Love Reset: Chasing Her Back

"Don't ever say such again!." A feminine voice could be heard from the living room of Reed's villa.

"Mother, please I need to save my company, let me just work there for a while until the compa....".

"Shut your twerp you trash, which company?" She cuts in. The disdain in her eyes was evident as she looked at the feminine figure kneeling in front of her.

"But mother".

"Don't ever call me mother, I can never be the mother of a wretched thing like you". The woman, Mrs Cynthia Reed sneered interrupting the young lady kneeling before her.

"That company is my sweat, I just can't sit back and watch my years of labour go down the drain".

"Are you trying to say my family mismanaged the company?" Mrs Cynthia asked.

"No, I.. mother...I" Pearl stuttered, she knew it would be difficult to get what she wanted.

"Wow, look who we have here, my loser sister-in-law, on her knees?". a familiar voice spoke behind her. " What else do you want from us?" Turning to the woman seated in the living room, "Mother, you shouldn't allow an unfortunate being like her to ruin your day".

"Speak of the little devil" Pearl muttered, when she saw the owner of the voice.

Mrs Cynthia nodded, "I don't know why she didn't die with the person who brought her to this family"

Pearl bowed her head in shame. She couldn't meet the gazes of the people before her. One was her mother-in-law, Cynthia Reed and the other was her daughter, Tricia Reed.

Her knees were hurting from how long she had knelt down trying to beg her mother-in-law and her fragile heavy eyes held unshed tears. She tried not to cry in front of them. Especially not in the presence of this little devil. Never!

"Mother, you sounded so serious on the phone, I had to cancel my date with..". The newcomer stopped in her words and snorted.

Pearl was full of regrets. She had made the wrong decision coming to meet her mother-in-law to allow her to go to her company. She had returned to Zenith City three years ago and started her company. She met Lady Reed,the grandmother of her husband, Julian Reed. Lady Reed loved her instantly and thought she was brilliant and hardworking. Everything was going on until Lady Reed died. It seemed the universe turned against her instantly.

Ever since the death of Lady Reed, her husband and his family had despised her and called her names. They forced her to hand over her company to Julian and to sign a prenup. She had done it without arguing, especially if that's all it could take to make things better for her. She became a maid in her marital house.

Right now, her company was going bankrupt and nothing was done to save it. She had decided to meet her mother-in-law to ask for her permission to return to the corporate world for a few months until the company stabilizes. Funny how, she had believed handing over her company would make her husband and his family love her.

"Listen up, How about we strike a deal, I'll give you what you want. I'll talk to my mother to just give you a month to go back to work. Before the deal, let's play a little game" Tricia bringing Pearl out of her thoughts.

Pearl sighed, raising her head to look at her sister-in-law. She could see the sneer on the faces of her mother-in-law and her daughter. She hesitated.

"Come on, don't do that. It's just a simple game and nobody will get hurt". Tricia assured her when she saw how hesitant Pearl was.

Pearl knew the outcome of the game wasn't going to be good, she clenched her teeth as she agreed to do it. Tricia had assured her everything would be okay, which she doubted.

"I'll play".

"You know I just got back from a date, yeah I had to cancel because you wouldn't stop disturbing my mother. I'm allergic to dust and you know that, since you're here I'd like you to help clean my shoes, starting from my feet, they're sore". Tricia smirked as she looked at Pearl.

Tricia nudged her mother's arm and they both smiled at each other. Tricia knew how to humiliate Pearl.

"I....i.." Pearl paused, looking at the frown on their faces. "Fine, I'll do it" she mumbled as she approached Tricia stooping down to remove her shoes first.

"Hey, not so fast loser, you still have one more thing to do before this. Go on all fours and bark like a dog" Tricia said, smirking at Pearl.

Pearl raised her head to look at the person who just told her to bark like a dog. Is this the game she had agreed to play? Tricia was having fun humiliating her.

Tricia glared at Pearl," Having second thoughts already?"

"No, I'll do it".She replied hurriedly, going on all fours.

"And go easy with my legs, they're sore and those shoes are expensive". Tricia added.

"Woof ! Woof !!"

