The Billionaire's Offer

Chapter 2: Show of Anger

Andrew's POV

“Dada,” cried out my beautiful energetic daughter from her pink crib. I carried her in my arms warmly. She was my most cherished gift in the world. She looked just like her mother, Lora.

Rubbing my face against Kim's made her giggle and laugh in sheer happiness. Caring for her was my major duty, a duty I wouldn’t trade for anything. Neither my job as a CEO nor any woman could come between that.

It was the least I owed to Lora. I lifted my head off my daughter’s face and rested her head on my chest as I gently rocked her, patting her softly on her back. It was a few minutes to nine A.M. Still, Ella was not yet here.

If she comes late today, I will have no choice but to sack her. Just as my thoughts went to Ella, the front door swung open. Finally, there she was. She hurried in like a mouse that was running away from its predator.

“Good morning sir,” she said. I could tell she ran a bit with the way she was panting.

“Mr. Andrew,” I corrected. “I was wondering if you forgot you had a job here,” I continued, ignoring her greeting.

She winced for a moment with furrowed eyebrows. “Not at all, si–Mr. Andrew. I had to drop my younger sister off.”

“You didn’t tell me you were also babysitting your sibling.”

“It's not like that…I just had to because there was no one else,” she muttered frantically.

“That has been your anthem since yesterday. Anyway, I have cleaned and fed Kim already. You should take over from here. Any questions?”

“No.”

“Good,” I said. I didn’t see the need to address my mum’s attitude yesterday. I’m sure she, my mum, would be more understanding as time goes by. I tilted my head to meet my daughter’s face and found her sleeping.

She was an angel, with nothing to worry about. Unlike me, who bore a heavy burden in my heart. I wished I could return to the old me when I was free, happy, and in love with the woman of my dreams. But not anymore. It was all in the past. All I had left was Kim.

I gently lifted Kim over to Ella, who stood close to me now. She had a lovely scent. I couldn’t place her scent but it was gentle and pleasing to breathe. Anyway, that wasn’t important to me.

I picked up my iPad from the chair just beside me. Double-tapping the screen, it brightened up. Darn it! The time was eight fifty-five AM. Five minutes more and I would be late. Plus, I had a meeting with some of the stakeholders in my company.

“Take good care of Kim, okay?” I scoffed, bending over to kiss my daughter’s forehead before leaving.

“I will,” Ella said, almost in a whisper. Her head was buried down, facing Kim.

“Good. Let me know if anything comes up.” I looked around, making sure I was not forgetting anything. I grabbed my suit jacket and placed it on my left arm. Walking briskly to the door, Ella’s voice made me turn back.

“I should have told you yesterday but I did not have the—”

“Save my time, young lady!” I yelled out.

“Your girlfriend came around yesterday. She came to see you.”

“Excuse me?”

“I mean the flashy lady that usually—”

“You mean Linda?” I didn’t let her finish her statement. She was already fidgeting with her fingers and her eyes blinked faster than normal. It seemed her vision got blurry. I could tell she was nervous. She managed to nod. “She is not my girlfriend, understood?” I continued, my voice louder than usual.

“Yes, Mr Andrew.”

Her voice was still unclear. I didn’t mean to yell at her but how dare she call Linda my girlfriend? Not in this world nor another world. It would be an insult to Lora. My Lora. Getting a better hold of my emotions, I cleared my throat. “What did she say?”

“Nothing really about you. It was more to me.”

“Did she cause any trouble?”

“No.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes.”

Something within me knew this wasn’t true. I knew how saucy Linda can be but since Ella said no, I cut the feeling off and didn’t pester her.

“I’ll sort her out. Carry on with your work at home,” I ordered, rushing out the door. Linda was the least of my problems at the moment. My mom was the cause of all this, giving her (Linda) the nerve to walk into my house and live like it was her right. In any case, I am capable enough to deal with this mess.

Mike, my driver, waited outside for me. Upon sighting me, he jumped over to the passenger seat and opened the door of my jeep.

“Good morning, Mr Andrew,” he said with a different unusual tone of voice. To be sincere, he sounded like a chicken but I said nothing about it. So as long as he could drive me off to work, nothing else mattered. I only waved at him. I was running late and had not even a second to waste.

Taking a cue from my body language, Mike shut the door as I plunged inside. Fifteen minutes later, we arrived at my office. Today was going to be a long day. I could tell from the way Christain rushed at me.

“Good morning, Mr Andrew. I dialed your line thrice but you didn’t pick up,” my assistant, Christain, echoed with a tinge of worry. Something didn’t feel right, I could sense it.

“Spare me the details till I settle in, alright?” I shot at him, my voice firm and steady. Even if there was a problem, it was better I composed myself orderly and out of view from the other employees in the company and other prying ears.

Christian followed me without saying another word. Once we got to my office, I plopped down on my executive chair. I gestured to Christian to speak.

“The stakeholders are in an uproar. They are beginning to suggest you step down—”

“Step down? Step down from what?” I asked my eyes intently on Christian. I leaned closer to my glossy mahogany table, with my hands firmly locked in across the table.

“Yes, sir. They are beginning to think that the company’s declining financial performance is majorly because of your…your instability caused by the tragic incident—” he trailed off, blinking unsteadily as he said his last eight words.

My ears stood as he spat out those irritating words. My body burned with rage as my fist got tighter.

“Do I look unstable to you?” I asked with a voice sharp enough to cut through any fabric.

He muffled unclear words as his breath grew deeper. “No-not to me, sir. I-its them,” he stuttered, still trying to compose himself.

I flew out of my seat in anger towards my office window, my footsteps propelled by a strong force building up within me. My eyes caught the small artificial flower vase, sitting on one of my office's exotic long stools.

Without thinking, I grabbed the vase and threw it forcefully. It landed against the wall, shattering into pieces. I shifted my gaze to Christian, who looked dumbfounded and scared altogether. His stiff grip on the document folder in his hands gave his expression and feeling away.

‘What is it?” I shot at him with a disapproving look on my face.

He unsteadily shook his head, like a ritual to bring himself to reality. “No-nothing. I’ll go call Helene to clean this up,” he stuttered with his focus still on the unsalvageable flower vase. Without waiting for a response, he walked away from my office as fast as his legs could. My eyes followed him till he shot the door.

What on Earth was wrong with everyone? First, it was my mum, then the rest of my family members. As if that wasn’t enough, now my stakeholders seem to be ‘infected’ with the baseless theory. Who could be next? The board of directors, the public, Richie? My mind paused as it strayed to Richie, my close friend.

I slipped my hands in my trousers to fetch it. Unlocking it, I called Richie immediately. I had an important meeting that demanded my presence but my state of mind is in a mess currently. I needed to clear my head, away from here and everyone.., well except Richie. I dialed his number and uttered five words only before ending the call. Richie would understand the code and meet me there.