CHAPTER FIVE
2094 Words
NATHAN HAN.
“I am very protective of my daughter” uncle Colleen goes ahead to announce, “and I don’t want her disturbing the general since he just got back” he further adds, “hence my tone”
“Well, I think we should call it a night” August’s voice cuts through the silence and everyone including her father nods. I can see the embarrassment on Colleen’s face and right now, I will give anything to keep that look on his face forever. The old man looks like he is about to implode.
“Thank you so much for honoring my invite, General” the president’s voice cut through the air again, “and I hope we work together well”
“Of course sir. I will do everything I can to make sure the military is at its best”
“I will hold you by your word then,”
“Sure”
With a smile and a nod, I turn around and walk away. I don’t bother to acknowledge Ophelia or even her father, the two of them mean nothing to me.
I have just got to my car when I hear someone call me from behind and I turn to see Colleen and his daughter making their way towards me—probably because their car is parked near mine.
“You must have enjoyed yourself, Nathan” uncle Colleen says as he comes to a halt in front of me, “I could see you grinning like a Cheshire Cat”
Grinning? This old man certainly has something wrong with his brain and he is not bothering to hide it.
“You looked like you enjoyed the attention from the president”
“You looked like you were doing same, deputy” my voice rings out, a smirk lingering on my lips, “you were overly excited and everyone in the room could see it”
Uncle Colleen chuckles lightly as he takes a step forward. His eyes are dripping with anger, his jaw clench tight and his lips quivering a little. I know that look, the look he always has when he is upset. I used to want to pacify him years ago but today, he can go to hell and burn to ashes.
“Do not try to get over yourself, boy” he whispers, so low so Ophelia wouldn’t hear it.
I also lean forward, my eyes staring deep into his eyes,
“I am only doing what I came here for. I will see you again soon”
With a wink, I turn back and enter my car. In no time, I zoom out of the premises and the smile on my face immediately disappears. Being in front of that old man suffocated me so much and the only thing I want to do now is wash every stench of him off my body.
Throughout the drive home, I can’t help but think about everything that was discussed at the dinner. My mother was murdered and I didn’t know about it. This means one thing, I need to find out that bastard who dared to mess with her and I am going to make sure he or she suffers the same fate Colleen was about to suffer.
My phone buzzes and when I see the caller ID, I quickly click on the receive button and her voice filters through.
“I am guessing your mother’s murderer is Colleen,” August says from the other end of the line.
“What makes you say that?”
I actually thought about that but I do not want to believe Colleen would go that far.
“Don’t try to make any excuses for him, Nathan” she says again, “from everything, we both know what he is capable of doing. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and see how this goes. For now, you should go home and take a shower”
“Hmmm” I nod and want to end the call but her voice filters through again.
“Ophelia. What was that about?”
“She is the apple of her father’s eyes. I will break him using her”
“What does that even mean?”
“Do not worry, August. I will keep you posted”
Before she can respond, I end my call and my mind wanders off to her again. I remember the look on uncle Colleen’s face when he saw how close we were. He wanted to pull a gun out at that moment and blow out my brains. The thought of it makes a smirk form on my face. At least he has something he doesn’t want to lose and I am all here for the drama.
Closing my eyes, I relax against the car. The only thing I want to do now is go home and take a shower—other things that can come after tonight.
“Good morning General” one of the soldiers greet as soon I walk into the office, “we did not know you would be coming in today, sir”
I also didn’t want to come in today but forming fast allies is one of the ways I will be able to get rid of Colleen fast. Since the last general passed away a year ago, Colleen had been the one handling everything. But seeing me around taking everything away from him would put him in a difficult situation and that is what I want to see. I want to see him break and crumble under the pressure of my pressure.
“I want you to organize a meeting now” I tell him as my eyes rest on his name tag, “sergeant Nicole”
“On it, general”
“And the deputy. Is he here yet?”
“Yes sir” he answers, “he always comes in early”
“Tell him to meet me in my office for a briefing before I meet the others”
“Yes, General”
As he walks away, I allow my eyes to drink in the sight of everything in the building. This place is not new to me. I was once a soldier who knows the nooks and crannies of this entire building. What I didn’t know then was that I would return here as the general when I was planning to retire that same year. The thought of it makes me scoff—Colleen was a f*****g bastard.