Tricia laughed out loud as she patted Pearl's head " Good girl, my dog deserves a good name, what do you think?"

Pearl just nodded her head. She would do anything just to save her company, she can't afford to let breadwinners get back on the streets.

"Good girl, I'll call you bitchy. Hey bitchy, you'll have to use your tongue to lick my shoes. Please, no saliva I don't want my body reeking of trash" Tricia added, making Pearl freeze for a while.

"Bitchy, you dare not refuse it. It's just a thin line between you and what you want". Tricia frowned as she looked at Pearl who seemed lost in thoughts.

"I'll do it". Pearl sighed as she swallowed what was left of her pride. She knew she would be ridiculed the most, whether she did it or not, but she had no choice but her company is more important than her pride.

Her eyes were red with humiliation as she proceeded to lick Tricia's shoes clean. This was the worst day of her life. She felt her pride trampled upon.

" I didn't expect that you were really a dog. Where's that pride of yours?" Tricia laughed as Pearl continued to lick her shoes.

"You've truly got no shame as a lady,I'm grateful my son doesn't love you. You're a desperate person and at this rate you could kill" Cynthia spat at Pearl.

"I wonder how you'd walk into that company with pride as a boss. When you have none in reality".

Tricia clenched her fist, Bang!

She suddenly punched Pearl's back, making her fall flat on the ground hitting her head as she wasn't expecting it. Shewinced in pain.

"You're not even worthy of cleaning my shoes or touching anything in this house, not even that company. Do you think I'll allow your dirty body to touch me? Can you even afford my shoes?" Tricia laughed as she ridiculed Pearl who was struggling to stand up.

Pearl's head dropped low as she clenched her fist tightly listening to the words of Tricia. She knew she wouldn't say this to her face if she hadn't married Julian. And now, Tricia had the guts to insult her. Someone who doesn't even qualify as a cleaner in her company. They're age mates but she had built a name for herself which the Reed's have stolen for three years.

"I wonder what Lady Reed saw in you". Cynthia laughed as she looked at her.

"Maybe her useless pretty face, and how did grandmother end up being bewitched by this twerp?" Tricia mocked her.

"She's just worthless, her face doesn't match her personality". Cynthia added.

"That aside, back to the deal". Tricia smiled as she looked at Pearl whose head was still down.

"What.....*

"Shut up you fool, I'm still talking" Tricia snapped at her.

Cynthia cleared her throat, " Bitchy, sorry, that name doesn't suit you. You've been married for three years and my son hasn't touched you. Aren't you ashamed?".

Pearl raised her head and stared at her mother-in-law. How is it her fault that Julian had refused to share the same bed with her?

"Shouldn't you be concerned your son might have reproductive health issues?" Pearl demanded, she had endured their humiliations, but she wouldn't sit back and watch someone blame her for Julian's misfortune.

"Shut up idiot, who do you think you are talking to in that manner?" A voice interrupted Pearl.

Everyone turned to see the owner of the voice, Julian walked towards Pearl. His face burned with anger.

"You really need to know your place in this family," he said, looking at Pearl who was still on her knees." Apologize to my mother now!"

Humiliating her was not enough for them, now he wants her to apologize to his mother? This is not the first time he was doing this.

Pearl was on her knees, she raised her head and stared at her mother-in-law.

"You fool, stop staring at her and do as you're told" Tricia said.

Pearl chuckled, "I should apologize to your mother? You won't ask what happened?" she wiped off the tears from her cheeks, "Your sister just humiliated me, and all you can say is I should apologize to your mother?"

"Why should I ask you, Pearl?" Julian frowned as he sat down close to his mother.

"Julian, I'm your wife. You should treat me as one". Pearl said, confidently as she got on her feet.

"Did you just call yourself his wife?" Tricia spat.

Mrs Reed laughed out loudly," see what your grandmother brought to this house". She said pointing at Pearl.

Pearl took a deep breath, "I want to take over my company" she announced.

The house was silent for a few minutes and laughter could be heard from the living room.

"Your company?"Julian asked, "Listen to me, you have nothing under your name" He said, sternly.

"You lie, Julian. You and your family took away my comp.."

