My Sweet Poor Joel

Joel walked out of his office with his heart in his patch. The last person he wants to see is the one he has been informed wants to meet with him and he won't dare refuse to see him. It's been about a month since that incident and he was promoted because of what his boss did with his wife.

A promotion he should have out rightly rejected but instead, decides to accept, to help him cascade with his plans. He needs a few more days to execute this plan and the last thing he wants is any complication.

He pushes the door open without knocking and sitting on the dark brown leather swivel chair with a disgusting smile is Anthony. Joel doesn't understand why he didn't kill him the moment he found out. Perhaps a quick death is too good for someone like him. People like this do not deserve death. They deserve to suffer and die slowly.

Anthony's mouth curved into an evil smile when Joel walks in but his attention was on his wife, Estelle. She was engrossed in whatever she was doing and gave a quick sheepish smile when she saw her husband walk in. Things have never been the same since that day and when she wanted to quit the job, Joel told her to continue working in the same office where she committed her evil crime. She sees it as torture to her soul.

She doesn't remember much of it but she takes full responsibility for her actions. She pretends not to listen to whatever conversation they have but she knew it wasn't something that will go so well. She swallowed bitter pills by revealing a truth that should have been kept hidden. For the second time, she has disappointed the man who adored and worshipped her like a goddess.

"It's good to see you, Joel," Anthony said, offering him a visitor's chair across his desk. "Coffee, Tea, what will you like?" Estelle knows how you like it." He said in a mocking tone. Joel stood there and tried to control his fury in the best way he could. His hands were rolled into a ball and his face was dark. He clenched his jaw to prevent any word from coming out to ruin the plan he has worked so hard to execute.

"If you don't mind, I will go straight to business. I don't have time for pleasantries. As you can see, I am a very busy man." Joel said coldly, frozen to the ground on which he stood. He never moved an inch from the door when he walked in.

"Since you are the type that likes to move straight to action without foreplay, I think it's the reason why she enjoyed my advances," he said stealing lustful glances at Estelle. Estelle shifted uncomfortably in her chair when and stole a glance at Joel. She has never seen him in this state throughout the time they have known each other. She knew what she did is the worst form of betrayal and can't blame Joel for his actions but she couldn't understand why Joel decided to be quiet. She knew he could stand up to their boss. Maybe she didn't know him as much as she thinks she does.

"The meeting here is simple." He said, his face contouring to seriousness. "The truth is, it was never her fault. She didn't know I slipped something in the coffee she drank." He said with fake remorse. He enjoyed what he did but is faking it. Estelle shifts slightly in her swivel chair and moves her hands from the keyboard, closing her laptop and giving the conversation, her full attention. It all makes sense. She knew in her heart that there was something fishy but since she couldn't bring herself to remember, she took all responsibility. If he wasn't her boss, she would have slapped him. She was filled with rage.

"I am sorry for what I did to your wife. As compensation, take this cheque of ten billion dollars. If you leave your wife, I will marry her. If you can't leave her, then we have to share because the baby she is carrying is mine. You have three days to think about this." His boss said those words as if they meant nothing but three days, which was all Joel needed, to execute his plan......

Campus Interview

Interviewer;

"Hello Lovely people, it's me again, your favorite presenter Anastasia, on our only campus magazine, 'College Quest'. Today, for the first time, we are thrilled to feature the best couple on campus. We are going to have their pictures on the cover page of our annual magazine, and they will tell us what has kept their relationship going."

"We could learn a thing or two from their experience," Anastasia, the campus gossip says proudly over the code less microphone connected to her ear with a speaker around the corner of her mouth.

She wore a short polka dot flare dress, with heels to match. Her black hair was held in a ponytail and she had heavy make-up on her face. It's her usual style of dressing and funny enough, her little show on campus pulls a lot of crowds since students are always eager to hear the latest news about the most popular girls and guys on campus.

"This time, it's' no other than Joel Mason and Estelle Deluxe, the most popular couple on campus", She screams into the codeless speaker, earning shouts and applause from her audience who are students like herself.

At the mention of their names, Joel appears, hand in hand with Estelle. He wore black designer denim jeans, a black top with a grey jacket, and matching leather shoes. He was radiating with magnificence as his brown, short blowout haircut with tapered sides, matched his brown eyes perfectly. Estelle wore a Louis Vuitton strapless grey dress with matching heels and flawless make-up. She was glowing with beauty, being the envy of many girls.

