"Baby, I've reviewed the scheduled training you set for this week. I'm fine with it starting Wednesday. After which the HR should be able to do echo training after one round led by you. I want you back in my office next week."
Nyla has been well versed with the business now and has also seen the needs of employees training-wise. To add improvements, Nyla has teamed with HR and created training sequences.
"Can't I do it for at least two weeks? I'd like to see it through a little longer."
"No." Callum stared at her. When she didn't respond, he widened his eyes questioningly as if asking for her to agree.
Nyla smiled and walked over to Callum's desk. She bent over and kissed his neck, licked his adam's apple, suck it, and travelled her kisses to his lips.
"Okay, daddy." She smiled and turned to go back to her desk.
There's a reason why he allowed that one-time training to be led by Nyla. He needs to have a meeting alone with James. He cannot afford to trigger another panic. Nyla is excited about being able to do something she loves. Teaching.
James arrived at half past 3 in the afternoon. Unlike their last meeting, James arrived in a grey suit, looking handsome. He walked into the office and employees followed him with their eyes.
He was ushered to the president's office.
"Have a seat, Mr. Johnson." James sat opposite Callum.
"Look, I'm going straight to it. I have no plans to give up on Nyla. But then again, I know right now, I am the most important person to her.
I am well aware that she loved you wholeheartedly for almost 2 years. As much as I am envious of those times she spent loving you, offering her body to you every night, serving you in ways she thinks you can love her back... still I am very happy that that love is focused on me now."
"Didn't you just attract her because of a deal? Are you happy she's with you because of money?" James stared at Callum but still not getting any reaction. He continued, "I have my ways to know how Nyla, a very timid woman suddenly become entangled with a powerful financial tycoon like yourself. How else but money?"
"You underestimated my Nyla's capability. She doesn't care about money. She is timid but she decides fairly and strategically. If you did run an investigation on her, you would have found that as she was caught in a messy debt, she got hospitalized due to beatings as well as miscarriage. Her decisions were based both on her emotions and logic.
My money? Yes, I offered her a deal, you may call it twisted on my part because the deal was an attempt to make her mine.
I courted her for three months, giving her everything, making her lean on me for everything because I want to be her everything. All under the pretense of a deal.
Despite that, my Nyla learned my business and right this very minute is doing something she loves. Research. Training. Teaching. Guiding.
Removing the money on the table, what can you offer her Mr. Johnson? Oh and also, why do you want her back now?"
"I love her. I realized she occupied a big part of my life when everything in my mansion reminds me of her."
Callum chuckled.
"You mean, the plants she maintained in the garden, the food she cooked, the smell of laundered clothes, even the doormat you step on? Yeah... I also heard you treated her like a slave and a whore---."
"How dare you!"
"I dare to what?" Callum said calmly, "What are you getting mad at me for? You did those to her, not me."
James was speechless.
"Is that... is that how she felt...?"
"You wanna ask her? She'll be done in half an hour. I need to confirm 1st if she wants to talk to you though. Last time, she asked me to go with her."
"No need." Nyla entered the office and caught the two unaware.
Nyla closed the door gently. She heard male voices when she got near the door of the office. So she quietly opened it to see these two dominant males fighting over someone. Her.
And now she stood there by the door with two beautiful eyes staring at her. She sighed.
"I only heard the last part. Sorry, we ended early because we had to reschedule the last section. The training was so well received, we had to adjust the time. Anyway, what do you need to ask me, James?" She went and sat beside Callum, she casually put her hand on his thigh.
"Nyla, can we talk? Alone?" James asked, can't help but follow with his eyes where Nyla rested her hand.
"Hmmm," Nyla looked at Callum who is sitting comfortably. He slipped his hand on her waist, claiming.
"My fiancé is a very jealous man. And I am a very obedient loving woman. His woman. You remember how I was with you James. I never changed. My love language is still the same. Only this time, my love belongs to him."
She looked at Callum, "what is it that he needs to ask me?"
Callum looked at James. James was about to speak, he opened his mouth but Callum already spoke.
"What and how you felt when you were with him." Callum cannot bring himself to say slave and whore to describe Nyla to her face.
"Oh... what I felt was... well? Love. Otherwise, I would not have endured that long. I loved you, James. Wholeheartedly. So don't feel so bad. I was happy being able to serve you in the morning... and at night." Nyla felt Callum's hand tighten at her waist from her last words.
Callum looked at James as if saying "I told you so."
"Nyla, I'm so sorry."
"It's fine. I was happy during that time. I realized I must be a masochist to like being treated like that and still love to stay. But Mr. Humphrey here knows how to balance my weirdness. He knows how to handle me, my kinks, my desires, my needs, and my wants. He made me shameless but also embarrassed. He made me more honest. He's my comfort. He's my anchor.
So please James... let me go. Let me be happy this time. Either way, I'd still file a petition if you don't trigger one from your end. I was a very good wife when I was with you aren't I?"
"Yes... you were perfect Nyla. I'm really a fool to let have let you suffer."
"Then... you know what to do."
Nyla stood and went to her desk. She took a USB from her pocket and put it in her drawer. She then took a folder from her desk. She bent over to Callum and gave him a deep kiss for a few seconds.
"I'm gonna head over to HR to discuss our training changes." She went out the door.
Silence befell them for a few minutes.
"I will file a divorce. I can see she's very much in love with you now. I got no chance it seems."
Callum pulled out a black velvet box from his pocket and placed it directly in front of James.
"Not to add salt to the wound, but I will say it anyway. That was her wedding ring. She bought hers of inferior quality, hmmm a little over $100?, in order to get you an expensive one of around $800. It is chipped, cracked, and in very poor condition. She said she took care of everything during your wedding.
This ring also fell out during her fight with her now ex-boyfriend a few months back which was why she was beaten badly to the point of hospitalization and eventually, she miscarried.
Per her words: This ring has never seen a happy life. I was supposed to throw it away. But since you're here, I will leave its fate to you. Its partner is with you anyway."
James took the box and opened it. His eyes got teary when he saw the battered ring which has lost its shine. A reflection of all the hardship and pain its owner went through. A testament to its owner's love for him who chose to make her life a living hell, even knowing she's just a victim of old men's agreement.
"Thank you. I will leave now. I know a lost cause when I see one. However, let's not be strangers in the future." He extended his hand for a shake as he stood up. Callum stood and accepted his hand, feeling his sincerity.
"I will not make it hard for you both to be together. I've seen how Nyla adores you. I wish you both happiness." He left sad but still dignified.
Calum sighed.
It's time to scout for the perfect ring.