In Love With My Bully-Chapter 78: Letting Go

The next morning when I woke up, the house was quiet, peaceful. I hadn’t been in my apartment since I had Queen. I checked my phone and saw that the media was blowing up with news about Richard. Numero Heir: A Victim of Paternity Fraud.

Looked like everyone had an opinion. Some called Richard a hero, some called him foolish, and some called him a simp.

Gwen was also trending. She had become the poster girl for paternity fraud. How the mighty have fallen!

I was glad, though, that Queen wasn’t mentioned in any of these stories and gossips. But you never know; the media can surprise you.

I shook my head and couldn’t believe I survived being a Numero.

I wasn’t interested in their noise. For the first time in a long time, I wanted to focus on me. Not as Mrs. Numero. Not as the woman standing beside Richard. Not as Richard’s wife. Not as Richard’s ex. Not as Richard’s baby mama. Just Nita.

I sat at a small wooden table by the window, my laptop open to begin typing my CV. The last job I had before marriage, Richard had got me fired from that. My job at Numero company, I resigned. And now, I am back to job hunting.

I was given a lot of money after the divorce; Richard sent me money, and his father placed me on a monthly allowance for the rest of my life. I hadn’t touched any of it. I was still spending my personal savings, which would run out quite soon.

I stared at the computer screen, thinking of how and where to begin, when a figure standing at my gate caught my attention.

I sighed and rolled my eyes. Of course, Richard had sent him. Can I ever escape?

I grabbed my robe tighter around myself, slipped on my sandals, and stepped outside.

"Martin," I called as I approached him, crossing my arms. "You have to leave!"

He didn’t even flinch. He never did. From the first time I met him when he appeared at my workplace. "Can’t do that, ma’am."

I exhaled sharply. "Go back and tell Richard that I don’t need a bodyguard. He has no right to keep tabs on me."

Martin hesitated. "I’m not here on Mr. Numero’s orders."

That made me pause; I arched an eyebrow and dropped my arms to my side. "Then whose?"

"Mine."

I blinked. "Awww.... I didn’t know you cared."

I saw him crack a little smile but maintained his stoic posture. "The press is out for blood. It didn’t feel right leaving you and Queen alone."

"I don’t think they know where I live, though."

"They will figure it out soon enough."

Martin had always been incredibly loyal, almost obsessively. He had saved my life more times than I can count. I would consider him a friend if he would acknowledge it and stop calling me ma’am.

"Thank you." I said, nodding at him. "But you being here makes me feel like Richard is still keeping tabs on me."

His lips pressed together in a tight line. "I understand, and I promise not to give him any feedback whatsoever. I will only be here today, and if you will let me, I can get you a guard, at least for the house. Nothing in your life is going to go back to the way it was before you got married. You need to understand that."

"Fine. But only for the house. I don’t want anyone following me around. Since you will be around, do you know how to change diapers?" I teased.

He let out a chuckle that was as rare as a unicorn.

*****

That night, Queen was fussing. She would start crying every time I put her in her crib. I had tried everything. I carried her on my lap, sitting exhausted on the sofa.

I remembered that her father rocked her to sleep every night. Well, that would be a problem. Daddy isn’t a part of our daily lives anymore, sweetie. You have to get used to it.

My phone buzzed beside me; it was an incoming video call from Richard. I picked it up and set the camera to my face.

"I’m sorry, I would have called earlier. I just wasn’t sure if you would answer. I... I... miss Queen. Is she asleep?"

"No..." I turned the camera to my lap. "She won’t sleep."

Whatever issues we had, I was willing to forget for the sake of sleep.

"Can you tell me what you used to do to get her to sleep?"

"Hey Honey..." I heard his voice through the phone. "You have to sleep now, Queen. You got to sleep so Mummy can take a break."

I saw her eyes begin to droop. "Really?!!! Are you kidding me?"

Richard chuckled but continued to talk to her, telling her about his day and the people he had to fire and deals he had to make. If running a company so I could come back home to tell my baby about my day would get her to sleep, I better find one fast.

In a few minutes, she was fast asleep. I turned the phone to my face and whispered a thank you.

"Anytime. Now you catch some sleep."

I ended the call and got to my feet gently so as not to rouse her.

*****

Richard’s POV

I arrived at the bar ten minutes earlier than scheduled. I needed a moment to gather my thoughts. When I made up my mind to stay away from Nita to protect her, I didn’t know it would hurt this much.

In fact, for a moment, I had forgotten my plan. But when the judge asked me, and I looked at all the madness going on all over again, I knew that I could not put her through any distress on my account again.

I chose, right there on the spot, to live without her. And here I am again, having a meeting with a man I know can help her be happy.

She deserves happiness, and I was going to give it to her or die trying.

I loosened my tie and took a sip of beer. The bar wasn’t loud; it wasn’t happy hour yet, and I had gotten a secluded section to myself for the purpose of this meeting. I glanced at the entrance just in time to see Victor step inside. I waved at him, and he headed in my direction.

"Mr. Numero." He gave a nod of his head as he sat in the chair opposite me.

I gestured to the waitress for a beer.

"You didn’t call me here to drink, Richard." He said. "What do you want?"

"I heard Nita is job hunting." I took a sip of my beer and placed it down.

"You heard? Trouble in paradise again? I heard you regained your memories; shouldn’t you guys be good now?"

"I meant what I told you the last time we talked. I cannot make Nita happy."

"What has that got to do with her job hunting?" Victor asked, clearly uncomfortable with me asking him to get closer to my ex-wife.

"I know you’ve been working on that real estate company."

"Is there anything you don’t know?"

"I make it a point to keep an eye on emerging companies that may make waves." I smirked arrogantly. "Here’s the deal. I can help get it off the ground—funding, connections, anything you need. But I need you to employ Nita."

He relaxed in his chair. "I offered her a position once. She turned it down."

"Try again."

He narrowed his eyes. "What’s your angle, Richard?"

"I know Nita. She loves her independence. She has enough money to buy a small resort, but she has refused to touch it. She will take up any job she can find as long as it is a job. And for my daughter’s sake, I am hoping that you would employ her and give her some allowances just until Queen is old enough for her to get busier."

The waitress arrived with his beer. He opened it and took a sip, contemplating what I had just told him.

Victor tilted his head slightly, "And why would she even consider the job? If she finds out I got some corporate push from you, she’ll walk away again."

"She doesn’t have to know," I said simply.

He arched a brow. "You want me to lie to her?"

"Yes."

Victor chuckled and shook his head. "Is this you trying to play matchmaker again?"

"No and yes. If you still love her like you said, now is your chance. If you haven’t heard, I announced in court how I wasn’t going to get back with my ex-wife."

"Yeah, I heard about that."

"You have to realize that I am right. Being with me is going to constantly hurt her. Right after her accident, I have this custody bullshit, and a target is on her and Queen. When will it end?"

"Look, the best I can do is to offer her the job. Let’s hope she takes it, but I still don’t plan on making myself a replacement for you."

I breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you. Very much. That’s all I need."