Million Dollar Mistake

Taking Over Grey

Chapter 6

Damian

“Laura!” I yell, pushing Daniel in her arms to take back to my father’s house. I can’t believe this, how? Being an alcoholic is not enough but then a cheat. My airways blocked, plunged me into my Land Rover straight into the city club. The recurring image of that freckled face bastard on my wife- damn!

“Sir, that’s all the cognac we have!” The dark skinned bar tender expressed.

“I…can see…cognac…bring it all!” Feeling dizzy but all I need is more drinks. More to evade this turbulent reality. I gave up everything for her. Fighting even without feelings to save the damn marriage.

“Get me more…drinks!”

I scream, throwing the empty glass at the bartender. My vision getting blurry yet could still sight the bouncer approaching me.

“Sir, you need to pay up, now!” The husky voice emphasized. Stupid people, if they won’t get me more drinks I would go somewhere else. Reaching for my credit card but feeling an empty pocket.

“Now!” The bouncer ordered sending mild shivers down my spine. Where did my wallet go?

“Waiiit!” I continue muttering despite the frequent hiccups. His huge hand seized me by my collars lifting me feets from the ground.

“You can use mine!” The femme voice screamed behind him. Slowly, he let me down on the chair retreating.

“Wiiiillla?” My eyes must be deceiving me, too much drinking already making me to imagine things. She can’t be here.

“Take him to the car.” The femme voice said again to two huge men whose hands were quick to lift me on their shoulders. My body felt heavier by the second, my mind wandering in every direction but soon beclouded by the weight of unconsciousness.

The smell of coffee was the alarm soothing me gently back to consciousness. My lids parting to the piercing effect of daylight. The last I remember, it was dark. Obviously a new morning, my body feeling the soft mattress on which I laid. I couldn’t have driven back home. The interior decor in the room looks different but damn- this pounding headache.

“Coffee is best served hot for its potency…” she said as if reading my mind. Willa, standing by the door. How didn’t I see her there?

“How? What?”

I thought it was a dream, it obviously wasn’t but still it is a good place to be after such a traumatizing encounter.

“Take your coffee and…get out of my house…John will get you your clothes, you threw up like a pregnant woman last night.” She laughed, closing the door.

Lifting the duvet gently, nothing on but a boxer. The weight of embarrassment only doubled. Hope she wasn’t the one who undressed me?

The intimidating figure barged in, dropping my dry cleaned clothes on the bed.

I rush into the bathroom to take my bath, rushing out to get dressed but then on a second thought what if I don’t get dressed. This is what I longed for in all my stay in Hawaii, to get a personal encounter with Willa. Peering my head outside the door to observe that her bodyguards are not in sight, I take the bold steps searching for her. The noise in the kitchen was the confirmation I needed. Her beautiful figure preparing her signature bacon again

“Wanted to say….thank you.” I mutter behind her.

“And you had to do that…naked?” She proved, her eyes still fixed on my lower region.

“Oh! This?…it’s nothing….if it’s disturbing…I can go get changed.”

I offer, feigning a sincere concern. Shaking her head lightly, she returned her attention to the cooker. I lean forward, letting my body slightly brush hers.

“Knew drinking was a thing for you, Me White….but getting drunk in the club?…embarrassing your family…”

“She…cheated…a drunk…an addict….yet, the mother of my son.”

I mutter in my defense. The wrecking memory of Vivian in bed with another man was enough to drown my consciousness. Making excuses for her whenever she got drunk or passed out from an overdose but cheating, I hate sharing!

“Here….eat and get out.”

She scoffed, pushing the plate of food in my hands.

“Can I….”

The emergence of the same man from Hawaii, who had his hands all over her, shut the words in my mouth. Why did he come so early? Or is he her man?

“Willa? Really?” He paused to chuckle. Placing her hands on her face was enough answer for me, he is her partner.

“Is this…the reason you refused…to let me stay here with you?”

He asked, pointing at me. His peering eyes on my bare body gave me reasons to feel shyness.

“Come on, Chris….this isn’t what it looks like…he’s just a…”

“Just what?!”

Heaving a sigh, she made to approach him, the closer she got to him, the more spited I was becoming.

“He’s my ex husband and…I was just…trying to help…and..”

“And what?” He charged again.

“Hey! Listen, man….there’s nothing going on…she’s saying…”

“I’m speaking to my woman!” He yelled pushing me back. Willa turned, pushing me slightly too and giving me signals to keep mute but I didn’t, instead pushed even further. He’s my fellow man, we can do it, man to man.

