Chapter 08: She turned down his marriage proposal

The persistent ringing of her door buzzer had Taylor groaning frustratedly into the pillow. She willed whoever was at the door to leave but they wouldn't. All she wanted was just five minutes to get some much-needed shut-eye.

Enrique's visit, the previous night had left her rattled, robbing her of her sleep. All night she had tossed, turned and shed tears for the untimely ending of her relationship with Frank while scolding her younger self for living such a reckless and dishonest life.

Never in a million years had she ever thought that the secret that had weighed heavily on her for the past five years and had stolen her peace, would one day be used against her.

Allowing herself to be blackmailed by the ruthless and cunning old man was akin to signing away her soul to the devil.

If it had been only about her, she would have told him to stick his blackmail where the sun didn't shine preferring to do the time for her crime but unfortunately, her stupidity had involved the whole family.

And when she thought of Boniface, tears stung her eyes. Noways would she let him grow up stigmatized as the son of a murderer and convict.

Forcing her feet to move faster, she yanked the door ready to send whoever was at the door to hell for interrupting her sleep. However, she never expected to come face to face with Enrique's solid frame adorned in a dark blue suit.

' Why the hell did it take you so long to open the damned door? Who is here?' He demanded as he walked into her apartment uninvited.

'Grandpa, good morning. ' She greeted him politely ignoring his offending question. ' What brings you here at this early hour?'

Enrique's eyes wandered suspiciously around the apartment before he levelled them on her .' I don't know if I made myself clear enough yesterday, but I expect nothing but loyalty from you towards my grandson. If I ever get wind of your sexual shenanigans, trust me, the hand of the law will be the last thing you will have to worry about .'

'There is no need to threaten me. I know what's at stake, but if it will put your heart at ease, feel free to check the apartment.'

'Glad you know what you stand to lose,' he said. Unbuttoning the middle button of his jacket, he settled in the armchair .' You have five minutes to change and make yourself look presentable. We are heading out. '

'Out to where? I have to get to the office....'

'I don't recall saying this was a request, Miss Hingandu and as for your job, your office has already received the notification of your resignation .'

'Excuse me?'

'Married to Dylan, you won't want for anything. Your only job will be to be a loving and supportive wife and carry on the family name. '

'You sent in a resignation letter to my office without my consent? Why? Who gave you the right to do so?'

'I don't need anyone's permission to make decisions for my family members and unless you plan on facing the whole nation in your nightwear, you have three minutes before I have the bodyguards escort you out .'

Taylor bit her lips and glared at the insufferable old man on her sofa .' Will you at least tell me where we are going?'

'To the company of course. You need to be by your fiancé's side when the announcement will be made."

She stared at him horrified.

He, in turn, leaned back In his seat enjoying the play of emotions on her dace.

Taylor shook her head. Things were moving too fast. She hadn't even broken up with Frank and he already wanted her to announce her relationship with Dylan? She had thought he would give her a little more time to make a clean break from Frank.

"But before that, you and I are making a little stop at the hospital. You have an appointment with the ob-gyn," he continued before she could air her thoughts.

'What the hell for?'

Enrique settled back in the sofa and looked up at her with eyes that lacked any warmth .' I have to make sure that only Dylan's heirs will be growing in that little oven of yours.'

'You...You are too much. So what happens if I happen to be already carrying Frank's child?'

He threw her a humourless smile .' I think one bastard with Franks blood roaming the earth is one bastard too many, don't you agree?'

Taylor's hand involuntarily settled protectively on her tummy as her mind ran wild with images of what the diabolical old man would do to Frank's unborn baby if she ever was pregnant. She couldn't help but heave a deep sigh of relief knowing she would never have to find out. Even though her greatest desire was to build a family with Frank, she had had an intrauterine device inserted a good four years ago.

'There is no need to waste each others time, I am not pregnant.'

'And you think I will take your word for it?'

Huffing, Taylor turned and headed to her bedroom. Thirty minutes later, she emerged dressed in a ruffled wine-red peplum dress.

At the hospital, they met Anatalia, Dylan's mother.

Anatalia was the one to escort Taylor to the doctor while Enrique remained in the car. Anatalia didn't bother to hide her dislike for the now ex-girlfriend of her sister's son. Even though she understood that she was vital to the growth of Ngwevu Estates, Anatalia believed her son deserved better and not some secondhand woman.

In the doctor's office, after she had taken both the urine and blood test despite her explaining that she had an IUD inserted, Taylor sat silently fuming. Having to answer the most intimate questions about her sex life in the presence of Anatalia was the most humiliating experience for her but there was nothing she could do but grit her teeth.

The doctor informed them that the urine test had come back negative but they would have to wait a couple of hours for the blood tests. Taylor walked out dazed, wondering what she had let herself into and how long she could put out up with it all.

They had made it no secret that her life was no longer her own to do as she pleased.

'Dad is waiting for you on the on the tenth floor,' Anatalia said to her soon to be daughter-in-law, making the younger woman look up at her with wide eyes filled with dread.

'Tenth floor?' she whispered fearfully. Frank was admitted on the tenth floor. She shook her head at the other woman. 'Why are you doing this? Isn't it enough that you already have me in your clutches? Do you have to go this far in hurting him?'

