EPISODE THIRTY SEVEN
THEME: One million dollars
IN THE UNDERWORLD
Little mermaids and mermen swimming in and out of the rocks. They sang beautiful songs which echoed under the Sea. Almeta and Adamaris move away from the other mermaids. “What’s that over there?” Almeta pointed towards a dark hole.
“My mother said it is the dark cave of Scylla.” Adamaris replied.
“Dark cave of Scylla?” Almeta arched her eyebrows as she curled up her tails.
“Yes Scylla the evil sea monster.” Adamaris answered.
“But who told you about Scylla?” Almeta asked again.
“My mother.” Adamaris answered. He grabbed her and pulled her away.
“Wait.. let us take a closer look at the cave.” Almeta suggested.
“No it is dangerous. My mother warned me about dark caves. They harbor all sorts of sea monsters.” Adamaris objected.
“No.. this one doesn’t look dangerous.” Almeta swims around the merman.
“A sea monster is confined in it. Almeta, going near it might awaken the sea monster.” Adamaris warned the little mermaid
“How?” Almeta giggled.
“The scent of our blood.” Adamaris answered.
Almeta gasped out trying to tease the little merman. “Does sea monsters truly exist?” She asked.
Adamaris knew she was trying to tease him again. “Yes Almeta, sea monsters truly exists. So let us go.” He dragged her away.
They swim away to join the other mermaids and mermen. Almeta kept looking back at the cave. She wondered why there weren’t sea warriors guarding the dark cave of Scylla. What if it was just a myth to scare the little ones? She thought.
Adamaris wasn’t telling the truth. He was probably making things up to scare her. What if there was a beautiful pearl in that cave instead of an ugly looking sea monster? A Pearl? That would be beautiful! Almeta decided that she would come around later.
******
IN THE HUMAN WORLD
KNOX BEACH HOUSE
Knox Martins moved out of the room when he heard the doorbell. He rubbed his sleepy eyes as he made his way to the door. A smile formed on his lips when he saw Eretia.
Knox Martins opened up quickly and hugged her. “I.. I thought you were going to leave…” His voice broke off.
“And what made you think I was going to leave you?” She asked in a tight whisper.
“My mom told me that she was going to pay you today. So I thought you were going to leave since the contract is ended.” Knox Martins drew back to look at her.
“The contract has ended but I am still your personal assistant.” Eretia answered.
“Come in.” Knox Martins held her hand and pulled her in gently.
“Did you talk to Oliver?” He asked.
The smile on her face disappeared and Knox noticed her expression. “Hey what’s wrong?” Knox reached out to touch her cheeks.
Tears clouded her vision. “Oliver.. doesn’t want.. to see me anymore.” She stuttered.
“What? Why?” Knox demanded.
“The truth is.. I admitted that I was in love with you. And then he asked me to leave and never come to then again.” She cried.
Knox Martins leaned in and cupped her face. “Please don’t cry.”
Eretia sniffed. “I can’t help it. Oliver is probably finding it hard to believe that I fell in love with my boss in just less than two weeks.” She didn’t have control over the years as they flowed.
“Oliver shouldn’t be mad at you because you love me.” Knox frowned.
“Exactly I wanted to.. to explain to him but he didn’t give me the chance.. and now..” Her voice trailed off as tears slid down her cheeks.
And Knox wiped her tears with his fingertips. “Oliver and Ryan are like my family.” Eretia mumbled. Knox hugged her. “I don’t know why he suddenly changed towards me.” She sobbed in his chest.
“You want me to talk to him?” Knox asked.
“No.. no I’ll just let him be for now.” Eretia sniffed.
“So.. does that mean.. you would stay with me?” Knox Martins muttered after a momentary pause.
Eretia pulled away from him and wiped her face. She wasn’t going to shed tears because of Oliver again. It was his decision so she would respect it.
“I don’t have anywhere to go even though I have a lot of money. I am your personal assistant.. but it is fine if you don’t want me to live with you.” She wiped her face clean. “I have a million dollars now and it is enough to buy me a house.” She said.
Knox couldn’t help but smile at her. “You are rich now.” He teased her.
“Yes, I am rich.” Eretia shook her head as she moved away from him. “Where can I buy a big house with a big pool?” She mumbled.
Knox went to her and wrapped his hands around her waist. “I am not letting you go to anywhere.” He said.
Eretia pulled away from him. “I should buy a house by the beach too. Give me your agent contact.” She said.
Knox smiled. He went for her again and claimed her wait again. “Stop trying to tease me by saying you want to leave.” He kissed her forehead.
“It scares me. What about you?” He asked.
“I don’t have anyone.. I mean Oliver doesn’t want to see me.. so you are the only one I have.. now.” Eretia pouted.
Knox pinched her chin gently. “So… have you thought… of us moving pass this stage?” He removed strands of hair from her face.
“What stage?” She asked with a furrowed brow.
Knox Martins grinned. “I don’t want to be just your boss.” He said with a shrug.
“So what?” Eretia sniffled.
“I want to be your man.” Knox Martins said calmly.
“Why?” Eretia teased him. She understood what he was trying to say.
“I love you.” Knox Martins said boldly.
A flush crept on her face as they stood staring at each other awkwardly. Then Knox Martins said. “Come on, let us just call it a middle ground. I love you and you love me too. So I agree that I can mix being your boss and you being my personal assistant with pleasure as long as the pleasure is just good, clean and fun. I love you, Eretia Jones.” He coaxed.
After those words escaped his mouth she made her move. Eretia ran her fingers through his hair and pulled him down for a kiss. It was obvious he was not expecting and it took him a second to adjust. Knox Martins put his hand on her back, tracing her spine and he kissed her eagerly.
“Eretia.. I love.. you so much.” Knox said in between frantic kisses. He never wanted it to end but she broke the kiss.
“I love you too. This is all new to me.. but I can give it a try.” It was her first time of loving someone and those words felt strange on her lips.
“About our boss and employee relationship, we’ll attend to business when business is needed to be attended to and -”
Knox Martins interrupted her. “And have good, clean fun the rest of the time when we are not working.” He completed.
Eretia agreed with a bright smile. “Deal.”
And Knox Martins nodded in agreement. His stomach made a rumbling sound when they were about to share another kiss.
“I am hungry.” Knox chuckled.
“You haven’t eaten?” Eretia giggled.
“Yeah I was resting.” Knox itched his right ear. “Can I have pasta?” He requested.
Eretia nodded and motioned towards the kitchen. Knox Martins followed her immediately. “So what’s up with the fashion runway?” She questioned.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
“Ria Robert is still working on the dresses for that day.” Knox responded.
“It is next week Saturday.” Eretia said.
“Yes everyone is preparing for it but I want you to meet Ria Robert before that day.” Knox moved to the fridge to grab a bottle of water.
“Why?” Eretia asked.
“You have to get a dress for that day too.” Knox replied.
“Is that necessary?” Eretia opened the tap to rinse some utensils.
Knox nodded in response when she looked back at him.
“But I am more comfortable in Jeans than gowns.” Eretia frowned.
“You’ll look pretty in gown too.” Knox’s eyes did a slow crawl over her body.
“You think so?” She asked.
“Yes. Don’t worry I’ll drive you to the store.” Knox responded.
“Ria Robert store?” She moved to the gas.
“Yes.” Knox answered.
“Well thank goodness I don’t have to pay you to drive me around anymore.” Eretia laughed.
“You have a million dollars now so I wouldn’t mind a token, Miss Eretia.” Knox gave her a mock bow
And Eretia moved towards him only for her to lean up and placed a kiss on his lips quickly.