Mr. President’s

Chapter 45

The music had changed and Nathan was holding Mercedes so close, she naturally relaxed, her head was on his chest. Griffin was dancing with Angie but couldn’t control his spite, moving Angie away from the dance floor, to the garden to talk instead. Jane was boiling like a pot of soup. She couldn’t concentrate on the dance steps and kept stepping on Luke, who kept swallowing the pain and forcing awkward smiles.

“You know you shouldn’t be dancing with me right?” Mercedes lifted her head and asked Nathan, staring into his eyes

Nathan was so smitten, he couldn’t keep to the rules of not being seen in public. He dared the outcome. “I could have controlled it if only you stopped doing things to make me jealous. Mercedes pulled away slightly to check his facial expression. It was indeed serious. She didn’t know that Nathan would be so jealous of Griffin

But why should she feel guilty? Was is her fault that she couldn’t be seen with him in public and couldn’t appear as his date? “I was just playing my part. I don’t want you getting into trouble,” she frankly said.

“Then stop giving other men attention,” Nathan solemnly said.

“Griffin is not any man. He is my best friend, Mercedes nonchalantly responded. Nathan only held her tighter. Her scent calmed him and he was lost to his environment

“Who is also in love with you,” he whispered.

“No, he doesn’t see me that way, Mercedes pouted

“Shall we bet” Mercedes didn’t mind taking Nathan’s challenge. She knew that Griffin was only her best friend

“On what?” She asked, ready to win whatever bet Nathan was going to propose.

“Elope with me when you find out that he is in love with you,” Nathan said to her in shock. She could tell that he had gone crazy

“I never saw you as someone to run from his problems,” she said honestly. They hadn’t noticed all eyes were on them and whispers were ongoing

“Just kidding but Griffin being in love with you, is true: Nathan has experienced a one–sided love from Jane. He knew the other party could turn evil to get what they wanted. Jane used to be the sweetest girl he ever knew. Therefore, he didn’t feel comfortable with Griffin around Mercedes but how could he inject that into her head? “Spend the night with me, Merce, his tone sounded pleading because he knew Mercedes wouldn’t oblige. She was a disciplined woman, who would choose to do the right thing, even when her hean screamed otherwise. As expected, she said,

“You came with a woman. It’s not right and the music has stopped. Mercedes was about to pull away and head to her seat when someone pulled her, making her wobbly because she was wearing stilettos and the force was quite great. The hall stood in a stupor, in wonder of what was going to happen next.

“What the hell Jane, Nathan roared and tried to yank Jane, who was now standing between them. Unknown to him, Jane gulped down quite too much wine because of jealousy therefore, she was exceptionally brave and stood up to Nathan.

“You are dancing with her right in front of me. Didn’t you say you weren’t in the mood?” She was yelling as she spoke and Nathan couldn’t tolerate it He sneered.

“I do as

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do as I please now move away.

Jane was either functioning under the influence of alcohol or sheer envies but since she didn’t look drunk, it seemed like the latter. “Does everyone here know that you are fucking your assistant!” Her voice was shrill enough for everyone to hear. Mercedes was so flushed, she didn’t know where to turn. Angie and Griffin were nowhere near as she searched for refuge. She was uneasy standing there, disappointed and shocked, gazes pinned on her and even more uneasy to walk out. It will be similar to the walk of shame. Her head was bowed in embarrassment.

Nathan was so mad, his face had turned red. He wasn’t one to hit a woman if not, he would have. “Jane, you have overstepped your boundaries.” he roared.

Jane stepped back slightly in fear but her mouth was still sharp. “So I have boundaries but she doesn’t?”

Luckily, Angie appeared after hearing Jane’s shrill Griffin was trailing behind her, with visible anger. “Merce, let’s get out of here.” Angie tried to yank her away but Jane seemed to be possessed, shoving Angie so violently, she almost fell if not for Griffin’s support around her torso. Security couldn’t stop Jane because she was almost like the host.

“Leave the whore alone. I’m not done with her, Jane moved to Mercedes and stared eye to eye.

*Tell everyone in the hall that you are not fucking him and he didn’t buy you a house and a car. Jane yelled loudly. Mercedes gritted her teeth so hard, she hit her tongue in the process.

“Jaur Nathan’s deep voice thundered, Jane turned to

Ho Lace l Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

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“And you Nat, you choose your assistant over me you fiance, and you want me to what Overlook it? You are too blind to see that the bitch only loves your money.”

“Enough!” Nathan yelled, almost tempting to hit her but his principle wouldn’t allow him. He knew from this instant that he had to end this whole

hullabaloo.

“Yes, enough but since she ruined my day, I’ll just give her a little parting gift, Jane said and turned to Mercedes Mercedes‘ eyes were so blurred with tears that she didn’t see it coming when a slap landed on her checks. The whore of an assistant, Jane chuckled and pulled Luke with him, walking out of the hall. Nathan rushed to Mercedes.

