Chapter Two

"Victoria!" What are you doing in there?" Mr Elijah asked surprised.

"Sir, the ladies unit was crowded, so I rushed down here to use any available toilet... "Why not ask this mister, why he was banging on the toilet door earlier?" Victoria injected pointing accusing fingers at Frank.

"Mr Franklin, i asked you what the matter was earlier and you dare cook up a lie for me?.

"Please Sir, I am sorry_"

"I wanna know why you were banging on the toilet door earlier?x Mr Elijah asked.

"Sir, Sir!" Frank stammered, losing words to say.

"Speak! Do you know her from anywhere? or are you forcing yourself on her? "What was the warning I gave earlier when I introduced her?" Mr Elijah asked bombarding Frank with questions, who in return felt so humiliated and ashamed.

"Sir, it's not what you think," he defended.

"Then why lie to me from the start, you said it was a male fellow colleague you had an argument with," Is she the male colleague?.

"Sir! I, I," Frank stammered.

"See me in my office tomorrow," Mr Elijah announced and started leaving, while Victoria followed him full of smiles.

"Shit! Frank cursed and punched the nearby wall to suppress his anger before scattering his hair.

*****

FLASHBACK.

"Victoria, Victoria!" an angry frank called immediately he got home.

"Welcome honey, what's the matter? you seem angry," Victoria asked.

"Yeah I am, why would you show up at my workplace to embarrass me like that huh?.

"What do you mean, frank? "I only came to give you the special lunch treatment, I packed for you."

"That's not the point here, i mean, why did you Showed up proudly in front of everyone there, claiming that you are my wife boldy without shame. "Look at an oversized obesed shabby looking buffalo like you, claiming to be my wife openly.

"Stop it frank, you are hurting me with your words, am I that bad looking? Are you ashamed of me?" Victoria asked with tears in her eyes.

"Yeah I am, i mean who wouldn't be when you are like this, i never married you like this remember? So I ain't accepting it, from today, apart from home, i don't wanna see you around me in public," Frank warned and went inside.

Victoria slumped to the floor and broke down into tears.

Victoria wiped her tears quickly as she remembered one of the bitter memories of the past that she would never forget.

"What gives him the audacity to think he could confront her on how she lives her life now." Everything they had was in the past and it has to remain there. All thanks to him, she is now much more of a better version of herself now than before. His rejection, mockery and taunts made her who she is today.

"I don't give a damn about him! He should just get off my path."

"Ma'am," someone called bringing Victoria back to reality.

"Good morning dear" How can I help you? Victoria asked, smiling at the pretty looking young lady that stood at the front of her desk staring at her.

"I have been knocking but wasn't attended to, so I decided to come in myself, I am sorry! in case you are angry."

"No problem dear, I'm sorry for not attending to you earlier, I was lost in thoughts and didn't hear you."

"What would make a beautiful woman like you think so hard? "I mean you are so beautiful that any kind of thoughts running through your mind doesn't worth you thinking about it," the young girl confessed making Victoria blush.

"We are human and have our various problems," I happen to be one also. "Please stop flattering me, you are equally beautiful too but regardless thanks for your concern."

"Your welcome, ma'am!" I am Miss Doreen Jacobs, the new assistant assigned to you, my office is outside next to yours, in case you need me all you have to do is to ring the bell."

"Nice meeting you doreen, i hope we get along."

"Sure ma'am, as long as I'm not treated wrongly... "I actually came with some documents for review and approval, after going through them. "Message me when you are through with them, i am going to come get them, so I could distribute it the various units that it is needed in the company here," Doreen explained.

"Thanks so much dear," Victoria appreciated.

"What did I do that deserves appreciation? I am only doing my duty. "Nevertheless, which type of coffee do you want?"

" I want black coffee with no sugar and a little milk, "Please make it a little bit hot."

"Okay ma'am, i will be right back in 20 minutes time," doreen said and left.

"Such a lively and easy going assistant, I think this job isn't going to be that stressful after all," Victoria thought.

*****

Frank walked into Mr Elijah's office after he was asked to come in.

"Good morning Sir"

"Sit Mr Franklin, i don't want you to beat about the bush, give me the explanation i demand right now, or you would face the consequences."

"I am sorry for lying to you Sir, i thought she would get punished, if she is being found in the male restroom," Frank lied.

"What about the door banging and you calling her name, but denied earlier when I asked."

"Sir, i was trying to tell her that it wasn't right for her to be found in the male restroom, but she refused and went into one of the toilets. "I got angry for being ignored and started urging her to come out but she still refused, that was what led to the banging of the door and calling of her name."

"I'm sorry sir for lying to you, i was only trying to cover for her hence it's her first day here. "I don't want her breaking the rules and getting punished," Frank lied once more.

"Do you know her from anywhere, Mr Frank?"

"No sir! I don't," Frank lied.

"Your explanation doesn't seem that clear, but I'm overlooking this because you haven't had any issues with anyone since you started working with us. "I hope you won't change because of her."

"And above all know your place and limits, she is higher than you in this organization, i don't want such repeating itself and make sure you go render your apologies to her. " I repeat Apologise to her, you may leave."

"Thank you Sir," Frank replied and heaved a sigh of relief. He left Mr Elijah's office and went to his.

"What's wrong with me? I nearly messed up because of her. "I chose Mia over her two years ago and I'm happy with my family... "Why am i behaving this way and why did she show up now. "What's wrong?. "I need to clear my head," Frank thought, pacing up and down his office. He is a Financial Analyst. After the HR he is next in the organization, before his assistant. "No alcohol during working hours remember?" an inner voice reminded him as he sought to drink.

"Fuck!" he cursed and kicked one of the chairs in his office. "You do have to go apologize to her, and now is the best time," the voice said again.

"Never!" Frank almost screamed but held back.

"I'm going crazy, i don't know what's happening to me!"he confessed and sat on his office chair feeling heavy with guilt. "Go apologize, you don't wanna lose all you have worked for, Mr Elijah made it so clear," the voice urged. Frank stood up and headed to Victoria's office on the next floor. Each higher office had their own floor and departments. The office of the Managing director is at the top floor, while the next is Mr Elijah's the manager, then Victoria's the HR before his and so on.

"Is the HR in?" he asked her secretary when he got to her office.

"Yes Sir!" she replied. Frank continued heading to her office and rang the doorbell when he got there.

"Come in," the tiny voice that always welcomed him whenever he comes back home, and greets him "Good morning" whenever he wakes up before said. He never realized how much he missed this voice until this moment, he summoned up courage and went in.

"What are you doing here?" Victoria asked with alarm.

"It's not what you think, I came to apologize for what happened yesterday. "I am sorry!" Frank said.

"We have no issues, you may leave,"Victoria replied.

"Just like that?.

"Yeah!" what else do you want, Mr Franklin."

"I want us to talk."

"About what? "Leave my office right now, I don't know you and you don't know me either. "Let's mind our business and only relate with anything concerning work, i don't have any time to spare," Victoria stated strictly.

"Victoria!"

"I said leave, leave right now before i would lose it and scream," you know what the outcome is going to be."

"Victoria!"

"Arrrghhh!" Help," Victoria made to scream.

"I'm leaving okay, but_”

"Help!"

"Alright, alright," Frank said and left.

"Shit!" he cursed and folded his right hand into a blow with anger boiling inside him.

Victoria broke down into tears and started sobbing. "I can't take this anymore, he should just leave me alone, idon't love him anymore and wouldn't, she reminded herself. "I need to speak with Derrick, that would divert my attention from remembering the past right now because of him," Victoria said and dialed a mobile number on her cell phone and quickly wiped her tears.