The Billionaire’s Dare

AGONY

Gratina is still in shock, she just wants the ground to swallow her.

“Do they know about this?”

She slowly lays back.

“Yeah, Dad does but you know it will spread to mom soon”. Gratina holds her head in pain.

“I want to go home”.

****

They were both at Harold’s house, Kendra stands up to leave, but Gratina’s grasps hers hand with a desperate grip. Showing a pitiful stare.

"I need your help," Gratina begged, her voice cracking. "Please, Kendra... I'm desperate. “Kendra’s eyes widened, her expression softening as she gazed at her sister.

Gratina's grip on Kendra's hand tightened. "I need one of your credit cards... with some money in the account”

Kendra's face reflected her concern.

"Dad explicitly told us not to lend or borrow from each other since you're no longer part of the family... but I can't resist those tears." She sighed, her shoulders sagging.

"I'll have my driver drop off a card tomorrow since I will be catching my flight tonight”. Gratina's eyes overflowed with tears as she nodded, she stood up as she hugs her.

"Thank you, Kendra... thank you so much. And please... don't mention Harold to Dad. I'm worried sick about him."Kendra's voice was laced with empathy.

"I hope he comes back soon too, Gratina. Take care of yourself, and don't even think about aborting that baby. You're not alone in this." She takes some money from her bag and gives it to Gratina.

Kendra goes to the window as she stares at Gratina, she cleans the tears that were rolling already as she moved to her car.

She drives off.

Gratina dials Harold's number again, but it was still switched off. She stands up heading for the room, she had to attend her sewing classes which she started.

6 months later…

Gratina waddled hastily to her phone, her large belly leading the way. She had moved out of Harold's place, but only to a nearby location, courtesy of her sister's generous credit card. She held onto hope that Harold would return, and she was willing to forgive and forget for the sake of their love. As she reached for the phone, it was Kendra, Gratina's face lit up with a warm smile. But, in an instant, her expression changed into that of pain, as she crumpled to the ground, the phone slipping from her hand. The maid, who was busy in the kitchen, rushed to her side, concern written all over her face.

"Ma'am, what's wrong?" she asked, but Gratina couldn't respond, overcome with anguish. The maid tried to revive the phone, but it was dead, and Gratina's tears flowed uncontrollably.

After the incident the maid had offered her food, but Gratina had refused, her appetite gone. Now, she dialed Kendra's number again, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What's Dad's take on this?" she asked, her words laced with desperation.

Kendra's response was measured. "Mom left a letter for you, but he isn't ready to reconcile with you. I came back two days ago, and I plan to visit tonight with the letter."

The maid approached Gratina with a glass of water, which she had requested earlier. Gratina's voice was hollow, her words devoid of emotion.

"Ok, Kendra, thanks." She ended the call, her eyes welling up again.

She trudged to the fridge, her swollen belly leading the way. She retrieved a fruit, more for the baby's sake than hers. Her mind wandered to the letter her mom had left for her, wondering what could be inside it. The thought sent a shiver down her spine. As she moved to the living room, her gaze fell on her reflection in the mirror. Her belly looked like it was carrying six children, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of despair wash over her, she had watched her tummy grow every second with a prayer for her husband to come back.

Kendra's knock on the door was hesitant, her face etched with sadness. The maid let her in, and Kendra's gaze swept the room, her eyes lingering on the not so familiar surrounding. The maid disappeared upstairs, returning with Gratina, who looked like she needed more rest. As they sat down, Kendra's expression remained the same, but her eyes betrayed her concern. She handed Gratina a letter, her movements gentle. Gratina recognized the family crest on the envelope, her heart skipping a beat. She traced her finger over the paper, her mind racing with possibilities.

With trembling hands, she opened the letter, her eyes scanning the page. Tears fell like rain as she read her mother's words, the pain and longing visible on the paper. The letter was a mix of love, regret, and disappointment, each sentence piercing Gratina's heart like a dagger. She continued reading as her body was already shaking, her hands unable to hold the paper steady.

Kendra took the letter from her, reading it through tears of her own. With the last words stating,

“I’ve instructed your dad and sister because even in death this time I do not want to see you” she fell to the ground with the consciousness of her stomach ,tears clouded her eyes.

