The Billionaire’s Pawn

LONDON

It had been a gut-wrenching and stressful week since Striker, and I last saw each other. I hadn’t heard from him, and I remained low profile as well. The only thing Neke said was that Striker didn’t go home to his house anymore. Other than that, I was like living under a rock.

I didn’t contact Linden again after what happened at the firm. I still went to work despite my heartbreak. I hadn’t heard from my father either-the only persons who talked to me were Neke and Reed.

In two weeks, it would be the grand opening of the boutique. I had to show everyone that I was excited about it, even if, deep inside, I was depressed.

“The shop is finished. All it needs is to place the stocks. Do you wanna go and see it?” Neke just came out of the warehouse. I chose to stay in the car. I wanted to be alone for a while because what I was supposed to do would only remind me of what I had lost- as if I hadn’t had enough time alone for myself-it almost drove me insane.

“Not now. I’ll be there a day before the opening,” I told her as I sent a message to Avana that we were on our way. I’d been contacting her regarding the donations of LH.

“Okay. The supplies you asked for are already loaded,” Neke informed me. “And I have the pictures you asked for.” I wanted pictures uploaded on the LH website and LH Instagram account, but I disagreed with the idea of posting the orphanage and kids’ faces to gain likes.

“Thanks. Are they ready to go?”

“Yes.” She joined me in the backseat. “Let’s go, Reed. They’ll follow us. They have the address.”

“Got it. I tried the recipe.” He drove out of the parking area.

I looked at Reed and Neke. “Are you two seeing each other?”

I caught a glimpse of surprise from Reed through the rearview.

“What? No,” they said in unison as if I had just accused them of bloody murder.

“You both sound defensive. If you two are dating, it’s not my business as long as it won’t affect your jobs.”

“We’re not dating, and I won’t deny if we are, but we’re just friends. We went out to watch a movie together. Then yesterday we had dinner-”

“If it’s not dating, what do you call it?” I asked both of them.

“Friends do those things all the time. A guy and a girl can do that as friends. We are not dating because we never kiss and sleep together, okay?” Neke said.

“If you say so. But let me know if this dinner and movie dates together will become something more. I would be happy for both of you.”

“Says the woman who pushed her husband away after ten days of marriage.”

I ignored her sarcasm and the glance coming from Reed. “Watch the road, Reed.”

“I am. She’s right, though. Since you are the one who pushed Cade, you should be the one who makes a move and apologize. Maybe he’s just waiting for that grand gesture.”

“That’s not gonna happen. I already sent the notice.”

“What notice?” Neke asked, holding my wrist.

“Divorce notice.”

“Are you nuts? Why did you do that? I thought you two were in love. Did he cheat on you? No, that’s impossible. White knight will never do that. What really happened? I’m still puzzled because you never told me anything. When you came to work looked so tired for a few days, and you seemed preoccupied and didn’t get a visit from white knight anymore. I put two and two together.”

“I wanna give him what he deserves.”

“What exactly? By sacrificing your marriage? That’s insane.”

“Agreed. And the worse and stupidest decision you’ve ever made, London,” Reed agreed with Neke.

“You two should sleep together. You both are perfect, like two peas in a pod.”

“I’ve heard that before,” she sang as she arched a brow. “Look what happened? My best friend had just gone mad. I wonder what he’s been up to. He probably moved on. I mean, he’s a catch. He can date every model or heiress in the world.” Those words struck my chest like a knife, but I tried hard not to react. “I mean, I’d love to see it in the tabloid headlines.” She even gestured. “Braddson’s heir, Cade, is getting cozy with the reality star supermodel.”

“I agree. I couldn’t believe he’s the only son of Moses Braddson,” Reed said.

“Or he’s probably somewhere in Greece, yachting with some Greek goddess look alike.”

“Will you two stop talking about him? He can do whatever he likes. That’s his life.”

“You really don’t care if he dates anyone?” He didn’t have to ask me to get the answer. It was that obvious.

“It’s his life.” I swallowed hard. It didn’t miss in Reed’s hawk eyes.

“If you say so.” She picked up her phone from her bag. “But I sense pain and angst there, right, Reed?”

