Roger

The deal was done. A business deal to help me with Brandon's lawsuit and a merger that would help both Murphy and Oswalds to profit.

A deal with the devil herself.

Malcolm Oswald was always behind my business. His daughter Stella, whom I once presumed to be the love of my life had now become a party to the ruse I planned. It was the only way to ensure that my Company stayed above any lawsuits and became the toughest competition for anyone, not just in the United Kingdom but around the world.

Did I do the right thing?

Mrs. Rose's charming voice floated into the office before she walked in. "Hello Roger"

"Good morning, Mrs. Rose." I rotated my chair, watching her slide in a chair.

"I read the news... Congratulations are in order, it seems."

"You know the truth, Mrs. Rose. Stella is just a stepping stone."

Confiding in her didn't seem troubling. After all, only she knew of my past with Brandon and Stella.

"Just as how she treated you." Her words carried no emotion towards the woman who was responsible for my pain and suffering. "A stepping stone."

After my mother passed away and my grandparents' age took its toll on them, I grew up around nannies. When I joined Murphy enterprises, Mrs. Rose was there for me every step of the way. She took care of a crumbling pile of human mess that I was. When my father was visiting every whore-house in the country and spending all our money on drugs, Mrs. Rose took up the role of my mother for all terms and purposes.

And because she became my confidant, she was privy to all my secrets; of life and heart.

"I have seen your credit bills, Roger." I sensed concern in her voice.

Ahh. She must have presumed I was following Brandon's footsteps. The difference being instead of visiting a brothel, I was calling up one.

"Do you have anything to say about it?" I pursed my lips, knowing what she might say.

"Don't spend too much. That's all I can say. If that woman knows who you are, she'll bleed you dry..."

"I am not my father. I won't bleed money for some brothel woman somewhere."

"Then is this different?"

Her question had me thinking.

Was Babydoll different? Or was she being different because she didn't know me?

"I don't know, yet."

"Then find out." She sighed. "Roger, with your name, there's an attached responsibility. The Murphy responsibility. Don't let a call center woman deviate you from that."

Her command was clear. She wanted me to put an end to it.

I nodded again for the pearls of wisdom she let out with every word she said. I was lucky enough to have someone close and understanding like her. Strong and wise. And someone who wasn't behind my money.

*

Arin

"So..." both Georgia and I spoke in unison as Mrs. Rose emerged outside Roger's office. We beelined towards her cubicle, our minds swirling with the question that the entire office wanted to know.

"So what girls?" She tilted her head.

"Is he really getting married or is it false news?" Georgia couldn't control her curiosity and nudged for an answer.

I hid behind her, holding my breath. In reality, I was dying every moment. The answer might save me. It might kill me too.

"It's true," Mrs. Rose said. "He is getting married to the Oswald girl."

My heart sank into a bottomless pit of sadness. No amount of artificial lighting in the office could pull me out of the gloominess I felt. My chest felt heavy, absorbing reality.

What I presumed about Roger - of him liking me and wanting to date me - was a mirage I conjured.

I was a dirty little secret to be hidden away. Nobody would acknowledge that they jacked off to the voice of a woman on call. It was a truth that would never see the light of day. I was a nobody who got carried away upon coming to know her boss was calling her.

The hurtful reality that nobody could accept me for what I did spread across my bloodstream, jolting me back to reality.

I knew now, not to daydream.

Roger would only be my boss and nothing more.

The thing about truth was it would hurt for a while. Every time I'd see Roger from now on, I'd be reminded of our times and the fact that he was someone else's. But when the sun sets today, it would set on us too.

The day passed at a snail's pace.

Maybe it was how the universe worked, letting happy days rove up faster while gloomier days took longer to set off. Even though I braved the news of Roger's engagement with a smile, the ache emerging from my chest continued pricking me.

By evening, I was quick to pack my belongings and rush home.

The distance seemed to have increased to my home. The setting sun felt dimmer and people walking back from work seemed duller in appearance. The colors of the world faded.

As soon as I walked inside my apartment, my legs gave up. So did my control. I felt my heartache radiate towards my eyes, spewing up the dam of pent-up emotions. My lungs couldn't muster up enough strength to pull in oxygen. Heaving, I embraced the hardwood floor, my only companion for the night.

Somewhere, after an hour of self-loathing on the floor, I moved to the bed.

As I didn't have the luxury to afford to pay rent, my mother's medical bills and student loans all with one single job, I dialed the operator, confirming my availability.

Lucky were the people who had the time to wallow in self-pity. I didn't even have that.

When an hour passed with no calls, I redialed the operator.

"I didn't get any calls. Is everything okay with the lines?"

What would kill me at this moment would be a technical issue making me have another zero payday. I badly wanted a distraction and the calls were my way of having it.

"Yes, Arin. Everything is fine." The operator's soft voice assured. "Today you are on special calls only."

"What special calls?" This was the first time I was hearing about it.

"That Master of yours... Well, he requested it."

