From Roots to Riches

Chapter4

“I’m currently in need of a job,” West admitted to Paul, his former boss and owner of Genesis lounge where he had previously worked before making a switch to work for Donald.

After hours of fruitless online job searching, West had reached out to Paul for assistance. Paul had invited him to come by the lounge later that evening.

“Permit me to ask, but what happened with the new one you got? It was a really big catch.” Paul asked.

“Yeah, I know. I was finding it difficult to adapt, so I had to quit.” He lied.

Paul looked at him warily but decided not to press further. “It’s fine, you can start work tomorrow then. Your previous position is still open for you.”

“Really?” West asked happily, “Thank you so much, Paul. You won’t regret taking me back.”

Paul grinned, “I know. You were actually one of the best here.”

West smiled at him, then noticed his phone ringing. “Excuse me, let me take this,” he said to Paul, who nodded.

He stepped outside to take the call. “Hello, Henry” he said into the phone.

“Hey West. I was looking for you at home but couldn’t find you.”

“Yeah, I rushed out for a moment. Is something wrong?” he asked, not wanting to discuss his job situation over the phone. it was better discussed in person.

“No, not at all. I was just playing video games and it was getting boring. When will you be back so we can play together?”

“Uh…I should be back by 7:30 PM.”

“Alright, 7:30. Are you sure about that?”

West smiled, sensing Henry’s eagerness. “Yes. I’m sure.”

“Okay, see you then.”

“Yeah,” he said, before hanging up.

West returned to Paul’s office, and Paul smiled at him. “It is your beautiful wife? Because your smile says it all.”

West’s smile faltered. “ No, That was Henry. He wanted to play video games.”

“Oh Henry, I miss that fine-looking chap, I hope he visits soon”

West grinned. Henry was well-known in the lounge. He often came in for drinks on occasions and bought rounds for everyone.

West stayed back to chat with Paul for a while, then decided to go home to Henry, since he couldn’t go home to his own wife. He chuckled at the irony.

He drove out of the lounge and headed straight home. As he approached the gates of the Greene mansion, he noticed a strange-looking man hovering outside, straining his neck as if searching for something on the other side.

West got out of his car and approached him. “Hey man, are you looking for something?”

The strange man turned, and smiled at him, “I’m sorry to intrude, but my little boy said he was playing around here and accidentally shot his ball onto this property,” the man explained, reaching into his jacket.

“But this is a residential area. Kids aren't allowed to play here.” West said.

“I know, and I’m sorry about that. Can you perhaps help me check? Please, he can’t sleep without that ball.” he pleaded.

Taking pity on the unknown boy, West said, “It’s fine, I’ll help you.” He turned to get the gate control from his car when he was suddenly grabbed from behind, and in a split second, he felt a cloth covering his nose.

And he blacked out instantly.

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

West awoke abruptly to the sensation of chilled water being poured on him. “Wake up, it’s time to go on stage.” A scary looking man said.

West was confused and disoriented. “Where am I?” he whispered, asking no one in particular, as he scanned his surroundings.

He was in a dark, filthy room that reeked of alcohol and smoke. His hands and feet were tightly bound with a rope, and suddenly the memories of the last hour flooded back - the man at the gate!

He realized in regret that he should have minded his own business and driven on. Instead, he had acted like an i***t and decided to help.

What was he doing here? The scary-looking man had mentioned something about a stage. Was he supposed to perform or something?

His thoughts were jumbled as he tried to make sense of his situation. Suddenly, the small door to the room burst open, and a huge man, even bigger than the previous one, entered holding a knife and a dirty cloth.

West shifted back quickly, until he was backed to a corner, as the man approached him slowly, “Please don’t kill me,” he pleaded. “My family has money. They’ll give you whatever you want,” he begged, knowing it was a big lie, but willing to say anything to save himself.

The huge man ignored him. He bent down next to him and used the dirty cloth to blindfold him. Then West felt the man cutting the rope that tied his feet.

