Why should he have to pay for everything?
I stood still, my heart quivered as he walked away. I wasn't expecting things to go this way. We were both at fault, it wasn't as if I resisted. Could this be the last time I would see him? I don't think so. His arrogant father always find a way to make things right, but even he was equally surprised as I was, maybe angrier. I was supposed to take the fall... Like I've done multiple times but for some reasons I could not understand, Asher chose to take responsibility and all he could ask of me was to look after his friend. My eyeballs floated in water, but why do I feel sad to see him leave? Was I not planning to get rid of him? Maybe a part of me was guilty, that part that had been secretly plotting against him, thinking he was power hungry like I was. At that point, I felt like the villain, the manipulator, the devil who would stop at nothing to satisfy her greed.
My mind constantly went to the man I had gone to meet, maybe he did this. But I also couldn't understand why he would choose to do anything after he ended his deal with me. Maybe we were now pawns in someone else's game... I might have sold everyone out for power. My greed might be our downfall. What was I thinking? Disclosing Berkscorp's weakness to a rival just to get rid of Asher and I didn't bother to think it through they might employ the same tactics against me now that I was CEO.
At the same time, I shouldn't be feeling this way. I didn't like Asher, did I? Moreover, his father brought this upon him when he betrayed my loyalty and trust. I wasn't ready to take over his position, at least not immediately so that it wouldn't feel like I had been looking out for that opportunity. I had to play it cool, so instead of stepping into the role, I chose to return home that morning.
I immediately heaved a sigh, shutting my mind from the whispers of my conscience and immediately walked into the elevator. Stepping in, I could see Mr. Barney standing by the stairs, his face boiling in rage like an overheated engine about to combust. The door shut in my face, taking me straight down to the garage. I could see Asher's car driving out when I arrived at the garage. I didn't think much of it, I just walked straight to my car and left the garage too.
On my way home, my heart was still heavy. I actually felt like talking to him but since when do I care about others feelings? Ain't I the same bitch that fucked her professor just to get my rival failed when I was in college? Backstabbing people at this point shouldn't come with guilt, rather with joy. It was who I was deep down, or who I wished I never had to be again. I immediately reached for my phone to play a music. I shuffled through my list until I eventually stopped on Nicki Minaj's Highschool. My car speakers blasted as I sped down the road, straight to my place, singing along loudly to get the feelings off my chest.
When I pulled over in my usual spot in our building garage, I turned off the engine, letting out the breath I didn't realize I had been holding. I had stepped out already before I saw Mr. Kessler; our neighbor who was also just returning from grocery shopping. He held the two paper bags tight to his chest as he shut his car door with his leg. I stepped out of my vehicle, and the minute he saw me, he walked up to me without hesitation. I wanted to quietly slip away because I knew how much he complains about things, and I wasn't ready to listen to his rants, but I wasn't exactly fortunate. When I turned my back, he called my name.
"Isla," he greeted as he pushed his belly towards me.
"Mr. Kessler," I turned to face him. "I didn't see you there."
He smiled. "I'm sorry to take your time, but could you girls reduce your voice when you... You know—"
"When we what?" I asked to be sure even though I had caught on already.
He squeezed his mouth in a funny way trying to describe sex without actually saying the word. He jiggled his waist, and that was when I completely understood what he meant. "When you have fun."
"What type of fun?" I decided to play with him a bit. I leaned on my legs, staring at him astonishingly.
"When you fuck for God sake. You keep me up with your cries. It's too loud for Christ sake, how often do you have sex?"
I breathed out. My chin curled into a smile. "I don't know anything about that but I'll talk to the girls. You might as well get an earwax because I can't promise they'll listen."
"Appreciate ya. Keep it simple," he replied, nodding his head.
"Will do," I muttered before walking out of his sight.
He did seem at peace with my response but the Mr. Kessler I knew doesn't keep shut that easy. He kept mumbling as I walked away, calling us different sort of names but they didn't bother me a bit. There was nothing he could say about us that wasn't true.
I took the elevator up to our apartment. When I arrived at our floor, coincidentally, I walked in on Nadia and Dante squeezing each other in the couch just like last time, except that they were still clothed. They were seriously making out, in broad daylight. That was what Mr. Kessler just complained about. Before I knew it, I had removed one of my heels and hurled it at Dante's behind. He rolled off her immediately, touching the back of his head. He got up instantly, his expression screaming danger as he bounced towards me.
"Bitch, what the fuck was that?"
"The fuck you're doing in my apartment when your mate are out there bursting their arses off for a better future," I screamed back at him.
Nadia got up, frightened as she cower behind him, pleading with the both of us to chill out.
He stood in my face, completely intimidating as his temper boiled.
"You haven't got the right to throw things at me, are you crazy?"
"I'll throw more if you don't get the fuck out of my apartment."
He suddenly stepped closer and gripped me by the neck like he was going to choke air out of my lungs. "Make me," he dared.
I struggled for air but Nadia was powerless. She tried all she could to get him to loosen his grip but he wasn't backing down. He even shoved her to the floor. Right the next minute, we all heard;
:. 911, what's your emergency?
Aaliyah had arrived and had called the cops. Dante slowly loosened his grip on my neck, spitting to the side in disgust as he backed away towards the door.
"Fuck you lots, you bitches can't even afford me," he boasted as he exit the room.
Nadia stepped closer and shut the door behind him. The responder on the phone kept saying "Hello" but Aaliyah just tossed the phone to the sofa. She rushed up to hug me.
We all started laughing hysterically.
"Girl, seriously?" I said to Nadia.
Aaliyah slowly relieved me of the hug.
"Sorry babe, I didn't know he was a shitty man like that. I mean I couldn't have known he would attack you," Nadia apologized.
"It's fine. At least he's gone for good now," I added.
Nadia smiled.
"So... How did it go?" Aaliyah asked me.
"Guess who is the CEO now," my smile suddenly widened as I happily shared the news with them.
"Oh God, that's lit. How did it happen?" Aaliyah asked.
Even Nadia seemed seriously excited.
"Asher took the blame. He left the company," my voice dropped.
"This is no time to be sad, he probably did it cause he's in love with you and we need to appreciate his sacrifice. Fhis calls for celebration and we are gonna go out, drink and fuck whatever we find," Nadia cheered.
I laughed. "I'm not sure I'm ready to go out."
"You don't have a choice," Aaliyah replied as she gripped my arm, pulling me towards the door. "It's a girls' night out."
"You won't let me get dressed?" I begged.
"You are beautiful every way," Nadia replied as they hurled me out of the apartment.
The door closed.