Her Plus One

ELYSIA was sitting cross-legged on the soft plush carpet in front of a low table in her sitting room,perfect for what she was doing right now, working on the blueprint of a project. The rain hitting against the windows was the only sound in her quiet sitting room. Elysia loves the rain and she always prefers to stay indoors whenever it's raining, with the pitter patter of the rain drops keeping her company.

She worked carefully on the blueprint, she needed to present it tomorrow to a client and probably get her biggest project in the first quarter of the year.

After working for hours on end, she went into the kitchen to make dinner for herself as it was almost 8pm, and the rain has finally reduced to a light drizzle. Deciding to make pasta, she got to work. As she prepared her meal, her eyes caught her ring that glowed under the kitchen light. The diamond dazzling in the lights. She smiled softly, her boyfriend of two years, Matt proposed to her about eight months ago during a quiet and intimate private dinner at their favourite restaurant where they frequent for every date nights, the wedding is soon, at the end of the month actually. And she could not wait to tie the knot and spend the rest of her life with him.

Elysia was ten years old when she got into an accident with her parents. Somehow, she was safe but her parents got hit too much by the impact that they died on site. She was taken in by her uncle Robert and Aunt Daisy. Uncle Robert is her mum's younger brother and he always treated her like his own daughter.

He also has two children, a boy and a girl. Brian and Noemie. Brian was always the quiet one, who preferred to observe things around him rather than interacting with people. People always thought that he is a cold person that is unapproachable, but Elysia knew better. Also being the CEO of Azure Group of Companies, that specialises in home appliances and the likes. Brian is even closer to Elysia than his sister.

Noemie, on the other hand is like barbie. Living the extravagant fashionista life, she and Elysia are complete opposite. When Elysia is busy with school work and reading, Noemie was always up and about with guys and her friends, shopping, movies, spa dates and everything. Even with that, Elysia still loves her like a sister.

The only friend Elysia has is Rhonda, an African, specifically Nigerian, girl she met in college. They shared their first ever dorm room in the university and since then were so close like twins. Rhonda is a chef and now own her own chain of restaurants, something very different from Elysia's area of discipline but they made their friendship work till they graduated from the University.

After eating dinner, Elysia washed the dishes, cleaned up and returned to the sitting room to finish up the blueprint. The final touches she had to make did not take long and soon, Elysia was carefully arranging the files into her suitcase. Only to be opened once she was in the meeting with her clients-if they accept it.

Before heading to bed, she picked up her phone and typed out a quick message to Matt.

“Goodnight, love. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

The response came almost instantly.

“Goodnight, my love. Sweet dreams. Can’t wait to see you too.”

Smiling, Elysia set her phone on the bedside table and climbed into bed. The scent of after rain continued to lull her, a gentle reminder of the world outside as she drifted off to sleep. Her life was as perfect as she wants and would even be more perfect by the end of the month when she becomes Mrs Matthew Drake.

ELYSIA shook hands with her newest clients, a warm smile gracing her face as they finalised the agreement at the end of the meeting. They accepted her plans to build their newest mall, she was barely containing the urge to jump and squeal but she held it in until they left the meeting room. Immediately the two young men went out of the meeting room, she let out a small, triumphant laugh at her success.

Straightening her blouse, she gathered her files and headed back to her office, her heels clicking softly against the polished floors.

Sliding into her chair, Elysia reached for her phone. Whenever she achieved a milestone like this, she shared the news with two people: Matt and Brian. She dialed Matt’s number first, eager to tell her fiancé about her success. The phone rang a few times before going to voicemail. She frowned slightly but dismissed it, figuring he was probably in a meeting or busy with work.

“I’ll just tell him in person,” she thought, deciding on a spontaneous visit to his office. It wasn’t far from hers, and she loved surprising him with little visits like this.

Putting the signed file of the project in a cabinet that had a lock for safe guarding. Having signed a lot of important deals, she had to make sure that her office was safe. Camera monitoring the room 24/7, a State-of-the-art security system that only allowed for her entry with thumbprint identification and a pass card.

Satisfied that everything was secured, she went into the elevator and clicked on the button that spelt U/G meaning 'Underground Garage'.

Getting into her car, a simple white range rover, she drove out. On her way to her fiancé's office.

When Elysia arrived at the company, she saw some people she knew and who recognised her as Matt's fiancé. Taking the elevator to his office.

Once she got out of the elevator, the secretary was not in her seat, Elysia assumed that they were having a meeting,probably why he did not pick her call. In cases like this, she always went into his office to wait for him. And that was what she did.

Elysia took a seat in one of the couches that sat in a nook in the large office. Being the Chief Operating Officer, he had quite a comfortable office. Getting comfortable in the office, she got a bottle of water to drink.

As she sat, she heard a thud. Confused, Elysia stood and went to the door where the sound came from. It was Matt's private room. Opening the door, nothing could have prepared Elysia for the sight in front of her.

There, in the dimly lit room, was a sight she could never have prepared for. Noemie, her cousin and someone she loved like a sister, was tangled in bed with Matt. Both were naked, their intimate betrayal laid bare before her.

Elysia gasped, the sound sharp in the tense silence. It was enough to make the pair notice her presence. Noemie’s eyes widened in shock, and Matt scrambled to cover himself, his face a mix of guilt and panic. But for Elysia, the moment was frozen in time, her mind reeling from the devastation of seeing the two people she trusted most betray her in such a way.

"How could you?!" She said, her voice barely above a whisper. Her wide eyes darted between her cousin and fiancé who were both frozen in shock.

Matt stammered, his face pale as sweat trailed down the side of his face. "Elysia, it's not what you think...."

