SWNOVELS Chapter 42: Let Me Help
Lanre squinted. He saw that Theresa Mo was staring at him angrily. He looked away. He didn't come to see her for a fight but to ask her to reconsider her decision.
"Lanre, you are stepping on my nerves. What are you here for? Spit it out and stop asking me pretentious questions that you already have answers to" Theresa Mo snapped at her.
She doesn't like it when people come to her saying one thing and having something else in their mind. Whatever he wants to say, he could just go ahead and say it rather than going Merry-round.
"Why did you resign from the Li's Group?" Lanre asked, he was unhappy with Theresa Mo's approach and harsh words at him.
"What business of yours is that? Whatever I choose to do, it doesn't have anything to do with you. So please mind your business" Theresa Mo shut him down.
Lanre was lost. Theresa Mo said such words at him? He never would have believed that a day would come when she would go even with him.
"Yeah, it's none of my business. But I lobbied for that position for you Theresa. And I was the one called by the management to be aware of what my trusted candidate did.
I came to tell you to reconsider your actions. There's still time and we can salvage the situation. You can return to the company now before another candidate will be chosen for the position. Li's Group is the best and highest paying company in the city. Many are leaving their company to take up job opportunities with them.
How do you pay your bills without a job? Please Theresa, if you are doing this because of Junxie Li, do think twice.
It's you that would be stranded not him. If you don't have a job, how do you contend with him in the court that you are capable of taking Care of your kids?"Lanre persuaded.
"I see you are concerned about my welfare and that of my kids. But thanks, your concern is not needed. And please I don't want you around me anymore.
Stay away from me. And lest I forget, tell the management of the Li's Group that they can give their vacancy to someone else because I am not coming back" Theresa Mo said, glaring at Lanre. Lanre shook his head and went away. He was through with his friendship with Theresa Mo. He doesn't like women who are aggressive and can say anything to anyone when they are upset.
As soon as Lanre Left, Theresa Mo bolted the door and sank into the sofa. She chased her best friend away. She said unpleasant words to him.
Lanre has been a great friend to her and he is the only trusted friend that she has. Besides Lanre and Rosa, she doesn't have anyone else to call her close acquaintance. Things are getting more complex for her every day. She started sobbing and ended up doing nothing for the rest of the day.
A new designer was employed and the company went on with it's activities. Days passed and soon weeks were rolling.
Theresa Mo became obsessed with staying at home all day drawing designs. She had successfully drawn a lot of drafts but remained unsure how she would market them. She decided to go for a stroll one evening. She walked over a pedestrian and didn't know she had walked so far.
Soon the cloud was gathering and she decided to return to her apartment since she has no umbrella with her.
She started going back home. That was when she realized that she had walked quite a long distance. Soon the rain started pouring.
In no time she was drenched and still Walking through the muddy path to her home. She suddenly heard a car honning behind her.
Not willing to turn back, she hurried her steps but she couldn't go as fast as she wanted. The muddy road was dragging her backwards.
Suddenly a hand pulled her and at a time she almost slipped and lifted her, throwing her into the car.
The door of the car became shut. That was when she perceived the familiar body scent: Gardenia.
She turned and saw Junxie Li staring at her wickedly. His suit was already wet and his shoes had been stained with mud. He clenched his teeth and snorted.
"Stubborn!" He said and told the Chauffeur to drive her to wherever he likes if she doesn't tell him her address immediately.
"I can go to my house without you helping me out" Theresa Mo was putting up a resistance.
"Yes, you can. And you are so drenched and would have been swimming in muddy water already. Yet you can go to your house without my help.
Where's your address and don't waste my time by the roadside?" Junxie Li thundered. That's what he hates the most. Helpless people who ought to say thank you will end up playing ignorant and acting like a super Man or woman rather.
"Drive straight and make a turn at the next bend"Theresa Mo said and hugged herself. She was catching a cold already.
Junxie Li saw her hugging herself and the goosebumps on her upper arm, and instructed the Chauffeur to change the air conditioner to a warm temperature.
He removed his suit and covered her exposed shoulders. He kept glancing at her at every interval and eventually couldn't take it.
He pulled her into a tight hug so she could feel his body temperature. Theresa couldn't resist him, she was feeling cold and her teeth clenched.
The Chauffeur arrived at an apartment and Theresa Mo with a shivering hand told him to stop. She had arrived at her house and wanted to step down.
Ignoring her struggles with the door, Junxie Li stepped out and helped her out pulling her into a side hug and hurried the steps to her door.
She brought out the key to unlock the door and her hands shivered. Junxie Li took the key away from her and opened the door. They got in and shut the door behind them.
Junxie Li looked at the small house and wondered if this is where she lived with his sons before he found them?
Only two bedrooms, he guessed. One room for Theresa and the other for the boys. He told her to go for a hot bath first and change into something dry.
Theresa Mo nodded and went into the bathroom. Junxie Li looked around and quickly found the direction to her kitchen. He got there and quickly boiled coffee for her.
He checked through the fridge and found some eggs, tomatoes and other vegetables. He prepared toast bread and the aroma of it was reaching Theresa in the room where she was changing into another pair of clothes.
When Theresa Mo stepped out of her room, she saw he was wearing her apron and was almost done with the toasted bread.
She walked up to him wondering if such an arrogant classy guy can cook something so special?
"Junxie Li, don't worry I will continue from where you stop"Theresa Mo said offering to give a hand.
Junxie Li didn't answer her, just stared at her clothes. She wore a jeans trouser and a turtle neck cardigan. On her head is a head warmer and a pair of socks on her feet before the flop she wore. "Wait at the dining table, I'll be there soon," he said and turned away from her. She stared at him from the back. He is just the bigger version of her boys.
It seemed to her she was looking at her grown up son. The meticulous way of doing things was like Tim and Lee's careful attention to every detail.
Junxie Li knew she was watching him and can guess what's going on in her head. "You are seeing the boys in me right?" He asked as he placed the toasted bread on a plate and took it to the dinning. "Yeah," Theresa Mo didn't deny it. She watched him bring the tea to the dinning as well, steaming out a sweet aroma.
Her stomach churn. That was when she realized she was hungry. She sat down and asked Junxie Li to sit with her and have the meal together.
He did and ate with her with his shirt folded to the elbow. He kept staring at Theresa secretly but would look away when she's about to look in his direction.
"How are the boys?" Theresa Mo asked. She hadn't seen her kids for two weeks now. And he hadn't said anything about them to her since he stepped in.
"They're fine," Junxie Li replied. Theresa Mo had said she hates him. And he had promised himself not to bring the issue of the boys up again. Theresa Mo expected him to say something more about the boys but he didn't. She didn't ask him anything else either.☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