TAA!

The slap came with so much force that Julian's expensive wristwatch fell off his wrist, breaking into pieces.

"How dare you insult my family?" Julian fumed as he stared at her.

"Ha!" Tricia growled, "just take a look at the mess you've done. The wristwatch you just destroyed cost more than 10 million dollars. It is a hundred times the amount you have made in your entire miserable life".

"I'm sorry and I understand everything but you didn't have to overreact by hitting me. I obviously didn't say anything wrong, or break your watch".

"What?" Mrs Reed was dumbfounded. How could she still have the guts to talk?

Julian was shocked as well. How surprising? Did this little brat know how incredibly furious he was?

"You're going to pay for my watch. I don't care how you intend to pay for it". Julian's anger heightened as he grabbed Pearl by the collar of her maid gown.

"Julian, please you're hurting me. Please" Pearl cried out in pain.

"Let her go, I know how to handle her" Mrs Reed said.

"Mother?" Tricia called.

"I don't want people to say I killed my daughter-in-law. Do you want to be known as a family that killed their poor wretched daughter-in-law?" She asked.

Julian let go of Pearl's collar, "I don't care how you handle it, mother, but do something, " he said, walking out of the living room.

"How dare you insult my family?" Tricia yelled as she glared at Pearl.

"You won't dare talk to me in this manner if not for this marriage. are you tired of jumping from one man to the other?" Pearl turned glaring at Tricia

" How dare you talk that way to my daughter?" Mrs Reed yelled at Pearl.

Pearl frowned as she stared at her mother-in-law, she had other things to say but she held it back.

"I'm sorry, but I'll have to say the truth". Pearl frowned as she glared at her mother-in-law.

"What truth?" Mrs Reed fumed.

"How dare you glare at my mother?" Tricia asked, fuming with anger.

"You've bitten more than you can chew". Mrs Reed fumed. "I won't waste my time and energy exchanging words with you, tomorrow is my birthday and you'd be serving my guests. Any stupid act from you.." she paused, taking a few steps towards Pearl. "You'd regret stepping a foot in this house ".

Mrs Reed left the living room, Tricia followed behind her. "You'd wish you never came to his house" Tricia muttered.

***

Pearl had been on her feet since 5 o'clock in the morning, making sure the venue for her mother-in-law's birthday party was perfect. The event planner was there but she was told to be useful, so she was helping with the decorations.

She had no choice but to do this to please her mother-in-law to ensure her peace of mind. She knew even if she did everything alone, Mrs Reed would never be pleased with her.

She carried the last decoration materials inside the hall in the villa. She dropped it, letting out a sigh of relief as she wiped sweat off her face.

"Are you tired already?" Mrs Reed yelled, this startled Pearl as she didn't see her in the hall when she came in. She wasn't even expecting her there that early in the morning.

"Am I talking to myself?" She asked.

Pearl nodded her head before she opened her mouth to reply, " No moth...No ma'am, I'm not tired?" But she was really tired, she had been running around since yesterday without resting. There was nothing she could do, she just had to do it to avoid further embarrassment.

"Hey, isn't that chair too heavy for you?" Mrs Reed asked the worker carrying the special chair meant for her. Before he could reply, she turned to Pearl, "Make yourself useful by carrying that chair, he'll show you where to keep it".

Pearl looked at the chair, it looked heavy for a lady to carry. "But..."

"Do you have anything to say?" Mrs Reed asked, when she heard Pearl's voice.

Pearl nodded and was leaving when she added, "Mind you, that chair cost a fortune. If anything happens to it while you're carrying it, I'll make sure you never see the sun for the rest of your life".

Pearl lowered her head in shame, refusing to meet the eyes of the worker, who was looking at her curiously as he dropped the chair and stepped backwards. Creating space for Pearl to carry the chair.

Pearl walked to the chair with a smile on her face and carried it, it was very heavy. Such weight could be carried by three men. She couldn't walk with the chair,she turned to seek help but everyone was busy. She turned and carried the chair slowly without making a face to show it was heavy.

She looked at her mother-in-law hoping she'll see her pains, then she could ask two workers to help her. Mrs Reed simply looked away and left the area.

