Erica helped herself down from the car immediately Richard pulled up at her father's company. He was hell-bent on coming with her and she had no other choice than to agree. She took a deep breath as she looked at the company, taking in the whole surroundings. It was the same as she remembered it to be, only that the building was looking a bit dilapidated. She was almost making her way in when she came to a halt. She thought her eyes were playing tricks on her when she saw who was standing just in front of her.

Norberto Welling.

She felt her heartbeat increasing, beating hard against her ribs. The silence that enveloped them was deafening.

“Come on, let's get going babe.” Richard said, wrapping his hand around Erica's waist and drawing her closer to himself, leading her inside.

In as much as she would hate to agree, Norberto was looking disorganized and worn-out. It was obvious in his face and clothes.

“Is everything okay, Erica?” Richard interrupted her thoughts, immediately they made their way inside, peering at her face.

“Yeah I'm fine Richard. Thank you.” Erica didn’t fail to see the way Norberto turned green with envy the moment Richard approached her. `

“Oh my god! Who do we have here? Erica?” Carlo cried out. He rushed over to her with his face beaming with smiles.

“Carlo!!! It’s been a while.” She responded, hugging him.

“It’s so good to see you again. You left the company just like that. I was just telling the boss about you and how much of a great help you have been to us.” Erica turned towards Norberto who immediately turned his face away.

“I am happy to see you Carlo. This is Richard. My ….”

“Her boyfriend,” Richard said happily, stretching his hand forward for a handshake.

“ouui, she’s a really good person, please take care of her. If you snooze, you lose. Trust me when I say she’s a gem, one you wouldn’t want to lose.”

“I won’t, trust me too.” Richard smiled, holding Erica’s hand passionately.

“I have to go now Erica. Boss should be waiting for me already. We’ll get in touch, I trust.”

Carlo’s face beamed with smiles as he sat close to Norberto. “That was Erica, boss. The same lady I was talking to you about.” Carlo was surprised when he saw Norberto fuming and mumbling incoherently to himself.

“Is everything fine sir?”

“That guy was touching her so inappropriately.” He fumed. His fist bawling.

“But sir, that’s her boyfriend”, Carlo was surprised.

“He better stay away from her. That’s freaking my wife.” Norberto had said harshly before realizing the grave mistake he had done.

Carlo looked at him with a puzzled look, worried that he may be talking under the influence of the stress he had been going through lately.

“Are you sure you are okay sir?” Carlo asked.

Norberto recalled that he had always treated Erica as just a staff and hidden his marriage away from everybody.

Norberto cursed Richard internally. He chuckled painfully, wondering how she could have a boyfriend when they haven’t finalized the divorce.

“She just disappear for years and come back now with a boyfriend…. huh!” Norberto sneered.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing, I wasn’t talking to you. We should focus on the meeting now. Mr George is here already.” Norberto said, folding his arms together and fixing his gaze at the high table just few steps in front of him.

“What the hell is Erica doing in this room?” he asked Carlo who was seated beside him.

“I don’t know sir. I’m surprised as well. Well let’s wait and see.”

Norberto’s eyes were filled with jealousy as he saw Erica and Richard laughing quietly and mumbling some words to each other. He had his hands wrapped over Erica’s tiny waist which infuriated him the more.

“Silence everyone. The board meeting will start soon; the lawyer, Lucas is the one keeping us waiting and also Delaney. They will be here soon.” George said. His eyes scanned the room and fell on Erica who was staring hard at him. Unsure of what to do, he rushed over to Norberto, “What is she doing here? Is that her ghost?”

Norberto sighed and mumbled. “I am confused as well.” He looked at his father-in-law and wondered how such an old man could act so stupid some times.

Lucas soon graced them with his presence and apologized for being late. He gazed at Erica for a few seconds before walking over to his heat.

