"You are fired!"

Those were the exact words Jeremy Benson flung at Sara the third time she submitted a wrong catalog for their new client that needed office designs. According to Jeremy, he was an important client, not as rich as the billionaire, but very important nonetheless. Jeremy wasn't at fault for reaching that harsh decision with her, she had brought it upon herself. The reason wasn't farfetched either. The name was Lucas Caspian-Asiegbu.

He occupied her everyday thoughts. He appeared in her dreams at night and he plagued her nightmares like an avenging angel. She reasoned he probably had cause to if what happened in Calabar was taken into consideration. With her head in the clouds, thinking and strategizing whether or not to make peace with him, it was little wonder her overdue expunging from Valiant decors.

That was two weeks ago actually and she'd been forced to use her tongue to count her teeth when she realized she was gradually falling into square one again just like five years ago. Broken both emotionally and financially. To make matters worse, she now had a five year old son depending on her. How could she even begin to demand to be in his life if she had nothing to offer him?

The situation at this time was worse. Unlike initially when Donald had helped her get back her job, it wouldn't be possible anymore, not that she would go back anyway. She had her dignity to consider. She and Donald had ended things bitterly in Calabar and she could sense he, in consequence, had removed his support from Valiant after that trip if Jeremy's constant scowls and random outbursts in the office were any indication.

Thinking about that trip brought her back to the day she left amidst tears. She had the common sense to hold her crying fit until she was safely in her apartment with Jules in tow. Then she had narrated every single detail, leaving nothing out while Jules listened patiently. They talked about it, trying to see if she could have been wrong but knew undoubtedly how furtile it was. So, Jules had asked the important question.

"Why are you not telling him you're sorry for lashing out and jumping to conclusions?"

In reality, she had no answer to that. She knew Lucas well enough to know he'd welcome her back with open arms. Someone that attracted to you definitely will but what was the use? Start a relationship with him again that will end up in flames if he so much as takes another business trip? Karen may have been malicious but she had hit the nail on the head. He was a playboy and fidelity was a virtue he obviously knew nothing about. Because he wasn't interested in Karen in Calabar didn't mean some other woman would not catch his fancy soon. And he would fall once they did. So why bother?

"There's no need. I don't trust him not to cheat on me again and I don't trust myself to stay calm and listen to his side of the story when that time comes," she had responded glumily.

That was three weeks ago and even though Jules pestered her to reconsider her decision since she was willing to look away if Lucas was the love of her life but Sara didn't agree. The memory of his betrayal was all too clear, all too real to be swept away that easily. So she had reminisced the events after the scandal when he broke her heart and trust, to convince herself she was doing the right thing.

She had seen the news the night after the scandal broke out as the nurse who was tending to her stitches, following her Caesarean section, helped tuck her in for the night. Numb was what she felt at first, feeling as if she was floating and someone else was in her body until she saw his companion and the pain set. Being careful of her stitches, she had sent everyone out, then curled her fingers around the pillow case and wept till there were no more tears. The next morning, she had a splitting headache, a blocked nose, sore eyes and aching fingers from gripping the sheets too hard, all these on top a betrayed heart.

He had shown up late morning looking thin and tired from too much responsibilities but one look at him and she had gone berserk. Perhaps it was the simple fact that those same hazel brown eyes had made promises to her which he now broke, or that those same lips which had kissed and showered her with love so much it enveloped her like a cloud had kissed another, or of the fact that those skilled hands and devastatingly handsome body that had taught and shown her what passion they could wrought had practised it on another. Perhaps it was everything about him, she didn't know and she couldn't stop her mouth once they opened from wrecking him up emotionally.

She had cursed him with vile, cruel words. She had rued the day they met, the day he proposed and the day they got married. She had even gone ahead to wish she didn't have his child if like father like son was a factual thing. All through her outbursts he didn't react, just watched her with remorseful eyes and claimed he was innocent despite the glaring evidence and the action irked her more than his cheating. That was probably the motivation she needed to request for a divorce when the time came.

That was five years ago but it was awfully similar to what happened in Calabar. Once bitten, twice shy was a powerful quote and she'd rather crawl inside her shell than confront him just to set herself up for another heartbreak.

Presently, she was reviewing her options and trying to see if she could manouever her way into her son's life. There wasn't much option though. She really needed a gateway as she couldn't continue her mouse and cat game with Lucas concerning their son.

A knock on her door and she strolled to open it only to find Donald at the other side. She was surprised to see him, truthfully, thinking their friendship pact had been broken because of Calabar misunderstandings but here he was waving a white flag, or his hand actually.

"Can I come in?" He greeted with a charming smile, rocking from one foot to the other. He knew she would be hesitant but she still trusted him so she'll let him in eventually.

She stood at the space between her open door and its lock, using her body as barricade in case he decided to march in suddenly. "I don't see your lovely girlfriend anywhere. Don't tell me you guys broke up?" She mocked, her eyes squinted in annoyance.

He sighed deeply. "I know you hate her and you have cause to but like I said, she's the woman that has stolen my heart. This is a simple case of the heart wants what it wants." He was being sincere and it fell off of him in waves.

