident to Jerika that Daulat must be playing game of sort. He looked very serious while playing it so Jerika assumed he must be playing PUBG. Daulat even did not notice Jerika coming and standing in front of him from ten seconds. Jerika was staring at Daulat with utter amazement whereas Daulat was carefree from world concerns. His worries were somewhere else. When Jerika realized that Daulat was being insolent and acting like a kid then she snatched his phone away from him making him gasp in fear as if he witnessed some accident or something.“You killed me!” Daulat cried like he was in pain. Such expressions made his look even more stupid in Jerika’s eyes. It was a behavior far from being what should be define as adults or mat
As soon as wife word escapes from Brian’s mouth, everything seems to be stopped for a while especially for Daulat. He shocked and puzzled equally. Whatever Brian was doing inside that room, was not acceptable for Daulat at all. He felt uneasy and he wanted to just slam the door open and kick the man trying to come close to Jerika for no good reason at all. He was sick but his actions were getting sicker moreover he must have really hurt his head. All this time he was looking for his wife and now he is calling Jerika his wife. He must be nuts, according to Daulat. Daulat was barely trying to control his anger and frustration when he watched Brian kissing Jerika’s hand and she let him. She even felt pleased somehow which was not very convincing and descent thing in Daulat’s eyes and even with his every nerve screaming to run inside and snap that man as he deserved, Daulat waited as it was what Jerika told him to do and he was the slave of his constant habit to mend h
“Trying to find something” Antoine asked when he saw Jerika searching something inside the flowers she received that morning.“No, not really!!! Just admiring the beauty of these beautiful flowers” Jerika said with a smile. She looked at the flowers with admiration. They were her favorite. Antoine takes step closer to Jerika where she was standing. He still had that card which he takes out from the bouquet. It was behind the file he was holding. He wished to confront Jerika at that time but after giving it a deep thought, he decided against it. If Jerika is trying to hide something then she will not easy give it away just because of some confrontation especially by Antoine. Antoine needs to be smart about it and he needs to be careful to get ahead Jerika as Jerika was acting smart and unusual. Though Antoine knew Jerika from many years but he was still not sure if he knew her well. You can never predict anything completely about a person and Jerika, sh
Jerika buys some stuff from supermarket in her way to hospital. She buys some things for herself and some for Brian. He could use something different from what he was given by the hospital. Jerika had not much experience but hospitals food tends to be boring in every way. Hospital does not allow food from outside but she can easily sneak small bag of chips in her huge bag she always carry although she was not sure if she should really do something like that but she was willing to something… anything for Brian. He made her feel happy somehow.Antoine waited for Jerika to return with her shopping. He was not sure if he was doing the right thing by following Jerika but what choice he had. He was also not very sure if he will get any information by following Jerika but surely he had no choice in that matter too. He waited for twenty minutes and after that Jerika came back with some bags. She drove again and Antoine continued to follow her. Antoine stopped her car when he w
Antoine went to John Riley straight. John Riley was not expecting anyone so he was all alone in his big mansion with just staff only. Antoine barely understands the need of permission to enter John Riley’s room much to one of John Riley’s maid dismay but he could not find the man. He continued his search and when it was getting difficult for maid to handle Antoine, she worried for her job. Antoine found John walking in his garden. John was truly startled at first when he saw Antoine but desperation and ghastly look on his face clearly screams that he bore some important information and Riley was counting on Jerika to be involved in it.John Riley signed maid to leave and maid readily left. Maid was only relaxed knowing that she had not lost her job somehow. John offered Antoine some whiskey which he eagerly took. Antoine was trembling and his hands were shaking quite unusually. He finished his whole drink in a go.“What is wrong?” John asked. Jo
Brain opened his eyes and firstly looked at the ceiling. He smiled because he knew that Jerika was looking at him. He can feel her stare and he can feel her presence. He was glad to realize that Jerika kept her promise and she was their when he woke up he was not left alone as he was used to in that hospital lying in that very bed. He had someone know who waits for him rather than him waiting for someone to come to him. That very thought was peaceful.“You seem very fresh. I bet you had a good night sleep. Don’t you!” Jerika asked Brian who stood up in a sitting position and looked at Jerika with nice, sweet, lovely smile he wore naturally by looking at her and Jerika reciprocated with the smile equivalent to Brian’s but then Brian’s smile faded when he started thinking something particular. Jerika looked at Brian’s face but she was really worried what might be bothering the man in front of her.“What’s wrong?” Jeri
“What’s wrong?” Jerika asked with concern when she saw that Brian looked worried and in deep thought.“Who is Antoine?” Brian asked. Jerika was surprised to hear Antoine’s name from Brian.“How do you know Antoine? Do you remember him now?” Jerika asked Brian in hope so that he could say yes.“Do I have to remember him? Is he an acquaintance to me?” Brain asked and Jerika realized that it was not time yet to unravel Antoine’s truth. She still had long way to go and rummage further.“I will tell you everything I know but firstly you need to tell me from where did you picked up that name?” Jerika asked Brian curiously.“I heard it in my head when I was sleeping. You were talking about him” Brian said in confusion. Jerika understood what happened. Brian must have been half waked when she and Daulat were talking about Antoine he must have heard his name and caused