It was a very sunny day in Downtown Los Angeles;Vanessa sat in her office in Bunker Hill and Wilshire Boulevard building.The sun poured through the windows of her office or the office that was once hers.The sun felt hot differently today,it was harsh and it reflected to every corner that used to represent her dreams and result of her hardwork.
Standing in the front of her once executive office which used to have her name hung on the door which was gone now,she sighed heavily and looked at her assistant who used to greet her so respectfully every morning who was now packing to leave the company,she watched the staffs she built the company with disappeared into their spaces like children scared of scolding.
The news spread quickly like widefire-Nicole now owned everything. Just the thought of his name made her feel like a knife was sliding under her skin slowly,she fell weakly into the chair in her office or what used to be her office.she rubbed her hand on the chair reminiscing the nights she slept here when she was building her company from nothing,From scratch.
It's all gone, gone she said to herself fifty million dollars, the company, five years of love and my time, five years of hard work.she laughed softly but not a happy one. it was a broken laugh- she had flashbacks of her memories with Nicole..He lied, he deceived her, he didn't mean it when they he said they should invest more into 'their future',he actually meant his future,it was all a lie when they were promising forever, they were building a life together….Then it dawned on her There was never a 'we' it was always about him she whispered to the empty office.
The clock kept ticking, cars crawled through the traffic outside her office, trees swayed lazily in the hot weather, helicopter hummed in the cloud , she was Alone. Her phone rang suddenly,it was her mum- 'Mum' she said out loudly feeling too tired to pick but she picked up anyways 'Hello mum' she said but without hesitation her mother's voice came from the other end of the line 'Vanessa where are you?'she was just about to respond when her mum broke down crying ''the bank officers they want to take the house, they said it has been used as collateral and they would seize the house if we don't pay now'' 'she was confused at first, she didn't understand how that would happen then she quickly recovered and asked her mum 'what house ??' She asked almost screaming.Our house her mum responded and said further 'They said you signed it' memories starts coming back and she remembered when Nicole gave her a document to sign and won't allow her read it because he kept distracting her which she found strange but she signed anyways, He handled the financial paperwork and he convinced her it was tax protection,He said it was just a formality. just as it dawned on her he mum troubled voice sounded from the other end of the line 'Are we losing the house?' But Vanessa stared at the window of this office which held many memories and for the first time since her ex fiancé betrayal happened six hours ago a tear finally rolled down her cheeks 'i….i'll…fix it' she said finally in a very soft tone to her mum but deep down she had no idea how.
How could I be so stupid she thought . She had fallen in love so stupidly she thought he was her partner not just in business but In everything, Her house was one thing she had promised herself not to every risk no matter her situation and now it's all gone. her mind drifted to past events, memories replaying in her mind like a cruel replay of a show.
Nicole standing beside her during meetings, Nicole telling her to sign the documents that particular day without worrying about the details 'it's just formalities for the tax he said'. Let me handle the boring stuffs honey, you work too hard, my queen shouldn't be stressing he would say to her. her hands were shaking as she slowly dropped her phone and locked outside the office, Life was moving forward just not hers. somewhere down there people were laughing,deals were being signed, businesses were growing. The city looked beautiful unlike her situation right now, it was lie the city didn't care that her world had collapsed
Vanessa grabbed her purse from the desk and left the office that used to be here she needed to get home right away. she took the elevator which seemed slower than usual but she waited patiently feeling like another piece of her life was disappearing as the elevator passed through every floor then it stopped . when the doors to the lobby finally opened several employees fell silent and looked at her with pity immediately they saw her but Vanessa held her head up high as she walked past them but she heard the whispers ' her ex fiancé owns the company now,I heard she lost everything, is that her?'
Every words hurts like she had just been stabbed in the chest as she pushed through the revolving doors and stepped outside to the scorching Los Angeles sun .heat wrapped around her immediately but she barely noticed with her mind racing too fast
Vanessa sped up through the crowded Los Angeles traffic. cars honked and angry drivers screamed at her as she switched lanes. Her thoughts were spinning out of control.Her mother and home was all she had left and now her home was about to be taken. he couldn't even spare me that?? Not even my mother?? How heartless are you Nicole?? She muttered then her phone rang again it was her mother; she picked up the call 'mum stay calm I'm on my way ,I'll fix this I promise' how many of them are there ?? She asked her mother ''three or maybe four and they keep talking about something called foreclosure'' I'll handle it Vanessa said as she gripped her steering wheel tightly. She said this words but still has no idea how.
After the long drive she finally pulled into the long driveway of her home in Beverly Hills. she saw two bank vehicles that was parked outside, Her mother stood near the front door looking completely terrified and disorganized, beside her she saw two dark men in suits speaking calmly with a third man who held a stack of legal properties.
Finally she slowly stepped out of her car,Her heels clicked loudly as she walked towards them and the men turned to face her.
Ms Vanessa Grant??asked one of the bankers in black suit asked professionally and she nodded instantly ''Yes''.The man opened the folder and held out a document '' i'm afraid we're here regarding the loan secured against this property'' Vanessa's eyes scanned the signature at the bottom as the took the paper from him…it was her signature but she didn't sign this willingly, her hands starts shaking again. The bankers voice came again but calm and firm '' if the loan payment isn't made today they bank will proceed with seizure of the property''.
Behind her was her mother was was crying profuse,Vanessa opened and closed her eyes for a moment.And when she opened them something flickered in those eyes asides pain,something dangerous. ''I built and empire once and I'd do it a hundred times again if I have to she said to herself.