"No... I'm fine." Her voice unexpectedly raised a little. "I mean... Thank you." She concealed it with a gentle smile.

"But you owe me... Won't it be nice if I help you home at least? It's not as if I'm asking you for your contact or something." He whined like a little child. "I'll just drop you home and that's it. You won't see me again, I promise."

Sapphire wanted to deny but she don't want to disappoint him twice. Perhaps, he looked witty and friendly.

"Okay, fine. Let's go." Sapphire replied Denver as he excitedly stretched his hand to her shopping bag.

"Let me help you with this." He begged.

"No... Bu-"

"No buts. Don't worry. I'll take you home." He insisted with a cheerful smile as he collected the bag from her and placed it in the passenger's seat.

What if Jade sees me?" Sapphire asked herself. Whatever! It's not as if we are married to that guy that gives me mixed feelings. All of these would be over by next week. Hopefully, I'll be able to meet his grandfather by then. Sapphire thought as she claimed inside his huge, black Jeep Cherokee.

Although, Sapphire had mixed feelings about a stranger dropping her off but he looks so good. It feels so good. Everything about Denver's car looked so classy but all on Sapphire's mind was to get home and have a satisfying rest.

It was a smooth and silent drive. Sapphire was lost in thought when Denver brought up a talk. Are you alright?"

"Oh, me?" She stammered. "Yes, Y..yes I'm fine."

It was quiet obvious that she was disturbed.

"Umm... You didn't buy the eggs again? What about your baking? Don't tell me I ruined the surprise you had in mind for your mother." She whooshed out in frustration.

No, don't worry. I'll do that tomorrow." Denver smiled as he hit the road.

Just then, a vibration sounded from Sapphire's handbag. It was her phone. She quickly grabbed it and saw the name that boldly appeared on the screen.

The King of Devils. 😈

Sapphire whooshed out another deep sigh as she saw his name. She quickly put the phone on mute mode not to hear any of his flimsy excuses that he usually gives just to cover up. With this, Sapphire placed her phone back into the bag and zipped it up.

Denver looked at her and the focused on the road. Jade on the other hand saw 20 missed calls and she'd left a list messages since 9:00 a.m.

"Gosh! Why isn't she picking up?! Fuck!" He grabbed his jacket and flew out of his office like a superhero going to save the world. 
Half way out, Mr. Tim called him back.

"Sir!"

"What's it again?!" He roared at the poor man.

"You're supposed to go through this documents and sign them."

"Send it all to me via email! Don't disturb me for the rest of today. You can all go home too. Let's meet tomorrow!" He whizzed before walking away.

"Okay si-" Mr. Tim realized that his boss had already left.

Miss Barbara and Mr. George gave him blank stares as they watched him leave. They couldn't figure out what was so important to him than money and business.
"It's obvious we have the worst boss on earth. I mean... That man is un-doubtly crazy!" Miss Barbra cried.

"I know he's going to meet up with his girlfriend again. And we're meant to leave today's mess for tomorrow's clean up. While pilling up all our urgent and important works just in the name of his secret relationship?"

"Whatever... I'm fucking tired if this work already!" Mr Tim loosen up his tie as others watched him open-mouthed.

Well, everyone knows Mr. Tim as the workaholic that just never gets tired no matter what. Hearing him say he was tired felt like it would rain cats and dogs.

Hearing to the silence, Mr. Tim then opened an eye to each them.

"Well, I'm tired that doesn't mean I'll quit. Come on guys. Let's round up today's work and leave this fucking hotel already." He motivated them once more as they went back to work.

As if being chased by the angel of death, Jade zoomed off to Sapphire's apartment without any haste or second thoughts. He didn't want her to think otherwise because he knows how stubborn she could be in order to get convinced that he was doing his hotel-related business and not women- related business.

'The last time, she got drunk because of me. What if she commits suicide?' Jade thought.

"No, no, no, no, no.... She won't do that. Fire is brave enough!" He told himself as he moved faster.

In no time, Jade got to her apartment. He packed by the corner where he normally parks his white SUV car and ran upstairs, to the roof top where her door his but it was locked.

He knocked and pushed the door bust everything was automatically locked and secured. Jade felt frustrated already. He called her number again but there was no reply.

Just then, he folded off his long-sleeved shirt to take a quick look at his wrist watch. It was just 3:00 p.m.

She's supposed to close from school two hours ago. Jade pondered on the idea and thought of where she could be. He decided to call Zoey.

"Hello dear. Is Fire with you?" Jade started.

"No, she isn't. Isn't she home yet?" Zoey replied him, trying to calm one of her impatient customer that wait awaiting.

"Yes. There's no one here."

"Oh... Maybe she went to the supermarket. She informed me about it earlier today. I'll suggest you just wait for her a little." Zoey advised as she cuts the call.

Going back to her business. As it is, she didn't want to loose any of her customers.

Jade took a glance at his watch again and decided to wait for her by the corridor, in front of her doorstep. Just then, Denver's black, Jeep Cherokee packed beside Jade's car. Denver jumped out of it and then Sapphire.

"Thanks a lot for the help." Sapphire told him as she came down.

"The pleasure is mine. He replied. I'd have to go now. Bye." He dropped
her off and zoomed away. Meanwhile, Sapphire noticed Jade's car.

"Oh Jeez! This guy won't give it a rest!" Looking up, her eyes caught his staring at her from upstairs. She looked startled as she swallowed hard on her damp throat. She walked upstairs as they still shared the awkward eye contact.

"Who was that?" Jade asked, still pissed.

