The Vice President Directive 17 The Origins

CHAPTER ONE-2

He started clapping hands and the whole crowd joined in. One strong breath and the stage was hers.

“It took a lot to be here today ladies and gentlemen, but I tell you this, it was worth it. How funny life can be. I lost my love but got an even better man in Nick. A man who shares the same dreams as me. A visionary and successful businessman. My business partner and my love....”

“He stole my love! He is nothing but a thief. A love-thief if you ask me. A heart-thief. That’s my love.” shouted Jonathan within the crowd pointing at Nick first and then at Karolina. Some people in the crowd started laughing, but the others looked at Jonathan surprised.

“Yes, you heard me. He is nothing but a love-thief. He stole my love, my Karolina from me.”

He looked down as if to cry.

“What are you doing here? You are not invited, Jonathan.”

Shouted Californika.

Jonathan staggered ahead as the crowd opened the way for him.

“Oh no! You are drunk again! You heard Cali; you were not invited nor are you welcome Jonathan.”

He stopped and looked at Karolina.

“You can’t say that. I.I. I. used to love you. I mean I love you.”

He stopped and wore a frown face.

“I just can’t understand why I don’t feel all that love I had for you.”

He raised his face and looked at Nick.

“Don’t look at me mate. I can’t help with that. You can’t walk away from love and expect to walk back in and find everything the way things were. She is mine now. My love now. Okay?”

Jonathan kept silent. He threw a quick glance at Nick before walking toward Karolina. Nick looked at Karolina with talking eyes. She raised her arm at the bodyguards who were now walking toward Jonathan. Tyler kept walking toward Jonathan.

“It’s okay,” shouted Karolina at one of the bodyguards.

Tyler a heavily built man stopped briefly and pointed at his waist belt before signaling to Dylan. Karolina squinted her eyes before looking at Jonathan.

“Let me talk to him,” she shouted.

“Sorry I can’t take chances, madam. I got to take him down.”

“No! He will never hurt even a fly.”

Tom whispered something into Cali’s ear.

“He has a gun!” shouted Cali hiding behind Tom.

Jonathan got startled by the noise and shouting. It seemed he had been in a trance of some sort as he appeared disoriented.

“What?”

He shouted.

“Lie down on the ground now!” shouted Tyler.

Jonathan threw a quick glance at Nick. He pulled his gun from the trouser belt before aiming it at him.

“He is nothing but a love-thief.”

He looked at Karolina.

“He stole my love. I don’t know how.”

“I know. Jonathan put the gun down. I will tell you”

She paused.

“You walked away from me even before I met him. He is a very good man. It happens! Sometimes you just stop loving someone. Nick has nothing to do with your heartbreak. Our love died. Okay.”

Jonathan looked down and then at Nick.

“I am telling you. He stole my heart. He stole my love for you.”

“Listen to yourself. How on earth can I steal your love you, pathetic loser? You forgot already? You walked away from her even before I met her. She is mine now. Get used to it.”

“Shut up! You think I don’t know? She is mine. That’s my love.”

“Used to be your love. Okay! But like I said, she is mine now. Correct me if I am wrong. You walked away from her it’s not the other way around. Get it?”

“I said shut up! I love her!”

Nick smiled and walked toward Jonathan.

“Don’t come near me or else I will shoot you.”

“I am not afraid. Don’t make me laugh. Do you love Karolina?”

“I love her.”

Whispered Jonathan looking down.

“That’s not the reply of a man in love. I ask you again. Do you love her? Do you love Karolina?”

There was a moment of hesitation. Everyone looked at him. Lost in thoughts. He touched his heart and looked at Karolina. He looked agonized.

“I can’t feel the love I had for you, my love.”

“Oh no! She is my love now,” shouted Nick.

Jonathan raised his gun up which he had just lowered and aimed at Nick.

“I swear I am going to shoot you if you don’t shut up!” shouted Jonathan.

“Jonathan put the gun down! We can talk about this.”

