One traumatic bullying experience can create and leave a never-healing scar that lasts forever. ~ Ty Howard

Life had gone back to normal, but it brought with it some changes. After Fola's escapade almost a week ago, the security officials in the house and office seemed to increase. Nora also made it a job to hover over Fola every minute of the day. Fola also made sure to show her irritation with her words and actions. 

The only freedom Fola got was when she was tucked away in her office. The pleasure of being alone and free spurred her to never miss a day of work. 

A knock on her office door broke her reverie. 

"Come in," she called out without looking up from the file she was reading.  

The sound of clicking heels filled the room and stopped in front of her table.  

"Yes, Bella, what is it?" Her head rose and she gazed at her new personal assistant. The appearance of Bella was among the changes that came after her feat of leaving the house without permission. Just like Nora, Bella was a stooge of Chief Naade. Another pair of eyes to monitor her. 

Bella cleared her throat. "Sorry to disturb you but you have a guest." 

"A guest?" Fola's brows rose. "And who might that be?" 

"The person refused to reveal his name." She shrugged her shoulders. 

Puzzlement swelled within Fola as different thoughts raced through her mind.  She couldn't stop herself from feeling a little afraid but she suppressed it and steeled herself. 

"Let him in," she declared. 

Bella's eyes widened a bit. "Are you sure? He could be a hired killer!" 

Fola couldn't stop the chuckle that left her lips. "If he was a hired killer, he would have killed you on sight." 

"What?!" Bella gasped and her eyes bulged open with fear shining in them. 

Amusement danced in Fola's eyes and she said through laughter, "It's okay; please send him in."

"Fine, if you say so." She huffed. Fear gleamed in her eyes as she proceeded to the door.  

Fola watched with merriment as Bella hobbled out with hunched shoulders. 

Thoughts of the unknown guest filled Fola's mind while she waited.  What if Bella happened to be right? What if Chief Naade or one of her enemies in the fashion industry had sent someone to kill her? 

A frightful shiver surged through her. 
With each minute that passed, her panic rose. Finally, her office door swung open. Her eyes swiveled to the person at the doorway and she inhaled sharply.  

"You!" she exclaimed and shot to her feet. 

 The person smirked and plopped down on the seat opposite her.  

Fola scowled. "Timi Tokunbo, what are you doing here?" 

"I came to see you, of course." 

Her scowl deepened and she made a fist. "What do you want?" 

Timi flinched. "Calm down, Glen. Have your seat."

Fola shook her head and bent over her desk. She pinned him with a hard stare. "I have told you not to call me that," she gritted out.  

"And I told you no. Glenda is your name and forever will be. I don't know what this Fola thing is all about. Why did you change your name?" 

"Because I wanted to." She rose to her full height and turned away. 

"You're not a very good liar, Glen. Now sit," his voice came out soft but with a stern undertone. 

Fola ignored him and crossed her arms over her chest. 

He heaved a sigh. "Please, sit down, let's talk." 

Fola scoffed and remained standing. 

After a few moments, Timi released another sigh. "Fine. If you don't want to sit then I will stand." 

From the corner of her eyes, she watched him rise to his feet.  She spared him a glance before looking away.  "What do you want to say?"

"Nothing specific. I just wanted to see how you were doing."

Fola's brows rose and surprise coursed through her. "When did you start to care about my well-being?" She turned to face him with drawn brows.  

"When I became a changed man," he declared and produced a crooked smile.  

"Really?" Fola shook her head and rolled her eyes.  

"You don't believe me?"

"No, I don't," Fola said in a cold voice. "I just can't forget that you once made my life a living hell." Her lip thinned and she glared at him. 

Pain flashed in his eyes. "I know I wasn't the nicest person to you but I'm genuinely sorry." He folded his hands. "Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?" 

"Yes. Get out of here." Her eyes darkened with fury. 

He grimaced. "Isn't there anything else I can do? Please give me one chance to atone for my mistakes." He sent her a pleading look. 

Fola shook her head vigorously and clenched her fists tighter. "You don't get it, do you? You caused me a lot of trouble when I just wanted to work and earn a living. And why did you do that? All because of your pride and the power you had. So nothing you can do can make it up to me." Her jaw hardened. 

Pain and remorse shimmered in his eyes as he gazed at her. 

Fola tilted her head and gestured to the door. "Please leave."

Defeat clouded his eyes and his shoulders dropped. "Fine. I will see you soon." He pushed past the chair and ambled towards the door.  The door clicked shut behind him.  

