The Wrong Number

I showered when I got home and waited for his call. No need to eat—I already had dinner with him.

"Hello," I answered as soon as his call came in. His number was already saved in my phone.

"Easy there, Bunny," he chuckled.

"Shut up."

"Baka."

"Big head."

"Big teeth."

I gasped. "You found someone better, I suppose?" I asked, referring to the girl who had approached him earlier tonight.

"Found who?" he asked, sounding confused.

"The model-like girl who approached you after I left."

"Model-like? I can't really remember."

His denial annoyed me. "The girl who approached you before I lost sight of you tonight," I clarified.

He remained silent, probably trying to recall. "Oh, I remember. Are you jealous?" he chuckled.

"Why would I be?"

"Yes, I know you're not. You're already dating a cute guy. Henry is a really great guy; consider yourself lucky."

His words irritated me even more.

"Why didn't you search for Rose?" I asked. If he claimed to love Rose, he should have searched for her. I even uploaded my pictures on Facebook and added my number, hoping he would find me there. But since he was never good with numbers, I supposed he wouldn't have been able to search for me online.

"I did. She told me she worked at Juvango. I asked Henry to help me search for any girl named Rose working at Juvango," he exhaled before continuing. "He found three Roses working at the Anambra branches, but none of them knew what I was talking about. I even went further with my search, but I still failed."

"Why did you ask Henry to help you? Why not do it yourself?" I questioned. I knew Henry must have manipulated the search.

"Henry is a very careful person. He's always been my backbone. If Henry couldn't find the Rose I was looking for in the Anambra branch, then I wouldn't be able to, either."

"You really trust him that much?" The blind trust pained me as I remembered Henry's true intentions.

"Yes. After my dad died, his family took care of me until I was old enough to live on my own. Even now, they're the only people I consider family. Henry is like a brother to me. We have our rivalry moments, but in the end, we're best buddies."

"Wow, that's deep." This only made it more difficult to convince him about Henry's deception.

"Yes, I owe him a lot, and I wonder if I'll ever be able to repay him. After my father died, I became wayward because I had no one to live up to or impress. Henry stepped in and made himself my rival, so I had to step up my game just to beat him," he chuckled, clearly reminiscing about the past.

"So, what were you doing at the company that day? I've worked there for years, but I've never seen you before."

Since he was Henry's best friend, he must have held an important position—I knew he wasn't just a new recruit.

"Well, there was a shortage in the accounts for that quarter. I was passing by, so I decided to check it out. It's been a while since I was last there."

"So, you're the company's accountant?" I guessed.

"Accountant?" He laughed. "If I told you my position, you'd be speechless."

Typical egomaniac. At most, he was probably a supervisor.

"Oblige me."

"Pay me."

Why was I not surprised?

"I don't have money."

"I don't need money."

"Then what?"

"Invite me over and prepare a good meal."

He couldn't believe how much I wanted to cook for him.

"Deal," I accepted.

"Hmmm, payment should've been harder for you, but you accepted way too fast. Maybe I should've requested something else."

"A deal is a deal," I cut him off. I knew Alfa—he would have asked for something much more difficult.

"Alright, you win."

"So, tell me, what's your position?"

"I am—"

Before he could finish, I heard a loud knock on my door. I pulled the phone away from my ear, missing his last words.

"I'll be back," I told him and went to check who was at the door.

"Who is there?" I asked, but there was no answer.

I remembered Jessica saying she would come to spend the night since her husband was traveling and didn't want her to be alone.

"Jess?" I called again, still no response.

I swore she would never grow up. Did she really think she could scare me again?

"We're too old for this," I muttered, opening the door.

"Hello, girlfriend," Henry said as I opened the door, and I froze. Never in my worst nightmares did I imagine seeing him here—reeking of alcohol.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice laced with unease.

"I'm just here to see my girlfriend. Is there anything wrong with that?"

"I am not your girlfriend, and it's late. Go home," I hissed.

He scoffed. "Well, after tonight, you really will be mine."

"What do you mean?"

"It's time for you to fulfill your duties as my girlfriend," he said, his tone deadly serious.

I instantly understood what he meant. Panic surged through me, and I tried shutting the door in his face, but it was too late. He caught it and pushed me back.

I turned to run, hoping to reach my room and lock the door.

"Too slow, Dove," he taunted, already catching me. I hated that he called me that.

"Ahh—" I tried to scream, but he clamped his hand over my mouth.

"Scream, and consider your mother lost forever," he hissed.

All the energy drained from my body. He could see his victory in my eyes as he pushed me down onto the sofa.

"Time to be a good girlfriend," he whispered.

Tears streamed down my face.

How would I ever face Alfa after tonight?