“What are you doing?” Alarmed, I checked what she was about to do. “Are you gonna call him?”

“No. But If you want to know their latest updates, go to their social media.” She opened the Instagram app. “Wew.”

“What?” I held her wrist to see what she just saw.

“I thought you didn’t care.” She hid the phone from me. “Check your own Ig, girl. Do you still follow him?”

“I’m not interested in what he does. I just wanna know what you see.”

“It’s nothing.” She arched a brow at me but judging by her reaction. She saw something that piqued her interest. “Happy for you. Congrats,” she said as she typed. She was probably typing a comment on someone’s post.

“You’re not gonna tell me, are you?”

“Sorry, girl. Hate me, but you can’t fire me.”

We finally arrived at the orphanage home. Avana greeted us.

“How are you, dear?”

“I’m good, thank you, Avana.” We kissed on the cheeks.

She then searched for someone. I knew who she was looking for. When she couldn’t find Striker, her face fell.

“He didn’t come with us.”This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“He’s caught up with work, ma’am,” Neke said, saving my butt.

“Call me Avana, dear.”

“I’m Neke.” She shook Avana’s hand.

“Oh, my God. This is too much, London.” Her smile was everything as she watched the guys unload the boxes. Those were blankets, sheets, clothes, food, toiletries, toys, and school supplies.

“I wish I could do something more, Avana.” I wrapped my arm around her shoulder. “I’ll do my best to send something in a few months.”

“This is a lot. Thank you so much. I know you’re a good woman from the moment I saw you. You’re God’s gift, London. God bless you and your friends here.”

“Thank you.”

“The kids will be very happy to see this.”

“Ma’am, where do you want us to install these?”

“What’s that?” Surprise, she asked us.

“Outdoor swing, monkey bar, trampoline, and slide,” Neke replied.

“Oh, dear. I couldn’t thank you enough.”

After we met the kids and watched them play for a while, we left. I got to see those smiles, and it felt so fulfilling that I didn’t just work hard for myself. It was good to help others personally. I had been supporting charities, but this felt different.

Looking back at those kids, somehow, I felt myself in them. Even if I had the privilege, I grew up without a mother. When my father was out of town for days, as a kid, I felt like being abandoned.

We were back at the office. My mind went back to what I had lied to Avana. I wanted to tell her the truth, but I was still in denial deep inside. Maybe, I was still grasping for hope.

Yes, I was still married. I was still wearing his ring. And it scared me that I would receive the signed divorce papers in my mail one day.

I’d been crying every night. I thought I had no more tears left, yet there it was. I felt like crying again.

Before I went nuts, the door swung open and shocked me, who had just walked in.

I was already on my feet. “What are you doing here?”

“Since when has this been going on? When are you going to tell me?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I just received a call yesterday from Tate that you sent a divorce notice.”

“Oh, I thought you knew every move I made. And I’m surprised you came all the way here to question my decision in life.”

“I thought you cared about your future.”There you go again with his warning and threat. Whatever. I’m done with it.

“I do, Dad. But I can make my own future. It doesn’t have to be dictated by you. What you’re doing has to stop. I’m tired of you controlling my life. I’m an adult, for God’s sake. I know what’s right and wrong. I’m capable of making my own decision. If you wanna take over or stop the operation of LH, so be it. Do what makes you happy, but you have to leave me alone.”

“You’ve never experienced hardship. When you lost everything you have right now and couldn’t even pay your bills, don’t come running back to me. I’m tired of your childishness. You are too stubborn, disobedient, and ungrateful as if I was never a good father to you. I gave you everything. I provided you with every girl ever dreamed of, and this is what you gave me back?”

I took a step to stand before him. This time I was proving to him that I wouldn’t be his puppet anymore. “I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me, but I didn’t choose to be your daughter. I didn’t choose to be born before you shoved everything on me for being ungrateful. Maybe I owed you, and I’m still nothing but a disappointment, but Dad, I had enough. You should have given me a choice, but because I love my life’s work and care about my employees, I couldn’t allow you to shut this down. But I have suffered too much already. You wanna take it, take it. When I leave this place today, consider that as my resignation.”

“You’re gonna regret this, London.”

“No, Dad. You are.”