Imperfect billionaire

Chapter one No love in debt “Where is my car key? I am going to be late for work” said Courtney as she hurried down the stairs. “It is over here, on the table” replied Helen, Courtney’s mother. She was seated in the parlour along with Courtney’s father. “My girl, I see you’re going to work early today” said Charles, Courtney’s father as he turned to her. “Yes I am dad. I have to get there early for the meeting that I fixed with the staff today” replied Courtney as she picked up her car key from the table. “Okay my darling. No problem. Good to see you’re handling the family business well. Keep it up” said Charles. “Thanks dad…” “Wait, wait, wait, hold on. You haven’t even eaten breakfast” said Helen as she interrupted Courtney. “No worries mum, I’m not hungry for now. I’ll eat at work” replied Courtney, after which she gave her parents kisses on the cheek and stormed off. “Good morning ma’am” said miss Cecilia Jones, Courtney’s secretary as soon as Courtney stepped into the reception leading to her office. “How are you Cecilia?” Replied Courtney. “I am fine ma’am” said Cecilia. “I went to the meeting room and I didn’t find anybody there. It’s past 9am already. Is anything wrong?” Asked Courtney. “Uhmm, yes ma’am” replied Cecilia as she stood and faced Courtney nervously whilst having one of her hands rubbing the back of her neck. “Cecilia, what is wrong? Can you kindly speak?” said Courtney. “Uhmm, ma’am it’s bad news” replied Cecilia. “Cecilia, I can be gentle but I am losing my patience right now. I really don’t feel comfortable about how empty everywhere is. Tell me what is going on!” Exclaimed Courtney as she moved closer to Cecilia. “Uhmm, ma’am some individuals in suits came in today, along with some Police officers” replied Cecilia. “What?!” What did they want?” Asked Courtney looking astonished. “Uhmm, they actually presented us with some documents which state that this company is in debt of about ten million pounds. Their claims were entirely true as confirmed by the managing director. They closed down the company and sent everyone else home, leaving me to deliver this message to you. Uhmm, apparently your parents took a heavy loan some years back to save the business but haven’t paid back. The managing director is the only person that knows about this” said Cecilia. Courtney felt taken aback by the information she was getting from Cecilia. She stepped back and took a seat, while looking in utter shock. She then fell into deep thought. Cecilia stood in front of her anticipating her response. After a short moment, Courtney looked up at Cecilia and asked; “how long has the loan been due?” “Uhmm, ma’am according to the M.D, it’s been due for over one year now” replied Cecilia. “I can’t believe my parents would blindside me like this” said Courtney in shock as she placed both her hands over her face. Soon after, her astonished look turned to a frown and she became very furious. She stood up and began to walk out of the reception. “Uhmm, miss Courtney! Miss Courtney!” Shouted Cecilia repeatedly but Courtney ignored her. Courtney stormed out of the company’s building, got into her car, and drove back to her home. “Mr Anderson, please just give us more time. The company is starting a project that will skyrocket it’s earnings to a whole new level. We would then be able to pay you back every dime you have given us” said Charles, Courtney’s farther. Charles, along with his wife and a man named Darius Anderson were seated in their parlour having a meeting. “Charles, I have given you and Helen five years to pay me back. You have all been enjoying yourselves with my money. One year ago, I asked for my money, but you could not even offer at least five million pounds. You have not paid me a penny…” “Business has been very difficult…” “Shut up and let me speak!” Exclaimed Darius, as his voice thundered through the parlour, and he silenced Charles. Helen started feeling terrified. Darius was in a state of intense rage and everyone around him could feel it. Darius had a male help that followed him around and performed all his menial tasks. His name was John. “John, excuse us now” said Darius as he rolled his wheelchair forward to move closer to Charles and Helen. John then exited the parlour as instructed. “Ever since my fatal accident two years ago, I have not been able to walk. My club had to let me go. I was a player getting paid up to one hundred thousand pounds a week. I was one of the best in the league. The only investment I have is my hotel but that is not enough to cover up for the losses I have endured because two of you took ten million pounds from me. The only reason I gave you that money was because you were both instrumental in getting me to the academy. Now, I will take your company and everything that matters to you and sell them” said Darius as he addressed Charles and Helen. “Oh no. Please. Don’t do it. We will pay you back soon. We have…” “Enough of this! I do not…” “What is going on here?” Asked Courtney as she stepped into the parlour, interrupting Darius. “Is this not Darius Anderson? I don’t understand. Mum, dad, what’s a football player doing in our parlour?” Asked Courtney but her parents kept silent. “Uhmm, good morning sir” said Courtney as she turned to Darius. “There is nothing good about this morning, and I think you meant to say ex-football player” replied Darius. “Uhmm, I’m sorry if I’ve offended you. I only…” “You have not offended me. It’s your parents here that are guilty of that” said Darius interrupting Courtney. Courtney stood in their midst feeling utterly dumfounded. She could not fathom what was happening at the moment. She looked over at her parents and they buried their heads to the ground. “Let me break it down for you lady. Your parents here owe me a lot of money…” “No, no, no. You