"Requested what?"

"That no calls other than his be transferred to you."

"I don't understand."

"Umm... Why don't you ask him yourself? He joined the call." Her happy voice streamed through. "I am patching him now."

Before I could protest any further, I heard his mesmerizing voice. "Hello, Gorgeous."

"No Babydoll today?"

"I like to keep you on your toes," he whispered. "And it seemed to have worked."

"Very funny. What's with the special request, Master?"

"About that. Well, I don't like sharing." Roger's voice was commanding.

"Me neither. But life doesn't always give you what you want. Learn to adapt." The sadness inside me was balling into anger. "I have paying clients and I can't lose business."

Roger could be with Stella or Budweiser or whichever other beer-named girlfriend he planned on marrying but his audacity - telling me how to work - fueled my rage.

"You will be paid the compensation for it, Babydoll." He sounded casual.

It wasn't merely about money anymore. It was about control. My life was slipping out of my hold like sand from a tightened fist.

"Who am I to you, that you dictate your orders upon me?"

Roger needed a lesson on - not everyone in the world was available for his take. That included me.

His voice went silent. Even I refrained from speaking.

Then he drew a long deep breath, sighing. "You are someone who makes me happy. Very happy."

What about his fiancé? Mrs. future Murphy. Doesn't she make him happy?

That was a conversation for another time. For now, I acted like a drug addict - detoxing -before he came back and supplied me with the drug of his voice, his charm. I was ready to let go of reality...again.

"Really..." I dangled my feet on the floor, laying on the bed. "What about me makes you happy?"

"You are me, in a lot of ways."

His voice was soft, derived from a smile as if he was describing me from his thoughts.

"How?" I kept questioning him. "I don't know you. So tell me, how am I like you?"

"Not many people like poetry, the same ones that I do. Art is different for everyone but we seem to have similar tastes. We both love London and want to travel a lot."

"Anndd..."

"And most importantly, I am good in bed. Seems so are you."

I giggled like a teenager, rolling in bed. His stubbled face and the smirk he usually put on display appeared in my mind.

"You don't even know me. How do you know I'm good in bed?"

"I know it, Babydoll. There have been other women who weren't able to please me, even when they were with me. You..." He took a long deep breath and exhaled. "You, on the other hand. Gosh. With that voice, those tricks and that wild crazy imagination of yours..."

"I try."

Warmth spread over my face from the array of compliments he placed one after the other to describe me. A smile emerged at the corner of my lips. My stomach somersaulted at his words, sending ripples of excitement over my skin. No man has ever said so few yet meaningful words to state his alikeness with me.

"As I have said before too, you too really have a way with words, Master"

"I try too, Babydoll," he whispered.

Every thought I was talking to Roger and gushing over his compliments, some part of me wanted to know why was he on a call with me instead of being with his fiancé. Unable to ask him directly, I played through my little devious ways.

"So Master... Did you read today's newspaper?"

"Yes I did, What happened?

"Roger Murphy is getting married to Stella Oswald. The biggest marriage of the century."

He remained silent as if he was contemplating whether to answer my question or not. Was he marinating in guilt?

"Yes, I read that."

"What do you think, Master? Don't they make a lovely couple?"

"Seems like you like the Murphy guy!" he chuckled.

Yes, I do like you, idiot.

"Who wouldn't? He looks good. And I've read he's a good deal closer too, Master."

"Just good looks and negotiation skills work for you?" His tone was inquisitive. It spoke to me, telling me to answer fairly.

"It's not like I know him personally. But I have read articles about his philanthropic works. He seems like a good man."

"Babydoll..." A whisper- barely audible. "If you find a man like Roger Murphy, what qualities would you look for in him?"

"You mean other than his looks?"

"Hah." He chuckled. "Yes, other than his looks. Remember he is filthy rich."

"Is he good? Like as a human being, is he good?"

"I think so..." ragged breathing from his end hit me.

"Then I would go for that."

"Not for his money? Remember, it's just an imagination. You still wouldn't go for his wealth?"

Was Roger testing me? Was this a trick question?

"Wealth isn't everything, Master." Said the girl who took two jobs to sustain herself. "One thing my mum told me was if I have a man's company who'd cherish me and keeps me happy, I should go for that. Above all else."

"She is a wise woman.."

"Was."

"Ohh... I am sorry."

"It's okay. It's been more than a year now.."

With his silence, I fell back to my earlier probe. "So Master, you still haven't answered."

"About..."

"Roger and Stella as a couple."

He took another deep breath. I held onto the quilt, preparing for his wordy assault. My heartbeats resonated in my ears and the silence over the call almost took my life.

"Yes, they make a very good power couple. The best indeed."

Just like that, the mirage I viewed from a distance, an illusion of us being together faded with his answer.

A/N

Hello all you beautiful people

Did you like this chapter? Do let me know in comments.

Also please do check out my other works, if you haven't yet. I would really appreciate it and would love to hear from you all on those works too.

Happy reading

Love

S