A Billionaire's Revenge

Chapter 2

A WEEK LATER

On a calm Sunday afternoon, one week after their honeymoon, Sophia, accustomed to indulgence and luxury, struggled with Richard's focus on work and aversion to extravagance. Richard, a pragmatic tech engineer, tolerated their contrasting lifestyles despite the challenges. Their opulent mansion, given to them as a wedding gift by Sophia's father, felt more like a gilded cage than a home. The cavernous rooms echoed with emptiness, punctuated only by the clinking of crystal and the hushed whispers of servants. Loneliness gnawed at Richard despite the constant presence of his wife.

She relaxed on the plush sofa in their small living room, dressed in a designer white outfit displaying "GUCCI" in bold letters, with a few buttons undone to reveal her tattooed cleavage. Absentmindedly paging through a magazine, she held a glass of expensive Italian wine. Meanwhile, Richard worked diligently on his laptop at the nearby dining table. The room was filled with tension, accompanied by the soft rustle of pages and the rhythmic tapping of keys.

Finally, Sophia spoke up, her voice tinged with frustration. "Richard, do you ever think about doing something fun? It's Sunday. Don't you think about having a beer with your guys, or go do something fun with your pathetic life"

“All you do is work all day with nothing to show for it, except an old modell Volkswagen you regard as a car and a house not as big as one of my dad's condo”

“Well, you wouldn't call this a marriage, would you?” she said

Richard glanced up from his laptop, eyebrows furrowed. "Sophia, you know I have deadlines to meet. I can't just drop everything for leisure."

“Well I don't expect you to understand”.

“ You've never worked for anything your whole life”. Richard replied, avoiding eye contacts with her, still concentrating on his laptop

Sophia sighed, tossing the magazine aside. “Yeah, that's what you get when you've got a billionaire father"

Richard closed his laptop, his expression conflicted. "I'm trying so hard to concentrate here. I thought you'd understand that." He explained with a touch of frustration, his gestures indicating his desire for understanding.

Sophia looked away, a hint of frustration and scorn in her eyes. "I guess I'll be clubbing tonight”. She said looking at him indirectly, to get this reaction

Richard sighed in relief, realizing how peaceful and quiet his night was going to be without her constant nagging and excessive smoking in their bedroom occasioned with incessant calls, making appointments for luxury outings and online orders. The night was always the worst part of the day for him and he couldn't wait to enjoy his solitude and plan for Monday's activities

She brings out her phone and gestures to make a call, a call to an online clothing company

“Hello, I need a navy blue gown, preferably short with matching shoes and bag”

“And lingerie too, something sexy, I need to make an impression”. She says gesturing with her hands on her sleek body. still trying to get Richard's reaction

“Send my bills to Hybrid Holdings," Sophia instructed firmly, her tone reflecting a sense of entitlement.

"Don't ask stupid questions, that's my father's company," she added dismissively, her gestures conveying impatience and superiority.

"Of course, madame. We'll send the bills to Hybrid Holdings," came the response from the other end of the call, the voice sounding compliant and deferential.

At this point, Richard feels more irritated. He's lost concentration more times than he could count. Looks at her with uttermost disgust. He gets up from the dining table and heads to the front door, gesturing to one of the maids to get him a towel and a glass of wine. He needs a swim to cool off steam while waiting for Sophia's exit from the house.

While swimming, Richard hears his phone ring from where he left his towel and glass of wine at the edge of the pool. With a sense of urgency, he swiftly makes his way towards the far left side of the pool, water dripping heavily from his body as he reaches for the phone to answer the call and puts it on speaker

Hey Maria, how are you?" Richard greeted with a cheerful smile, as though he had been anticipating the call all day.

"I'm good, Richard. How's your weekend going?" Maria replied, her tone tinged with skepticism, clearly trying to provoke a reaction.

"Well, I just wanted to remind you about our schedules for tomorrow. It's going to be a busy day, so you can't afford to be late," Maria explained, her tone conveying a sense of professionalism and readiness.

"Of course, I'm aware of our schedules.

“I've reviewed the proposal you sent to me for Bridgewater Corporations, and I think it's fair," Richard responded confidently, his tone indicating readiness for upcoming tasks.

The exchange between Richard and his secretary reflected his commitment to his work and preparedness for the challenges ahead, despite the tension and distractions in his personal life.

“"My regards to your lovely wife," Mariam chuckled playfully.

"My lovely wife?" Richard responded, visibly puzzled by the remark.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Mariam swiftly replied, dodging his question.

"Alright, bye," Richard said, still feeling perplexed.

"Bye," he added as the call ended. He set down the phone and poured himself a glass of wine, his gaze shifting suddenly towards the garage. There, he spotted Sophia hurrying towards her Lamborghini, dressed in clothes that matched the car's color.

Pouring another drink, he seemed to celebrate her departure. As Sophia drove away, he emerged from the pool and gestured to one of the maids to bring him the wine and glass, indicating a desire to relax and savor the moment of solitude.

The day was fading, and he, still wrapped in a towel, headed straight to the bedroom to get dressed. After dressing casually in a blue shirt and denim shorts, he made his way to the dining room where he had left his laptop. As he approached, his phone beeped, signaling a message from Mr. Jack Brown.

"Mister Jack," he murmured to himself, curious about the unexpected message.

He tapped on the message icon, opening it and reading silently to himself:

"Meet me in my office tomorrow by 9 am. Don't be late."

He froze, feeling a mix of disbelief and tension. He hadn't interacted with his father-in-law since their wedding reception. There had been no calls, texts, or discussions about the promised contract between them. Now, out of the blue, Mr. Brown was summoning him. Is it possible that Sophia had reported their recent argument to her father? He couldn't just understand

He grabbed his phone and quickly sent a message to Mariam:

"Please cancel my morning appointments. I have an important meeting with my father-in-law tomorrow. I'll explain everything when I see you. Thank you."

With a heavy sigh, he closed his laptop and rested his head on the dining table, lost in thoughts about how his upcoming Monday would unfold.