A soilder’s comeback (revenge served cold)

CHAPTER THREE

NATHAN HAN.

My maybach pulls up in front of the building and I slowly climb out while straightening my suit. I would rather be anywhere but here this evening but I couldn’t refuse the president, not when he asked nicely.

“Look alive, Nathan,” August’s voice filters into my ear from the other end of the Bluetooth, “you look like someone forced you to come here”

“Of course,” I almost roll my eyes to the back of my head but I don’t get the chance to do that, not when another Range Rover pulls up near me. I don’t bother to check who it is, I can already take a wild guess.

I watch as uncle Colleen and his daughter both step out of the car, a huge grin on her face. Why the heck is she smiling when the only thing her family knows how to do is to ruin someone?

Anger wells up inside of me but I keep my cool. Causing a scene here today is not part of the script.

“Oh,Nathan!” her voice floats across to me, the grin widening, “I didn’t know you would be here today”

“The president invited him,” uncle Colleen announces, I can almost feel the sarcasm dripping from his voice. He looks like he doesn’t want me to be here, and I genuinely do not even care.

“As the new general, it is part of the perks he will begin to enjoy” he further adds, “it’s a shame your father’s legacy is about to go to ruins. How can a mere boy rule over men who have seen everything about war?”

This time, he doesn’t bother to hide the loathing in his voice. He is visibly angry and it is evident on his face.

“Do you even know anything about my father?” I ask, “or are you speaking based on what you have heard about him, deputy”

His anger intensified as his jaw clenches tightly. One thing I have come to understand since this afternoon is the fact that uncle Colleen hates to be called a deputy, especially to me.

“It’s a shame that you slithered your way to the top” he speaks up again, “and speaking about your father, you don’t even remember much about him. Your father and I fought side by side until he decided to become a traitor and sell out his own people”

“My father—

“Two deep breaths!” August’s voice cuts me off in the background and I let the words die on my tongue, “we talked about not letting your emotions get the best of you yet, Nathan” she continues, “one more slip up and that old man may find something on you. Deep breaths”

I follow her instructions and allow the air around me to flow in and out of my nose. Kudos to August because no other person would deal with this tantrum of mine.

“Good. Now you can talk”

Being in therapy for three years did its job but seeing Colleen reopened a wound I thought I had healed from.

“We should head in” Ophelia speaks up, “we do not want to keep the president waiting”

“Of course” uncle Colleen adds before turning to me again, “your father’s betrayal is only known by me. We should keep it that way. Everyone thinks he is a hero, don’t blabber on about anything”

He doesn’t say anything else, only clasps his hand over his daughter and they both make their way into the house. I follow behind them, almost wanting to turn around and walk back to my car.

The front door opens up and a familiar face walks in. My lips curl into a small smile. She canceled her dinner date because of me this evening so she will definitely not be hearing any excuses whatsoever.

August. The only daughter of the president of the United States. When I told her about today’s dinner, she immediately told Dan and they had their date canceled. Both of them were not helping me solely for my own benefit and I genuinely do not even care why they are not helping me.

Every single dollar I had in my bank account was made by me. Eight years was more than enough to make me the man I am right now. Every single toil and sweat resulted in why I am here at the moment.

“Mr Colleen” August smiles sweetly at him as she opens the door wider for him to enter, Dan is behind her with an expressionless but welcoming look on his face.

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you” Ophelia greets with a smile. August returns it but doesn’t say anything.

She nods at me when I walk past while Dan and I exchange a little handshake with him. The president is seated on a sofa and his face breaks into a smile when he sees us.

“Finally” he says as he pulls himself up, “you all are here. Did you come together?”

“Not at all, Mr president” uncle Colleen answers with a fake smile plastered across his face, “we met outside”

“Oh,, I see,” he beams, “take a seat and make yourself at home. My daughter and her husband came over for dinner too. It should be served soon”

“Thank you for having us in your home, Mr president” I say as I sit down.

“Of course. You are the new appointed general, I can do this much for you” he adds and I smile at him. Uncle Colleen is glaring at me, his jaw shut tight. It can snap for all I care!

“Looking at you up close” the president begins to speak again, “you look so much like your father. It’s a shame he had to die in that bomb explosion”

My insides tighten as the words flow out of his mouth.

“Your father was a good man, General” he continues, “I also had dinner with your mum once too. That was before she was murdered!”

