Later that evening, at Scarlett's house. After dinner, she asked Charlene;
" Have you sent the credentials to him?"
" Yes, I have," Charlene answered happily.
" He told me he'll be employing you as his p.a," Scarlett said, rolling her eyes.
" Really? Thank you so much, Scarlett." Charlene said as she rushed to hug her.
" Enough! Why are you so excited to work for him? Is there something I need to know?" Scarlett asked, taking Charlene's hands off her.
" Something like what? Scarlett, I don't understand; what are you saying? Keller and I were close friends back then in high school, nothing else." Charlene said, looking confused.
" For your information dear, you both can't be that close anymore," Scarlett said, looking away.
" Why? What do you mean that we can't be that close anymore? I'll be his assistant soon, remember, I'll always be around him." Charlene said, looking more confused.
" So you're happy because you want to always be around him; well, just pray Cherry doesn't go against it," Scarlett said.
" Cherry? Who's Cherry? Damn! Is it the same Cherry I know? Please, do you have her pictures? Let me see if she's the one." Charlene said.
At this point, Scarlett was surprised that Charlene also knew Cherry, if she said she knew a Cherry back then automatically it was the same Cherry, she was talking about because from what she learnt, Keller and Cherry attended the same high school and college, her parents only sent her to Canada for her masters of degree and PhD while Keller handled the company in her absent.
" I don't have her picture but just so you know, Cherry hates seeing any lady close to Keller, so I'll advise you to lay low and not get your hopes high. It might also interest you to know that she's the managing director of the company, their parents co-own the company. She's only on a month's suspension but will be resuming on Monday; she was suspended by her father because she got into an altercation with Keller because of me." Scarlett said with pride.
" Because of you? What did you do?" Charlene asked, looking concerned.
" That silly girl, she was just being threatened by my look; she thinks I will win Keller's heart, which I'll eventually do if she doesn't hasten her belt," Scarlett said, rolling her eyes.
" Why would she be threatened by your look? Last time I remember, Cherry was a very pretty lady, and she's not insecure or had low self-esteem, so what changed?" Charlene asked, looking confused.
" So what are you insinuating? Are you saying I'm lying, or am I not beautiful enough for Keller to look my way?" Scarlett asked angrily.
" No, I didn't say so; I'm only surprised at the person Cherry has become," Charlene said to her calmly.
" Have you forgotten what they say about change? Change is constant bitch." Scarlett said, rolling her eyes.
" It's fine, I understand you; I know Cherry can never be threatened by me; she was my very good friend back then in high school, and we both understood each other. I can't wait to see her. " Charlene said excitedly.
Scarlett got pissed and walked out on her.
" Scarlett! Scarlett!! Did I say anything wrong?" Charlene called after her.
There was no response from Scarlett, she ignored her.
" Gosh! Why is she acting so weird? I thought she said she didn't like him. Whatever, that's her problem, not mine; I don't even see Keller that way." Charlene said to herself aloud.
It was Monday, Charlene had resumed as Keller's assistant and Cherry was also back from the suspension she got because of her last fight with Keller and a new cleaner had been employed too. Immediately, Cherry got into the company, she went straight to Keller's office, Keller was surprised to see her in her office, and she said to him;
" Calm down, I'm here for peace, can I sit?"
" Sure you can, this company also belongs to you. Who am I to stop you, Empress Cherry from sitting?" Keller said, looking at her.
" Keller, please stop, I'm not here for that." She said calmly.
" So what are you here for? I'm listening." He said.
" I came to apologize, Keller I'm… … … …"
" Wait a minute, an empress is here to apologize?" Keller interrupted her.
" C'mon Keller, you're not making it easy here," Cherry said with a sad face.
" Fine! I'm all ears." He said with a smile.
" I'm sorry for all I've done to you; I know I've caused you so much pain, and I'm deeply sorry; I wasn't thinking straight; now I know better. Please forgive me." Cherry said in a very low tone.
