Mr. President’s

Chapter 35

Griffin returned home from seeing Penelope around midnight to meet an empty apartment. He already knew Mercedes moved out with Angie before finding the note. It was expected, much to his dismay

A sense of loneliness flung him. He was too used to Mercedes being home when he returned that her absence for a week upset him. He missed her so much but thought it wise not to call her. He will see her tomorrow after his final interview. It was better to apologize face to face.

He woke up very early and prepared for the interview. He wore the suit Mercedes bought for him from her trip, much to his shame. It was as if she predicted he was going to need a new one. Mercedes‘ ways made him question if she was an angel.

When he arrived for the interview, he realized he was the only one. J & J Estates was well known as the best in the real estate business in NY. This was his third interview for a position he hasn’t been told but what encouraged him to come was the fact that it was the first time he caught a panel’s attention. This was the first time he got a second interview. The third and final one was going to be with the CEO, Martha Star

Within a few minutes, he was ushered to Martha’s office. The woman was nothing less than sixty but looked forty. Her office had many books with old newspapers, well arranged in glass cabinets. There were also catalogues of house designs and types. “Good day, Grifin, Martha said before Griffin opened his mouth.

She carried an unusual aura that was best suited for a man. “Sit,” she instructed while flipping through the pages of a newspaper in front of her. Her voice was gentle but Griffin felt uneasy. Something told him that this woman wasn’t one to mess with.

“You are here for the position of?” She asked, raising her eyes through her reading glasses. Griffin thought she looked like his old professor in those glasses. I wasn’t told the position, Ma’am, Nathan truthfully said.

Martha closed the newspaper and pushed it aside, took off her reading glasses and placed it inside its case. Then she sipped on hot coffee and said.

“I will give you the position of a Servant.” Griffin was swayed in confusion. Three long interviews two weeks apart, and meeting the CEO for the job of a servant? The manager could have given him that offer on the first day so why the delay!”

“Excuse me, Ma’am, what’s the exact job description of a servant” He asked carefully. The woman’s ways were quite mysterious to him. This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

“Wrong question. You should be asking about the remuneration that goes with it. I’ll tell you. As a servant, you earn an annual 500k aside from housing, clothing and holiday allowances, she smiled for the first time.

Griffin was at a loss. “You mean servants

ervants go on

on holidays?”

“I will only give you the job description after you have agreed to the position, Martha flatly announced, while giving him a straight glare. She was completely unpredictable and unreadable.

amount of money for a simple job “Okay, I will sign

What did Griffin have to lose? Such an amou

Martha sighed. She had been searching for a qualified applicant for years but as soon as they heard the job title of a servant, they either refuted or walked away, without waiting to hear anything else. At least, Griffin was smart enough to ask for a job description, which landed him an overview of the salary and benefits. Matha’s search was finally over. This was the company’s standard for recruiting higher positions and she kept the tradition, irrespective of failed attempts.

“My secretary will help you with that and I have been informed that you lack work experience so you will start work in two weeks. For now, you are dismissed.”

Martha gave him no room for any more questions. She put on her reading glasses and went back to reading her newspaper as if she hadn’t said anything. Griffin strolled out of the office to sign the document the secretary gave him. He was excited. Even if it’s what he thought, like cleaning and doing other menial jobs, the payment was worth the try. He thought about sharing the good news with Mercedes when he went to apologise. Finally, he could rescue her from Nathan.

The second person he intended to call was Penelope. Finally, he could meet her demands, including making arrangements to make her his wife. He quickly put a call through to her. She sounded urgent, told him she would meet up with him in his house and hang up.

Griffin cancelled his plans of going to the penthouse to see Mercedes and waited for her. At exactly 7 pm, there was a knock on his door. He knew it was Penelope and opened it without asking. All he felt was a force throwing him to the floor, as Penelope climbed on top of him, ripping off her clothes so fast as if it was at gunpoint,

Griffin responded with equal hastiness. No matter how many times they did it, they always wanted more of each other. After a while, the storms ended. They lay on the floor, panting as Penelope threw a bomb, I’m getting married next week.”

Grittin felt that he needed a hearing aid. “Did you say something?” He grimaced as he turned to face her. Indeed, she was serious.

*Im leaving you, Griff, I’m getting married next-”

3.14 PM & d

“Well then call it off” Grifin turned grave. His anger boiled, as he lifted himself to a sining position. Penelope feared. She only saw his sweet side and never the angry part. Since Penelope was too shocked to react, he said in a low growl to her hearing, “Call off the so–called wedding” Then he run his fingers through his hair, bitterness lacing his tone, God Penelope, I thought we loved each other and I thought we had plans.”

This time, Penelope was out of her trance and snapped, “let’s face the fact here Griff, you can’t take care of me. Your peanuts can’t sustain us,” she blurted out. Griffin was hurt by her words. All along, she pretended not to mind the fact that he wasn’t boxed up. What a painful discovery.

“But I just got a job and the pay is good, he tried to convince her, realizing that money was the problem in their relationship. Penelope’s eyes it. If Griffin had a job, then she could convince her dad.

Job as to what?” She curiously asked.

Griffin thought about whether to polish the job title slightly since the pay was good but he never lied to her, and he wasn’t going to, to begin with. “A

servant bu-”

Penelope’s thunderous laughter abruptly cut him off, as she stood up and began putting on her clothes. “Listen to what you are telling me. So I’m going to introduce you to my parents as a servant? I’m sorry Griff, it’s over?

“Penelope, please, I love you. We can work something out please,” Griffin wasn’t ready to let her go. He was willing to go to the moon and back for her because she was his first love.

“I’m sorry Griff, I’ll miss the sex though, Goodbye” Upon bearing her last words, Griffin didnt try to stop her when she walked out the door, shutting it after blowing him a kiss. One thing he realized was that, to Penelope, all he was to her, was a sex buddy.

Griffin pinched himself three times. Perhaps it was a dream but no, it wasn’t. This was the reality. Penelope broke up with him and left. He was too shocked to shed a tear. He thought about everything that happened between him and Penelope. How did he not know that she had been cheating on him?

He scrolled through his phone gallery at the memories they shared when a video began playing. He recalled it was a video Penelope sent him. which he hadn’t watched but realized it was Mercedes dancing the waltz with Nathan. Something ached in his heart but one thing was certain. As a man, he could tell that Nathan was in love with Mercedes and he could also tell that Penelope lied to him to cover up her affairs. While she created the conflict between him and Mercedes, he didn’t bother to investigate anything the latter told him. Smart move from Penelope.

He balled his hand and punched the wall till his fist turned red. Mercedes had his back but he didn’t give her the needed trust. At this moment, he needed his best friends. But he promised himself one thing, that he was never going to shed a tear for Penelope.

Mercedes was in bed trying to catch some sleep when she heard a knock on her door. She was living in a three–bedroom penthouse with her friend so she needn’t ask who. “Come in Angie,” she yelled but the door didnt open as she expected. Instead, she heard a familiar voice she loved so much.

“It’s me, Griff”