“Good morning general” someone calls beside me and I turn to see Ophelia. She is clad in her army regalia and I must say she looks very different from last night. Today she looks—a bit competent.
“I did not realize
“I did not realize you would be coming today” she further adds.
“Do I need permission to come to my office?” I ask with a raised brow.
“Not at all, Nathan. I—
“Its general to you in the office, sergeant”
“Of course sir, I totally understand”
“Good!”
Without another word, I turn and make my way towards the elevator. She is still standing there, her eyes not leaving me. There is something going on in her head and she doesn’t bother to hide it—something amusing.
As soon as I step into my office, the door behind me opens and Uncle Colleen steps in. He has a sneer on his face.
“You called for me, Nathan” his voice rings out.
“Nathan?” I raise an eyebrow as I lower myself on the reclining chair, “you and your daughter seem to have forgotten who I am now, deputy. I am the general and I suggest you address me as one”
“I practically raised you” he grins lightly, a forced smile on his face, “and now I have to call you general?”
“I do not remember anything about that, deputy,” I say as I lean against the chair, my hand resting against the armrest, “so I think we should cut that out and focus on why I have called you here. I want you to brief me on everything that has happened in the past few months”
“Do you really not want the company back?”
My eyebrows hit my hairline as his words settled in. The audacity of this old man to stand in front of me and try to patronize me. I clench my fist together but I don’t allow the anger to show on my face—I am not going to give him that satisfaction.
“Are you here to talk about the company or about why I called you here, deputy” I inquire, “I do not remember asking you about anything”
“Then I will hold you by your words then”
He finally lowers himself on the chair opposite me but I can see the guarded look on his face. I know he doesn’t believe I lost my memory and my ultimate goal was to make him believe that—that is the only way I can take my pound of flesh.
“Your father was a good—
“I did not call you here to talk about my father, deputy!” I cut him off, banging my fist on the table. I genuinely can not hold my anger again, not when he is trying to drag my father into his conversation like he isn’t the one that murdered him and his comrades in cold blood.
“Stick to why I called you here, deputy. Nobody has the time to think about the past”
The old man remains silent but underneath that façade, I can see a storm brewing. The worst part? He wouldn’t be able to do anything even if he wanted to.
“It seems you are really here to take over his legacy. Well, how about we start on a clean slate then?”
His Cheshire smile almost makes me puke. Uncle Colleen is such a sly man and with each moment I talk to him, I get new ideas on how to make him pay.
“Let’s start afresh!” He says again and stretches out his hand for a shake, “on a clean slate”
I look down at the hand and the smirk on my face grows.
“I was thinking” I finally speak up, not taking his hands “how about Ophilia and I get married?”
The old man immediately withdraws his hand and his face scrunches up like it has been carved from stone.
“My daughter is not for you” he says, almost too calmly, “take your eyes off her”
I scoff, finally standing up from the chair. My huge frame towering above him. He looks a bit intimidated but this man would rather die than show his fears.
“You and my father were best friends like you said. Shouldn’t we remain together by forming a marriage alliance, uncle?”
“No—
“Think about it, deputy” I cut him off, taking slow and steady steps towards him. Each step fills me with so much rage and anger towards him.
“Do you want me to leave the company for you?” Now I am standing in front of him, my frame casting a shadow over him,
“Would you let me marry your daughter or would you prefer I take what actually belongs to me?”
“You—
“The ball is in your court, deputy” I interrupt him, “Let’s go back to why I called you here”
Turning back, I walk back to my seat but the smile on my face turns into a full blown laughter. I really want to know what this greedy old man would do—if his daughter would be thrown under the bus like the rest of us.
“You have really changed” his soft whispers get to me, “it’s like I no longer know you”
I close my eyes and shake my head. The audacity of him to look me in the eye and say that to me.
“Blame that on my memory loss, deputy,” I answer, “but since I have you. I am good. Now what do you think? Would you like to take our relationship to the next level?”
- Writer
