The Cursed Proposal

Chapter 4: The Boiling Point

Kaya had finally reached her limit with her boss's shenanigans. He wasn't just piling extra tasks on her; he was also forcing her to handle responsibilities meant for his other three assistants. She had kept the job for the wages and because he was her friend's husband, but now, she was done.

Her journalism degree had been meant to lead her to a career as a reporter or writer, but instead, her writing assignments were constantly delayed or reassigned because of the irrelevant tasks her boss imposed on her.

Kaya's heart sank as she overheard snippets of conversation from the office staff. The whispers had turned malicious, spreading rumors that she was nothing more than Alex's mistress. The term stung, laden with the secrecy and scandal she loathed.

"Did you hear?" one voice whispered, barely concealed. "They say Kaya's just his mistress. It's all hush-hush, but everyone knows."

"Oh my God. Isn't Kaya's friend Mr. Carter's wife? How could she do that to her?" The other voice replied with mockery.

"Don't you know they meet secretly when his wife is out of town?" Kaya clenched her fists, struggling to maintain her composure. The rumors weren't just offensive—they threatened her dignity and her standing in the company. She had never had a private encounter with Alex and never would, but gossip had a way of spreading.

Kaya kept her head up and walked past them, her anger barely contained. As the rumors continued, the contempt from her colleagues grew more palpable even affecting her editor who once again rejected her article.

"Kaya, I know you're committed, but maybe it's best to focus on your strengths. Not everyone needs to handle every detail—some roles are better suited for those with more experience," her editor said with a thinly veiled smirk. Kaya was confused and insulted by the comment.

Returning to her cubicle, she began packing her things and dialed Emily on speaker. Emily answered after the second ring, her voice stern but polite.

"Matthew & Smith Associates, how may I help you?" Emily said.

"It's me. Do you mind if I punch your husband and quit my job?" Kaya asked. She made a loud noise as she rummaged through her file cabinets, which drew everyone's curious attention.

"What did my husband do this time?" Emily's voice carried a note of weariness.

"Oh, nothing much. Just hinting that I'm his favorite mistress, which apparently means I sleep in your bed every time you're out of town, ohh and I'm a backstabber cheater," Kaya said, eliciting laughter from Emily that everyone could hear.

"Really? I doubt Alex would be alive if you were in my bed. It's hard to separate you two from public brawls, let alone private affairs. Reporters are way too creative these days. I'll need to be cautious with articles now," Emily said, laughing.

"Pick me up in 30 minutes, will you? I need your car and a girl's night out to celebrate resigning from this Tartarus," Kaya said, closing her boxes and tidying her desk.

"Right away, girlfriend. Make sure you don't bruise him too much—I still want to recognize my husband when I get home," Emily said before ending the call. Kaya pulled out her prepared resignation letter, marched to Alex's office, and ignored his secretary's protests.

Alex was taken aback, but Kaya didn't care. She slammed the letter on his face, screamed her resignation, and walked out, leaving behind the chaos of Tartarus.

Emily was right on time, Kaya didn't have to wait long to hear Alex's excuses.

"Emily dear, please do talk to your friend. She is trying to prank me." Alex said. Kaya's anger flared. How dare he think I'm trying to prank him!

"Look here, mister. If you really know your employees, you will see that your company has a toxic environment. Like a toxic dumpster," Kaya retorted, her voice trembling with frustration as she pointed at him.

She stormed out and got into the car, where Emily was waiting. Emily gave Alex a placating smile. "I'll talk to her," Emily said, her voice soothing as she turned to start the car. They drove in silence to their favorite local bar.

Sitting in the corner, they ordered beers. Kaya broke the silence first. "No matter what you say, I'm not going back there," she stated firmly. They sat in silence for a few moments, sipping their drinks.

"Okay, what's going on with you?" Kaya asked suddenly. Emily had always been chatty, and her current silence was unnerving. Since marrying Alex, Emily had changed, but Kaya had chalked it up to the normal adjustments of marriage.

Kaya had already prepared numerous scenarios to reject any of Emily's attempts to persuade her to return, but none were needed. Emily didn't even try to talk to her, as she had promised her no-good husband.

Emily shrugged and took another swig of her beer. Kaya felt a pang of guilt. How had she not noticed her friend's struggles sooner? She leaned in, hugging Emily, their heads touching gently.

"If you can't talk about it, that's fine. But remember, no matter where I am or who I'm with, I will always protect you from anything that hurts you," Kaya said softly, offering comfort without pressure.

"I know. Let's stop this gloomy feeling and party. We're here to celebrate your resignation right?" Emily said, her bright smile returned. Kaya smiled back, the tension easing. They joined the dance floor, leaving their troubles behind for the night. Everything became a blur after that.

Everything was going great in Kaya's life, except for the countless times Alex tried to blow up her phone. Kaya could finally taste what freedom was like. She didn't have to watch what she said because no co-worker would talk badly about her. No more annoying boss, no more deadlines that ended up being rejected just so she could be the scapegoat for the editor.

She could go anywhere without feeling hurried or tired. She could now attend the yoga classes she had kept postponing because she couldn't get up early. She could have brunch at the quaint little bakery she had been longing to visit, savoring the aroma of fresh pastries and coffee. She could spend afternoons at the arcade, losing herself in the fun and games. She could hike through the serene woods and camp under the stars at night, relishing the peace and solitude. "This is life," Kaya said to herself.

However, it didn't take long for Kaya to get bored and broke. She did everything she wanted, but soon she felt bored because she didn't have any deadlines to meet or articles to research and write about. The thrill of freedom quickly wore off, leaving her with a deep sense of boredom and a yearning for purpose.

Kaya was surfing in job vacancy websites when her mother called. She didn't want to pick up because her mother would give her a long lecture about how people are having a hard time finding a job and here she was wasting one.

Kaya's mother, Sophia Lane used to work in a large corporation in marketing. She knew how hard to keep a job and didn't want her children to feel the same way as she did. Kaya understood the importance of her mother's lecture but felt it didn't fully apply to her situation since her mother had never dealt with an annoying boss like hers.

Kaya snapped back to reality when she heard a doorbell rang. She was confused; she hadn't ordered food today because she was on a tight budget until she could find a new job by the end of the month. As she looked at her security-locked camera, It looked like a tall man back in a dark navy blue suit and she could see that the man was holding a bouquet.

Kaya already knew Alex was persistent in making Kaya back working with him, but Kaya didn't think he would be this low and tried to annoy her in her home. Oh, she thought something brilliant. As she opened her front door she dumped a bucket of ice water into the man while the man turned to see her.

As Kaya's gaze met the man's face, she realized with horror that it wasn't Alex. Her heart raced with fear. She had just ruined the very expensive suit of the man with blue eyes she adored—Sebastian Blackwood.

To be Continued.