Pearl carried the chair to its position in the hall, she stood for a while before she sat down to rest a bit. She was startled by a familiar voice behind him.

"Are you going to stay there all day?" she turned to see Tricia behind her, " Don't you know there's a lot of work to be done here? And time is not on our side ?" She said and walked towards the other two ladies who had been laughing the whole time.

When she got to them, they hugged her and turned to face Pearl. The three ladies laughed out loud.

"I told you we have a low-life wannabe living with us, do you believe it now?" Tricia asked the two ladies.

" I believe dear, that was so funny. Is she that scared of you?" One of them asked.

"She's scared of everyone in my family. I don't know what my grandmother found in her. I'm sure my brother will divorce her soon". Tricia replied to her friends.

"You're lucky dear, I wish I had someone like her in my family" the other one added, her statement made them laugh again.

"Let's head back to the villa, I have to get dressed and check on my mum as well" Tricia said, " Hey bingo, there's so much to do, stop being lazy" she added as she pointed at Pearl. She left the hall with her friends.

Pearl took a deep breath as Tricia and her friends left. She stood for a bit studying the venue. The hall looked different from the usual hall in the villa. That's the same hall where his wedding was held but looking at it now, it looked sophisticated.

She looked at the hall again, memories of her wedding flashed through her mind. Her gown, the music, the guests and the vow they took. The hall looked different from then, they had married in a hurry. There was no time for perfect decorations and lights, it wasn't her dream wedding setting. But that day was the best day of her life.

The hall was a grand, high-ceiling space filled with elegance and sophistication. The atmosphere is warm, and inviting with every detail precisely crafted to create a breathtaking beautiful setting. The decoration outside made it look classy and added elegance to its castle-like shape.

The creamy white walls are adorned with intricate gold molding and ornate frames. The rich, dark hardwood flooring she had polished to a high shine since last night.

The hall had multiple coloured chandeliers suspended from the ceiling, its spectacle of colours made the hall look more stunning. The intricate patterns on the table cloths with fine China and crystal glasswares, the scent of fresh flowers, the media team displayed photos of Mrs Reed's early life.

The other end of the hall, the caterer was already setting up her buffet stand. The 7 tier birthday cake was sitting beautifully close to the place set up for Mrs Reed. From the decorations and settings,one could tell Mrs Reed got herself the best and most expensive event planner in Zenith City. She really outdid herself.

Actually, Mrs Reed is a very boastful woman, from the event planner, cake designer and the caterer. She must have done a lot of boasting and she just outdid herself again. She has done everything to ensure she saves her face today.

Pearl was still lost in her study of the hall, when her mother in-law poured her cold water bringing her back to the present. She looked up in surprise to find her glaring at him.

"What do you think you're doing, standing and gazing into space? Lazy fool, there's so much work to be done and you're just standing there. You think time would wait for you, you fool. Get back to work!"

Pearl apologised and walked swiftly towards the event planner who was also staring at her with disdain evident in her eyes.

"Look at her, where's that deaf fool heading to?" Mrs Reed said, "You fool! Will you come back here?" She ordered with resentment in her voice.

Pearl stopped immediately and turned to face her mother in-law.

"Did I ask you to face me? She asked her,her attention was drawn to the figures walking towards them.

Tricia walked in with her two friends." I've been searching all over for you, mother. It's time for you to rest a bit".

One of Tricia's friends walked towards Pearl and spanked her ass.

"Oh babes, when did you last get laid?" she asked, laughing as she walked close to Tricia. "Her ass is so hard, I bet no man would look at it".

"You can't be sexually inactive and lazy with work at the same time" The other lady added with a smirk on her face.

The other workers turned to look at Pearl, like they were waiting for something to talk about.

"Wait, is she Lady Reed's daughter-in-law?" One asked.

"Lady Reed's son is so handsome and I'm sure he's huge down there," the other one said, touching her breasts.

"We didn't recognize her because their wedding wasn't on the internet".

"Maybe, they were ashamed of her poverty"

The female workers whispered amongst themselves.

