Chapter 1
I just didn't think it would get this bad. He was in love with me no..... He was in lust with me... I was his.. I.. belonged to him, I was his property. In his head we were together and that he was going to make it his reality no matter the cost.
I wish it was all in my head I made it up or I was hallucinating but I wasn't it was my reality.
May 2022
I was watching my favorite K-drama as my phone vibrated.
X: Can't you do this one thing for me all I asked you for was a picture of you while i'm at work.
I: No, I told you I don't do that. You cause my pictures on me later or show somebody else, I'm not comfortable knowing you have pictures of me naked in your phone.
X: I'm so tired of feeling like I'm babysitting my girlfriend... you're supposed to be my woman right when I ask you to do something you're supposed to obey but this what I get for dating a child. I shoulda knew better to mess with you when you were 17. I'm too grown for this. I have two grown kids that need a father and I'm sitting here wasting time on some 22 year old I met at her job. We are done for real this time there's no coming back.
I paused my show once again to read the text he sent, not going to lie. It hurt seeing him say all this through text after we just hooked up in his car three hrs ago while I was at work yes we was on again off again but I do believe he loves me and I love him but something going to have to change I can't keep giving myself to you if you don't make the effort to even plan our first date. So I texted back asking God to help me forget him for real this time and to not let me come back.
I: If you are so sick and tired of babysitting stop texting me or calling me to hook up, leave me alone. I was fine before I met you and will be fine after you leave. I don't need you. You ghosted me many times and I always come back but this time it's real I'm not coming back. I'm done. I can't keep sleeping with a man who can't take me on a date or is still hung up on his married baby mama.
After that I blocked him and cried my eyes out. My second attempt at love failed. This was only the beginning though I would get through this but it costed me giving up on love.
But God had other plans of course.
(Some events are inspired by true events.)
October 6, 2022
"Shit, Shit Shit I'm late for work.." I said trying to place an order through my dunkin app
A little introduction of me before we get into the story: I'm Imani Greenway high school graduate with no college degree or experience but I have an awesome job with a co worker who also happens to be my best friend. After my breakup I focused on self love and working on myself and it landed me with a promotion to Chief Operation Manager with right under my bestie Nova Jones who was Chief Financial Officer for Mraz Inc. Back to the coffee, it's part of the reason for this story.
The song Intentions by Justin Bieber was blasting inside the shop. I found myself humming and tapping the tip of my pointed heel to the catchy song I scrolled through social media seeing our company's new tiktok trying to attract new workers and recruit more young people.
"Mobile Order for Honey." The barista yelled and a girl with orange hair picked up her order. As I waited the song changed to my favorite song Dynamite by BTS I swear I knew all the words as I hummed the song I heard my name being called
"Mobile Order for Imani" The barista yelled. I rushed to grab both drinks and thanked them. I turned around and crashed into something hard, the coffee spilled over my dress and fell on the floor. I looked up and saw a cop just great. I'm in trouble now. Let's see if I can talk my way out of this.
"I'm so sorry I was in a rush. I'm actually late for work." I said turning around grabbing some napkins to wipe off his uniform.
"It's okay." He simply said his voice was slightly deep and powerful. I heard him chuckle afterwards glad he found this funny.
"Would you like for me to order you another one?" He asked wiping his vest off with the paper towels I handed him
"No it's okay I'll suffer without coffee this morning but thank you." I said walking away leaving the coffee shop. I'm so glad there were clothes in my office and my job was also 2 minutes away. I walked into Mraz Inc with the familiar smell of copy paper and cheap coffee brewing. I walked up to my office looking in the closet for another dress.
"There you are! God, I thought you called off today or something." I heard Nova's voice. Something was wrong and it wasn't annoyance or irritation but she was bothered by something.
"Your coffee is on the desk. I need to change really quickly. I had an accident at Dunkin." I said with a dress in my hand
"Did it involve a cutie?" She asked taking a sip from the coffee
"It did involve a guy but I don't know if he was cute or not because I wasn't looking." I said changing in the doorway of the bathroom in my office.
"Mmmm. Don't forget you have training with the new guy today." She said tapping her head
"I didn't, I got notes and everything for him and prepared a tour of the building for him." I said fixing my dress
"Well he's here early in the lobby waiting on you." She said getting up and going to her office sitting down.
"Good morning Ms. Greenway." the receptionist said with smile
"Good Morning." I spoke back and turned my attention to a gentleman playing with his fingers. Maybe he was nervous? But why he got the job? I threw the curiosity out of my mind and proceeded to greet him.
"Hello Mr. Cox?" I asked
"Uh yes Thank you for providing me with the opportunity to be the new Sales Manager." He said smiling and reached out his hand for me to shake it
"No problem, it was a mutual agreement between management and you seemed like the best candidate for the job." I stated and shook his hand after a while he didn't seem to want to let go. So I snatched my hand away and grabbed the notes off the clipboard.
"Here's some notes I took before I became CFO." I said handing him the notes
"Thank you, you shouldn't have." he said
"There are just old notes I had at my old office. But let me show you to your desk." I said with an awkward smile.
As I walked I had an odd feeling, you know the one where you feel like somebody staring at you. That's what I felt but I brushed it off because soon I would be in my office. He gave me creepy vibes. He was weird, he didn't talk much but something was off about him. I could feel it like and like Olivia Pope says always trust your gut and I wish I did.