They settled down on the chairs provided on stage, during which Joel peck's Estelle on the cheek, earning a sweet smile from her. Anastasia signals the crowd to be quiet and begins her interview.

"Thank you very much for making it here today. I wasn't expecting that you will make it on such short notice, considering your busy schedules. We know a lot about you. Everyone here has heard a lot about your love story from high school but there is one question that keeps bothering my mind and I know that everyone here will like to know as well.

"How did you guys meet?" Anastasia asked, receiving positive screams from the crowd showing their support for the question.

The question makes Joel uneasy as he was not in the position to reveal what happened before they met. But he was glad Estelle took it upon herself to answer the question. It will make it easy for him to keep mute about anything he wasn't ready to reveal.

"It's a long story but I will cut it short", Estelle said, blooming with smiles. "I was caught up in traffic on my way home on a Friday night. I was getting agitated at the slow movement of traffic and pressed the button to fold the roof of my Ferrari 458 Spider. I needed fresh air to relax."

"Suddenly, I heard a loud thud behind me and froze in fear as other drivers looked at me mistrustfully. I panicked and turned my long neck to look behind me. Lying comfortably at the back seat of my car, was a stranger, but he had the most beautiful face I had ever seen. I said beautiful because he was beyond handsome and I lack the words to describe him."

"Being caught up in the moment, I barely realized the vehicle in front of me had driven off without me attempting to move. As expected, the vehicles behind me began honking and the cute face before me yelled, drawing me from my ecstasy. 'Drive'. He yelled but still, there was something magical about his voice. It made me obey without complaining or asking questions."

"But I couldn't drive without knowing where I was going and I can't take a stranger to my house even if he is the most precious person I have ever seen.

"To where, I asked dumbfounded when I turned to face my steering wheel. I didn't know what made him jump into my car. As if he read my mind, he said, 'Just Drive'. I stepped on the accelerator and to my amazement, the traffic had lessened in front of me." She stopped and shook her head with her gaze on Joel. Then she went on with the story.

"I got to the middle of the journey and asked, 'Where do you want me to take you?' But there was no response. I asked the third time and still no response so I pulled over at the shoulder of the road."

I looked at him intently and realized he was asleep. He was sleeping so peacefully so I didn't want to disturb him. I drove to my house and parked in the garage. There's was no way I could carry him so I left him in the car to get someone to help me get him out. When I got back, I looked inside the car and to my astonishment, he was already gone." Joel grinned at that part, earning a stare from Estelle.

"Till today, he hasn't told me how he got out of my garage," She said, staring Joel in the eyes. He quickly looked away while she proceeded, ignoring all the questions begging her to be released on Joel. "Two months later, we met in high school and one thing led to another. Now here we are, being the best couple because we love and understand each other so much."

Anastasia wiped a tear in the corner of her eye when Estelle finished her story. "Its' so amazing how you guys met. I think it's divine." She said genuinely, earning more cheers from the crowd.

"If I may ask since you have a few months to graduate, what happens to your relationship? Will it progress to marriage or end after school or perhaps, will it-"

"We are going to get married right after school." Joel cut in before Anastasia finished her sentence. There was uneasiness with Estelle when he said that. She had kept their relationship away from her parents because she knew they wouldn't agree to it. She loved Joel so much but she wasn't ready to settle down yet. At least, not until she convinced her parents.

"Or, What do you say, Love, Can't we get married after school?" His deep green eyes bored into hers with the question. She could not lie to him but it's what she has always dreamed of. She will enjoy the moment and take care of her parents later.

"Yes, Uhm, I think..."Estelle staggered at the words as she didn't know which one to let out in the least but someone else answered.

"I Will marry you after School Joel, you know I have always loved you, unlike her." She said climbing the stage towards Estelle and Joel with a disgusting glare at Estelle.

Brittany is one of the girls who has been overly obsessed with Joel for a long time. She has been asking him out ever since she laid eyes on him from high school, but Joel never looked her way because he was already attracted to Estelle and was finding ways of winning her heart. Well, it wasn't enough for Britanny to give up anyway.

She strikes at the least chance she gets and intentionally does anything she can to anger Estelle. Estelle knows that Joel loves her but it doesn't in any way take away her discomfort anytime Brittany makes advances at Joel.

