Chapter 9 ENTER BERNICE SKYLAR

Bernice sauntered into the school hallway like a princess. She was the daughter and only child of Gilbert and Bertha Skylar the Presidents and founders of Skylars House of Fashion, the leading fashion house in the country.

Her parents had tried for so many years to conceive a child to make their family complete. They had Bernice when they were already advanced in age so they ended up spoiling her rotten, giving her anything she desired.

She was starting her first day in the new school because she had been expelled from her previous school. Since it was her senior year, her parents were desperate for her to get her high school Diploma. They had paid a lot of money for the school to have admitted her in her last year.

As she walked, heads turned to admire her cause she was a natural beauty. Being a rich, beautiful and only child made her think that she owned the world.

That is why on her very first day in her new school, she saw Frost standing by the lockers and decided that he was going to be her boyfriend.

Frost was smitten by her beauty and charm and felt like a king when Bernice asked him out. They became the high school cutest couple and he was always ready to do her every bidding. At that time, he was starved of family affection so he chose to hold fast to his first love.

Bernice ended up cheating on him with the football captain within three months of their relationship. When things didn't go well with the football captain, she went crying to Frost that she made a mistake and it was him that she loved.

Of course, Frost forgave her and took her back and that was how their on-and-off relationship was defined until five years ago when she met her Mr. Right, dumped Frost on the spot, and got married.

*****

Frost was busy in his office when somebody pushed open the door and came in, rushing to his desk. Stunned, he stood up looked at his ex-fiancee, and wondered where she came from.

She ran to him and hugged him, tilting her head up as if ready to receive a kiss from him. Without thinking, he pushed her away and she stumbled backward only to be caught by her bodyguard before she fell. Leo and Vinca who were hot on her heels came into the office in time to see her stumble.

"Honey, why did you push me away like that when I came straight from the airport to see you?" she asked with a flustered look.

"What are you doing here?" he asked with a face that spelled murder.

This was the woman who had trampled over his heart time and time again till he had no love left inside of him. After breaking off their engagement and immediately getting married to someone else, he swore to never get involved with women again. Now here she was, up to her tricks again but he was going to have none of it.

"Mike divorced me. Can you believe he cheated on me with a younger woman? He kicked me out of the house and said that he wanted a woman who could give him children" she sneered. "I mean why would I want to ruin my perfect figure all in the name of bearing a child?

Frost felt revolted, just looking at her. He wondered why he once felt that this woman was his whole world.

"So why are you here, in my office, disturbing my working hours?" he asked looking at her with one eyebrow raised.

"Honey please, I need you back. I can't live without you"

Frost and Leo roared in laughter when they heard this. Leo laughed so much that he started coughing so Vinca had to get him a glass of water.

Bernice had always been a resilient woman, never allowing anything or anyone to put her down or take what she felt belonged to her so when she realized tears were not going to work, she turned coy.

"My love, please don't do this to me" she sensually and shyly moved towards Frost and holding him tight by the waist, raised puppy dog eyes at him.

"I love you and I promise this time I will not leave your side no matter what happens. We are childhood sweethearts, destined to be together forever"

She then pressed her face on Frost's chest and pretended to weep weakly while she caressed his back gently with her fingers. As if they were the only two in the office, she moved provocatively, brushing herself on him.

"Don't you want me? Are you willing to let all of this go?"

Leo looked aghast at her actions. This evil woman dared to act innocent after she had left his boss devastated and all that was left of him was a shell of a man. It had taken Frost years to get over the pain and betrayal

Right now, Frost just wanted to strangle the woman that was holding on to him and he was doing everything in his will to control himself.

He very gently removed the hands holding him. He then walked towards Jasmine and holding her by her waist, turned to Vinca.

"Let me introduce you to my fiancée and soon-to-be wife Vinca", he said with a smile on his face.

Vinca, not understanding what just happened turned her head slowly and looked at him in shock. Leo, with his mouth wide open, stared at Frost as if he had just developed two heads.

Bernice, the most shocked lost feelings in her legs and fell. She never in her wildest imagination ever thought that Frost would be with another woman except her.

After all, she had brazenly cheated on him time and again but he always took her back. Isn't that why she confidently came back knowing that she was the only one worthy to stand by his side?

Her bodyguard rushed to help her up. He was the only one unaffected by the whole drama.

"Please take Miss Bernice home" Frost advised the bodyguard and turned back to his desk with Vinca still in his hands. The bodyguard picked Bernice up and walked out of the office.

Vinca, very angry at being used without her consent, turned angrily at Frost but before she could say a word, Frost covered her mouth with his hands

"Am sorry. It was the only solution could think of in the spur of a moment."

"What the hell was that?" shouted Leo, coming out of his trance.

Frost shook his head. He knew he had to explain himself to Vinca but he couldn't do so at the office. The explanation would have to wait for later when they were home.

Bernice, who had been carried back to the car and placed in the backseat was sobbing uncontrollably. The bodyguard knew it was not his place to console her so he just got into the driver's seat and drove off.