CHAPTER 5
1239 Words
Over the next couple of days, Mike stayed in his condo, unmoving, with no interest whatsoever in the outside world,. His television blared with news after news with his name plastered repeatedly on the screen…news of his embarrassment and demotion.
But today, it was different…
The television flickered and the voice of a newscaster was heard around the condo, “The newly appointed partner of Bio- tech group of companies, Simeon Brandon…”
Mike bolted up from the bed, he had be lying on for two days and rushed towards the television in order to get a better view, for this was the first time the news was announcing a segment that doesn’t involve him.
“…..earlier today, the newly appointed partner of the Bio-tech group of companies, announced his engagement to the co CEO daughter, Lillian Stewart…with a wedding date in mind…”
He turned off the television is disgust as Simeon and Lillian’s smiling face popped up the screen and wished them all the bad scenarios he could think off, then he moved to the refrigerator to get a drink and get what he could eat for lunch, but was terribly shocked to find his refrigerator quite empty.
“Damn!” He cursed under his breath as he slammed the door shut, for he knew what he had to do and he doesn’t like the sound of that because he doesn’t want to be seen by anyone or in public….not right now.
But now, he doesn’t have a choice. So, he decided to take a quick stroll to the mall, to pick up some supplies that will sustain him for the next one week, then he won’t have to come out again, till the heat subsides.
Fully clad in black hoodie and jeans, Mike entered the city mall and packed up a trolley of what he needed and approached the counter to pay.
The chubby looking lady at the counter gave him a long stare as she punches his items on the system, and when she was done, she announced with an edge in her voice;
“It will be fifteen hundred, card or transfer?”
“Here is my card” he grunted and handed her his black card, which she swiped on her monitor and say irritably;
“Payment declined.”
“What?!” Mike blurted in surprise and said calmly, “please run it again.”
She did and the monitor screen still blared declined. He took his card and left the mall, embarrassed by what had just happened for half of the mall was watching and he couldn’t understand what had happened, why his masters card had been declined, and he could only think of one place…
Minutes later. Mike pressed the telecoms of the Bio tech estates and a stern male voice answered raspily;
“Who is there?”
“It’s Micheal Robinson” Mike answered curtly. “…. I need to speak to Mr Stewart.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“No I don’t, but it’s urgent.” Mike replied impatiently, for he wanted answers urgently.
“Hold.” The voice snapped and the machine stopped buzzing, then all of a sudden, the gates whirred open to reveal Mr Stewart with his head, shining bald as usual, walking angrily out of the premises towards where Mike stood, closely followed by two beefy looking uniformed men.
“What do we owe this unwanted visit, boy?” He snarled as he got closer to be heard. “Weren’t you warned earlier about appearing before us?”
“My card..” Mike snapped angrily, “what happen to my finances? Why was I declined from purchasing groceries with my master card?”
“Why don’t you ask your bank manger?” Mr Stewart spat back at him and then watched with a smug look on his face as Mike tried multiple times, to contact his account manager, but was redirected to voice mail every time.
“This will have something to do with you!” Mike barked angrily with his right hand pointing directly at the old man’s traitorous face, but was shocked to see Mr Stewart still wearing that sly grin on his face, looking unbothered.
“Yeah maybe you are right…” he drawled, “I mean…what did you expect? Is this a charity organization?”
“You—” Mike was livid, but Mr Stewart brushed it of with a wave and continued coldly;
“You are no longer an employee of this company, why then should you be spending its money?”
“You basta—” Mike growled, but was waved off again by Mr Stewart, who chirped on like he had been practicing it all his life…
He might as well as..
“Tsk…tsk….now manners boy, haven’t I raised you right?”
“You snake” Mike cursed as he shook with anger, “you stole my contract from me, my position as partner, my job, now you want to cease my funding? What did I ever did to you for you to be this wicked and heartless toward me?”
“Oh you?” Mr Stewart laughed mockingly, “don’t you worry, it wasn’t you, but your deadbeat father.”
“My father?” Mike asked as his eyes widened with shock, for he had always believed Mr Stewart and his father were best of friends, that was why he was left under his care, after his parents death.
But he was wrong, for he had been living with the enemy for so long.
Mr Stewart, obviously unconcerned of Mike’s turmoil, continued arrogantly;
“Your “I am the best” good for nothing father thought he will always be around to flaunt his smartness and ideas around the company….well, before I could eliminate him, nature handled it perfectly for me” he snickered, then as if suddenly hit by a lightning, he turned to the guards standing silently behind him and instructed sternly;
“I want you to give this buffoon a beating of his life, then maybe he will think twice before appearing before me next time.”
“Mr Stewart, you will regret this!” Mike cursed as the guards lifted him weightlessly from the ground and flung him off like a rag doll at the other side of the road.
“I will make you all pay for this…all of you!” And that was the only thing Mike remembered before a blow landed at the back of his head, knocking him out in the process.
Minutes later he opened his eyes weakly as rain drops trickled down his face, eyes…mouth. He looked around for Mr Stewart and his goons but they were no where to be found, just him at the far side of the road, lying sideways in a painful position, as his head dangled to the side, he tried to move his legs but he couldn’t, no matter how he tried, for they seem to be broken…
So he gave up, hoping…praying that someone may be kind enough to help him, but with every passing minute, it seemed like the universe had abandoned him, for he was been ignored and left alone to die like an homeless, on a busy street.
And for the first time in his life…he desperately made a wish….and it was not a good one.
“I wish to end it all.”
- Writer