The door opened just immediately, “So sorry I am late everyone. Had to put some things in place and have my makeup done.” Delaney said, rushing to her seat. Norberto rolled his eyes at her as she said those words. He felt embarrassed as she was only concerned about her looks and had nothing else to offer.

“Now we can begin. Mr. George, Delaney and Norberto, kindly please come forward and take a seat on the high table.

Delaney tried intertwining her hands with Norberto but he shook her off. Delaney, feeling embarrassed by his action in front of everyone and trying to hide her hurt, she faked a smile and went straight to her seat.

“I have great news everyone. But before that, I am grateful to you all for making out time to be here today. I received a mail few days ago from GLOBAL ENTERPRISES and they have agreed to partner with us and approve our grant.”

Everyone in the room clapped except Delaney who had her face screwed in disgust.

“Such an annoying company. Why didn’t they approve it all these while? We had to send thousands upon thousands of proposals and emails before they could finally approve it, what is there to be happy about. It’s not as if the grant will cover for all our debts.”

“Watch your words, Delaney.” Lucas warned her, “Say one more word and I’ll have you thrown out of this board room.” He glared at her.

“What? I haven’t said anything wrong. Norberto here knows how many times we had to send a proposal and an email, right Norberto?”

Norberto gave her no response as he was busy occupied with different thoughts. He felt the room had become stuffy even though the AC was fully on. He couldn’t bear being in the same room with Erica and her boyfriend.

Seeing that the noise had died down, Lucas continued, “Now, permit me to introduce to you, the CEO of GLOBAL ENTERPRISES, miss Erica, can you kindly come up please?”

There was a sudden silence in the room. Delaney suddenly took notice of Erica’s presence. “What is this ghost doing here?” she asked no one in particular, rising to her feet.

“I think it will be good if you stop making such a nuisance of yourself, miss.” Richard said, eyeing her with his face filled with irritation.

“Aww, after how many years and now this thing over here just decided to appear with a boy to spite us, hey look over here, who the hell do you think you are?”

“Delaney, this is my last warning to you, keep shut or I will have you thrown out.” Lucas fumed at her.

“Say that to those cheap things over there and not me.”

“Delaney!!!” George shouted, banging his fist on the table, “Say nothing anymore.” He cautioned her. Delaney defeatedly sat down on her seat, casting glances at Erica.

“Erica is the CEO and owner of GLOBAL ENTERPRISES. please come take your seat over here.”

Everyone looked in shock and utter disbelief as Erica walked up to her seat. She scanned the room with a smile on her face.

Lucas beamed with smiles, Richard winked at her, proud of her. George avoided her gaze, Delaney was burning with rage while Norberto was almost going crazy where he sat.

“My name is Erica, and I am the CEO of GLOBAL ENTERPRISES. I am not really happy with the condition of the company and that is why I have stepped in to offer my help in my own little way. Henceforth, I am now the new CEO of this company and I will be overseeing its affairs to ensure it gets back on its feet. There will be no room for flimsy excuses and unseriousness, anyone found wanting, will be dismissed with immediate effect!” Erica stated, glaring at Delaney.

The rest of the time was further spent discussing about the affairs of the company and how to run it.

Three hours later

“I think with everything being said now, we can call it a day. I will get back to everyone after having a discussion with the new CEO.”

Erica picked up her bag immediate and gracefully exited the room. Richard was behind her, as though he was watching over her, trying to save her from danger.

She suddenly stopped in her tracks and turned towards Richard, “Thank you so much for everything, thanks for coming with me. You gave me the confidence to do all I did over there.”

“It’s fine my lady. You did really well. I am so proud of you.”

Erica blushed.

“I need to use the restroom, give me some minutes please.”

Norberto who had been watching the two of them from a distance followed Erica immediately.

“This is the right time.” He mumbled. He had been looking for an avenue to speak to her.

“My eyes must be playing tricks on me!” Delaney exclaimed in disbelief the moment Erica was out of earshot. She paced up and down the room, rubbing her palms together.

