Billionaire's Quest

The rescue

The heir! I thought Jayden is the elder and had been leading the Turner conglomerate since when he was still in high school. What makes him the heir?

He must have noticed my confusion and he sighs softly.

“You must be thinking that Jayden is the eldest, like everyone thinks, and probably will be heir since he is being seen every single day here, acting as if he is. The point is, the Turner headquarters isn’t in New York, it is in London, UK. The Turner here is just part of numerous subsidiaries we have all over the world, including in Africa. In fact, I tell you the New York subsidiary ranks 41st out of 123rd subsidiaries in the yearly audit analysis. Can you see that Jayden only has a little feature of what the heir is supposed to have? He remains my brother, and we have a very candid relationship.”

His statement makes me awestruck. I don’t know that the Turner conglomerate is that big.

Is that why Gerald was bent on working for them even when my father offered to give him his numerous warehouses to manage, since I have my own business, and I am doing quite well.

His voice trails my thought, “And to let you know, I am older than Jayden with six years gaps…”

“Oh…” I mutter unknowingly.

Why then does he look younger than Jayden? His looks… his charisma and the way he carries himself, so glorious and capable, can’t be seen as being older than the bigger and capable bachelor who turns many ladies to his feet.

Minutes later,

As we walk, hands locking, I keep hearing everyone paying respect to him, referring to him as boss.

Precisely, we are in the large reception hall, heading toward the exit door when, suddenly, the entrance door opens and Ms Linda approaches us and we stop. I wonder why she is acting snobbishly, avoiding my gaze.

She refuses to come to Dexter’s office to tell us the plan has been concluded but sends someone instead.

“The car is waiting but for your safety, you have to go with those guards,” she says, turning to Dexter and pointing to three guards standing not far away.

From the shock on Dexter’s face, I know he hates guards. The hair of his head grows tall.

“Not again!” he groans. “You know I can’t look like a little boy, being parading up and down,” Dexter mutters, trying to calm himself down.

‘That is the order. If you keep going around on a date with strangers, you have to keep obeying orders,” she says, as if she is commanding him.

“You can’t tell me that, Linda…” Dexter queries.

“I am sorry. I will have to tell you the same over again. Your safety first… and the rest will be sorted out without guards…”

My phone rings and every eye turns to me, including the snobbish queen.

“I am sorry. I will have to take this…” I say that just to give myself a break from MS Linda’s disdainful glare that almost wants to burn down my skin.

I walk away without looking back, taking my phone from my handbag.

The moment I hear that ringtone, I know it is Bella.

I take another path leading to a small opening with a few people loitering around, picking up the call, but Bella’s voice rings, making her halt any form of greeting.

“Buddy… gist me. I just can’t keep my mind off you and Gerald… waiting for the best news …” Bella's voice rings into my ears, making me remember Gerald’s terrible face.

“Guess what happened?” I let off the suspense, knowing Bella is good at this.

“Guess what? There is nothing more than accepting your proposal…” Bella sputters.

“I am sorry. You will have to hear the twist differently from what you expected…”

“I’m not sure if I understand…” Bella’s voice holds some disappointment. “… Don’t tell me he rejected you. I won’t believe you because you never sound as if you are heartbroken.”

“That’ll have been better. But, unfortunately, there wasn’t even the time to propose,” I narrate what happened between Gerald and I. How I met Dexter and fell so much love with him, the proposal and the planned date.

“Yuck! Dexter Turner! He arrived in New York some months ago to represent Jayden, who had been out for some months. I am sure everyone except you knows who he is,” Bella says with exhilaration.

Right! I don’t think I fit the novice Bella portrays.

Ouch! I am not a person who knows all of d***s and Harry in New York, unlike Bella and the rest of my friends.

Also, I don’t think everyone knows him either and I, out of all, don't. I am one of the CEOs and my company has been on everyone’s lips for the last two years after what happened to me.

“I don’t think it is so…” I disagree.

“Well, maybe so. Dexter is a hardly visible introvert and always unavailable thanks to that snob called Ms Linda. We met like two or three times and, actually, he is a plain and cool guy. Buddy… I am happy for you and him… but … Honestly, I am sorry about Gerald… I shouldn’t have advised you to propose to him. However, it was unlike him…” Bella's voice goes plain and sad.

I don’t even think of what Gerald did to me again. It is long gone. And so, I am not the only one who finds Ms Linda snobbish, actually.

A smile flashes on my face and I say, “It’s over already, babe… Do you believe the saying ‘In every disappointment, there is a blessing’?”

“Certainly… I do, given what happened between Ham and me, and me meeting Damon out of the blue moon, who is the very complete opposite of Ham. Darling…” I hear a phone ringing. “Sorry, Friend, give me a minute… promise me you won’t hang off,”

“I promise,” I say with excitement.

She already knows Bella won’t give up unless she hears everything… all the gist… all talks and all actions.

“That smile means something great, I presume …” Gerald’s voice interrupts my smile and my brows arch angrily.

“And does it have anything to do with you?” I snap arrogantly, not getting over the fact that he still keeps stalking me.

Gerald draws back, and I don’t even care if my change of demeanor even worries him. I notice his body freezing as if he is piercing his very bones.

“Scarlett darling, Oh! You don’t have to treat me like that. Where is the respectful lady I fell head over heels in love with? Where is the lady who promised to stalk to me in every situation?” Gerald twists, his voice is calm and full of concern and emotion.

Looking at him, I am only bound to feel pity for him. Pity! How can I feel pity for a cheat who refuses to be remorseful?

“I am not that lady… the lady is gone the moment you cheated…”

“Listen, Scarlett. I didn’t cheat. It was just a damn mistake. Everyone makes mistakes, including you. You’re taking this far. Let the prank stop at this moment.”

“Gerald, this isn’t a prank.”

“Then you are hurting me greatly. How can you propose to my boss just minutes after that…” he rolls his eyes frustratingly and I do say.

I don’t want to talk about it with Gerald, even if I must, it should be this moment, “Get it, I don’t want to talk about it, and it’s late already. As you know, I am already someone else’s girlfriend… excuse me.” I am about to walk past him when he races forward, standing in her way.

“Yes, she is.” I hear, and Gerald and I turn around to see Dexter approaching us.

Gerald’s vein exudes with fury like reheat.

“Will I say you find your work boring that you have to pry at her at every given opportunity, Mr. Gerald?” Dexter says just as he pulls me into his body possessively.

Gerald's heart almost stops, but Dexter continues. “I believe you know this is an organization and not a playing ground. You are here to work. Can you return to your office and stop wandering around? Take note, she is now my girlfriend. Always remember that,” Dexter sputters, patting Gerald on the shoulder.

Gerald stands like a fool, shock rubs over him. He takes a step away and then walks away, his head down and his teeth grits.

I know he has planned to make me change my mind. But he forgets that he can’t force the horse to drink water, he can only lead it to the sea. It is late, and he seems not to get it. Continuing to challenge the fact will hurt him more.

“You took too long, sweetheart,” Dexter says to me.

A smile slips out of my face, “Yes, it was my best friend. She is too troublesome.”

“Come, let’s go eat, and you will tell me about this troublesome friend of yours,” Dexter says, winking, leading me away.

We walk past Gerald who stands, biting his lip with jealousy and clenching his fists…