Now, she is at it again and this time, in front of the whole student body. How far will she go for a guy who doesn't even think about her? Well, Estelle will not give her the chance. Before Joel knows, she walks up to Britanny, meeting her halfway, precisely center stage.

"His question was to me and not you", Estelle lashed out.

" Well, it seems to me, that you need time to make up your mind. In doing so, I will take what is mine." She responds adamantly.

Estelle stares her up and down

" I know it's easy-going shopping but I never thought you'll use your millions to buy rags...dear you look like a maid." Estelle heaved with a chuckle.

"Ouch, that hurts. But Joel likes it." Brittany said annoyingly, earning another flame of jealousy in Estelle's heart but she won't back down.

" Well, it doesn't seem so to me, cos he just proposed to me and Yes am going to marry him after graduation. Britanny's face squeezed with anger but Estelle wasn't done.

"And you know what, I checked with the guys and none of them are willing to take you out on a date, thoughtless of proposing marriage. You are so pathetic." Estelle sneered.

Brittany was not only angry but also embarrassed when the crowd began giving thumbs down and coed behind her. She runs towards Joel and was about to hug him but he cut her off before she knew it.

"Stop embarrassing yourself Brittany, you should leave when you still have some dignity." Joel retorted, making her run off the exit of the stage with shame but when she gets to Estelle, she can't help but give her another threat.

"This isn't over, Estelle, this is just the beginning," Brittany said, squeezing her brows in anger.

"Ohhhh am scared," Estelle mimicked a baby voice.

Before Estelle walks back to her seat, Joel meets her half-way, planting a kiss on her cheeks.

"Am very sorry babe. Don't let her ruin our day", he said truthfully, looking in her eyes.

" No need to apologize. It's not your fault that girls are so obsessed with you", She said, pulling him into a warm hug.

The roars and cheers from the crowd made them pull away softly, waving the crowd and walking away. Halfway, Joel turns to Anastasia and tells. "Sorry, we have to go".

" It's okay, thanks for joining us," she yells in her microphone admiringly before addressing the crowd in a dreamy voice.

"You all saw that, look, how cute they look together. So romantic," she said in a jovial tone. "I was right to choose them for the best couple this year. Thank you all for coming and I will see you in the next edition," She said, the crowd dispersing with cheers.

***************

Joel has the looks, charisma, intellect, and he is the captain of the football team. He has everything, except....one important thing...Cash. Yeah. I mean, he is as poor as a church mouse but he is also the sweetest thing you could think of. So caring, selfless, and poise.

That's why these girls never miss an opportunity to flog around him, pretending to be his girlfriend. There are times that girls got into a fight with each other because of him.

Nancy. You see, Nancy picked up Joel's face towel during their first year in college, and pretended as if Joel gave it to her.

Brittany wasted no time in lashing out at her. Well, it made her confess the truth. Whenever Estelle wasn't around, Britanny will pretend to be Joel's girlfriend even if he doesn't notice her. She will pick his backpack from his car without him asking and buy him lunch which he always gives to somebody else.

So, you are wondering how Joel survives on campus with all his designer wears? Estelle. She is the girl everyone fears on campus. She is the captain of the cheerleaders and also Joel's girlfriend since high school. She is from a wealthy home but rumors have it that Britany's parents are the richest because her father is the vice-president and a very popular businessman.

Estelle is not only pretty and sexy but also with a heart of Gold. She is very generous and understanding. The only person she can't stand in the whole college is her assistant Brittany. She didn't have a choice over Britanny's role as an assistant captain of the cheerleaders because it was by popular vote. Whenever she meets Brittany, she can't help but bring out her bitchy side.

Most people including Joel have no idea who Estelle's parents are. All they know is that her parents live in France and are rich but to the level of wealth, it's unexplainable.

They walk back to the lecture hall for their final lecture for the day when Estelle is pulled over by her best friend Nina.

"When will you stop being a show spoiler?" Estelle says annoyingly.

"When you begin to tell me your movements," Nina joked. "You never told me you were chosen for the campus magazine. It came as a shock to me".

" Oh sorry about that. It was a shock to us as well. Everything happened so...." Estelle stopped and looked in Joel's direction, making Nina move her head in the same direction. She couldn't fathom what was happening right in front of her.

" I have to teach that bitch a lesson." She says gritting her teeth.