Chapter 3
1530 Words
Margaret stood in front of her husband demanding an answer to the question she asked him. “You know how much, you have hurt this people. Didn’t you think about the outcome of your decision…. What if this people destroy my daughter because of you”
She had been questioning him since the night before, but he didn’t give her a reply. “Jonathan, I know you don’t like Nina because she is a girl but you can’t use my daughter as a pawn in this dirty game”
She said and walked away. Even before he got involved in the business issue, she had told him not to it, but he still won’t listen. All he cares about is his company and money.
She went to her room and tried calling her daughter but she wasn’t picking her call, she wondered what her daughter must be going through.
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Nina stood motionless at the entrance with a racing heart. The room spun around her as she took in what was before her. His new husband Alex was in bed, casually with Fiona whose arm lay around his waist, as though it were the most normal thing on Earth.
Alex looked at Nina and said nothing, his eyes unreadable—not guilty but not as surprised as he should have been either. But Fiona on the other hand made no effort to conceal her satisfaction. She looked at Nina with a sly grin then leaned back into Alex, the sly grin still on her face as Nina fumbled over what to say next.
Nina wished the ground could open and swallow her but no… Nothing of the sort happened, her fingers were shaking against the doorframe as words formed on her lips, but they got stuck and she wasn’t even able to say anything.
She wished she had not agreed to marry him, in the first place. She was not someone who liked men or men lingered around and it was not because she was not beautiful but because her dad had not given her freedom. She had always thought her father’s decision was best for her but now her father’s decision had ruined her life, she felt a slight spin on her head as she looked at the tangled two who didn’t even feel the need to give her an explanation.
Just then Alex broke the silence, his voice which pierced Nina’s heart. “What do you want, Nina?”
‘What does she want? Is that what a man should be asking his wife who just met him with another woman. And that too on their wedding night. She looked between him and Fiona, wondering when things had gone so far off the rails.
Fiona chuckled softly. ‘‘It’s too early for you to come around, don’t you think Nina? Or did you miss your way to the guest room”
Nina’s eyes widened as she looked at Fiona who only stared back with mockery. “Honestly,” she squeaked out, barely over a whisper, “I…” She didn’t know what to say, her self esteem had been ruined by her father. She wished she could move closer to Fiona and slap her but her leg won’t move.
Alex sighed and pulled his arm from around Fiona’s waist, sitting up to lean back on wall. Nothing to talk about,” he stated. “Go back to your room.”
His dismissal in her only caused Nina`s chest to tighten as she remained where she was. “Alex… I am your wife,” she reminded them.
“Whatever,” Fiona rolled her eyes. “Wife or not, you’re wasting our time,” she frowned at her. “Then why don't you run along and do what I say, little girl..?”
Nina tried not to cry, but the tears came down anyway. Her insides were screaming, and she longed to demand from him an explanation but she saw the lack of any caring in his eyes. He didn’t care. He was probably also doing this for his father, she thought.
“Then I will go,” said Nina with quivering voice as though she was stung by an ant.
Then she walked out of the room, closing it behind her firmly. There was a swirl of emotions as she made her way down the hall, pain and anger but most profoundly her head aching…she needed her mum, she thought.
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The lounge of the city's most luxurious hotel was flurry with activity as the press hung on every angle, awaiting Richard Moreno and Jonathan Black. There had been a bit of anticipation from the media about a special announcement scheduled for the early evening, and so the air was thick with press, media and fans.
Richard and Jonathan came into the room, grinning in an artificial manner. They gripped each other’s hands warmly and shook them firmly, their expressions warm but insincere — the practiced politeness of a pair who hated one another beneath it all.
Richard forced a smile. “It’s been too long.”
The two men took their steps into the middle of the lounge where all reporters and photographers had set up with cameras in position. Jonathan draped an arm over Richard's shoulders and ushered him towards the stage as though they were long lost friends. The photographers took images of the two men portraying their desired image of unity.
“Today,” Jonathan started speaking in a tone twice harder than normal, “we gather together, to celebrate the next chapter of our families. We have managed to put our differences behind us for the greater good, and myself and Richard are working together now as a one big company”
“Indeed,” Richard started. “ It begins here with the union of our children; a new era of cooperation and respect between us, we are looking forward to what lies ahead.”
The cameras turned away as the two men maintained their charade, forcing smiles and shaking hands as though they had not spent years on end trying to destroy each other's businesses.
“Could you explain how the two families will benefit from this partnership? One reporter asked.
Jonathon coughed, never losing his smile. “This initiative will leverage the best of both companies and lead to unparalleled growth and innovation”
Richard added, “We are on a mission to see this partnership through and we believe that together, our work will set records. All the frauds committed in the past will finally be brought to light and evil doers will be exposed”
Having done answered enough question, Richard and Jonathan nodded curtly at each other — followed by instant yet forced smiles before they both slightly walked away with guards protecting them from the press. Even though they were smiling, the unspoken bitterness lingered between them.
***************
The large tv screen showed the news of the Moreno and Blackwood interview. “They joined forces boss, they did. Now our game will be over. Our plan to ruin both companies has been ruin boss and that is because they have united and not just that. They even got their children married just to defeat you…. You have been defeated, boss” A young guy said, who seemed to be a PA to his boss.
The loud bang on the table sent the guy down his knees. “They can never defeat me, you just wait and watch what I do to destroy their lives” The thick voice echoed the room.
“I will get my full revenge” He added.
***************
Jonathan scurried into an armchair and yawned frowningly. He groaned, rubbing his forehead. “That was a joke. They're making us pretend we are friends”
Richard was red-faced with anger, he paced around the lobby. “It's the only way we can even keep up appearances, Jonathan. You are aware of our situation and that unknown imposter must be defeated right now”
“Go to hell,” Jonathan snorted, leaning back. “I mean I would have rather talked to you candidly but instead we pretended we were old friends”
Richard paused his pacing and stared at him. “It’s not just about us. Our families are really, really in trouble. The idea of this alliance is that two of the biggest in the business have joined forces to ensure mutual survival, even if it means putting up with some each other's s**t. Listen, this will make us more bigger and also that unknown imposter won’t be able to ruin our company now”
Jonathan’s eyes narrowed. “I guess you are right. Our company was about to go in the mud and that idea of yours has solved the problem. But don’t forget we are still enemies”
Richard's phone rang before he could reply. His eyes widened as he scanned the screen.
Jonathan stared at him worriedly. “What happened Richard”.
“It is the im..imposter. He wants to meet us”
“Meet us” Jonathan said as Richard hushed them to leave for the location immediately.
- Writer