She thought about warning him to be careful around Karen as she was a sneaky, manipulative bitch but kept her mouth shut. It wasn't her cup of tea really.

"Will you let me in or not? I come in peace."

She shifted slightly on her feet, contemplating. "Why did you come? It's not that I'm not pleased to see you."

A smile graced his lips and he chuckled. "I promised to help you get your son back, didn't I? Well, I'm here to fulfill that promise," he said simply.

Her eyes narrowed instantly on hearing that. Yes, he said he would help her but she had reviewed the matter with Jules who fought for custody of her daughter from her abusive ex-husband and won and realized it was high nigh impossible. Whatever idea Donald had come up with was going to be high staked and expensive and she did not exactly have much on her, thanks to her family's profligate lifestyle.

"What are you talking about?"

"Let me in first and I'll explain it to you."

An hour later and she wished she didn't let him into her apartment at all. He was mad! They were sat in seperate sofas in her apartment sharing cold cans of malt and discussing how to get her son back. It sounded more like a company bid takeover to her ears with the way he explained every point.

First, he had brought up court battle which he pointed out would be a loosing war since the Caspian-Asiegbus would be willing to sink her if she took them to court. She, on the other hand, vehemently denied dragging her son through such mediocre means as she was broke. Besides, Lucas would take absolute pleasure in ridiculing her now that they were no longer a thing.

Then he had mentioned having powerful enemies. He said he'd get confidential information from the company and give her to sell to powerful CAPPEL enemies who would in turn help her get back her son without much hassle. In his own words, with the appropriate financial backing, Lucas would practically give in to her demands. When he explained it, it sounded to her like a personal vendetta issue so she had scrambled it off her list too.

In the wave of exasperation and desperation, Donald had suggested setting Lucas up in order to defame him. If a scandal bigger than what happened five years ago were to repeat itself, Lucas and the whole of CAPPEL would lose credibility, forcing Lucas to agree to company mergers as a salvaging means. She then could tap into it, forcing Lucas to agree to complete custody.

She had countered his ideas with reaching a joint custody agreement with Lucas but the raving genius would not hear of it. He was certain Lucas would not honor the agreement especially as they're not together. And since she had no plans of getting back together with him, joint custody was very detrimental to a child. He supported his claims with questions of how she'd be able to meet up to the standard of living her son was used to and she had no answer.

At the end, it was a matter of if she wanted to share her son with Lucas which was dependent on him agreeing to it or demand full custody using ulterior means since it was obvious he would never agree.

"Don't be stubborn, Sara. This is not the time for such behaviors!" He chided. "You and I both know they'd bring up that embezzlement case if you push for custody, so let's have a leverage to fight with, too." He leaned back into the sofa where he sat to allow his words sink in.

She didn't reply him, knowing he was right and wishing he wasn't. The deal to keep her out of Rocky's trial five years ago was her absence from her son's life. It was obvious those people still had that case hanging over her head and if Lucas refused her plea for joint parenthood, all these would have been for nought. The horrible lunch meeting, the seduction in that hotel, the wonderful date nights and visits, even the romantic weekend. She had not come this far to give up as she had made a promise to her son to be in his life anyway she could. She would not stand for rejection and that meant agreeing to Donald's idea.

Donald watched her battle with her thoughts and loved that she was too prideful and stubborn. None of the ideas he proposed would leave her in a good light at the end of it all and the success of the plans were not guaranteed. Even if they managed to bring Lucas down by stealing confidential information from his company, the Caspian-Asiegbus were all millionaires. Some idiotic family member would be willing to help Lucas get back on his feet and then there would be war. The same applied to defaming him. But Sara didn't need to know the technicalities of the plan. Since she was too bullheaded to make peace with her ex, and see if he'd agree to sharing their son, then it was only his good fortune and he was prepared to milk her dry for it. Stubborn, naïve (or was it ignorance?) women were the easiest preys.

"I can help you get your son back," he began slowly, whispering the words to her as if it was a calming cloud over her tumultuous mind. She only needed the conviction to accept his offer. "They have hurt you too much, don't you think? You're his mother. A child needs to be with his mother. They already took five years of your son's life from you, don't let them take more. Trust me to help you get him back."

Sara gulped the remaining liquid and grimaced. The drink tasted bitter as did the words that were about to leave her lips. She knew deep down she shouldn't trust him but how else could she get her son back without having to suck up to Lucas? Besides, this way, she could hurt him as much as he had hurt her when he took Freddie away five years ago.

"Alright, I'm in. Let me know when you have the leverage we need."

An hour extra and after explaining to her how everything was supposed to work, Donald was smiling like a Cheshire cat as he drove back to his apartment complex. Karen would be enthusiastic to know Sara was now a pawn in their game. It would be wonderful really if Sara was the one accused of sabotage instead.

~~~~~~~

Some people will now come and say Donald is shady and wicked. In my opinion, he's only a smart businessman. Simple 😈😉

What do you think is Sara's issue? And do you think it will cause a major problem later? 😒

Remember to leave comments and vote. Your comments make my day. Seriously guys, thank you so much 😍😘