Fola slumped into her seat and released a ragged breath.  A tremor coursed through her and she rubbed her arms. She took steady breaths to calm her racing heart. Finally, the tight knots in her shoulders loosened and she found herself relaxing. 

She was about to return to work when a knock broke the silence. She stifled a groan before calling for the person to enter. 

The door squeaked open and her friend and employee strutted in. Bisi stopped in front of her table and her eyes roamed her face.  

"Hmm, why the long face?" Bisi asked. 

Fola shrugged a shoulder and muttered, "it is nothing serious. Just had to deal with an intruder."

Bisi's brows wrinkled. "Intruder? Who might that be?' 

"Timi Tokunbo." Fola's eyes dimmed. 

"You consider him an intruder?!" Bisi's surprise was visible in her voice.  

She gave a curt nod. "Yes. I don't consider him to be anything else."

Bisi scoffed. "You never told me the reason why you hate him so much."

"Because it is unimportant." She flung a file open and began to read. 

"If that's the case then why does anything concerning him rile you up?" 

Fola clutched the edge of the file and ground her teeth as bitter memories flooded her head. "Because he is a jerk!" she blurted. 

"That is vague. What exactly did he do?" Bisi took her seat in the chair Timi had vacated. 

Fola's tight hold on the file eased and she slouched in her seat. "Fine; I will tell you." She exhaled. 

"Good. I'm all ears." 

Fola's eyes closed briefly and she took a deep breath.  "So, you might not know this but I once worked with the Tokunbos. I worked in their textile company." 

"Wow! You worked in one of the biggest textile companies in the country," Bisi said with amazement.  

Fola produced a short laugh. "It was nothing big. I worked in the warehouse as a loader. It was quite tedious unloading huge boxes of fabrics, but I did it because the pay was reasonable." 

Her eyes dimmed as she dived into the story of when she used to wake up at 5 am just to get to the warehouse at 6 am when the delivery trucks arrived.  She remembered the aches in her arms as she offloaded boxes for hours until break time at 9 am. 

"Aww, I'm sorry you had to go through all that but what role did Timi play?" Bisi asked with curious eyes.  

Fola's lips rose in a half smile. Bisi and her lack of patience always amused her. She shook away her thoughts and resumed talking.  "Well, as they say, a story is not complete without a villain; Timi played that role very well." A pained smile graced her lips.  

"Oh? What exactly did he do?" 

Fola shook her head. "Let's just say he found joy in oppressing and getting me in trouble. At that time every penny was important to me but he didn't seem to like it. On several occasions, I earned less because of his mischievous schemes." Her eyes darkened and she gritted her teeth as her rage slowly returned.  

She related stories about the various stunts he pulled to sabotage her.  Tricks like deliberately bumping into her so that she could lose her balance and trip with the box she was carrying. She recounted the numerous meaningless conversations he made just to delay her.  The accusations he leveled against her hurt the most.  

With every bitter memory that flashed in her mind, her anger rose. Moments later, she found herself at a loss for words because she had narrated everything she remembered. She swallowed hard to moisten her dry throat.  

Her eyes connected with Bisi who was staring at her with furrowed brows.  

Bisi shook her head and released a breath. "That's a lot to take in.  Now several years later, he is the opposite of the person he was before. I met him when he started attending my church and he has been nothing but good." 

Fola shrugged. "That's good, I guess.  He claims to have changed for the better." 

"But you don't believe him, do you?" 

She shook her head. "It's hard to believe him. Every time I see him, all I think of is his past deeds."

"That's understandable.  But can't you put the past aside and see the new him?" 

Fola shook her head. "I don't know."

"Fair enough. But you can definitely try, can't you?" Bisi gazed at her. 

"Yeah, I guess," Fola muttered with no conviction.  

However, her lack of enthusiasm didn't affect her friend. 

 A happy smile played on Bisi's lips.  
"Making an effect is a step in the right direction. I know it would be hard for you but honestly, I don't know how he was in the past but I know how he is now. And I can say with confidence that he is on the right track." 

Fola replayed Bisi's words in her head and she wondered if she would be able to forgive Timi. 

                           ★★★★★

Ahh, the story about Fola and Timi's relationship is out.

What are your thoughts on it?

Do you think she will be able to forgive him?

I look forward to hearing your opinions.

Also, don't forget to vote and share the story if you like it. 

Until next time, don't let anything negative get to you. XD