“But…she’s…”

“I said, back off!” He pushed me back but this time, I held his shirt, lifting a fist in my defense.

Willa’s bodyguards rushed in, pulling us from each other.

“Boss, what do we do?”

“Take the i***t out of here!” Her boyfriend roared. Racking her hair with her fingers, she waved him to stop yelling.

“Take him…out…”pointing at me, the bodyguards placed their heavy hands on my arm pulling me out of the kitchen.

“Wait!” She called them back. My heart leapt for joy expecting to be left alone.

“Take him too…”

As expected his eyes widened in disbelief.

“Willa?”

Her guards wasted no time in placing their hands on him too and pulling him out despite his ranting. Although it wasn’t what I was expecting but it felt better to not be the only one sent out. I just hope she’s fine.

Willa

The sight of Chris sank my heart. He was the last I was expecting maybe because a part of me listed after Damian’s body. Attempting to stop the duo from tearing each other apart was igniting slight headache. Not today when the company is about to go for a major pitching and branding for its expansion. Spent the whole night preparing for it only to have such a ruckus.

As soon as Jack and John drag them out, I rush back into the bathroom to go get dressed for the expansion pitch.

The drive to the office was a long one, giving me enough time to rehearse the welcome speech to the stakeholders. Arriving at the expected venue, seeing other brands starting the glam and shooting with their ambassadors flashed the importance of Christopher to me. Picking up my phone to call him but instead make several failed attempts.

“Boss, what is it?” Jack inquired.

“It’s almost time for the pitch….and Chris isn’t here for the shoot.”

They both let out a mild giggle.

“What?”

“Ma’am really?” John chirped in.

“He found you cheating on him this morning…”

“Cheating?”

What are they talking about?”

“Then you had him thrown out of your house!” They both chorused, laughing out loudly now.

“But he’s working with a contract?”

“I hate the actor but….boss, you have shattered his ego…all we have to do is hope.” John concluded, volunteering to go search for him.

“Miss Willa, it’s Grey’s company’s turn.”

The photographer said causing my tongue to stick to my pallet. Come on, Chris, please ducking show-up!

“Just a second.” I gritted, placing another call to Chris. The loud buzz of ringtone in the space, drew my attention to the entrance where the sound was emerging from. He was in the company of Jack and John, already dressed for the shoot.

“Thank you.” I mumbled but he ignored it, moving directly to the set.

After the shoot, we were allowed into the pitching hall where all sorts of New York big names in the construction company was gathered. Paparazzi flashing all around, great pitches and tending making me to question the potency of what I have to offer.

“Grey construction?” The board chairman announced, giving me the cue that it was our turn. The photographer placed our slides with Christopher’s picture and the advertisement videos.

“Grey has stood the test of time from the early 90s and even till date, building several public and private edifices from Texas city hall to the Chandler’s grand mall in Oklahoma….”

“But is it not your company that built the Fineco banking hall that collapsed five years ago, that collapsed?…”

The mention of the Fineco collapse sent cold shrivels down my spine, it was the fall of my father’s company years ago. No, Willa, you get this!

“Yes…but more than an architectural mistake, it was discovered that some bandit conspiracy was involved that led to the planting of the bombs…”

“But shouldn’t the building have some resistance against subtle explosions like the Threshold edifice last year.” One of the ministers chirped in.

“Sir, the Fineco building was constructed in 1993, there was obviously nothing like MR resistance…” the room let out a mild chuckle.

“Today, we have it and trust me after such traumatic experience, every building by Grey construction company possesses the most powerful explosive resistance….see…here’s a display.”

John played the slide, leading the whole room to a standing ovation.

“Thank you.”

I don’t know what just happened but it as the most intense presentation I’ve had to do.

“I guess, we are all in accord in this decision. We encourage innovative and young minds.The business expansion grant and legal advantage goes to….Grey Constructions!”

The announcement threw me into an excitement dance. The sleepless nights finally paid off. Flooded with congratulations from both familiar and unfamiliar faces.

“Boss, your phone!” John passed me the ringing phone. A strange number?

“I hope you’re enjoying yourself, Adamson….your smile looks beautiful.”The wispy voice expressed, causing me to turn around to see who’s watching.

“Who is this?”

“A foe….California is my abode…I’m watching you…hope you enjoy tomorrow’s trend.”