*
*
Faith could almost smack herself in the head, why did she think she could explain her situation to Sterling.
He was only her employer, why did she always forget such a simple thing?
He was not obligated to care about her personal issues.
She stared at her bandaged hand, recalling how tender Sterling had been when he picked her up and brought her to the hospital, she had seen genuine concern in his eyes.
Some days, he was just so good to her that she would forget that he was her boss, other times, he would be so stern and harsh reminding her that he could always replace her.
Would she ever completely understand him?
Perhaps not in this lifetime.
Faith watched as Sterling signed the last papers, she accepted them from him and handed them to the lawyer.
Sterling shook hands with Mr. Muller, this was the first time Faith was seeing her boyfriend's father, he had a wide smile. Well, his account had been topped by some good digits, Faith thought.
Dan didn't show up as she had expected. She supposed it made the atmosphere more comfortable for her.
"Let's go." Faith nodded at Sterling's words.
They started to exit the building and headed towards the car when Sterling spoke again.
"You don't seem excited, are you upset because I purchased the land?"
Faith stares at him for some seconds, then her lips curved into a small smile.
"I'm your secretary, so, of course, I'm happy that our company succeeded. Also, I don't have the right to be upset with you." She inhaled deeply, then added.
"My behavior earlier was uncalled for, I shouldn't have allowed my personal issues to disrupt our work relationship, it won't happen again." Faith mumbled just as they reached the car.
"It's fine." Sterling entered the car and waited for her to do the same.
"Can I also ask you to stop bringing me to work? I also don't need you to send a driver, I would like it if you treat me as your other employees."
Faith missed the sudden clench in Sterling's jaw. He spoke only seconds later.
"You're not like my other employees, but if that's what you really want, then I'll do it."
That evening, Faith took a taxi home. She withdrew her phone from her bag as she opened the door, there was no text or calls from Dan.
A sigh escaped her mouth, why were things going so wrong with the both of them? She walked inside her apartment.
"Ta-da!" A loud voice boomed and Faith shrieked, she turned around to see her friend.
"Natalie! When did you come! Why didn't you tell me you were coming!" Faith held a hand over her chest, releasing a breath.
"I thought I would come to spend a few days with you." Natalie shrugged and Faith shot her a suspicious look.
"Just like that? Did you and your husband fight again?" Faith threw her purse carelessly against the couch and started to take off her shoes. Natalie's prolonged silence told her that was the case.
"I pay all the bills in the house! He's never spent a dime on me, yet that bastard still had the nerve to cheat on me! I told him I'm filing for a divorce, I can't keep dealing with all of this!"
"I'm sorry all of that happened to you." Faith sympathized with her friend.
"You can stay here for as long as you want."
After a shower, Faith was laying on her bed. She picked up the phone to call Dan, at least to ensure that he was alright, his father had sold off the land today, he must not be in a good mood, Faith thought.
He answered on the third ring.
"I wanted to check up on you, how are you doing?" Faith spoke first, and Dan's response came seconds later.
"I didn't think you would care!" The bite in his voice was evident and Faith sighed quietly.
Not this again, she thought. The last thing she wanted was another fight with him.
"Why would you say that? About the land, I'm sorry__" Faith started but was cut off by Dan.
"It's gone now, it wasn't as though if you didn't help Sterling take it away from us!" He sneered.
Faith was hurt by his statement. "Even if I wasn't working for him, he still would have bought it, Why are you blaming me!"
"And why do you always side with him?" Dan fired.
"This morning he took you away, you never even objected, I want to ask you Faith, who's more important to you?"
Faith clenched her cellphone tightly, if Dan wasn't important to her, why would she risk her job by informing Sterling about their relationship? Sure they had known each other only for eight weeks but she already thought she could start something serious with him.
"I'm not about to answer that, remember it was you who started the fight with my boss! I got burnt while trying to separate you from him, he only took me to the hospital! " Faith hissed.
"What made you assume that I started the fight? Didn't you think he might have said or done something? He's thinking of taking you away from me, he said you belong to him___" Dan started and Faith couldn't take it anymore.
"Not this again, Dan! How could you confront him over such a ridiculous thing! What's wrong with you? My boss is not that kind of person!" She shouted.
There was a pronounced pause.
"You seem to trust him more than me, we've been fighting ever since, I'm tired of you not believing and accepting what I'm saying, I think it's finally time you make a decision, you can either choose me or him!"
"There's nothing to choose, it's all in your head!" Faith gritted.
"Then leave the company, I don't want you to work for him anymore!"
At this point, disappointment and irritation stirred in Faith's heart, she was starting to think that maybe she didn't know Dan as she thought.
Dan of all people should know that she needed money for her brother's tuition along with her mother's medication.
She wouldn't get another high-paying job so easily. If Dan was asking her to quit because of an important reason, she might have obliged, she knew he was asking her to leave the company because of his dislike for Sterling. Now, she was convinced that he was lying about everything he said about her boss. He was only speaking ill of Sterling Hunter because of the land issue.
"I will give you till tomorrow to know your response." Dan spoke and Faith responded.
"There's no need, I'm not leaving my job! Maybe this isn't going anywhere Dan, you are allowing your personal contempt against Sterling Hunter to affect our relationship!"
"It isn't me Faith, you are so blinded to see the reality, one day you will find out what I'm telling you today!"
Faith ended the call and buried her face against the pillows, why did she feel as if their relationship had come to an end? The feeling was depressing. What was going wrong with the both of them? Was it her fault?
But where was she wrong?
Why couldn't she understand anything since these last few days?
*
*