'As sweet as your concern for Frank is, I hope this is the last as well. From the moment you agreed to be with my son, Frank became sacred and forbidden to you. Besides, wouldn't it be better for him to hear the news from you rather than the media?'

'Don't you have a conscious, he is your sister's son.'

'It's nothing personal. It's business,' she replied and walked into the elevator.

✴✴✴

Seeing the woman who meant more to him than his family standing at the doors of his hospital ward put a smile on Frank's face.

He noted her nervousness as she fidgeted with the straps of her black clutch bag and avoided eye contact. He attributed it to tiredness.

'Hey, are you feeling much better? I was worried about you. I sent someone to check up on you but you never answered your door. Have you been to the doctor?'

Taylor forced a smile on her face, nodded and covered the distance between them. Guilt eating at her for lying to him. After Enrique's visit, she had called Norad, his uncle, to look after him for the night as she had a terrible migraine. When Frank had called and texted later, she never picked up.

'You look like you hardly slept,' he observed as he took her hand and pressed it to his lips. 'I'm sorry that you have to go through this. I promise this is the last I will have you worried like this.'

After the accident, Taylor had been beside herself with worry and when he had woken up after a lengthy surgery, she had pleaded with him to reconsider his stance and give up on the fight for the CEO's seat.

'Listen, I have something for you.' He asked her to hand him his jacket and when she did, he reached into one of the pockets and pulled out a squared red velvet box. He opened it up to reveal a beautiful engagement ring.

Taylor stared at the 6-carat emerald cut diamond ring for a long while. Tears glistened in her eyes before they slid down her face, it was everything she had ever wanted but it was all happening at the wrong time.

Frank mistook her waterworks for tears of joy. He got her hand and caressed it with his thumb, his face content with joy.' Before you, nothing much-made sense. You have become my everything, my soulmate. I can't imagine myself growing old with anyone other than you. Will you grant me the honours of being your husband?'

Taylor looked up from the dazzling ring to his face, then slowly withdrew her hand from his. 'Its beautiful Frank. Any woman would be honoured to be your wife... I'm sorry but I can't accept your ring.'

Frank stared at her in stupefied dismay. He had expected every possible answer from her, but her no.

'I don't understand. Why are you saying no? Don't you love me? I thought we were both ready for this...'

He wondered if he had misread the signs. For many years, despite his constant rejections, she had chased after him, declaring her undying love. Even when he had finally decided to give them a chance, he had always held himself back. It's hard for him to let people in. It wasn't until the recent accident that had landed him in the hospital did he realize, she was probably the only person in the world besides his best friend, grandmother and Norad who truly loved him. Her sincere dedication to taking care of him like a dutiful wife since his hospitalization had led him to this moment.

He had hoped to spend his forever by her side, loving only her.

'Did I surprise you? Do you need some time to think about it...'

'Frank, there is no easy way of saying this but I have met someone else.'

'What? No that's not true...'

'I am sorry that you had to find out this way but we are in love and getting married.'

Frank shook his head to dispel what he had just heard. Even though he had already understood and processed what she had said the look on his face told her he was still in denial.

'Who is he?'

'Don't do this to yourself.'

'Is it someone I know? How long has this been going on? Is it me? Did I push you to the arms of another man?'

'It's not you Frank. It's me. I fell I love with another man. Am sorry.'

A mirthless chuckle escaped from Franks's lips. He ran a hand through his bald head and shut the velvet box. 'Sorry? Is that supposed to make me feel better? How the hell is your sorry going to fix all this. For crying out loud Taylor, you just told me you have been cheating on me. What the hell am I supposed to do with your sorry?'

'I am sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I should go.'

'Yeah, maybe you should...'

The opening of the door cut short his sentence. His already sour mood took a deep dive when he saw a smirking Enrique standing at the door.

'What do you want old man? Can't you see am in the middle of something?'

'Whatever makes you think that I am here for you?' He asked and turned to Taylor. 'I came to pick up your cousin's fiancée. My dear are you ready?'

Taylor nodded averting her gaze from Frank who looked from Taylor's nervous face to Enrique's smirking face.

'What did you just say? Taylor?'

'What didn't she tell you? Your cousin Dylan and this beautiful lady here are already engaged.'

The sadistic smirk on his face told them he was enjoying every moment of it.

The warmth that had earlier been in Frank's eyes turned frosty.

Frank turned his icy glare on his now ex-girlfriend. 'Taylor?'

Enrique's words and Taylor's act of betrayal hurt more than the numerous wounds on his body.

Taylor murmured an apology then hurriedly left the room. She couldn't bear to look at him and the pain she had inflicted on him. All she had ever wanted was to love him and spend the rest of her life with him. She had never imagined that she would be among those people who would leave scars in his life.

' It seems today is not a good day to be you,' Enrique said to the young man who stared at the box in his hands.

'Get the hell out old man.'

'I told you I would take away everything from you. You are a failure Frank and no one loves or cares for you. Even the girl you loved realized what a worthless man you are.'

Frank tossed him a downcast burning glare as his hands tightened around the box, imaging it was Enrique's neck.