Chapter 6 EXPLANATION

When Miriam got to her house, she walked into the house like a ghost, she was very tired and sick, Sophia was the first to see her, and she rushed over to her and hugged her,

''What on earth happened to you, Miriam?''

Miriam didn't say a word, she wrapped her hand around Sophia as hot tears fell from her eyes, Sophia pulled her closer and patted her on the back. After a while, Sophia took Miriam to a chair and asked,

''Miriam, can you tell me what has been happening to you, for goodness' sake, I am damn worried about you, Edward, Nathan, everyone is worried since you got this new job, we lost the cheerful little Miriam, thank God you have been fired, you will go see a doctor tomorrow morning''

Miriam wiped the tears in her eyes with the back of her hand, she swallowed hard and said,

''He said I should be at work tomorrow morning''

Sophia looked at her in confusion,

''Who said?''

''My boss''

Sophia opened her mouth in confusion, she gently stood up from the chair and stared at Miriam for a while, then looked away and brushed her hair with her hand, she walked out of the room and came back almost immediately, anger written all over her face, she pointed a finger at Miriam while placing the other hand on her waist,

''Listen carefully Miriam, it was a mistake to ask you to work in the first place, Jesus!!!!.......''

She covered her face with her palms, then turned around and faced Miriam, then with a gentle voice she said,

''I am sorry for yelling baby''

She went and sat close to Miriam then taking her hand, she said,

''Listen, sweetie, you are not going back to that work ok, you need to take some rest, Edward and I are going to take care of the family, thank God I found a better job, you don't need to work, ok?''

''But..........''

Sophia quickly placed a hand on Miriam's lips to prevent her from talking,

''No buts baby, now go to your room, freshen up, and come downstairs for dinner, we have a lot to talk about, now go''

Miriam hesitated before going to her room, she was not happy that her sister asked her to stop working. She started thinking of ways to convince her siblings.

Anthony was standing close to his window with his hands at his back, he looked out of the window. There was a knock at the door, then Frank walked in and bowed to Anthony,

''Sir, we couldn't get any clew from his phone''

''What about the girl?''

''She got home safely but the family are not happy about what is happening to her''

Anthony walked to the side of the window, took the glass of wine there, and sat on a chair, he signaled Frank to go. Frank walked towards the door but stopped and turned around, then he said,

''Don't you think she will start asking for an explanation when she comes back?''

Anthony sipped his drink and looked out of the window, he smiled and said,

''You may take your leave''

Frank bowed and left.

The next day, Miriam woke up and prepared for work, she went downstairs and met her family sitting around the dining table, she joined them and after eating, she stood up to leave but was stopped by Edward,

''Where are you going?''

''Work''

''Sophia told me how bad you looked yesterday. I want you to quit that job''

Miriam looked at her family in shock. She couldn't believe they were telling her to quit a job that would change their lives. She looked at Sophia and Sophia looked away, Miriam said,

''I can't quit the job''

Edward stood up but Sophia held his hand, he looked at Sophia and she gently removed her hand from his, he looked at Miriam with an angry face and continued,

''Listen, young lady, when I tell you to do something, I want you to do it immediately, is that understood?''

Miriam gently nodded her head. This was the first time in her life that Edward had ever shouted at her. Edward smiled and said,

''Good, now go up to your room and have some rest, you will go see the doctor later in the day''

Miriam ran to her room with tears in her eyes, she couldn't believe why all this was happening to her, she just wanted to help out. She went into her room and banged the door, then fell on the bed and cried. She heard someone come inside her room, she wiped the tears from her face and sat up, she saw it was Sophia and she looked away. Sophia came in and stood at the door for a while then came and sat on the chair at the corner of the room, she looked at Miriam who didn't want to look at her, and then she said,

''Are you ok baby?''

Miriam looked at her with anger in her eyes,

''Are you asking me if I am ok, you all treat me like a year-old baby, for crying out loud, I am 22. You told me to ask my boss what the issue was, I went, and when I left the company, I was kidnapped. I came back and thought you understand me more than anyone in the world, I told you but all you could do was to go tell Edward and Nathan. Just let me be please''

Sophia bowed her head and bit her lower lips, then with a gentle voice, she said,

''I am very sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you, I was looking out for you..........''