"Don't" Elysia snapped, anger overtaking the shorlck and hurt she felt. "Don't insult my intelligence and think I am a fool Matt, I saw everything. Just don't!"

She turned to look at Noemie who was sitting quietly with the blanket barely covering her naked body. "You are my cousin. I thought of you as my sister. We grew up together, how could you?" Noemie was silent, only staring.

Elysia felt the tears welling in her eyes. She refused to let them fall, not here, not in front of them. With trembling hands, she reached for the engagement ring on her finger, slipping it off as if it burned her skin.

“It’s over,” she said, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. “The wedding is off.”

She threw the ring in whatever direction and left the room, storming out of the office.

Keeping it all together, Elysia got into her car and drove away, her destination ;Brian's office.

By the time she arrived, Elysia struggled to keep it all in as she dashed into the elevator to Brian's office, top floor. Luckily she was the only one in the elevator and could quietly sob. She cleaned her eyes again incase she saw someone else before Brian.

Stepping out of the elevator, she walked the short distance to the door to Brian's office. Knocking lightly on his office door, she didn’t wait for a response before pushing it open.

Brian looked up from his desk, immediately sensing something was wrong. “Elysia?” he said, standing as concern etched across his face. “What happened?”

At the sound of his voice, the dam she had been holding back broke. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she choked out, “It’s over, Brian. Matt...he betrayed me. Noemie was with him.”

Brian’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening as he processed her words. He crossed the room and pulled her into a protective embrace, letting her cry against his chest. “I’m so sorry, Elysia,” he murmured, his voice filled with quiet fury and deep compassion. “You didn’t deserve this.”

For the first time since she walked into Matt’s office, Elysia allowed herself to grieve, sobbing into her cousin’s comforting arms.

Elysia cried in Brian's arms until she was completely drained, her body like she had just lifted 100 pounds weight of load. Brian offered her a glass of water and sent her into the restroom to clean up her face.

"You will be okay. It might sound heartless but I am glad you found out before the wedding." He told her.

"Finding out or not, it's so painful." She whispered sipping the water he gave her. "You need to rest. Go home, take a day off. I'm sure your boss would not mind. You just got a new contract." He said to her. Elysia nodded, "Thank you, Brian."

He gave her a reassuring squeeze on her shoulder before helping her gather her things. “Call me if you need anything, okay?”

She managed a weak smile. “I will.”

Elysia was back in her car, this time driving home. The car was silent until her phone buzzed in the cup holder. Elysia looked down to see Rhonda's nick name- Brown chef-the name coined from her skin tone and occupation.

She cleared her throat before picking the call hoping not to sound so tired.

"Hey, Rhonda." She said but her voice still went off. "Ely, what's wrong. You sound so off." Rhonda asked immediately concerned for her best friend.

"It's a long story." Elysia willed herself not to break down. "And it's bad, really."

There was a pause on Rhonda's side before she spoke up. "I'm coming over with chocolate cake and ice cream and we are going to talk it out together." She said.

Elysia let on a faint smile at her best friend support. "You don't have to..."

"Abegi," Rhonda interrupted. "I will be there at seven pm, be expecting me."

Elysia nodded even though Rhonda could not see her. "Okay, thank you Ron."

"Thank me one more time and my slippers is meeting with your head. What are besties for." Rhonda replied and ended the call.

ELYSIA

By 6:50pm, I had showered and changed into something comfortable, called the office to let them know that I will not be in tomorrow and was waiting for Rhonda. I also ordered pizza because I was not in the mood to cook but I am sure Rhonda will still want to whip something up.

Five minutes past seven, Rhonda found her way into my apartment. We both had the key to each other's apartment and came in anytime we liked, sometimes showing up unannounced.

She dropped the three bags she was holding in pulled me into her warm hug. The warmth made me cry again.

"It's okay. I want you to calm down and tell me all about it." She said patting my back. "Ó dára, má sunkún." She switched to her native language that always seem to calm me. We hugged for few minutes, Rhonda was tall, very tall that I barely reached her shoulders.

The door bell rang. "That should be the pizza I ordered."I told her. "How dare you, ordering pizza when this master chef is here." She said with a mock glare as she went to get the door. I only laughed, happy to have someone.

Soon we were settled in the sitting room, eating pizza and sharing one tub of ice cream, Rhonda bought three tubs, guess we are getting high on sugar tonight.

"Now start talking." She said, her face serious.

"I cancelled the wedding with Matt." I simply said, even though it hurt as I said it.

"What did that albino bastard do?" Rhonda asked with anger filled eyes.

She always called him albino, because according to her, his skin looks so pale, he could pass as one.

I explained all that happened today and began to cry again.

Rhonda put her slice of pizza down, her hands clenching into fists. “That...that useless, spineless excuse of a man! And Noemie? Of all people?!” she raged, her voice rising. “You should’ve thrown the ring at his head—or better yet, hers!”

I let out a small, sad laugh through my tears. “I just threw it somewhere in the room. I just...I couldn’t stay there a second longer.”

Rhonda reached over, squeezing my hand tightly. “Elysia, you don’t need either of them. You’re smart, beautiful, and way too good for that idiot. Trust me, this is a blessing in disguise.”

I nodded weakly, grateful for her unwavering support. Rhonda always knew how to bring fire and comfort in equal measure, and tonight, I needed both. We sat there, eating, laughing softly at her over-the-top insults about Matt, and letting the pain slowly begin to dull in the warmth of friendship.

Maybe, it was truly a blessing in disguise like Rhonda said. What if we had gotten married before I found out, will I have to forgive him so I will not have to divorce him at such early stage of marriage.