We left for Stella's workplace after eating breakfast. This is the first time that I'm going inside her office. Unlike last time, I refused to go there and just waited for her outside the building.
When we entered the office, all of her co-workers stared at us narrowly. They were thinking about me for sure. Oh…right. I don't give a damn.
Right after we entered Stella's office, a sly grinning fox greeted us. " What a pleasant surprise! You seem all good now." That's a mockery for sure. The Adam we knew was clearly thinking of ways to keep Stella here. I hope not.
" You better cut that pretense! I have already heard everything from Theo!" Stella growled at him with disgust, revealing to him that his credibility is no longer trusted. I never knew my wife's strength. I have always thought she's so timid like a little rabbit.
" That was expected," Adam's smiling face went 360 degrees. He went on and continued, " So, tell me, why are you here?" It was apparent that he does seem up to no good. That sinister smile of his, it was screaming out the fact that he is indeed planning to withdraw our motive.
" I am quitting," Stella stated without utter delay. Adam looked at me and then to my wife, not wearing his usual grinning mask. Before I could meddle in, Adam spoke first.
" Okay. But first, you have to pay me for breaking the contract."
Adam handed out the paper and surprisingly it was on his desk as if he knew what our next move will be.
With worry, Stella read the piece of paper and so did I. Sneaky bustard! My guts have told me he really is up to no good. Seems like I am right. Just how far you're willing to go, Adam.
" I'll pay for it-" Stella was interrupted.
" Uh-uh. Not so soon. Take a look at the amount before proceeding any further." We looked at the paper again and we saw the trap created by Adam.
" What the hell? I have to pay three years of my salary?! You never mentioned this before!" Stella was starting to feel frantic all of a sudden, wanting to end this hypocrisy right this instant.
" That was written in the contract. You should have read all the papers before you signed it," he cunningly smiled, gripping all his victory into his tramp cards, trapping them and making his prey unable to escape.
"Now it's time for you to decide. Pay me the money or keep on working here. The second option is much more preferable don't you think? I assure you, Stella, you won't be harmed anyway."
" How can I trust you! After all the things that have happened. I thought that you were a good person. Not even for a once I suspected you." Stella was upset after learning about all of these deceptions, saddened that she cannot escape from this menacing devil.
" And I never harmed you-" Right before he could finish, Stella butted in.
" I'm scared of you! How can things go back to normal? It's just impossible for me. Right now you're literally blackmailing me, you knew this day will come. That's why you deceived me with the contract." Stella wanted to crumple the paper and throw it to Adam's.
"This is unfair!"
" I just want to be friends with you. I wanna be near you. My intention was never to hurt you." Adam said it, but I felt disgusted. I wanted to help my wife reason with this guy but decided not to.
" Then why did you teamed up with Vanessa? Why? Why did you try to frame my husband?"
" It's because I don't want him near you. He doesn't deserve you, Stella. You're too good for him."
" Oh! And you're better than him? You think I'll pick you if he's gone from my life? Yeah! keep on dreaming."
" Even if you don't choose me, I am happy as long no other guy is with you." After hearing him say this, all of my hairs rise up in anger. That's it. My patience broke. I really need to shut his mouth, rather beat him to the point where he can't speak further.
" That's it, Adam! You have gone too far. Stella let's get outta here. I'll pay the cash. It's still a small sum of money to me."
" No Theo. I can't let you pay for my damages. You may be rich enough to spend that amount of money but I think I need to take responsibility for my problems."
" But Stella, if you don't want me to help you, where will you get all this money? Don't be stubborn now. You are my wife. What's mine is also yours. You can even pay me later-"
" Please?" She looked so out of sorts. I looked deep into her eyes, pleading me to let her do this. It broke my heart seeing her in this state. But, I just can't let her determination vanish. That little self-confidence she's slowly building up, she's using it with all her might in this fight. My Stella, my poor Stella. In the end, I have to eventually let you spread your wings to fly.
After a little while of deliberation, I hugged Stella. A foolish me finally agreed to her demand.
" So? What have you decided?" The devil was waiting for the answer.
Stella faced Adam with a fiery look in her eyes and said, " I'll pay you the money." Still unfazed, tho her insides are churning, she has to fight it back. "However, this kind of blackmailing is unfair. Give me some time to prepare."
" Okay. I guess I'll give you a little time. Or… you can just keep on working here."
" Goodbye Adam."
We walked away from the devil's den. Our minds were tensed as we were thinking of the money. The amount was not small and the time is limited.
" Are you going to ask your parents?" A worried me wanted to know about her next step.
" No. I have some money saved in my bank account. But that's not enough. Let's see what I can do."
" Stella, why bother stressing out over this matter? I know you're strong and independent. But this is not the time to prove it. Adam isn't like Ray. He is as sly as a fox."
" I know. Let's go back home. We have time to think about this matter." Dropping the topic swiftly, we drove back to our house. My heart tells me that a big storm is coming. When things get out of one's hand, it becomes a great burden. A obstacle in one's life which can't be easily removed. To overcome such hardship one needs a strong will or fire. A strong will to live and achieve the happiness with their own strength.
God, are you watching? If you really can see my poor wife in this pitiful situation, give her some strength. Don't be so hard on her please.
~ to be continued