Veronica leaned into her couch, she was slightly nervous and continued to bounce her leg up and down.
She had invited everyone over to her house. It's been a week since she was fired and after she left Ahmad's house some days ago that was when it really hit her.
She of course cried by herself and was also angry but not at Ahmad or herself looking back she understood what he was talking about her job was toxic but she was so caught up in the promotion that she blanked everything and everyone else. She didn't know if being with Ahmad was a blessing or curse but she knew she didn't want to let it go.
These were the times that Veronica started questioning how hooked she was on him. She didn't love him yet, at least she didn't think so. She knew she really liked him but was she ready for love? She had to get her bearings first if she was going to do that.
Loud knocks interrupted her thoughts, she got up to check who it was. She smiled seeing who was on the opposite side. She opened the door smiling at the person as they smiled back.
"Good morning baby" Ahmad came in with her flowers. Instead of sending them to the office, he switched to the address to her house every time she was supposed to work she was really grateful for him. She definitely didn't want to let him go.
"Good morning, thank you" She leaned into him for a quick peck which he gladly gave her as she took the flowers from him placing them on her kitchen counter.
Ahmad looked around her house seeing new decorations and also seeing where she was keeping the flowers they all looked healthy and he was happy that she appreciated them.
They both walked towards her couch, Ahmad taking her legs and placing them on his lap removing her socks before giving her a foot massage. She was grateful she had a pedicure done she had gotten them done red. It was a way to distract herself and now it came in handy so he wouldn't see any crusty toes.
"How are you feeling." He looked at her as he continued to rub on her feet.
She shrugged before responding "I'm not sure, I mean I'm ready to tell them just not sure how they will react. Especially my mom since she thinks I didn't see anything. But I always did." She whispered that last sentence.
Ahmad could see her beginning to go into a trance with her thoughts and quickly tickled her feet to distract her. It was a last-minute resort he didn't want her to go into deep thought.
Veronica began kicking her legs trying to get away from him before she let out screams begging him to stop. After a few moments, he finally let her breathe as she was a panting mess and this time not because of his dick.
"Come here" He mumbled while looking into her eyes.
It was always the way he said it. he sounded so seductive without meaning to. What was he doing to her?
She crawled over to him sitting in the gap between his legs as he wrapped his arms around her kissing the side of her head as she leaned into him closing her eyes.
"I'm proud of you for telling me everything, for even opening up to me. You didn't have to but you did, it gives me a different view and understanding and I'm su-" He was cut off by the sounds of more knocking on the door.
Veronica got up off of him and made her way to the door. Opening it, the door revealed an Imani and her mother.
"We practically got here at the same time and we laughed about it, hey baby," Veronica's mother said laughing slightly before giving her daughter a hug.
"Hello Ahmad, how are you doing." Veronica shook her head at her mother. Ahmad was clearly now her favourite as she watched her mother walk up to him and start a conversation.
"Hey, I've been worried about you, I'm glad you left me messages saying you were fine but it wasn't enough Ronnie. I even came over but you weren't here so I could only assume you were with Ahmad." Imani whispered while giving her friend sad eyes.
She was truly worried about her friend, her friend she had known for 3 years had randomly changed in the span of a month into a panicking mess and watching her act like that only made her worried and scared for her friend.
Veronica pulled her friend in a hug, she could hear some sniffles coming from her friend as she hugged her tightly. "I'm so sorry for making you worried, but I promise you will know everything that's even one of the reasons why I invited everyone ok?" She could feel Imani's head moving signifying a nod.
Imani dismissed herself to clean herself up. When she returned she sat with both Ahmad and Veronica's mother as they all looked to a standing Veronica announcing that she had something to tell them.
...
"I'm so sorry, we didn't mean for you to see any of that I'm so sorry baby. I didn't know it could affect you like that. I should have known." Her mother said with tears in her eyes as she blew her nose into the tissue.
"I always wanted to understand why you would react in certain ways. I didn't want you to think I was judging you or looking at you as if you were crazy but I knew it was something. I wish there was a way I could have helped more." Imani also said wiping the tears from her eyes
Both women were emotional after hearing Veronica admit that she was fired and how seeing what her father went through slightly traumatised her and she didn't want that to happen to her or her mother.
"Veronica please what did you see or even remember? I didn't even think you would remember you were so young." Her mother looked at her daughter with sorrowful eyes. She was in shock to hear the words that came out of her daughter's mouth she felt like she disappointed her. To others it was dramatic but she knows what they went through and no one else would be able to.
Veronica took a deep breath in, she looked towards Ahmad he nodded his head at her to show support and that he was there for her. She exhaled before sitting on her coffee table.
"I remember the one night that daddy came home, I wanted to do my normal run down and jump on him screaming welcome home, but as I was walking down I saw how miserable he looked. He looked so tired and was gaining bags underneath his eyes. He was still wearing the store management uniform. Then you came in asking what was wrong."
——
"Sam? What's wrong honey?" Charlene asked tying up her robe.