don’t have to involve my daughter…” “Shut up!” Exclaimed Darius in a furious manner. “Hey! You don’t have to talk to my father like that” said Courtney in rage as she moved closer to Darius. “You shut up as well! Let me talk, or I’ll take this house from you. All of you here are currently living under my mercy” replied Darius as he circled his gaze around Courtney and her parents. “Your parents here owe me ten million pounds. By now I’m sure you’ve seen that I have shut down your company. I am going to hold every property I can lay my hands on, and sell them all until your family’s debt to me is paid” said Darius, after which he began rolling his wheelchair out of the parlour. Darius was naturally six feet and a few inches tall, but he had been on a wheelchair for the last two years so his height didn’t matter anymore. He was light in complexion, had a tall muscular physique, dark hair but no facial hair. He was physically attractive. He had handsome facial features ranging from his attractive looking cheekbones and pointed nose, to his soft looking pink lips. He maintained an athletic figure even though he hadn’t participated in sports for the last two years. Courtney on the other hand, was a blonde. She was exquisitely gorgeous, light skinned, and had a fit looking body figure with long tanned legs. She was about six feet tall. “Wait! Don’t leave! You can’t just come into our house and disrespect us like that” said Courtney as Darius rolled his wheelchair to exit the parlour. Following her speech, Darius turned around, stared at her and let out a loud laugh. “And who is going to stop me from leaving? You people are nothing now. Like I said, you are living under my mercy. Ten million pounds is what your parents owe me. I gave them nine million five years ago, the extra one million is the interest. What other explanation do you need lady?” Asked Darius. “My name is Courtney…” “I don’t care about your name” interrupted Darius. “Okay uhmm, I’m sure we can find another way to sort this out. Just allow us open the company back. I’m sure we have assets we can sell to pay you back” said Courtney. “hahahahaha!” Laughed Darius. “Do you see how silent your parents are right now? They can’t utter a word because they both feel ashamed of themselves. You have exactly twenty four hours to find a way to pay me back, or I’ll fully enforce my rule over you, and strip you of everything. Twenty four hours!” Shouted Darius in rage, after which he stormed out. “Mum, dad. How could you let this happen?” Asked Courtney as she faced her parents. “Courtney please sit down let’s talk” said Helen in a low tone. “I’m not sitting down mummy! You’ve both kept me in the dark for too long. How could you not tell me that a business I was running was in serious debt?!” Exclaimed Courtney in anger. “We are very sorry Courtney. We were in a very bad state when we collected that loan. At the time, we thought we could be able to pay back on time, but things got very bad as the years passed by. Shortly before you took over the business three months ago, business was booming once again. We just don’t have enough to pay this man back” said Charles as he addressed Courtney. “How much do you currently have to pay that man?” Asked Courtney. “A little over three million pounds” replied Helen, as her and Charles both faced Courtney having high hopes that she would solve their dilemma, and paid rapt attention to her. “Okay, mum, dad, I have to be very honest with you. I and my team at the company calculated the worth of everything we own last month and we currently can’t make up to five million pounds even if we sell it all” said Courtney. Charles and Helen then let out a heavy sigh. All three of them then fell into a gloomy mood. Back at Darius Anderson’s house, he was relaxing in his bedroom. It had become nightfall. He lived alone in a five storey mansion. His help, John always came in temporarily to help him out and take care of the house. “Hello” said Darius as he picked up his phone. He was resting on his bed. “Good morning sir” said John. “Yes good morning. So what’s the result of the meeting?” Asked Darius. “Uhmm, sir your hotel manager said I should tell you that the contract with the royal family is going to be a success but there is one more thing that they need” replied John. “And what is it?” Asked Darius. “He said that the family want to see the owner of the hotel and confirm if he has a wife and a loving home” replied John. “What?! Tell me you’re joking right now!” Exclaimed Darius as he sat up on his bed and expressed shock. “No sir, that is what the hotel manager said I should tell you” replied John. Without uttering another word, Darius cut the phone call and threw his phone to the wall in anger. He then groaned aloud and banged his bed in frustration. He spent the most part of the night pondering about what his next move would be. The following morning, when Darius woke up, he thought again and came to a conclusion, one he believed would benefit different parties. “Hello” said Charles as he picked up his phone. He was still in bed when the phone rang. “Hello Mr Charles, this is Darius” said Darius. “Oh wow! Uhmm, sorry I did not know this was your number” said Charles as he stuttered his words and jumped out of bed. His wife heard him on the phone and sat up as she stared at him. She paid rapt attention to her husband as he spoke with Darius. “Mr Charles, I might just have a way to solve your problem, and in my case, kill two birds with one stone. Come with your wife and daughter to my house by 6pm this evening” said Darius. Charles felt dumbfounded following Darius Anderson’s words. “Sorry sir, I don’t understand” replied Charles. “Just do as I say” said Darius. Those were his last words after which he cut the call, leaving Charles and his wife in awe.