“She was rumored to be dead. She wasn’t seen for years, and now she just comes back, trying to rule over us?”

“Dad! You aren’t saying anything.” She shrieked, stomping her feet in anger.

“Just let me think, let me think of something.” George shouted at her, obviously angry.

“She can’t just disappear and come back so rich and all glamourous. She must have stolen from you or been sleeping around.”

“Do you think I am finding this funny and easy? You talk too much. Just let me focus.” He lashed at his daughter.

“The company is going bankrupt already, what do you expect me to do? Fold my hands and reject her help, so people can mock us?”

“Enough of your too much talks Delaney. Please!”

“I don’t blame you father. Why won’t you talk this way when she has already blinded you with her money, all of you!” Delaney held her long gown and stormed out of the board room in anger.

………………

Erica was done relieving herself and approached the mirror to reapply her makeup when she looked to her side and sighted Norberto. She averted her gaze from him and continued applying her makeup. She picked up her handbag, and walked towards the door.

Norberto stopped her in her tracks, blocking the way with his huge body. He knew the bathroom was only for the meant for the top females in the company so he worried less about anyone coming inside.

“Can you please step aside.”

“Erica…”

“I said, step aside. You are blocking the way.”

“Erica, please listen to me…”

“don’t you dare even think of touching me with your filthy hands.” She said, glaring angrily at him. Norberto immediately withdrew his hand and placed them on the wall behind her.

“Get mad at me all you want Erica, shout, hit me, punch me, but please hear me out. I won’t leave until we talk.”

“Then be ready to tell everyone why you are in the female’s restroom.”

“I have nothing to discuss with you. We have nothing to talk about. So now back off and let me leave.”

“Where have you been? Where did you go to? I searched for you. I looked for you everywhere.”

Erica sneered and chuckled as she looked at him from head to toe. “Is this really you talking? You looked for me, you searched everywhere, when you were the one that told me to get lost and stay away from your life.”

“I can explain, just let me explain.”

“These were the same words I said to you, years ago, begging you. Now leave my way.”

“What do you even want us to talk about? You asked for a divorce I agreed, I accepted all your terms and stayed away from your life, what else do you want from me?” she shouted.

“or do you need a reminder! How you treated me, how you made me looked like a fool for all I ever did and how you choose my own step sister over me a many times or was it how I was at the hospital fighting for my life yet you were only concerned about your engagement to my sister.”

Norberto sighed and rubbed his face.

“You have changed so much Erica. You are no longer the lady I used to know.”

“yeah, all thanks to you.”

“I am no longer the foolish, young, naïve girl that was blindly in love with a man that never reciprocated it and used every opportunity to insult me and made a fool out of me.”

“No don’t get me wrong Erica. I mean, you didn’t even spare a glance at me. You carried yourself back there with so much confidence and glamour. We are still married you know, I’m still your husband.”

“You joke too much Norberto”

“You are in my past; you are my past. I don’t have anything to do with you anymore and I owe you nothing. So don’t even think you still own me.”

Everything happened so fast. Norberto pushed her against the wall which left her feeling shocked. His hot breath caressed her neck, making tiny strands of hair stood up. Their chests were almost touching.

“Get off me Norberto.”

“Erica, I know I have wrong you and did horrible things to you in the past. Please forgive me. I searched for you, I swear. I looked everywhere for you. I had no clue where you might have gone to. I am sorry for all the pain please.”

“I feel so bad right now. I don’t even feel like a match for you anymore. I feel so ashamed currently. Please forgive me.”

He leaned forward, pressing harder against her chest. Erica swallowed hard trying to wriggle from his grip.

“Please just stay still.”

He bent his head and caressed her neck with his lips, slightly her.

And almost immediately, Delaney stormed in. “What is going on here?” she asked glaring at them.

“Norberto, what the hell is going on here?” she screamed.

“Delaney, just go away from here please.” Erica tried pushing him off but he was no match for her.

