CHAPTER 2
1135 Words
Mike stood rooted on the spot, astonished by what he had just seen for he couldn’t believe his eyes and with the thought that perhaps he was hallucinating, he walked over to where she stood and planted a small smile on his face to mask his confusion, then when he was close enough, he called her name softly and placed his hand gently on her back.
“Sweetheart, I have been trying to reach you all day, but you haven’t been reachable—”
“Ahemmm…” she coughed and gently pulled away, which he noticed, but chose to ignore.
“Mike” she squeaked and looked around nervously as if waiting for a bomb to explode, “H—happy birthday.”
He ignored her again and asked with a straight face, “I have been trying to reach you all day—”
He was interrupted by the sound of glass clinking and everyone paused in what they were doing and turned to the direction of the noise which came from the podium where Mr Stewart stood holding a glass of champagne and a steak knife.
“Hello everyone” he announced with a loud voice, “your attention please…”
And when every one had gathered and everywhere silent, he continued delightedly;
“As you all know, we are gathered here today to celebrate our years of greatness and prosperity, let us all shout Bio-tech!”
“Bio-tech!” The congregation all shouted happily in unison and Mr Stewart nodded his balding head in satisfaction and continued briskly;
“As we all also know, we had just acquired a huge contract from an international client, so huge that it will propel the company into greater heights and it’s all thanks to my very good son, Micheal and his group, for rubbing minds together….a round of applause for the gentleman please.”
The hall vibrated as the sound of clapping and jeering filled the air and it went on for a while until Mr Stewart raised his glasses one more time and announced loudly in the middle of the jeering;
“Let’s not also forget it’s his birthday people…” and he turned to face Mike, who was standing beside Lily and said happily, “happy birthday son.”
“Happy birthday!” The crowd shouted once again in unison with their glasses raised high, and mike still looking perplexed for he had not been able to get the feeling of unease from his mind, smiled weakly and braced himself inwardly of what’s to come….for what he has been waiting for all night..
“Ladies and gentlemen…” Mr Stewart clinked his glasses once more and cleared his throat loudly, then when the hall became quiet once more, he announced with a sly smile on his lips, “the time has come for the highlight of the night…the moment we have all been waiting for…”
Mike clenched his hands together in his suit pockets and looked up with bated breath as his body stiffen, waiting for the news to drop…the moment he had been waiting for, since he could read and write…
Now it’s finally happening…
“I’m pleased to announce that a young and talented worker here, an industrious businessman that has excelled in all his endeavors…not only has he acquired so many contracts for this company, he has also found favour in my eyes….” He paused for a minute and glanced at Mike with a small smile playing on his lips, then he raised his gaze to look back at the sea of eyes looking back at him and continued briskly;
“….and it’s no other, than my brilliant future son in-law, Simeon Brandon.”
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Simeon? My friend Simeon? Wait…what? Partner? Future son - law?
Mike stood frozen in shock as waves of confusion crashed into him repeatedly, making him unable to move or speak, and he stared on as his best friend Simeon climbed up the podium with his chest puffed out with pride and anywhere he turned, every direction…his heart shatters and moulds back, then shatters once more, and he only could mutter with the last shred of strength he could muster, for he was too weak to move..
“I don’t get it…what’s happening here?”
At once the hall became quiet as everyone froze in their tracks and turned their heads to look at Mike as if seeing him for the first time, and Mr Stewart obviously unperturbed by his interruptions, announced cheerily as if being asked to repeat himself,
“I just declared Simeon as partner, Mike…in case you didn’t get it the first time.”
Mike raised him right leg gingerly, then his left and found out he could walk again, then he approached Mr Stewart and Simeon who has a smug look on his face and said angrily;
“This has to be a mistake Mr Stewart. I am to be made partner!”
“Oh child…” He laughed heartily and waved at him mockingly. “What do you know about being made partner? Is it because of the little contracts here and there that is making you feel pompous? You are just a child!”
Mike was livid, then a thought flashed suddenly in his mind and he burst out laughing and said in a loud voice;
“Ok….ok…ok… I get it now, it’s a prank, pheww you got me there earlier.”
“Prank?” Mr stewart asked feigning surprise, “it’s no prank child…it’s all real.”
“First of all, I’m no child” Mike hissed angrily, “…second of all, WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?”
Simone laughed mockingly and walked over to meet him with a sly smile on his face and said deceptively;
“You can’t handle it little boy? You can’t handle that I’m better than you?”
“You—”
“Me what? Eh boy?” Simeon jabbed Mike shoulders daringly, making him to take a sway slightly as he stood his ground firmly, “you are nothing but a pathetic loser, hiding under the umbrella of daddy’s will.”
“How dare you?” Mike asked as he balled his hands to a fist, getting ready to leave it on his face, but was taken aback when he saw his supposed girlfriend of ten years, approached them slowly and roped her hands in his, with a big engagement ring visible for all to see.
And she turned to look at him with disdain clearly etched on her beautiful face, the look he had never seen before…then she said audaciously;
“Get a grip mike…you have been wished a happy birthday and had been congratulated earlier for acquiring the Lockwood contract…what else does your greedy self want?”
- Writer