The man roughly raised him up and pushed him forward, closely following him as he led him blindly.

“My father-in-law is the CEO of The Greene Agency. He will give you whatever you want. Please don’t kill me!” West screamed as the man kept pushing him forward.

“Please, I’m begging you.”

The man stopped walking and left him standing alone, his hands still tied. The silence around him was deafening. He didn’t know where he was or who he was performing for, so he decided to plead again.

“Please don’t kill me. I beg you. My father-in-law is Donald Greene. He is a very wealthy man. He’ll pay you any amount, please.” He pleaded, shivering badly.

Suddenly, the whole room erupted in laughter. By the sound of their voices, it seemed like a hundred people were present, but he couldn’t be sure. They all laughed loudly.

Next, he felt someone shoving a foul-smelling cloth into his mouth and tying it with another. The stench choked him, but he had to hold out if he wanted to survive.

“One thousand dollars!” he heard someone call out. One thousand dollars? What for? What was going on?

“Two thousand dollars!” another voice cut in. Oh my God, he started trembling as realization hit him then. He was being sold!

The offers kept rising steadily until someone called out, “Come on guys, you can do better. It’s a millionaire’s son-in-law!”

The room erupted in laughter again, mocking loud voices that made West’s skin crawl. Then, a voice cut through the noise, calm and authoritative. “Hundred thousand dollars.”

The room fell silent, and West, despite his dire situation, was shocked to the bone. What could someone that wealthy possibly want with him?

“There you have it! He is sold to Onyx001,” the voice, which was probably the auctioneer's, declared.

Immediately, someone entered and dragged him away from the room filled with people, into a quieter place.

West remained sitted at a corner, as time seemed to stretch endlessly before him. Suddenly he sensed someone entering the room. He couldn’t utter a sound because his mouth was still gagged. The newcomer didn’t seem to belong in this grim place; he smelled of expensive cologne and wealth. Maybe this was his buyer, West thought.

“Hey!” the man kicked him hard on the torso, before removing the rags covering his eyes. “I need you to sign this immediately.” he said, spitting next to him.

West tensed, what exactly was he signing? Was it his death warrant? He wished he could ask this man the questions tearing through his mind.

The man flung the documents at him, “In case you’re wondering, I’m James, the Greenes family lawyer and these are annulment papers. Sign them and annul your marriage with Nancy Greene.”

West froze. Did they do this? Had they sold him off like some roadside item? But why? The Greenes were incredibly wealthy. What had he done to deserve such wickedness?

As if reading his thoughts, James continued, “Donald says to tell you Thank you. You’ve played your role well as a good son-in-law, now it’s time to end things.”

West shook his head vigorously, as if trying to deny what was happening. James slapped him hard across the face, “Sign them and stop wasting my time!”

West tried to blink back tears. Donald will pay for doing this to him, his whole family will pay. Resigned, he directed his gaze to his tied wrists, indicating his inability to use the pen.

Frustrated, James guided his hands to sign the papers. A current of emotions surged through him as the pen moved. This was for the best. His marriage to Nancy had brought him nothing but turmoil. All he had ever wanted was a little bit of love, but the Greenes chose to throw him at the wolves instead. He will never forgive them for this.

As soon as James left, the huge man from before returned and in a split second, a needle pierced through West’s skin, it’s cold liquid coursing through his veins causing him to blacked out instantly.

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

West awoke to a different sensation this time. He wasn’t tied or blindfolded. His head throbbed, and he felt dizzy and weak. He was lying on a thin cot in a larger room. He sat up, holding his aching head, as he scanned his surroundings. Two men were peering at him closely, causing him to jump in surprise.

“Who are you guys? And where am I?” he asked, his voice shaky, eyeing both guys warily. He wondered if they were part of the same operation that had sold him.

“We are your roommates, and you’re in Italy,” one of them replied.

West’s blood ran cold.