“He is a dangerous lunatic. What are the bodyguards looking at? Shoot him before he kills someone.” shouted Cali.

“Don’t say that Cali,” advised Tom.

“This new boyfriend of yours does not love you.”

“What? And you do?”

“Shut Up! You think I don’t know what is going on here. You can fool everyone but not me. I know who sent you.”

Karolina as soon as she heard that she covered her face.

“Listen, Jonathan! You have suffered a heartbreak. You will be okay. Put the gun down. You need help.”

“I don’t need help. I want my love back. I love you. He can never love you the way I loved you.”

“Yeah right in the past. This is now.”

Jonathan ignored Nick and looked at Karolina.

“I have love for you. I loved you. Somehow, they stole my love. I can’t feel my love for you.”

“It happens love dies you know. Put the gun down we can go and talk okay.”

“Listen to me!” shouted Nick.

“You are crossing the line now. Move on. She is mine. Wake up. This is the reality. You alone. Me with her.”

“You, heart-thief. Maybe I shoot you. I know you stole my love.”

Nick for the first time looked agitated and instantly pulled a gun sending the crowd screaming.

“Stay away from my woman before I put you out of your misery.”

“I am not afraid.”

“You think I am bluffing.”

The bodyguards instantly pulled out their guns too and aimed at Jonathan. Karolina screamed. She ran toward Jonathan.

“Don’t shoot. He is heartbroken. That’s all. He will be okay. He is not dangerous. Don’t shoot!”

“Stay away from my woman or I will shoot you,” shouted Nick walking toward Jonathan at the same time gesturing to the bodyguards to stand down for a while.

“You walked away! Walk away now! You need help, not my love Karolina.”

“She is mine. I still love her!”

“What? Do you still love her? Look in my face. Do you still love her?”

shouted Nick approaching even closer with a raised gun. Jonathan looked down and then at Karolina before touching his heart.

“Yes! So! Do you still love her? Answer me damn it!”

“I loved her?”

“I didn’t hear you. I ask you again. Do... you... still... love... her?”

“No Nick don’t shoot him!” shouted Karolina. Nick looked agitated and the anger patterns were evident in his voice. Jonathan knew that the man was now angry.

“You never understood her. You loved her I understand that. But I also know that that was in the past. You touch her, and I swear I will kill you. You had years with her. But like I said, all in the past. Move on or I will kill you myself.”

“I know the love you have is mine. My love, which you stole from me?”

“Do you even know what you are talking about?”

“Don’t be a smart ass with me. You can never have what we had.”

Jonathan lowered his gun and looked at Karolina.

“Let’s get back together again? What we had was real. Real love.”

“That love also died last time I checked. You don’t remember walking away? Did you suffer amnesia or what?” shouted Cali.

“You stay out of this.”

“Leave her alone. She moved on; you are a pathetic lunatic. You think you can walk out of someone and come back and expect everything to be okay? Are you crazy?”

“Karolina. I had love for you. Even though I can’t feel anything right now, I know in my heart that I love you. I have always loved you and I will love you forever.”

Californika laughed.

“Love her with what? Your heart is literally broken. You can never love again. You said it yourself.”

“Who asked for your opinion?”

Jonathan touched Karolina’s hand.

“Be careful or you will find yourself on the ground with a bullet hole in your forehead. Okay.”

“My love I am going to show you that somehow the love he has for you is mine.”

“What? Talk some sense, Jonathan.”

“Just know that I love you.”

“Loved you. In the past. You lunatic” shouted Cali.

“I am tired of your stupid games. I will count to ten. Leave my girlfriend alone. Okay. She is with child.”

Weeks later.

Jonathan entered the house he used to share with Karolina. He paced left and right before drawing a gun to his head.

“Why was he so sure that I don’t love her?”

He whispered to himself.

“Maybe I am losing it. If they met after I walked away surely, he has nothing to do with this. Maybe I just shoot myself.”

