Chapter 4 SHADOWED DECEPTION

Stanley's POV

Today's work actually is a little bit tedious and tiring. "Come to my office now" I called my secretary in. I glanced through the documents in my front and made sure to sign at the appropriate place I was meant to

"Yes boss" she replied with her hands crossed at her back and her head bowed a little bit

It's amazing being a wealthy man and the CEO of the company you are managing, you are bound to be respected a lot but it is also challenging as you are left to make decisions that can either favor the company or do otherwise.

"Natalia, the contract we've been working on, what about it?" I asked as I focused my attention on her

"We've been shortlisted amongst the companies to be given the contract and with all our efforts I'm sure we will be highly considered for it" she defended

"That's good, I trust you and the rest to seal it up and please make sure to always keep me updated as regards it"

"Definitely"

"Thank you, you can go" I instructed and focused my attention back on what I was doing earlier

"Sorry to interrupt you, sir, but since your wedding is in two days, isn't it better for you to go home, take a rest, and prepare ahead " she suggested

"That's very thoughtful of you Natalia, I would soon be done here and leave. Thanks for your concern"

And with that she left my office and at that moment I remembered that I hadn't spoken with Flora, my fiancée, that day and we didn't see each other before I left for work. I assumed that she must have slept at her best friend place overnight

I picked up my cell phone and dialed her number, it rang for a while before she finally picked.

"H-hello", she answered

I noticed her shaky voice immediately she picked up, I was a little bit worried but had to ignore it

"Hmm, hello. Seems like you forgot you had a fiancé right?" I teased her and chuckled a little

I was expecting her to reply immediately and laugh with me but it took her a while before she replied, everywhere awkwardly quiet

"I'm very sorry darling" she finally broke the silence but I could barely hear her voice

Now I'm getting worried, I adjusted myself on my chair and closed the document in my front

"Are you okay my love?" I asked my voice now firm and serious

"Hmm I actually want to discuss something with you"

I tried to listen carefully but wasn't calm, why is Flora sounding this way? I was confused and disturbed

"Okay love. I'm on my way to your place. But, hope you are feeling okay? Nothing is wrong with you right?" I asked just to be sure all is well with my wife to be before I get to her place

"Yes baby, I'm fine. Please just be quick. Get here soon"

That was the last thing I heard from her before she suddenly hang up the phone

Definitely, there's something serious going on. Flora doesn't sound this way on a normal day. She seemed really disturbed.

My curiosity and desperation got the best of me that I couldn't even explain how I managed to pack my things from the office and zoomed off immediately. I hope she's okay. I thought ignoring how I drove recklessly along the way

Flora's POV

"Hey baby", Stanley said to me immediately I opened the door.

He pulled me to a hug and tried kissing me, but I shifted my face away so he ended up kissing my cheeks

"What's happening?", he asked, his voice laced with worry and frustration

He pulled me into the living room, and shut the door. Immediately we got to the living room, he pulled me to sit on the couch beside him

"Spill it out", he began, his face looking so serious

That's it!! I'm finished!! How do I begin?? I thought

****

After 30 minutes of confessing my sins to him, everywhere seemed calm and quiet.

I was waiting for Stanley to say something, but he wasn't. I wanted to hear him yell, shout at me for cheating on him. For him to call me a cheater but none of that happened. He was just calm and quiet.

This is very frightening, I thought.

"Please say something Stanley", I finally broke the silence and knelt down immediately

"What do you want me to say?", he said, his voice hoarse

"Anything! Please, don't just keep mute", I told him, with tears in my eyes again

"Okay!! Yes, I feel so disappointed", he said with a saddened face. "I feel like hitting my head on the wall. I feel so worthless. I feel betrayed"

I didn't respond back to him. I was only looking down at my the bare tiles

"But, in every emotion I'm feeling right now, I don't know why I still love you, like I feel that I can't do without you beside me", he said.

With all curiosity in me I looked up to loom at his face, to see if he was actually joking, but he wasn't

"Yes Flora, I love you. I shouldn't still feel this way for you after what you did with that good for nothing bastard, but I don't know why the emotion is still there", he told me, while he helped me up and held my hand this time around

"You didn't cheat on me because you wanted to, instead it happened because you were drunk already, so he took advantage of the opportunity. You were not in your right frame of mind, so why shouldn't I forgive you?", he said, his voice laced with love and sincerity

"I really don't know what to say Stanley. I really thought you wouldn't forgive me. I thought you'd send me packing away, but you're not doing that. Instead you're professing your love for me", I said feeling very emotional and tingled with a little bit of happiness.

"Yes baby, I still love you regardless. And I would still marry you no matter what, because you're the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. You told me the truth without me forcing you or finding out from someone else, therefore, I'd respect you for that", he said, pulling me to himself for a hug

"Let's prepare for our wedding, and pretend like this never happened," he continued. "Okay?"

I could only nod my head as a sign that I agree with him, because I was short of words. How am I lucky to have this man. I thought, he's a blessing to me.

Just like that, Stanley and I are back together, even with the ups and downs that we faced, we overcame all through love.

"What about Jessica, your best friend? Where was she when all these happened?" Stanley asked just before he left and this question really baffled me and it totally slipped my mind to get clarified by Jessica.