Secret and Scandals

CHAPTER 3

THE PROPOSAL.

Chloe narrowed her gaze. “Mom, what's happening? You're supposed to be at the hospital receiving treatment. What are you doing here?" Chloe questioned. She was gradually losing it. Josh wasn't ready to disclose either. The situation was way beyond him. He remained mute, planning how to select his words carefully so as not to get Chloe more upset.

"What treatment are you talking about?" Josh asked.

"None of your damn business. Why was she arrested?" Chloe shunned Josh.

"I understand if you don't wanna spill. I'll do the talking. I don't think your mom would be inclined to admit to what she did,” leaning forward, Josh held Chloe's hands, looking straight into her eyes. "Gosh! How do I explain this to you? I don't want you to feel sad,” Josh halted and faced the ground. Chloe is his favorite colleague at De Royale Gold Mine. Disclosing the unfortunate incident might shatter her heart, and he wouldn't want that to happen.

"What are you talking about? Just say something. I'm going nuts already. Your suspense is slowly killing me.” Chloe begged with a fading voice. Her face was gradually turning red as her ears widened to be certain she didn't miss any details Josh was gonna spill. Just when Josh was about to tell it all, Zoe saved him the stress and finally confessed. “I stole a check worth $1 million from his pocket.”

"I would pretend I didn't hear that. This is nothing but a mad joke. Tell me you didn't do it, Mom,” Chloe was stunned and doubted her mother's confession.

"Oh, yes, I did. And I am not ashamed of what I did. That was the only option I had left. The Doctor said I had barely 4 weeks to stay alive. I had to do something to save my life. I don't wanna die." Zoe defended her actions and didn't feel remorse.

"I told you I was working towards fetching the money for your treatment. It hasn't been easy for me. You risk going to jail, you know that, right?" Chloe scolded and doubted if her mother was cajoled to make such a ridiculous confession.

"You were working towards fetching the money? We both know it'll take a whole year before you save $300k for the treatment. Remind me how you earn again. Let's not deceive ourselves. I had to do something. I eavesdropped on Josh's conversation before he stepped inside the bank. That was when I discovered he had a $1 million check in his pocket. I intentionally bumped into him to perfect my plans. I'm not scared of going to jail. What's the point? I'm gonna die anyway,” Zoe further disclosed with full confidence. She wasn't tearful or sad about what happened. Chloe didn't know what to say anymore. All along her mother was harboring this dreadful thought and she wasn't aware of it. Now she's trapped in a dilemma that seems almost impossible to get out of.

"What are we gonna do now? You just heard my Mom. You're dropping all charges against her, right?” Chloe turned to Josh to find solace, but he looked away and remained speechless.

"I know that look. I thought you were on my side. You're the only hope we've got now. Please do something. Do you want her to die?” she went on both knees and gripped Josh's trousers.

"Please, stop. Get up! People are watching. You're embarrassing me,” Josh attempted to make her get up, but she declined and remained on the ground pleading for him to drop all charges against her mother.

"I can't! It's way beyond me now. Lucas already knows about it. I didn't wanna tell him. Even when he kept calling my phone, I ignored him. So he called the bank manager instead and he revealed everything. So you see, there's nothing I can do.” Josh broke her heart and completely shattered her hopes of ever seeing her mom come out of jail alive. Chloe is aware of how difficult it is dealing with Lucas as her boss, let alone a criminal case like this.

"I've always known you as a clown. Just this one request I ask of you, yet you chose to destroy my life. I thought we were best of friends. What happened to 'I will always be there for you?'. If there's anyone Lucas listens to in that organization, it should be you.”

"I wish I could. He's not even aware you're connected to this. You should go talk to him yourself. I'm sorry, I don't wanna get involved. I'm out of here. I got a check to cash at the bank. See you at the office. Good luck,” Josh walked away without looking back and abandoned Chloe alone to face her fears.

"Happy now? You've successfully dragged me into your mess. We are now faced with two problems. Stopping you from going to jail and saving you from sudden death. Phew! I just hope you come out of this alive,” Chloe frowned her gaze at her mother.