My ear tingles at that statement as my head whips towards him. Yes, my father was murdered by his own best friend but my mum? I remember dad telling me she had an accident and died on the spot. That was almost four years before my father was assassinated. I was out of the country then for a classified operation when dad called me that day. I came back but I didn’t ask many questions because I didn’t want to hurt him. I knew how much my father adored my mother.

Hearing now that she was murdered changes everything. He never told me, he never even had a slip up about it.

“I mean a good woman was murdered like that” it’s president continues, “your father had my permission to conduct a secret investigation about that. We didn’t get to find out who did until he died”

My throat tightens, it feels like I am about to throw up. I lean forward a little, loosening my tie in the process.

“I don’t think we should be discussing that now, Mr president,” Uncle Colleen chips in, “we should leave the past in the past. I don’t think Nathan is comfortable with that”

“Yes, I know that” he answers, “I am just reminiscing. But you are here now” a smile forms on his lips again, “I am sure you will do great things like your father did just like Ophelia is doing for her father”

“Thank you, sir” I manage to say while Ophelia only smiles.

With each passing moment, the lump in my throat hardens and I find it difficult to breathe. Beads of sweat have formed on my forehead and my whole body feels hot. I only came here this evening with the intention of riling uncle Colleen up. I didn’t know I was about to find out another secret.

“I need to use the restroom” I say as I abruptly stand up.

“Let me show you,” August says from behind me. I don’t say a word, I only turn and follow her.

We walk down the hallway for a while until we stop in front of a door. I don’t go in and she doesn’t walk away.

“Breathe, Nathan” she advises, “you look like you are about to explode”

“Yes!” I hiss in anger, “I am about to f*****g explode and trust me—

“What are you going to do about it now?” She goes ahead to ask, “it’s not like you can find the murderer now and make him pay?”

I rake my fingers through my hair, the pain in my chest intensifying. For eight f*****g years, I was making plans to make Colleen pay. A whole lot of plans but now my mother—she was murdered and the killer is still at large. I am about to lose my f*****g mind.

“You need to put yourself together” she advised again, “I know how hard this is for you but you can’t slip up now unless you want Colleen to find out what’s going on”

“I swear, August—

“And I will be with you every step of the way!” She cuts me off gently, “I promise but you have to make me a promise too. We can’t keep talking about your anger every day. You went to therapy for that”

I scoff despite the rage that is boiling inside of me.

“Do you think therapy is enough to get rid of all this?”

“Well. We need the cool-headed Nathan for this” she says, “not this angry bird. Dan and I leave for Luxembourg this weekend and I don’t know when I will be back so we need to get everything right before I leave. I have found someone that can take care of your business in the meantime since you will be busy as the general but then, you need to relax and let’s enjoy it. If you move too fast, Colleen would never suffer for it so you need to promise me, Nathan”

“You always have my promise”

For someone who saved me? I could give them my life.

“Good. Now, go use the restroom and come out okay?”

With a tiny smile, she turns and walks away while I keep staring at her retreating figure until she leaves. August is three years older than me and that’s why she gives me this motherly attitude. She is the owner of chains of restaurants across different countries, she is also her father’s personal assistant and that is why she was able to pitch me in to her father. For the last eight years, she has become my voice of reason, if not why will a grown-up thirty-two-years-old man like me do everything she says.

I smile at the idea of that. She and her husband were something else but I am grateful for the gift of them.

After calming down, I find my way back to the living room where I meet everyone talking and laughing. The president looks so relaxed for someone who has the weight of the whole country on his back. This makes me realise something, I don’t always have to show what’s going on in my head on my face.

“And here you are,” he says as soon as he sees me, “we were talking about your time in the military with your father”

“Oh,” I force a smile on my face as I sit down, “it’s a shame I don’t remember much. I actually lost my memory so I hardly remember that. I can only remember a few things”

“That’s sad but I am sure Colleen would help you with that. He and your father were joined at the hip, he cried at the funeral”

“Oh,” my head turns to uncle Colleen who is still smiling, “I see. I didn’t know that”

“Now that you are back, would you be taking over your father’s shares of the company?” Dan finally speaks up, his hand clasped over his wife’s, “I heard your father and Mr Colleen founded the company together. Of course you should be ready to take over”

“I thought uncle Han transferred everything to you, dad?” Ophelia asks and the whole room becomes silent as my gaze rests on him again—my father would never do that.

“Yes” uncle Colleen responds, “he did”