"They had to dock my payment and they wouldn't give me a reason just took most of it. I don't know how I'm going to make this month's bill payment." He sighed walking over to the dining chair, sitting on it then resting his hands on his legs before gripping his head.
Charlene paused as she took a deep breath. She was furious they were doing this to him. He was an innocent man and she was still going to stand by his side. She wanted to whoop the woman who accused him of raping her she still didn't understand how they won the case, when they didn't even use the rape kit she shook her head at the system and their conning ways.
She sighed walking over to her husband rubbing on his shoulders as he grabbed her hand kissing the back of it.
"I have some jewellery." "No" he cut her off. "Will you just listen to me ejo?"
" Rara, you think I want you getting rid of your jewellery, don't worry I'll find a way don't worry about it." He expressed. He would be damned if he let his wife get rid of her belongings. His pride wouldn't let him and he didn't want her to do it anyway.
(No)
"Samuel, listen to me." She walked over to him bending down Infront of him as she grabbed his hands kissing them."
"We have a daughter to worry about, it's not just us. Please I have some savings and plenty amount of gold jewellery if I pawn it I can gather some money to help. If we need more I'll pawn more or ask my boss for a raise. You are not alone we still have Ronnie to think about please." His wife begged she could see how tired he was and just wanted to help him.
She watched as her husband's eyes began to her water before he burst into tears she stood up hugging him as he hugged her tightly in his seating position. "Pele, I don't know why this is happening. Don't worry I'll buy you those jewellery back and even more."
"It's ok, GOD wouldn't give us something we couldn't handle. He is here to protect us. It's only jewellery Samuel it's not by force to have them.
He looked up at his wife with teary eyes. "I love you."
"I love you too." She leaned down pecking his lips. She leaned the side of her head on top of his as she sighed rubbing his back.
———-
"That's what I remember. Normally I hardly ever see daddy cry so seeing that was so shocking to me and I vowed when I get older I would get rich make a lot of money and give you guys everything you wanted in life and more." Veronica said wiping her lone tears smiling at her younger self's determination to make her parents happy.
"My thoughts only got worse when daddy died, I wasn't able to provide him with riches and bless him with so much more. Daddy died with a rubbish job with a minimum wage and was tired. I didn't want that happening to me."
"But, Ahmad also helped me see what my job was doing to me. It was doing the same thing, making me drained, panic tired all of the above. They took advantage of me and I let them all just to please them and also you. I see now and I want to try something different maybe even take a break to just be able to not worry." Veronica said ash she glanced at Ahmad.
She was happy he let her see the truth in what her job was doing to her and protected her before it became too late and even too much for her.
Both Imani and Charlene got up off the couch and made their way to Veronica holding her tightly as she cried into their arms. She needed this support. She felt loved and even protected. She really normally hated crying and would probably cringe on this day at the fact that she cried Infront of so many people. But right now she didn't care she had her friends and family, she would technically class Imani as her sister as she was always there for her.
The ladies finally pulled away and got themselves together taking in deep breaths and they both went to the bathroom to check if their makeup was smudged.
"You know, that offer is still on the table." Ahmad walked over to her slowly wrapping his arms around her waist as he gave her a peck on her forehead.
"I want you to work in my company, as I said you would still get your own department."
She was about to talk before he quickly cut her off. " And no it's not because you are my girlfriend I'm doing this. I'm doing it so you finally have weight off your shoulders and can breathe without looking back. Thinking you are doing something wrong. And no if were to break up I wouldn't fire you 'cause I know that's what your thinking in that tiny head of yours."
She hit his chest as they both laughed at her action. "My head is not tiny and the fact that you knew I was thinking that is scary are you a physic, Mr Tate?."
"No, I'm just a man who is in love with his woman"
Veronica's breath hitched as she paused looking at him with widened eyes. Had he really just said that.?
"W-What did you just say?" She has to make sure she heard what he had said and that she wasn't going bonkers.
Ahmad laughed at her question. "I said I love you, Veronica, now it's ok if you are not ready to say it back. I just want you to know how I feel about you and I'm willing to go all in." He said stroking her chin.
Veronica knew she wasn't ready but she was willing to go all in. She just hoped her response would be good enough for him.
"Thank you, Ahmad, I'm not ready yet to say it back, BUT I promise I'm willing to go all in. I really really like you and I know you make me feel butterflies and my feelings for you are strong. I just hope you would be able to be ok with that." She said looking up at him hoping it was enough.
Ahmad gripped her kissing her deeply. Was he bummed she didn't say it back? Shockingly not after hearing her announcement today and even before when she had confessed he knew it would take some time but he was willing to wait. Veronica was end game for him and he wanted her.
"I'm gonna always be ok with it because I love you." He said looking down into her eyes he could see her eyes twinkling in her beautiful brown eyes as he saw how hard she was smiling at him, her cheeks had to be hurting her.
"Yes, I'll work in your company Ahmad."
Yeah, this was it, one hundred percent. He was in love with Veronica Calhoun.