Chapter 4 - 4

Denise did not want to remain in her room and cry like a little girl, over a man, who was not worthy of her. So, she decided to go to work the following day and continue living her life. She became totally closed off. The spark she had in her eyes began to disappear as the days went by. She easily got angry and almost lost control when one of her employees made a mistake on what she had asked him to do.

She had not even told Elena that she and Ransford had broken up because she knew Elena will blame herself for it. She can't say she wouldn't have blamed Elena if she was here with her. She actually would have. She felt so down at this point and was refusing to get help from anybody.

Her mother realized how much she has changed and tried to get her daughter to speak to her. She could not get her to do so, no matter how hard she tried. She asked Harold to speak with her since he was the closest to her and also happened to be her driver. But he failed because she ended up asking him to mind his business.

One afternoon, she asked Harold to drive her to one of the fanciest restaurants in town to buy lunch. When they got there, Harold opened the door for her, while she hopped out and entered the restaurant elegantly. She was dressed really well today. She wore a pink flowy dress which all the way to her knee, showing her beautiful long legs. She was wearing a 5 inches pair of heels, which made a sound, whenever they came into contact with the ground she walked on. For a woman with such flawless fair skin and dark long curly hair, it was not surprising that she turned heads as she passed by.

She walked over the counter, and a waiter approached her to take her order.

"What would you like to have, ma'am?" the waiter asked politely.

"I want fried rice with chicken and beef sauce, two packs, on the go," she ordered while the waiter wrote down her order and politely asked her to sit after she was done.

She waited for a few minutes, then the waiter approached the table she was sitting on with the food. She said a thank you to the waiter, tipped him, and headed towards the door. She was about to walk out, when she saw someone she never thought she would ever see again, entering the place.

Oh God, no. Why did I have to see him today?

Alvin smiled at her when he saw her and approached her with a smile still plastered on his face.

"Denise. It's been a while. How are you?" Alvin said.

"Good, until you walked in. What do you want, Alvin?" She frowned and never smiled once.

"Oh, come on. This is not how to greet a man you once loved," Alvin joked.

"You are right when you say a man I once loved. Because, I don't feel anything for you anymore, so, that means I can tell you whatever I please", she responded sarcastically.

"You look good, though. Actually you look sexy." Denise just rolled her eyes and tried to walk away from Alvin but he quickly held her wrist.

"Denise, please, can we talk? I really want us to talk," he said, his voice having some softness to it.

"You and I have nothing to talk about, Alvin. I told you. Everything we thought we had, is over," Denise said, coldly.

"I am really sorry about what happened between us, seriously. I really love you. What happened between I and Karen was a mistake," Alvin tried to apologize.

"Really, so you want to tell me that you and Karen did not plan on cheating me of not just my money but my feelings as well? Swear to me that was not your plan all along," She said, raising her voice, making all those around to look over at them for a moment.

"Denise, let's talk somewhere more private and quiet, please?"

" I don't want to go anywhere with you. So you better let go of my hand. You are hurting me," she warned.

"Come on, Denise. please just today."

"The lady just told you she does not want to talk to you, so please be a gentleman and let her go." A voice said beside them. It was Harold, who had witnessed how this man was harassing his boss.

Alvin let go of her wrist and turned towards Harold. "And who might you be?" he looked at Harold like he was not fit to breath the same air as him.

"No one important. But at least, I do know how to treat a woman right. So, as I said, please stop harassing the woman and walk away." Harold shrugged.

Alvin walked towards Harold in a threatening manner but was stopped by Denise. "That's enough, both of you! And as for you, Alvin. I have said and I will say it again. I do not want to have anything to do with you. Go and spend time with Karen. Have a nice day," She walked out on him with Harold following behind her.

Harold opened the door of the car for her and she sat in, then placed the food beside her. He quickly closed the door and ran to the driver's side and sat in. He turned on the ignition and drove off, leaving a broken-hearted Alvin standing there in shock.

"Thank you for intervening the time you did. Knowing Alvin, I am sure he would have still kept me standing there, listening to his nonsense," Denise said.

"Don't worry about it, ma'am. It was nothing. I was only doing my job," Harold responded.

"Harry, I have been really rude to you recently and I am very sorry about that. It's just that it's been hard dealing with my recent breakup with Ransford. It kind of left me in a lot of pain and anger."

"I understand, ma'am. I know you are hurt and need time to get your life back. I am not angry with you," Harold smiled.

Denise smiled back and laid back in the chair, feeling a bit more relaxed than she initially was. They drove back to the mansion and Harold helped Denise get out of the car. Denise held the food and gave one to Harold. "I actually got this for you. Please don't say no."

Harold smiled and took the food from Denise. "Thank you, ma'am."

Denise nodded and walked back into the house, with the other pack of food. Harold went into his room, which is the boy's quarters, and immediately started eating his food.

Denise came home and found her mother working on her laptop. She walked over to her and greeted her.

"Hello, mother."

"Hello, baby girl. How was your day?"

"It was okay, yours?"

"Mine was good."

"What are you working on, mother?"

"Oh, this? I am writing an acceptance letter on my appointment as an incoming parliamentary candidate." Her mother replied.

"Wait! Did you accept the offer? I thought you wouldn't do it," Denise was a bit shocked.

Her mother stopped typing. "And what gave you that impression?"

"Well, I thought you would not want to be involved with politics, especially since you told me it can be dangerous", Denise explained.

"I will just have to beef up my security, that's all. I have accepted the offer so start getting used to it." Her mother continued typing away.

She really wanted to tell her mother about what happened at the restaurant with Alvin but she decided to wait till a better time. Her mother was busy with her political ambitions and she did not want to bother her right now.