" It's fine, Cherry. I hold nothing against you, and I'm also sorry for everything, too," Keller said softly.
" So are we still friends?" Cherry asked with a smile.
" Do we have a choice? We have to be friends and you know it." He replied with a smile.
" I know, right? Only God knows how our parents came up with the idea." Cherry said in laughter.
" Do you get it?" Keller said, shaking his head in laughter.
" So can I get a hug?" Cherry asked, spreading her arms wide.
" Sure, why not? You'll get all the hugs in the world." He answered jokingly.
He stood up from his seat and hugged her, they were still hugging when Scarlett and Charlene barged in. Scarlett was shocked to see them happy together; she was hurt and almost tearing up; she wished she could separate them for life. Charlene on the other hand, was so happy to see them together, that she cleared her throat and said;
" Good morning bosses"
Keller and Cherry stopped hugging and turned to see who greeted them.
" Bosses? Are you silly? We're your friends." Keller said with a smile.
Cherry kept staring at Charlene to recall where she knew her from, and suddenly she shouted;
" Charlene!"
" Yes, it's me, Cherry," Charlene said with a broad smile.
Cherry rushed to hug her, they hugged for a few seconds, Cherry turned to Keller and asked;
" Why didn't you tell Charlene to work here?" Cherry asked.
" We were getting there before they walked in. Honestly, I was going to tell you." He responded calmly.
" Silly boy, you should have said that immediately I walked in," Cherry said with a smile.
" Oh! Really?" Keller said in laughter.
" How are you, Charlene? How long, twelve years?" Cherry asked, admiring Charlene.
" Yes you're right, it's been twelve years. I missed you so much, Cherry." Charlene said emotionally.
" I missed you too; I searched everywhere on social media for you, but all to no avail," Cherry said and hugged Charlene again.
" Enough of the hugs, I'm getting jealous," Keller said jokingly.
" Oh please, jealous of what? Are you scared I'm going to snatch your high school crush away from you?" Cherry said in laughter.
" What!" Charlene exclaimed.
" You weren't supposed to say that, Cherry," Keller said, looking disappointed.
" What? We're no longer in high school, no more boys are flocking around her. Oh! You thought I didn't know you had a crush on her back then." Cherry said smiling.
" No, that's not true. We were just friends, right, Keller?" Charlene said, looking confused.
Keller didn't answer her; he kept looking at Cherry, who spilt the tea.
" He won't answer you, he knows I'm telling the truth," Cherry said, looking at Keller and smiling.
" Anyways, I heard you both are always at each other's neck, why? I thought you both used to be very close back then in high school, what changed?" Charlene asked, looking at them, eager for an answer.
" Who told you that?" Cherry asked, looking at Scarlett with contempt.
At that moment, Charlene realized she had messed up; she knew Scarlett would be mad at her, so she turned to look at Scarlett, who was already turning red. Anger. Scarlett walked out on them;
" What's up with the attitude? Are you ok?" Cherry said after her at the top of her voice.
" Cherry, take it easy on her," Keller said softly.
" I don't like her, my spirit is always against and you know what? My instinct doesn't lie, that the girl is up to no good, she's terrible." Cherry said, rolling her eyes.
" Cherry!" Keller called, looking uncomfortable.
" What? I don't like her." Cherry said firmly.
" Cherry, she's my cousin, she… … ... …"
" Your cousin? How can you be family with her?" Cherry interrupted Charlene.
" Scarlett is not as bad as you think; she's a sweet soul; you'll like her when you get to know her," Charlene said softly.
" Whatever! I don't care; all I know is that there's something off about her, and I'll always follow my heart." Cherry said, rolling her eyes.
" Ok, ma'am, can we change the topic, please?" Keller asked, looking at the ladies.
" Sure, why not? So as you were saying? Charlene, yeah, Keller and I argue a lot, but we're cool now." Cherry said as she took a seat.
" That's good, I like that for you both," Charlene said with a smile
"Ahhhhhhhh!" Charlene screamed out in reality.