''Oh really, you were looking out for me huh, then the only way to help me is to report me, right?''

''No sweetie, I didn't report you. I only told Edward that you have not been yourself lately. I only asked him to take you to the hospital, I wasn't aware of his plans''

''Please Sophia, spare me all these explanations, I want to rest as you all said''

Sophia nodded her head and slowly stood up and walked to the door, she was about to open the door when someone from outside opened it instead, it was Nathan, he looked inside the room and searched for Miriam with his eyes, he saw her on the bed and shouted out to her,

''Hey kid, some men are here to see you''

Miriam stood up from the bed and looked at Sophia, she quickly wore her slippers and went downstairs. There she met Frank and some other men with Edward. When Frank saw her, he stepped forward and said to her,

''The boss sent me to remind you that you are his secretary and ought to be at work by this time''

Miriam looked at her family, she licked her lower lips and was about to talk when Edward said,

''We are sorry sir. She's not feeling so well so we asked her to stay home and take some rest''

Frank looked Edward in the eyes and Edward looked away, Frank smiled and turned to Miriam,

''Sorry but it seems like you didn't read the contract before signing, it is written that as the secretary to the boss, you have to get permission from him before taking a break''

He looked Miriam up and said,

''You don't look sick to me. I suggest you come with me to the office and explain yourself to the boss''

Miriam swallowed hard at the mention of her boss. She folded the edge of her dress, Edward wanted to talk but she spoke first,

''Alright, I will come with you''

She went into the house and dressed up. When they got to the company, she read the name of the company in her mind and swallowed hard then she went in. The first person she met was Jane. Jane was looking pissed, Miriam wanted to walk past her but on second thought, she went to Jane and said,

''Good to see you again''

Jane looked at her with anger and stormed out. Miriam smiled and went upstairs, Frank came up to her and said,

''The boss wants to see you''

Miriam's heart raced, she wasn't sure she could stand the boss right now. After hesitating for a while, she nodded and went into his office. She saw the boss sitting on his seat backing the door, she cleared her throat so he would be aware of her presence, but he didn't move, so she said

''You called for me sir?''

''Why didn't you come to work as I told you?''

Miriam faced the ground and struggled to find a better lie, Anthony turned his chair to face her and stared coldly into her eyes, she quickly answered,

''I am so sorry sir. I was a little ill, so my brother asked me to visit the hospital before coming to work''

''Who did you take permission from before taking a break?''

''I'm sorry sir''

Miriam said as she bowed her head. Anthony stared at her and said,

''That doesn't answer my question''

''No one sir''

Anthony stared at her for a while, he couldn't figure out why he was always weak when it came to this particular lady. He heaved a sigh and said,

''Go to your office''

Miriam didn't move, after a little hesitation, she looked at Anthony and asked,

''Why was I kidnapped?''

Anthony kept silent, he was expecting the question, but he couldn't give her a better explanation at the moment, he looked at her and said,

''Go to your office right now''

''I'm sorry sir but I can't, I need to know what's happening. Since I started working here, things haven't been ok, every day, I go home with lots of confused questions, so I need an explanation''

Anthony stood up from his seat and went toward her, she moved back till her back hit the wall. He came so close to her that she could feel his breath on her face, then he said to her,

''Why don't you answer that question, ever since you came to this company, in fact ever since you walked into my life, everything hasn't been the same. I am no longer myself. I brought you here to punish you, but I don't know what's happening, I don't know why you were kidnapped but ...........''

He stopped talking and leaned forward to kiss her. Miriam shut her eyes and waited. Anthony stared at her lips and wanted to kiss her but immediately withdrew, he rubbed his head and went back to his seat. Miriam opened her eyes as she breathed slowly, she stared at him for a while and ran out of the office. Anthony covered his face with his palms and sighed. Miriam went to her desk and sat on her seat. She was confused, so she started going through the files on the desk to distract herself. There was a bang on her desk, she looked up and it was Anthony before she could say a word, he pulled her up and started kissing her.