“I can see you are back to take him away huh! you cheap thing.”

Erica swallowed hard. She could feel anger rising inside of her. She pushed Norberto away with all her might and walked right to Delaney. She pulled at her hair and dragged her head back painfully making Delaney to scream and wince in pain.

“Don’t you dare talk to me like that ever in your life.” She adjusted her dress and stormed out of the restroom.

Richard was standing, resting his back against the wall. He saw Erica walking towards him furiously, her hair flying in the direction of the wind.

“Let’s go Richard.”

“You don’t look too good and you took so long, what happened?” Richard asked, trying to catch up with her.

“We will talk about it on our way going. For now, let’s just leave.” She said grabbing his hand.

………………

“Norberto, you need to tell me what the hell just happened here. Don’t tell me you are swooning over her already. Gosh! Men! You guys are so unbelievable.” She said, placing her palm on her forehead and pacing up and down the restroom.

He glared at Delaney as though he could strangle her any moment. “You are such a pest, a killjoy! Just stay away from my business. Don’t interfere, you leech!”

Delaney looked at Norberto with shock written all over her face. She just could not believe he was referring to her with such words. “Are you freaking kidding right now? You are calling me a leech. Norberto, you were almost kissing her just now and as your fiancée I have all rights to know what’s going on.”

“Oh please just stop all these already Delaney. Stop. I don’t have time for all your silly talks right now.”

“Are you such a gold digger too Norberto? I can’t believe you are running after her now just because she’s now rich. It still won’t help your company which is going bankrupt.”

Norberto was furious. He glared at her, gritting his teeth, “Can you just hear yourself. I can’t believe I loved a nuisance like you.”

“I said what I said. I am your woman, so stay the hell away from that slut.”

“Erica is my wife and I won’t have you talk about her like that.” Norberto shoved her aside, leaving her behind in the restroom.

Torrents of tears flowed down Delaney’s face the moment Norberto left. She slid down the wall with her back against it. She stared at the big mirror just in front of her and realized her makeup was smudged. Her mascara ran down her face forming a black line on both sides.

She approached the sink to wash her face. She patted her face dry and wiped her hands with a napkin after which she walked out.

……………

“Dad I saw them in the restroom. Norberto is now swooning over her. I think I’ve lost him dad.”

“That should be the least of your concern now Delaney. After all, she is still his wife…”

“But we are engaged dad.” Delaney cried out, swinging her arms in the air furiously.

“She took everything from me and now the only man I have, she’s taking him away too.”

“I feel like I’ve lost it all dad.”

“You should sort this out between yourself and Norberto. After all you got engaged to him because he was the youngest richest billionaire but now, his company is almost winding up due to bankruptcy, so I see no reason why you should be beating yourself up if he wants to leave.”

“But dad… I am loving him already.”

“Enough Delaney. I’ve had a long day. I need some rest.”

George walked out on her with Delaney running to catch up with him. She looked at him with her eyes swollen from crying as he entered his car and drove off.

Suddenly an evil smile formed on her lips as though she had thought of something. She got into her car and drove home.

……………..

Norberto bumped into Carlo on his way out of the restroom. “Where have you been, Carlo?”

“Sorry sir, I went to grab a quick lunch.”

“Did you see Erica?”

“She left already sir. I saw her walking away with her boyfriend. They were both looking so gorgeous.”

“Will you keep shut. That’s my wife we are talking about here.”

“How sir, make me understand. Erica, your wife, I mean you are married, when? How? Where?”

“That asshole of a man cannot be her boyfriend. We didn’t even get divorced.” Norberto said to a confused Carlo, who was silently wishing his boss wasn’t going crazy.

“You are getting me scared, sir, if I must say.” Carlo said with a puzzled look. He pondered for a while about his boss’s weird behavior.

“I need you to do something for me Carlo.”

“Okay boss, what’s that?”

“Hire a private investigator and find out whatever you can about Erica and her company. I need the information in three days from now.”