Pearl laughed out loudly as she heard the last statement, this left everyone in confusion. Why's she laughing? Is she really normal? Pearl was already used to the insults about her sexual life with Julian.

"Do you have anything else for her to do?"

Mrs Reed asked the event planner,who was still watching Pearl in confusion. Mrs Reed felt embarrassed at the way Pearl laughed when she was being insulted.

"Nothing ma, we're done with everything" she replied, "Oh! Before I forget, the hall needs final cleaning. She can do that for us." She added.

Pearl's eyes widened, how was she supposed to clean that large hall alone? She was already feeling tired from the day's work. Her back aches from carrying that chair alone.

"And the idiot is still there, you time-wasting fool, you're still standing there or didn't you hear what she said?" Mrs Reed was furious. Her party starts in less than an hour and Pearl has just been lazy throughout the day.

"You've been sponging off this family, yet you don't work your ass off for every dime you've gotten from us. Keeping a dog is better than having a lazy, useless piece of trash like you around" Tricia shot a glance at Pearl.

Pearl was so enraged that she clenched her fists tightly. Tricia's insults were beginning to get on her nerves. Someone who doesn't know how to handle money,or had plans to make money by herself. She doesn't want to talk about the leeches following Tricia. They were fated to be friends from the beginning.

"You've got something to say?" Mrs Reed asked when she noticed her clenched fist. "Or do you want to hit me in front of everyone?"

"No, moth..."

Mrs Reed looked at Pearl with hatred as she realized what she was about to call her.

Pearl noticed the look, "No, ma'am" she said, forcing a smile on her face. She looked around and found all eyes on her.

Mrs Reed sneered, "Good for you, hurry up and clean this hall. And don't use the vacuum cleaner".

"Then get to the villa and do the same, you don't have a choice fool!" Tricia patted Pearl's back as she walked past her. "Don't embarrass us tonight" she whispered.

Pearl knew there was nothing else to say, she had no choice like Tricia had said. She went to get the brush while others left the hall.

That evening, the entire Reed's family were excited, especially Kate Steve who was over the moon. It was the most important day in their lives, the glamorous 50th birthday party of Lady Reed.

The hall was already filled with well-wishers, enemies and media firms who have come with different intentions.

Some came to celebrate with the family, others want to be there to witness things first hand.

As Mrs Reed entered the hall, heads turned in awe. Her gown's classic design commanded respect, the intricate embroidery whispered tales of royalty. Indeed,she was the queen of her Kingdom.

Her gown glowed under the chandeliers casting a warm, golden light across the room. The beading sparked like diamonds, the silk fabric flowed, covering her legs.

With every step she took as she revealed herself to the guest, she felt like a goddess. Her 50th birthday marks a new chapter in her life- one filled with elegance, sophistication and joy.

"Mrs Reed looks very stunning," said one of the female guests.

"The gown looks like it was made specially for her," another added.

"That gown is Oscar worthy, she really fits into it perfectly" another replied, her eyes fixed on the gown.

"I'll get the designer's number, I will need something more stunning for my marriage anniversary" the first one continued. Her companions turned to face her. Their eyes filled with surprise.

***

Julian stood in front of the mirror grinning as he put on his charcoal grey blazer and navy blue trousers. His outfit was perfectly tailored to enhance his physique, making him feel confident and powerful.

"Whoa, Julian you look stunning" Pearl whispered, her eyes widened in admiration.

Julian frowned, "How did you get into my room? Are you here to insult me?"

Pearl bent her head in regrets, "I'm sorry, Julian. I just said I should check on my husband".

Julian chuckled, "You're very funny. Did I hear you call me your husband?"

Pearl didn't say anything as she was too embarrassed to reply to him, she was so thoughtless, how did she think he was going to be pleased to see her?

"I guess you didn't think about it before coming here". Julian concluded from the look on her face. "Hey, don't embarrass my family today". He said, leaving her in his room.

She felt so embarrassed that she didn't leave his room immediately. A few minutes later, she walked out of the room. She got to hers and dressed up in her new maid uniform, this uniform was designed specially for the occasion.

She glanced at the mirror, took a deep breath, "No mistakes today". She muttered as she walked out of the room.

The big day!!