Tedros Moore Rises To Power

Chapter 3:

Tedros never uttered a word, instead, he just fell to his knees, looking at the ground, “Please help me, Mother.”

He never thought he would be doing this with his Mother-in-law. It took all the courage in him to say this even if it meant losing the remains of his dignity and respect. But the moment the doctor told him the amount they would be needing, the only person his mind drifted off to for help was his Mother-in-law, and here he was. She had the money, she could help him.

“Do I have to correct you every single time that I am not your Mother. Correct yourself this instant! I can’t be a Mother to a useless man in his late twenties.” Her voice gave out a chilly vibe. The remaining guests watched the scene before them in awe.

Tedros stammered, “I’m sorry if I have ever offended you, Mrs. Smith, but I am willing to do anything to save my dying father.” He looked pitiful, strands of hair framing his face and his eyes screamed desperation.

All of a sudden, Hannah seemed interested, for the first time that night, her eyes gleamed, “Did I just hear you saying dying father?”

Tedros nodded repeatedly, “He has stage two cancer and I need money for chemotherapy. I promise to pay you back, I’ll do whatever you want, I don’t want my father to die.”

His grip around her ankle tightened, his head still facing the ground.

She laughed for what seemed like forever before finally scoffing, “You really are a shameless son-in-law, and earlier tonight, you proposed to my daughter, you can't even save your own father.” She yanked her leg away from his grip and stared at him glaring, her eyes almost bulging out, “If I see you close to my daughter, I’ll chop your legs off.”

Before Tedros could say anything, he noticed a man beside Hannah, long legs, well trimmed hair, well tailored suit, he was the perfect figure.

“Mother, I don’t want you stressing yourself, you’re stressed enough as it is.” His voice held authority, thick and in order. Tedros carefully raised his head up to see the man from earlier and bitterness washed through him.

Like a controlled machine, Hannah’s face lit up like the brightest morning star, the frown she had on disappeared and was replaced with a wide smile. Tedros was still on his knees, hands on the cold tiled floor while trying to avoid eye contact with the man in suit.

The man who had a tiny smile on stretched his hands out for a handshake, “I’m Collins, I guess you would have known my name through the city’s billboards, but in case you don’t, I work for the top 7th best company in this city and abroad, I might be able to help you.”

Tedros’ eyes glinted with a little amount of hope, to him, Collins' help could save his father if it had anything to do with money.

“Will you be willing to do anything for your father?” Collins stared at him deeply and he nodded like an expectant stray dog.

A wide smile dropped on his lips, “Good. All you have to do is give up on Haley so she could finally notice me and I’d get you a decent cleaner job, better than the one you’re currently at. Before the end of the year, you would have saved up enough to save your dying father, that is if you eat one meal everyday.”

Collins was a man of few words, but surprisingly, he seemed rooted in this matter.

Tedros’ eyes turned dark and he silently muttered, “He might not make it till then.” The thought alone scared him to death.

Hannah sneered while waving her hands up in the air, “It’s enough, Collins, obviously, he doesn’t want your help. I say we just sit and watch his father die.”

Tedros' heart sank, all hope within him dashed, until he heard her voice.

“Babe, get up.” That was the first time she spoke to him really cold, her eyes were void with emotions, she didn’t even spare her mother and Collins a glance.

Collins' eyes lit up a little and walked towards her, “I thought you were in your room, I was just about to offer him a decent job, but his ego wouldn’t let-” Haley interrupted him by raising her hands up in the air, “Stop it! Both of you!” She closed her eyes shut and opened it the next second then she breathed in and out deeply, her fists tightening into a ball, “I will not tolerate any act of ridiculing to Tedros again. This is just a stern warning.”

Hannah glared at her daughter, “How dare you interrupt our conversation because of him? Sometimes I wonder if you’re really my daughter.” Her statement was in every form of pain, but Haley stared at Tedros instead and repeated, “Get up right now.”

Tedros looked at Hannah, Collins and then to his girlfriend before reluctantly getting on his feet.

She walked towards him with no emotions, “Let’s go.” Without waiting for his permission, she grabbed him by the arm and walked out, leaving the two and other guests in shock.

They stopped in front of a little building a few blocks away from their eyes, her face looked tired from all the stress, “Are you in your right senses? Why would you just think my mother or Collins would just magically lend you money?”

He was quiet, void of words. He wasn’t in his right senses, what even made him think his mother-in-law would lend him the money?

“You should have told me this, not my mother or Collins. They’re not going to do anything, they’d rather mock you.” Her voice was stern but had a little softness in them, she continued, “How much do you need?”