He slumped on the couch and cried for a while. He walked to the liquor cabinet and took out the whiskey. He poured some in a glass and downed a half-glass before putting on a squinted bitter face.

Nick arrived home from work and found Karolina slumped on the couch relaxing watching the television. He sat next to her before hugging her and kissing her all over. Nick was a very handsome man and less affectionate than Jonathan but a real man. He was not needy, unlike Jonathan. Karolina was a very busy woman and any extra attention would have put a lot of strain on the relationship. Nick understood that, and that made their relationship unbreakable. Apart from having his own business and investments, the couple was expecting a baby. Nick saw this as something to strengthen their relationship. They talked for a while before Nick started dozing off. Having slept for most of the day Karolina wasn’t feeling sleepy at all. She enjoyed watching the television before the couple went to sleep and tonight was no different. A shadow of a man crossed past the window and she knew exactly who that was. Jonathan. What was he after this time? Surely now there was a real danger her being pregnant. Nick was not the kind of man who will let anyone mess up with his pregnant girlfriend. She quickly reached for the phone handset but then again thought for a while. She knew she had to tell Jonathan in a language he understands to stay away before things went out of control. Her heart started beating up. She looked at Nick. He was sleeping peacefully. She saw that shadow again before she heard a faint knock at the window. That’s startled her even more.

“What the f**k does he think he is doing?” she thought out loud. She looked around. She knew where Nick kept his pistol. She also knew how Jonathan loved her. She cursed and swiftly got up and stealthily walked to the window and flipped the curtain. She was right. It was Jonathan standing outside the window. The sight of him gave her a turning stomach so bad that she felt sick. She thought out loud; was he out of his mind? Nick was determined to kill him if he is to find out that he was outside. She opened the door and walked outside to meet Jonathan.

“Are f*****g crazy? What are you doing here? He will kill you if he sees you here. Do you want me to call the police or what? I told you never to come back here. Jonathan. What is going on?” she whispered.

Jonathan was very happy to see Karolina come outside. That brought back some memories of the time they had together. The peak of their love. Karolina felt a warm nice feeling running down her spine. For a while, she got lost as well. She felt Jonathan’s love for her the days they were together. That was such a romantic time. Instantly without thought, Jonathan carried Karolina into the air and swung around carrying her.

“Put me down. What are you doing? Jonathan. Put me down.” She struggled at first before she started laughing secretly hanging onto him. She remembered the best times they had. She enjoyed that here and there especially now. Something Nick would never do. He was a gentleman not some crazy-in-love lunatic like Jonathan. She looked at Jonathan’s face. For the first time in a long time, his face shone with much happiness. She also remembered how excited his face became every time he talked about having kids with her. She also remembered how she has done everything to stop having a family early. She wanted to enjoy a kid-free-life. Nick was just lucky. He came at the right time and took the opportunity.

“I have some good news.”

“What good news Jonathan?”

He looked at her while still lifting her up. She could still see the glittering in his eyes. The excitement and joy expressed on his face. She felt like she had just told him that she was pregnant. Somehow the pair found kissing and snogging each other.

“No! We can’t do this. Put me down now before Nick comes out and shoots you.

“We can be together again.”

She looked shocked and surprised at the same time. She wore a disbelieving face and looked at him.

“What? Are you f*****g crazy? Where will Nick be? There can never be us again. The baby is not yours.”

“I know I will look after you and our baby.”

She could see the excitement in Jonathan’s eyes. She remembered the best times they had. This is the man she fell in love with. Jonathan was very passionate and very crazy-in-love. She knew and remembered so many times he had lifted her up high in the air. It was romantic and very wonderful. She got lost in the heat of things too. Soon after the couple found snogging each other.

“I will look after you and our baby. I found a way, so we can be together again.”

“What are you talking about there can never be you and me again? I am with Nick now. Okay?”

“You once loved me. We can be together again Karo my love.”

“Jonathan. I am with Nick.”

“Nick! Nick? You mean that heart-thief.”

Karolina wriggled holding and pushing away Jonathan’s shoulders.

