“Yes, Yes, Yes.” Finally. I have done it.” Shouted Ben getting up from the chair he had been sitting on for the past three and half months. He had done it. It had taken him longer than his other project but this one was his best work yet, and no one was going to be able crack the code or use any other back doors to get in.
The software changed codes and it’s algorithm every thirty second. And it had a virtual finger print, and memory that made sure no one gets in the there other than the owner.
“Seriously, you not having s*x? Ugh. You’re so boring. What kind of stupid boss are you?” Tyra said putting the breakfast on top of the counter.
“What made you think I was having s*x? And good morning to you too Ty.” He went to the counter the smell of fresh coffee and croissants filling the air
“Yes, yes. Good morning. Did you hear how you were screaming. Believe me you got me curious and I thought finally he had gotten over Titus. Really you got my hopes up.” Tyra pouted.
“What makes you think I will get over Titus? I told you before I still love him and I’m not going to move on before I get him back. Don’t you realise I’m doing all this for him?” Ben answered angrily. He hated the fact that no one can understand him. He was working this hard to be rich so, he can get his first love back, otherwise what was the use for all this money?”
“Ben, it’s been three years. Titus is still with Glen and they are engaged, don’t you get the fact that he loves him not you. And don’t you dare glare at me. I’m your friend and I’m going to tell you the truth. This stupid infatuation you have for Titus is getting boring and ridiculous. The man dumped and threw you out of the house without any notice just because you were not earning enough money. Get over it, and move the f**k on” Tyra shouted. But she knew it was going to go through one ear and out in the other. Ben was that stubborn.
“I still love him, and you have a great paying job because of him. If he hadn’t dumped me I might be still be working as a marketing assistant, and let my computer science degree rot in the files without using it.” He tried to defend himself. After Titus left him he had met Tyra in the parking lot stressed out and as a caring and very naïve guy, who should be careful around strangers he asked her what was wrong and at first Tyra thought he was hitting on her.
Tyra took out a pepper spray from her bag glaring at huge man with red eyes like he was high on something pointing it on him, and Ben put his hands up in surrender showing the frustrated woman with tears in her eyes that he meant no harm. They got talking after she threatening that she had a knife also in the bag, she told him that she received an eviction letter and she was out of a job, and she was going to be homeless if she didn’t pay by tonight. After some awkward questions, Ben offered to pay her rent since he was also homeless with nowhere to go. It took a lot of convincing but when Tyra saw that Ben meant no harm they got to know each other living together Ben taking the guest room, and paying rent while Tyra tried to find a job.
A year later without any luck, Ben started his software company and hired his friend to be an assistant. And she agreed but Tyra hardly did a thing other than make sure Ben is fed when he gets into the zone or he was going to die of red bulls.
“The was nothing wrong with your job, and I’m sure you would have gone back to your passion sooner or later, this has nothing to do with him, Ben. Stop giving that asshole credit for your work, and believe me if I ever set my eyes on him his ass will be mine” Tyra said, taking the plates and syrup out of the cabinets, and Ben could see she was fuming so, he didn’t say more even though he thought Tyra was wrong.
“So, what were you happy about?”
“Huh?” said Ben. Tyra's voice drawing him out of his thoughts
“When I came inside you’re were happy about something, what is it?” she rolled her brown eyes putting four croissants on each place pouring syrup on one sitting down looking at him expectantly. Yes that how they usually are their croissants
“Oh yeah, almost forgot. I’m done with the security software I was creating. This one is so different, and unlike the other project, it’s going to make us billions. It has a memory fingerprint installed in it. Do you know that people pause before pressing some of the numbers or alphabets? This software will even pick up small things like that, and if someone uses your code it can recognise them easily” Ben smiled proud of himself.
“Good for you as long as I’m going to get paid. So now when are you going to clean this pig sty?”
“Is that all you going to say? This is history in the making and all you can say is good for you?”
“Ben, you know I love you like a brother but truth is I don’t even understand your computer science thingy and I have stopped listening two years ago. You’re good at what you do. Don’t get me wrong, I give you that but I don’t want to hear about it because that’s all you been talking about for three years. Have a life, have s*x, be happy. Money won’t give you all of that”
“I’m going to get Titus back, the moment we get the money, I’m going to show him what I achieved in three years and he will be back in my arms” he said smiling, but a fork hit his forehead soon after and he glared at the woman in front of him. Tyra was a small petite woman, standing at 5’1 coloured, straight brown hair and eyes so big they can easily stare you down.
