THE STOIC CEO'S WIFE

CHAPTER 8 : LAUREN'S OFFENCE

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     Ashton was busy in office when he heard a knock on the door.
"Come in, he said and the visitor hurriedly came in.
"Hey Brother Ash! I was so surprised to see your call. You won a lottery?
He only looked at her and grunted and continued what he was doing.
She sat down and the secretary brought coffee for her and left.

When she finished the beverage, he cleared his throat and she looks at him with curiosity.
He gave her an envelope, "That is the marriage contract, you know what to do."

"Thank you very much bro, you're the best." she said happily as she hugged him.
"Brother Ash! Are you gonna hold a wedding?"

Pinkie! I'm busy now, so leave.
This brother of mine! she thought to herself and pouted before leaving.

Lauren was playing a game on the new phone that Pinkie bought for her when a call came in.
"Hey Lauren. Are you busy at the moment?"

"No, what's up?" Lauren asked from the other end.

" We need to discuss something, I'll be with you in a jiffy."

30 minutes later.
     Pinkie and Lauren have just finished eating fruit salad and were resting on the sofa.

"Lauren, I want to tell you something really important and I hope it won't affect our friendship."
Lauren only looked at her inquisitively.

"After you told me how you've been struggling to get a job and getting fired, I investigated and found out that my brother, Ashton Johnson is behind it. From my findings, you had offended him and this was the punishment he chose to give you."

What! Lauren exclaimed, her eyes almost popping out from shock.

"I'm sorry about that, Pinkie continued. Today, he called me and asked me to give you this.
She handed her the envelope.

Lauren read the details of the papers and stood up, giving the envelope back to Pinkie.
"Miss Rhea Johnson! Please leave my house. I'm not interested in having a fake marriage with your onerous brother."
Pinkie looked at her in astonishment.

From today onwards, just erase every memory of Lauren Smith.
"Lauren, try to....

"Now, I realize why you became my friend", Lauren interrupted angrily. 'Please leave', she said with a serious tone as she opened the door for her. Pinkie had no option than to leave in tears.

     She banged the door and sat down by it, sobbing quietly and feeling more resentful towards that oppressive fellow.

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Pinkie headed straight to Ashton's room when she returned home. She was very furious at him for making her lose such a good friend. She threw the envelope on his bed and shouted at him in tears.
"Because of you, she doesn't want to be my friend anymore! Because of you!"
She ran to her room and he followed her, but she successfully locked it before he could reach her.
Pinkie!
"Go away! I don't wanna see you."
He returned to his room fuming, he looked around the room and picked up his phone.
"Hello Mike."

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     Lauren cried so much that she fell asleep by the door. The continuous knocks on the door woke her up.
"Hey Lauren! It's me, Gloria. Open the door and let me in."

She stood up reluctantly and opened it. Lauren felt a new surge of cry, her lacrymal pores instantly opened and heavy tears poured from her eyes, she hugged Gloria so tight as if her whole life depended on the hug.

"Girl, you're trying to kill someone here", the chatterbox said. She looked at Lauren pitifully before asking her, "Lauren, you look so pale. what have you done to my boss?"

Lauren looked at her in surprise, she couldn't remember telling Gloria anything yet.
"Are you surprised? Well, my boss threatened to fire me if you do not accept his offer. What did you do to offend that heartless nincompoop?"

Lauren became sober, she didn't want others to get into trouble because of her.
"It happened almost a year ago before I even met you. I was standing by a hotel and was thinking about my miserable life when someone bumped into me. Instead of apologizing, he tried walking out on me. I leashed my grievances by slapping him and calling him a stinking dog. Some men, who I suppose are his bodyguard tried to beat me up but he told them to let me be. I never knew who he was then."

"You did what? No wonder your life is in a mess right now. You should be grateful that you're still breathing in one piece. Does that mean he'll forgive you if you accept that offer of his?"

"I guess so, but you have the foggiest idea what he asked of me."

"What's that?"

"He sent his sister here today to give me a marriage contract."

"You mean Pinkie? So, what was your response?"

"I rejected it and even sent her away."

"Oh Lauren! You're really crazy. If I were you, I'd accept it. Besides, it's just a contract. I have an idea", she said with her eyes all lit up.

Lauren looked at her in astonishment.
"Accept the contract, but give your own conditions. Since he's so rich, he can help you find a good job and even help get justice for your mother."

Lauren's livid face wore a smirk.
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