“I said put me down.”

“Okay. Okay. I will put you down gently, there you go.”

“We can be together again Karo my love.”

Jonathan smiled. He held Karolina passionately and tried to kiss her.

“Why are you acting like a crazy fool?”

Jonathan stood there for a while. He looked troubled and afraid for a minute or two. He walked very close to Karolina who was walking away back to the house. He leaped forward holding her before she turns around.

“Listen to me Karo my love. Stay away from Nick. I don’t know yet what he wants from you but whatever it is it’s not good. I am sure he stole my love for you. Until I figure out what is going on can you please stay away from him. Promise me, Karo.”

He held Karolina’s shoulder and looked at her straight into her shining blue eyes. Instantly the noise of the door opening sends both into a frightened state. A strong trembling voice cut through the otherwise silent night.

“Stay away from my love before I blow your brains out.”

Karolina leaped in front of Jonathan.

“Nick don’t shoot him! He came to tell me that he is going away. Okay, Jonathan?”

She turned and looked at Jonathan.

Jonathan looked upset and annoyed. He just looked at Karolina with a face that seemed to ask, what?

“I am not going anywhere. He is.”

He looked at Nick with piercing eyes.

“What? And where am I going?” asked Nick a bit surprised and angry at the same time.

“To hell where you belong. You son of a beast! We were happy before you came.”

“Sorry, the baby is mine. Start walking away right now.”

“Or else what? You, heart-thief?”

He pulled a gun too and aimed at Nick before a scream frightened both tearing the silent night. The barking of a dog introduced a break between the men’s conversation for a while. The two men stood face-to-face guns in the hands. Karolina hysterically tried to stop the two men from shooting each other.

“We were happy before you came. I had love for Karo. Life was great. We were always happy. We had everything we needed.”

Nick laughed sarcastically and that annoyed Jonathan who instantly reacted by stretching his arm and holding the gun firm.

“What’s funny? You think this is a joke? Maybe shoot you first.”

“You just didn’t understand her. Even now you don’t know her that well.”

“What are you talking about?”

“She never wanted all that. She wanted a man who really loves her. A man who can start a family with her. Not some crazy fool who don’t even love her.”

Jonathan’s face creased with rage. He shook with anger as he pointed the gun at Nick. Karolina’s scream pierced the night. Across the road, a light in one of the bedrooms came on diverting the focus and attention of the two men.

“Don’t talk nonsense. I loved her! You son of a beast!”

“Exactly! Loved her! Not now!”

“Shut up! I love her.”

“What! Do you really love her? Did I hear you correctly? Did you just say you love her?”

“That’s right! I love her?”

“You are getting me worried and upset now because you are lying. We both know you have no love for her. Do you walk away from people you love?”

“Shut up!”

Jonathan lowered the gun down and looked at Karolina.

“I just don’t know what happened but whatever it is I bet you had everything to do with it.”

“Please! She just chose a better man.”

“Better man? You? Ha! You mean bloody heart-thief.”

“If it wasn’t for Karo, I could have shot you. She is pregnant and stay away okay. Go now and stay away from my girlfriend.”

Karolina walked toward Jonathan and held his arm pushing him away.

“Go. I am with Nick now. If you love me, you will respect my wishes.”

“No! Stay away from him. I don’t know what he is after but whatever it is it is not good.”

“We are expecting a baby now okay so go?”

Jonathan stopped and looked at Karolina.

“He is not good for you. I just know it?”

Nick started walking toward them.

“And you are good for her? How can you be? You left her alone crying herself to sleep? Tell me right now how you are better? Right now, you just said it yourself that you have no love for her. So how can you say that?”

“You stole it.”

Nick leaped forward and punched Jonathan so hard that he stumbled and fell backward. He got up and turned around and aimed the gun at Nick. Nick with an angry face looked at Jonathan with piercing eyes, unmoved nor afraid. Karolina screamed in desperation as soon as she heard a click made by the c*****g of the gun.