"How long have you been here?" She questioned.

"I'm asking you a question, Fire. Who the hell was that?!"

It was as if the heat in his voice made a lump in her throat but she didn't care what was con his mind.

"A friend."

"A friend? Are you seeing someone else apart from me. And you kept ignoring my calls!"

"Don't raise your voice at me, Jade. As if you picked my calls when I reached to you! Anytime I visit you at your hotel all I get is drama and more insults. I want you to know that before I met you, I had a life! I lived a very beautiful life, Jade! Today isn't our meeting day. Why are you here?!"

"I don't even know. I don't know why I'm here, Fire." He muttered on a low voice, as he felt puzzled, himself.
Sapphire couldn't help but to feel a tiny of pity for him.

'Whatever! He deserves being yelled at, anyway.' She thought.

Jade had a lot of work to do but he didn't understand why he'd rushed to her house in an instant. He wanted to leave but that won't get him anywhere. Perhaps, it would be a waste if time. He gave her a sky look and didn't say anything.

Sapphire walked into her apartment as Jade followed. She kept her shopping bag on the worktop and took off her shoes at the entrance.
Looking at Jade, his eyes surveyed the four corners of her room as he took a seat on on study table.

She cast a brief look at him and went into the toilet to ease herself.

Just then she heard a phone ring. It wasn't the sound of her phone neither was it the sound of Jade's.

'Griiinn... Grrriiinnnnn.. Grrriiinnnnn'

Jade wondered where the sound was coming from and noticed it was from Sapphire's shopping bag in the kitchen. He went to check on it and brought out a Nokia 1011. It was a surprise such a phone even existed.

Sapphire came out of the toilet, looking so puzzled.

"Where did you get that from?" She asked.

"Your bag." He replied.

"And whose n..number is that?" Sapphire's mind went blank for a moment.

"It's an unknown number." He replied her. "It's looks foreign."

Then he pressed the answer button.
"Hello."

"CEO Jade Alejandro..." It was Denver's mysterious voice on the call. "Good to know you're at your girl's place. we had a moment together, today. Next time, I'd take her away from you. Forever." Denver snickered over the phone.

"You dare not!" Jade gushed in fury like an exhaust pipe.

"Whatever!" Denver let out a malicious chuckle. "I'm not fighting with you. A dog like you has no place in the lion's den. Mum told me she adopted you out of pity... Too bad. Who knows who your true parents were? Probably losers like you are. Well, that's not my problem. As it is, I'd be having an interview with BBC representatives, first thing tomorrow morning. the world needs to know our differences, right?"

"You dare not do th-!"

Beep-beep-beep.

The electronic sound from the old Nokia sounded. Jade hurriedly looked at it's screen but Denver had cut the call. The softness in his eyes disappeared within a moment

He tried dialing the contact again but the phone suddenly tripped off.

"Fuck!" Jade smacked the phone against the wall and it shattered into a thousand pieces.

"Are you okay? Who was that?" Sapphire asked calmly in concern.

Jade fingers brushed through his scattered strands of hair as he tried to control his anger that was burning more.

"Denver! Where did you know him?!" Jade snapped.

"W..what? Who's that?" Sapphire looked more startled than before.

"Don't pretend as if you didn't meet him today, Fire! Where did you guys go?! Where are you coming from, exactly?!"

"I went to get some provisions, Jade! I don't understand who you're talking about." She muttered confusedly.

"And it took you two hours?"

For a reason she couldn't even comprehend, Sapphire felt about a million butterflies perching on her stomach.
"What? Are you doubting me now? Are you calling me a liar?!"

"Okay. A guy dropped you just now. Yes or no?" He queried, trying to calm down his nerves that heated up like hell.

"Yes but-"

"OMG! I can't believe you, Fire! You must have known him then. As you said, he's a friend. How long have you been together?! How long have you known that fucking idiot?!"

"Stop calling him an idiot, Jade! We just met a while ago. I mean- I bumped into him and--"

"No... I don't want to hear it! The fact that you're siding a stranger just like this, yet, you find it so difficult to pick up my calls. I can't believe you ignored my calls  because of Denver!"

Just then, Sapphire remembered the guy introduced himself as Denver. The worst part of it is, she didn't even know who the guy is but he's kindhearted.

"I don't know the guy, Jade. I swear. I felt I had to repay him somehow and he begged to take me home!" She tried to explain.

"How can you let a random stranger take you home?! What did you want to repay him with? Huh? Tell me!"

Jade wailed out his wretched life as he moved closer to her.

"What are you beating yourself up about? Are you related the guy?"

Jade chewed on her words, giving Sapphire a stern glare that looked as if it stirred her soul.
"Tell me, Sapphire. Did you love him?

Confusion hit her hard on the face like a tick wall. Sapphire just couldn't believe her ears.

"Do you even trust me?" She muttered.

"Trust?" He chucked into an awkward  laughter that lasted for a second but Sapphire felt dumbfounded. She couldn't understand if he was drink or something. He was just acting so... Weird.
"I used to trust you, Sapphire. until tonight, I used to love you but I don't think I can, anymore. I don't know who to trust anymore when my mother replaced me with someone else. what am I even saying? I DON'T FUCKING TRUST MYSELF!"

***

It's their first argument since they signed the contract. Do you think Denver would succeeded in separating these two?

This chapter is specially dedicated to
jolade78 NigerianQueens

Kheedy Moroti_Writes KhairatAbdulkarim PurityInMyHeart

MedinatUsmanAjao Agnesomalia

Don't forget to vote, comment and share with your Wattpad besties.