Chapter Hiding From Him
One week.
It had been exactly one week since Hera set her eyes on her boss after their fallout. She had always tried her very best to avoid him as best as she could.
In the mornings, she would do her job as soon as he leaves for work and makes sure to get dinner ready before he gets back home from work.
Her routine had been like that and she was certain that she wouldn't be changing it anytime soon. The more space she gives, the better.
"Are you finally ready to talk about it?" Mariam had asked that evening when they were both together in the kitchen prepping for dinner.
Ever since it happened, she had remained quiet and had refused to say anything to Mariam. She didn't think it was important to let the old lady know what was going on.
Plus, it wasn't a subject that she was proud of speaking about so what's the point of doing so?
"Hera" Mariam coaxed when she didn't respond to her question "What happened?"
Hera shook her head negatively "Nothing happened Ma'am. What makes you think that something happened?" She retorted.
Mariam threw the knife that she was holding on the counter "I'm not a fool Hera. I know that something happened between you two and you being silent and avoiding the question, proves it already."
Hera sighed deeply "The only reason why I'm being silent is because it's not that important. There's nothing to talk about." she said in her defense.
"Did he do something wrong?" Mariam asked straight out of the blue. "He did right?"
"It doesn't matter ma'am. You don't have to worry about anything." Hera assured her with a placating smile.
"Last night..." Mariam began, forcing Hera to stop abruptly and listen to what the woman had to say "I heard when Max came in to call you and I was awake when the both of you came back home with Bryce and I noticed after that day that the two of you barely speak to each other and you have been avoiding him as well."
"So tell me Hera, am I imagining things now or did it really happen? And don't try to tell me that I don't have to worry about anything because I do." She added.
"Bryce...I mean Sir has a lot of problems and I don't want to be caught up in the middle of them." She explained.
"What kind of problems?" She pressed.
"He...um...he" she stammered, her words failing her.
"Did he do something inappropriate to you?"
Hera thought about the question for a while. If she should tell Mariam that he almost overpowered her last night, it would make him look bad and besides he had already apologized to her because he wasn't in the right frame of mind so there's no point in saying anything. "No Mariam." She answered sharply "He didn't do anything that was inappropriate with me."
"That's a relief" Mariam touched the part of her chest where her heart was located "Then why are you upset with him?"
"I'll let you know when I'm ready ma'am. I don't want to talk about it now."
She nodded her head "Okay."
Hera finished helping with dinner and went back to her apartment. She knew that Bryce would be coming back soon and didn't want to run into him by chance. Hiding saved her from a lot of unwanted heartaches. She wouldn't deny the fact that she missed him a lot. These past few days had been hell. Not to mention that Martha had taken it upon herself to constantly ask about him each time she called. She wanted to know if he would still be attending the Thanksgiving service. Hera had given her a befitting reply though but she wondered how long it would take Martha to figure out her current situation.
She was like an open book to them. Either ways, she would cross that bridge when she gets to it.
Tired, she decided to take her shower and the minute she stepped out of the bathroom, she was welcomed by her ringing cellphone.
She picked it up from where she had kept it and swiped the receive button when she saw the caller ID on the screen.
"Good evening Ben!" She greeted casually.
She had Ben had developed a kind of friendship after the whole mess with Bryce. He always called and gave her a listening ear whenever she needed it.
She was grateful that apart from Mariam and the sisters from the Convent, she had someone else that she could share her problems and worries with. "How are you? You didn't reply my text or answer any of my calls since yesterday. I got frightened that something bad might've happened to you." She chuckled "I am alright Ben. Just busy that's all."
"Do you ever take a break?" Came his question "You're always busy whenever I call or does it have something to do with your boss?"
Hera had opened up a teeny tiny bit about what had happened between them. She didn't go into full details but he had an idea that something was wrong.
"It doesn't Ben." Her small voice sounded through the phone "Sorry I missed your calls. I didn't mean to."
"You don't have to apologize. I'm not angry or anything." He answered causing her to smile at his words. "Are you free for dinner this evening?"
Hera glanced at her phone screen. It's a minute past seven.
"But-"
"No buts!" He chimed "You stood me up the first time remember? So you owe me a date little one."
"Alright then." She agreed after giving it some thought.
"Great! Just send me your address and I'll pick you up in.... let's say thirty minutes."
"Alright Ben. See you later"
"You too!" He replied with so much enthusiasm before disconnecting the call.
Hera decided to get dressed after texting him her address. There was no point in sleeping anymore. She'd rest later when she gets back from dinner.
Walking into her bedroom, she
approached her mini closet and scanned through her dresses. She settled down for a knee length floral gown and flats. She decided to let down her hair. Bryce likes it when she does that. She shouldn't be
thinking about him but she couldn't help it.
Ben arrived a lot earlier than she had hoped. After gaining both permission and multiple warnings from Mariam, they both set out to leave.
"Come on Hera, get in." He told her when they approached his car that he had opened up for her.
She was about to enter when Bryce drove Into the building. At first she halted and her heart skipped a beat like a child who had just been caught stealing.
Bryce stepped down with his eyes fixed on hers/He had an unreadable expression on his face. She couldn't tell if he was angry, annoyed or both but the scrowl and ardent frown told her that he wasn't happy to see Ben. She averted her gaze when she found herself staring at him a little longer than usual.
"Welcome back Sir" she greeted him with a curt bow.
Ben greeted him as well but he wouldn't answer. Instead, he glared at him.
"Let's go Ben. She alerted him and got into his car. He shut the door and got inside. He started the ignition and pulled out of the building leaving Bryce to
all by himself as he watere
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