25

After crying for what seemed like hours in the office, Mel decided she wanted to be alone so she decided to leave for her apartment. She packed her stuff and headed out of the office. Upon entering the elevator, Mel came in contact with Tracy who looked at her with a wide eye.

"Mel, is anything the matter?" Tracy asked surprised as she saw that her Boss's eyes were red and puffy from crying. She also looked pale.

Mel was trying to reply to Tracy but words failed her. Her lips were quivering but no words came out of it. A tear rolled down Melinda's cheek which she quickly wiped away.

Tracy pulled Mel into the elevator after which she pressed the close button and put the elevator on hold then she pulled Mel into a hug.

Tracy had no idea of what happened to her Boss. All she knew was that Melinda was a very good person who took her like her younger sister and deserved all the happiness life had to offer.

"Don't worry about me, Tracy. I just need to be alone. I don't think I will make it to work tomorrow but I will let you know what I decide." Melinda managed to say with a teary voice as she pulled away from the hug.

"Are you sure you will be okay?" Tracy asked worriedly and Mel nodded.

Tracy offered to walk Mel to her car and told her to stay safe and she watched as Mel drove off.

....................

Upon entering her apartment, Melinda wanted to do nothing but lay on her bed and cry her eyes out which was actually what she did after she changed into her comfy clothes. She cried and cried until she unconsciously fell asleep. . . . .

Melinda woke up around 9 pm due to the sound of the doorbell. She reluctantly dragged herself out of her bed and headed towards the door.

As she was still contemplating whether she should open the door, She heard a loud voice say. "Mel, I know you are in there, please open the door. We are so worried about you. Please, Mel." The voice said and she recognised it to be Dee's voice.

Melinda opened the door, revealing a worried Dee and Nate.

They both pulled her in a tight hug and stayed like that for a while before Dee broke the hug and silence. "Why were you not answering your phone? We all got worried and Alexander is even more worried about you." Dee said.

"You look so pale Mel and I can tell you have been crying. Is anything the matter? Did Frank do anything to you? You can talk to us, you know that." Nate said.

Mel just left a confused Nate and Dee standing there as she went into her room and came back with the brown envelope Frank had given her earlier on.

Mel took one last look at the envelope and handed it over to Nate, then she crashed on the couch.

After collecting the envelope from Mel, Nate glanced at Dee and she shrugged as they both headed to take a seat across Mel after which Nate opened the envelope.

"No way! But how come?" Dee exclaimed after a while as she looked at Nate who seemed to be in a great shock too. Not only did Alex deceive Mel alone. He deceived them all.

Dee stood up and went to where Mel was seated. She saw that her best friend was already crying so she pulled her into a hug as Mel sobbed on her shoulders.

"This pain is too much for me to bear, Dee. I don't think I can survive this."

Desourire was almost in tears too. It hurt to see her best friend this way but she tried to fight back her tears as she knew she had to be strong for Melinda.

"Why do I keep choosing and falling for the wrong people? Why?" Mel asked Dee with a teary voice.

"Mel, please stop crying. I'm sure there will be a valid explanation for this." Nate said as she stood up from where he was sitting and approached Mel.

"What's there to explain again? This document says it all." Mel said

"You need to forget about what the document says for now and listen to Alex's explanation about all of this. Even though it's true Mel, I believe he has a valid explanation for hiding all of these. He loves you Mel. Alexander loves you. He sounded miserable when he called us telling us he couldn't reach you." Nate said and Dee nodded.

"Yes Mel, he sounded so worried when he called. please just give him a chance to explain when he comes tomorrow." Dee said.

"Did you eat at all today?" Nate asked.

Melinda shook her head.

Nate left for her kitchen to prepare something for her to eat while Dee kept on comforting Mel.

A few minutes later, Nate came back with a plate of pasta. He found leftovers in the fridge so he warmed it up.

"I'm not hungry," Mel said as soon as she sighted the food.

"Mel please, you have to eat. I don't want you to fall sick. Please eat, even if it's just a little." Dee begged.

Mel sighed as she collected the plate of food from Nate. The moment she took a forkful of her pasta, a tear rolled down her cheeks. It pained both Nate and Dee to see their friend like this. She looked so broken.

Nate quickly wiped the tear off Mel's face. He collected the pasta from her and handed it to Dee. He made Melinda sit on his lap, collected the pasta from Dee and began to feed Mel.

Soon enough, Nate finished feeding Mel and Dee handed her a glass of water. After drinking the water, she wrapped her arms around Nate's neck and rested her head on his chest. "It's okay sweets, everything will be fine. Remember no relationship is perfect. We just have to be there for our partners no matter what." Nate said as he kept on caressing Mel's hair and she nodded against his chest.

"Mel, you know Nate's lover would be angry if she saw you in this position with her man," Dee said to brighten up the atmosphere which earned a chuckle from both Mel and Nate.

"So when will you introduce us to her?" Mel asked as she raised her head from Nate's chest.

"Very soon," Nate said with a smile and the girls both nodded.

"Girls, I have to leave now. I have a meeting very early tomorrow morning. But I promise to come to see you tomorrow Mel." Nate said after which Mel hugged him and whispered something in his ear "Thanks for taking care of me." She said after which she stood up from his lap.

"Anything for you sweetheart." Nate kissed her forehead.

"Don't worry Mel. I will be staying overnight." Dee winked.

Nate said his goodbyes to the girls after which he took his leave. . .

"What am I going to do Dee? I don't know what to believe anymore" Mel said with a hint of sadness in her voice.

"What does your heart tell you?" Dee said as she took a seat beside her.

"My heart is hurt. I feel betrayed. What if all this is true, what if Alex is really a murderer. what if he doesn't love me, what if he's just using me?" Melinda said as she tried her best to prevent her tears from falling.

Dee moved closer to Mel and intertwined her hand with hers. "Don't overthink things. I have faith in what Alexander feels for you. Everything will be fine, honey." Dee said after which she pulled her best friend into a comforting hug.

"I know this whole situation is confusing and I know you feel betrayed but please just give him a chance to explain," Dee said, referring to Alex as him since they were no longer sure of his identity.

"He said you were not feeling too well this morning. Is that true?" Dee asked.

"It's nothing, I just felt a little dizzy," Mel said as if it was nothing serious.