“Merce, I’m,” He tried to hold her when Mercedes johted as if she just stepped out of a trance

“Don’t touch me!” She barked. Nathan’s heart jerked.

“Merce please,” he begged. He knew that this was too much for Mercedes‘ image and he was upset with himself for accepting his father’s proposal.

“Just leave me alone” she screamed and began running through the back entrance, Griffin ran after her, taking off his blazer to cover her exposed shoulders while Angie held her to her chest.

“I’m sorry Merce,” Angie tried to console her. Neither Griffin nor Angie had ever seen Mercedes so broken in her life.

Nathan stood helplessly in the middle of the dance floor. If anything, he had to protect Mercedes from the media. This couldn’t be reported. His eyes roamed till they fell on the President of the media house. He didn’t utter a word when the man ran towards him. “Make sure that none of this finds its way into your papers tomorrow,” he sternly warned.

The man quickly nodded and Nathan ran out of the hall towards where Mercedes passed but he was too late. She had already left with Griffin. He was worried about her and began calling her on the phone but it went off after the eighth ring. He wanted to go to her penthouse but knew it wouldn’t be right. She had her friends with her and despite he couldn’t trust Griffin, neither could he go to her.

Griffin spent the night at the penthouse consoling Mercedes. Mercedes never spoke a word to him or Angie, only crying her eyes out like a baby She didn’t recall when she ever cried this way. She had never faced this form of embarrassment in her life and it hurt so bad.

Her private life was trashed in the open and Nathan couldn’t protect her. He couldn’t do anything about it and it was going to be in the She fell asleep in her tears with Griffin and Angie. None of them had taken off their clothes.

papers too.

Mercedes couldn’t sleep well, johing awake at the early hours of the morning. Since Griffin and Angie hadn’t slept early because of her, they were still sleeping when she put on casual clothes and sneaked out. Events of last night were still fresh in her mind. She needed to see Nathan. She had to break things off. He had to let her go. She couldn’t stand another humiliation.

She didn’t want to call him and went to his house but he wasn’t there. She turned on the phone with so many missed calls and text messages from him. She sent one. I need to see you.

I’m in the office. The response was prompt as if he was waiting for her. Instead of going home last night, he drove to the office instead. He hasn’t been able to blink to sleep, staring at the ceiling in a daze.

Mercedes used her office entrance therefore, she didn’t knock. Nathan’s office was dark so she turned on the switch. He was looking as terrible as she was feeling but at least he deserved it for putting her into this mess. She never forced him to buy her a house and a car and she only asked for a favour when he gave her conditions of spending a week with him. She couldn’t take the blame for it Nathan had to bear it all.

Nathan’s stood from the sofa in which he laid and met her halfway. “Merce, I’m so sorry. I’ve been worried,” he pulled her into a hug but she was just stiff. She waited for Nathan to pull away and dropped a bomb,

“I want out

Nathan wasn’t expecting it. Problems pop up in relationships but it was up to the couples to sort it out together right? “Stop it Merce, I already.” Mercedes cut him off, her countenance was grim. “I’m serious. I think you should focus on your son and your fiance. I can’t be your mistress anymore.” Nathan was upset with her using that word. He didn’t like it and neither did she.

“You are not my mistress, I love you, he responded curtly.

“Then set me free Nat. let me go. Mercedes placed her demand. Silence descended, as Nathan menaced over her request. He knew she was hurt but how could he let her go

“Never, you are mine, he responded possessively, angering Mercedes the most.

“It’s all about your and your ego so what about me? I was the one thrashed in the middle of the dance floor because of you. My dignity was kicked in the inud and I’m just a shameless whore but that enough for you! She didn’t stop the tears washing her face. Every word she uttered hurt Nathan

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more than it hurt her. He knew how she felt because he felt the same but if setting her free would make her feel better, then it was perhaps the best.

He lifted her chin with her finger but Mercedes lowered her eyes, not wanting to be charmed by the magic in his eyes. “If you leave me, never come back, Nathan solemnly said.

“I won’t,” her response was so prompt, it damaged Nathan so badly. He wanted her but she wanted to leave him. He walked back to his desk, staring longingly at the note plastered on his wall Tears blurred his vision when he peeled it on. He walked towards her, took her hand and pressed the note in it. Mercedes was shocked. Even though she asked, she didn’t know that he would do it

What she hadn’t realized was the fact that her happiness mattered to Nathan more than pride. She stared into his pained eyes and hugged him tightly, relief nudging her. At last, she was free. Free to work wherever she wanted, and free to date whomever she wanted. She would never see Jane again and she was certain that she would never face such embarrassment again. It wasn’t like her to not fight back but Jane had Nathan’s dad’s protection so she was branded untouchable.

Thank you,” she murmured. Nathan didn’t say a word, only pulling away.

Mercedes watched his back, as he strolled to his chair. She was still in a daze. Nathan had changed so much. He hadn’t heard any footsteps which meant that Mercedes was still there. He was standing by his desk with his back to her, “you better leave before I change my mind.”