"I'm so sorry for getting you involved in my s**t. I had no idea your boss was involved. I was scared of dying.

How do I fix it? I really wanna make amends.” Zoe felt sorry and finally acknowledged her wrongdoings.

"Hahaha! Fix it?” Laughing mischievously, Chloe dried her tears.

"I'm going back to the company to speak with him. Just pray he listens to me." Chloe said and walked away.

**********

She arrived at the company shivering. Despite working for Lucas for over 9 years, she was yet to get along with him. These two don't seem to like each other. Chloe considered him too proud and ruthless. She motioned to his office and did a cross sign before landing a soft knock on the door.

“Come in,” Lucas spoke from inside. Getting inside, Chloe found some strange men suspected to be Lucas's business partners.

"Oh, sorry. I had no idea you had visitors. I will be back when your associates are gone,” Chloe made a U-turn to go back.

"No, it's fine. We are done discussing. They were about to exit the office before you came knocking. Come sit down,” Lucas stopped her from leaving as Chloe took part in the meeting that was already over. A few minutes after her arrival, the business associates started exiting the office.

"Okay, over to you. I didn't recall asking you to come over. What brought you to my office this morning?” he focused his attention on Chloe shortly after his associates departed.

“Sir, erm. How do I say this?” She stuttered.

“I've got a busy day ahead of me. If you don't know what to say, I would advise you to leave my office immediately,” he was beginning to lose his patience. At full speed, she dropped both knees to the ground.

“I'm sure you heard about a certain woman who stole your check earlier this morning, right? That was my mom. Trust me, she's a good woman and not a thief. She's got cancer. She needed the money to get proper medical care. The Doctor said she's gonna die in 4 weeks if no treatment is administered. You're a good man and I know you can drop all charges against her. The bank is back to confiscate our house,” Chloe narrated and fondled her shirt like a kid.

"I've waited for a day like this. Now you need my assistance, you suddenly remember I'm a good man. This is wonderful. I've got nothing against your mother. I got my check back and that's what matters. But there's no way I'm letting your mom go Scott free. She requires a bit of torture to reset her head. So my answer is NO! I'm not dropping the charges.” Lucas addressed and killed her hopes of completing the damages.

"Sir, please. You are my last hope now. I apologize for what she did. I can't afford to lose her now. I'm too young to become an orphan." Chloe wept inconsolably, still pleading for Lucas to reconsider her request. He sighed for a moment, looked at Chloe, and told her to get up. “Be seated. I wanna offer you a better option better than what you asking me now,”

"And what's it about?” Bewildered, Chloe asked and raised her brows.

“If I heard you correctly, you mentioned your mom stole the check because she needed money to treat Cancer?”

"Yeah, and how has that got to do with this?”

“How about I drop all the charges and give you a loan of $500k?”

“Are you joking? Please tell me this is a joke,” Chloe jumped for Joy.

"Don't get too excited. It comes with a price. Are you ready for what's coming your way?”

“And what's that?”

“Recall the meeting I had with my business associates before you showed up. We were discussing a multi-billion dollar deal before you walked in. They clearly stated that the deal would be sealed if my son, Danny, the Managing Director of De Royale Gold Mine, got married. Their family has got this rule over some heritage.” he explained, but still, Chloe was confused. She just sat in front of him, looking like a dummy.

"I still don't get it. Why are you telling me this? Danny should go get a wife. I'm not a matchmaker.”

"I know right? That's where you come in. I want you to marry my son, Danny.” he buttressed, but Chloe wasn't even interested and outrightly declined his request.

"Even when your mother's life is at stake? I'm sure you don't wanna become an orphan when she dies in detention. You should be happy I'm willing to assist you.”

“Never! I'm never gonna marry your son for a billion dollars. Good luck finding your son a wife,” Chloe slammed the door and exited his office.

Hey, watch your steps. Have you suddenly gone blind?” Danny yelled at Chloe for hitting him accidentally after she dashed out of the office angrily. Chloe paused, gazed, hissed angrily, and motioned for her duty post before Danny could react.