Kendra drops the paper, trying to help her sister up.

“She gave the instructions and dad has given the order, so I think you should lay low for now because dad is currently pissed and won’t want to see you, he has been down for awhile, he misses his wife”.

Gratina's heart felt like it had shattered into a million pieces. The weight of her mother's words, the pain and rejection, was too much to bear.

Funeral.

She stood at a distance, her face pale, as the mourners paid their respects by dropping flowers on her mother's grave with everyone dressed in black, her sister clinging to their father's hand as he struggled to contain his tears. The surroundings is so quiet, with only a few people and some guards present.

Gratina's attire was a stark black, her hair packed into a donut and covered, her face hidden behind shades. She waited for what felt like an eternity until the last person had departed, leaving her alone with her grief.

With a glance around, she moved to the grave, removed her shades and collapsed to the ground, overcome with pain and sadness. Her cries were raw, she hits her hand to the ground leaving bruises on her knuckles, she hits for a longer time.

“I'm sorry, Mom, I'm so sorry! ….I never meant for this to happen. I was so selfish,…. I never thought about you or Dad or Kendra!” She sniffles “ I only thought about myself and that man, Mom, you should be here, please come back and punish me, I deserve it, all of it, can’t bear this guilt, it's suffocating me”

Her eyes red and swollen from the intense crying. Just as she thought she was alone, she heard footsteps approaching and hastily wore her shades, scrambling to her feet, and fled the scene without looking back.

…

She stood before the family gate, her hand trembling as she attempted to deposit the letter into the mailbox. It was a ritual she had performed countless times in the past few months, pouring her heart out to her father in the hopes of reconciliation. Her sister had encouraged her to write, to beg for forgiveness, even though she wasn't present to do so in person.

So she had come everyday dropping letters, begging the security to let her in to just talk to her father.

He had seen her once which she had did too but he had drove in since he was driving himself, without looking back.

Gratina's once-luminous face now appeared distant, her eyes sunken from the weight of her sorrow. As she opened the mailbox, a sleek Bentley Mulsanne pulled up beside her, its sudden presence startling her. She stumbled, her foot catching on an unseen obstacle, and fell hard onto the pavement. Pain shot through her body. Before she could struggle to her feet, a strong hand grasped hers, pulling her up with gentle firmness. Her father's face, etched with concern, swam into focus as he guided her into the car. The gate closed behind them, enveloping her in the warmth of family once more.

****

Kendra sob pierced the air,

"We lost one, Graty... the doctors tried, but she didn't make it. Umbilical cord prolapse... that’s what they said and she suffocated immediately, I’m sorry, we would’ve done better." Gratina's gaze locked onto Kendra's, her voice barely above a whisper,

"She deserves and was meant for it”

Kendra's eyes widened in shock as Gratina's stare drifted into the distance, her expression a mask of resignation.

*…*

5 years later

Everyone runs to their offices on seeing Hunter her PA, she was coming.

The offices looked so luxurious and work like, showing the money spent on building this empire, the elevator door dings and there she was, Hunter hastened to her side, a look of deference on her face.

She exuded an aura of confidence and poise, her simple yet elegant attire belied by her commanding presence. Her shoulder-length hair framed her face, followed by her bold red lipstick and subtle makeup. Her eyes gleamed with a fierce intensity, her expression unyielding.

"Ma'am, we have a distinguished visitor from Zenithium Inc., a global powerhouse," Hunter briefed her, "He claims to be an old friend and has been waiting for two hours. Should I let him in?”

Gratina's response was silence, her gaze fixed ahead as she strode towards her office, her entourage trailing behind. Her office was a testament to her success, with an adjoining room that resembled a plush bedroom. As she settled into her chair, her composure was on a hundred percent, her eyes flashing with a hint of curiosity.

“Let him in, after 10 minutes Hunter”.

The knock on the door broke the silence from the call she was making, and Harold enters, his grown-up demeanor commanding attention. His aura now radiated power, far from the youthful innocence she once knew. With a formal smile, she extended her hand, for a hand shake, her eyes locked onto his, a hint of smugness playing on her lips.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Harold."