“Ouch, what was that for?”
“Every time you mention your ex I’m going to hit you with anything near me, now when are you going to clean this mess?” Ben looked around at what she was talking about. He didn’t think the house was that dirty but he was wrong.
There were boxes of pizzas on the floor, Chinese food cartons, Tin’s of redbulls everywhere, and on the table next to his computer was stacks of newspapers starting from three months ago when he had the idea in the morning and had been working ever since. He spend lot of nights in that chair staring at the screen and he had woken up alot if times with his head on top the keyboard.
“Really, Tyra? You been coming everyday for three months and you couldn’t even think of cleaning? What the hell do I pay you for?”
“I’m your assistance, not your maid, asshole. It’s not my fault that I didn’t have work to do, and I asked you several times if I should get you a maid and you didn’t even turn from the screen. You just dismissed me with one hand” she took a sip of her creamy coffee ignoring his glaring eyes.
“Hey, Ty tell me what I pay you for again?”
“To take care of your ass when you can’t, and the fact that you’re still alive means I did my job, don’t you dare even think I will clean your mess when I can’t even clean after my husband”
“I can’t even deal with you right now, I don’t envy your husband.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she glared him down and Ben wanted to laugh at the feisty woman in from of him. She was a real spitfire
“That, I’m glad I like man not woman who are too complicated to understand” he defended himself before his eyes got swollen for another week. Even after all this year’s Tyra still carried pepper spray in her bag, and a small one in her breasts. Don’t even ask how, only she know the reason and how she kept it in place all day long in her breast.
“You’re one to talk, your ex left you for another man because you were broke, the materialist f**k, and you judge woman?” she countered and he hanged his head in shame like every time Tyra tells him the truth about Titus
“I’m sorry, okay. I know I don’t have a filter and I won’t talk about him anymore, but I hate the guy so much. He hurt you Benny bear, and anytime anyone hurts you I get mad” she came to his side hugging his big frame until her eyes landed on the front page of the morning paper. Tyra might have pretended not to know Titus but she was a smart woman she did her research and going the man who hurt her friend and made sure they will never meet.
“f**k” she muttered under her breath
“what is it now? Do I stink? Or are you horny again? I’m going to tell you the same thing I told you three years ago, and many times before then. I’m not going to touch you, Ty.”
“I know, I know. But as a good friend I decided to help you clean this filthy mess, while you shower” she pulled him up trying to push him to the bathroom but Ben knew her too well, and looked around to see what she was hiding, and her eyes kept going to the starch of newspapers and he pretended to be going to the bathroom, when her small hands let go of him he turned and ran to the pile of newspapers and picked up the first one he saw with Tyra on his heels and he count believe what he saw.
His hands were trembling, with the shock of seeing Titus in the arms of Glen with a big caption
The biggest wedding of the year.
Then as his eyes scrolled through the small writing he found out how the two families were emerging companies after their children get married and how they were proud and support their son’s sexuality as Morden parents.
“Are you okay?” Ben heard a small voice saying while caressing his back. And he didn’t know how to feel. All this came as a shock and he always thought he was doing all of this to get Titus back but he seemed so happy in the photo without him, was he doing this because of love or family pressure, his mind wondered not wanting to accept what was in front of him.
“I don’t know, Ty. His getting married. He looks happy doesn’t he?” he careessed his face on the newspaper tears formed in his eyes. Tyra wondered why such a strong looking man was so weak when coming to this Titus? But seeing the hurt in his face made her hate Titus even more.
“Yes, he does, and that means you need to let him go, Benny bear. You deserve to be happy, it’s time to move on” for a second there he was about to agree with her, giving up until he saw the nervous tick he always does. His fingers were crossed. Titus was not as happy as he appeared to be.
“Not yet. Thanks, Ty for worrying but now it’s time for you to be a real assistant. I have a plan on how to make sure Titus mine again, not marry Glen in the month time and I need your help.” he already had a plan. Now to execute it.
“No, I’m not going to help you get him back, he doesn’t deserve you”
“This is not about you being my friend right now you’re my assistant, and you’re going to help me find a job, and boyfriend” he brushed his hands happily.
“Say, what now?
“