The HIV Bride

Episode 8: Hello

Richard Cooker's POV:

People say,” Richard, you have a scary face.” If only they knew just how even scarier my thoughts are and my actions could be.

So, yes, I reached out to Michael DeFranta to ask for his daughter's hand in marriage for my son, Valentino. Yes, his HIV-infected daughter.

This hasn't always been in my thoughts by the way. I just saw an opportunity and cashed in on it.

So, my son, my eldest son, Dominic Cooker, called me yesterday while I was still at the construction site, supervising what these men were building there for me.

“Good afternoon Dad,”

“Good afternoon son. How are you? This one you called?”

“Dad, something just happened now. Something very big. I need to talk to you urgently. Are you alone?”

“I'm at the construction site. Hold on, let me go to my car. Just wait,”

“Phillips, continue inspecting. I will be right back,” I said, calling on one of my assistants.

“Yes sir,” he replied.

I went to my car and sat inside. I rolled up the windows and looked around to make sure that no one was around me.

“So son, tell me. What's up?”

“Dad, the only child and daughter of Michael DeFranta came to my hospital today. She wanted to do an HIV test. And guess what, she turned out positive.”

“What?! Do you mean this son?”

“I am not joking. I was the doctor who attended to her. She was in my office.”

“If this is true, then this means darker days lie ahead for the DeFranta Empire. Knowing Michael, I'm certain he would never let the world find out about his daughter's health.”

“Exactly. He will be in a very hot seat now, coupled with the losses his company has been experiencing of late. Michael would be doing everything he possibly can now to salvage his kingdom.”

“How did she get HIV?”

“From her file, she suspects contracting it from her boyfriend during s****l intercourse.”

There was a pause. I was thinking and my son respected the silence.

“Dominic”

“Yes Dad”

“Thank you for the information. I will do the needful.”

“Ok, Dad. Gotta get back to work. Bye. I love you, Dad.”

“Love you too son.”

We ended the call and then I continued to think.

DeFranta ran a plastics, rubber, glass, and even jewelry manufacturing company. Recently, he ventured into the Telecom manufacturing industry too.

DeFranta's company had made a bad investment decision in his Telecom manufacturing venture that was now backfiring and even hitting his other businesses hard.

I knew it and I'm sure other big people knew it too. And I was certain that Michael must be desperately seeking funds to offset his bad decision and also to avoid his telecom venture folding up.

Now, this is where I could come in. I could help him with funds. I am far richer than him. While Michael DeFranta is the eleventh richest man in Scotland with a net worth of £206 million, I am the seventh richest man in Scotland with a net worth of £635 million.

Now what exactly do I want to get out of helping him?

You see, Michael inherited two sizable acres of land from his grandfather which are goldmines. Most of the gold he uses in making jewelry comes from his goldmine, cutting significant costs for him. There were also rumors of a secret diamond mine he owns.

Now, I also want to venture into the gold industry. I want to diversify. From not only food products but also to gold.

In exchange for helping him with funds and also marrying his HIV-infected daughter to one of my sons, I wanted to co-own his gold mine with him. Well, if he didn't want that, then, at least reach an agreement on how much free gold he would be supplying to me.

You know, as far as I knew Michael DeFranta, well not just only him though but every millionaire and billionaire with a reputation to protect, Scotland had sooner become an American state than Michael allow the world to know the truth of his only heiress.

I also knew that he would be eternally grateful that a powerful family, more powerful than his, would want to marry his daughter, despite knowing her health status.

This was my plan and it was excellent!

And so, early the next morning, I headed for Michael's house to make my proposal. It was on a Saturday. To explain my knowledge of his daughter's status, I had to take my son, Dominic with me.

Even though I had some doubts, I was still very hopeful that he would gladly accept my proposal.

Well, Michael was more than glad. He looked relieved, excited, like someone whose heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulder. He even called me the saviour of him and his family.

He accepted my proposal, only that he refused that I co-own his gold mine with him.

Before leaving, he eagerly hugged me and called me his in-law. I smiled.

Maybe one day, Michael, I will kick you completely off and become the sole owner of those mines.