LOVE N RETRIBUTION

Matilda sighed sadly as she rested her back against the front door, with an envelope in her hands.

“How will I clear all these debts alongside Niki's hospital bills?” Matilda whispered to herself silently, as a drop of tear escaped her eyes.

She immediately cleaned her tears as she heard Niki approaching the sitting room.

“Were you talking to yourself?” Niki asked with his eyebrows arched in curiosity.

“Of course not little champ, I was just going through our bills for the month” she replied with a faint smile.

“Oh…” Niki said with sadness in his voice.

Matilda walked up to him and bent down to make direct eye contact with him.

“You have nothing to worry about alright? Big sis got it all covered, my little pumpkin” She playfully ruffled his hair.

“Don't call me that, I'm 12 now” Niki said with a little frown which made Matilda laugh heartily.

“You will always be my little pumpkin, baby brother. C'mon get your bag, you don't wanna make us late” Niki rolled his eyes as he picked up his school bag.

“Did you pack your medication? Your oxygen mask, I don't want you to…”

Niki cut her mid sentence “check check check, I packed it all no need to worry”.

Matilda patted his head with a smile “ you're a big boy now, and so responsible, c'mon let's go now”.

***************

Matilda hurriedly went past everyone she met on the stairs, she cannot afford to get late to her desk before Jaden arrives.

She got to her desk panting heavily and let out a sigh of relief “I hope he has not arrived yet” She said as she started to arrange her desk.

Matilda inhaled three times to calm herself down before knocking on his door.

She knocked thrice, and there was no response. She knocked again and this time she was met with her bosses' husky voice.

“Come in”.

“Good morning sir” Matilda greeted with her head bowed facing the ground, her both bands folded in front of her.

She cannot afford to look him straight in the eyes.

“Are you talking to the floor?” Jaden questioned with annoyance in his voice.

“No sir…I…I was only trying to…”

“Save your explanation, I do not care. Go and get me my coffee downstairs, it must not be below 100°C. Now”. Jaden bellowed.

With her trembling and shaky legs, Matilda managed to find her way out of the office. She heaved a sigh of relief like she was choking from shortness of breath.

Matilda ran as fast as her leg could carry her to the cafeteria. She got Jaden's coffee just like how he always wanted it.

Hurrying back to his office, to prevent the coffee from dropping below the temperature he gave her.

“This is your coffee sir” She placed it in front of him, still not looking him in the eye.

“What's my schedule for today?” Jaden inquired as he took a sip from his coffee.

“You have a meeting with the manager of SOS company, by 11am.

Next, by 1pm you have a scheduled date at the Sweet Sensation restaurant with…”

“What? Did you just say a date?” Jaden was furious as he stood up from his desk and began to approach Matilda.

Matilda took a few steps backwards, to avoid his terrible gaze.

“Your father called me and said I should…”