Billionaire Toxic Love

CHAPTER 9

“You once told me you loved her and intended to get married to her. In fact, this incident happened during your proposal to her. Am I right?” Asked The President, still not getting straight to the point.

Richard, who was already getting very impatient, was trying so hard to hide his aggressive side. It was the president he was talking to after all.

“Yes, absolutely right. So what are you getting at?”

“You'll have to make your marriage and love life public. This will give the notion of a loving billionaire having something that is intimate with the poor and helpless, thereby helping you curb the idea the public have of you in their head.” The President said, finally spilling the milk on the mat.

Who is ‘the poor and helpless' sir? Richard asked rhetorically, feeling sudden offense when The President addressed Claire to that.

“Well, I believe you are a successful man, and you didn't reach that stage by beating around the bush instead of chasing down facts that will bring solutions.”

That is true, I have become soft around Claire or anything that has to do with her recently” thought Richard. “I have to become more objective from now on”.

“I was drawn away by emotions, Mr. President” said Richard, his eyes widened as he spoke. “That is a very great idea. The only problem now is if Claire will like public life and attention.”

“Who doesn't want public attention? Well, she'll have to adapt to it if she isn't used to it and doesn't like the idea”, The President said. “Well, that is if you want to solve your predicaments, Richard”.

“How wouldn't you be the President of the United States with such a sense of yours” voiced Richard as he stood and gestured to give him a handshake with a very bright smile.

“If I may ask my friend, why did you have to ask all the members of the meeting to leave to tell me this?”

“This is to tell you that you can't fully trust anyone in life. You of all people are meant to know that” answered the president.

“So I should trust only Mr. President, the most cunning and wonderful man I know,” expressed Richard jokingly.

“If you don't trust your old man, it's at your loss, young man”, the President responded. At this point, they started laughing.

The president and Richard were very close friends right from the time Richard used his affluence to support the president attain his position. Since then, they have become very close, because they began to find out they had a lot in common. The president has had 4 divorces in 5 years, his rage and hot-temperedness and perfect attention to detail made it nearly impossible to live with. He was smart though and thereby maintained a nice persona to the world. He's kept his hostility hidden behind a friendly facade to the outside world.

“Allow me to treat you to your favorite Chinese restaurant for some Chinese dishes as my appreciation for your great idea”, said Richard.

“The pleasure is all mine!”

*****

“Where are you feeling pain the most” asked the nurse emphatically.

“Here” Claire replied in pain, placing her hands on her lower abdomen just below her external oblique.

“I understand your pain, take these pain relievers, it will help. You've just been on a 36-hour surgery nonstop, thank God no important nerve was damaged”, conveyed the nurse in a friendly tone.

“You're a strong woman” continued the nurse as Claire took the pills.

At the reception office two hours later,

“Where is the Reins ward? I'm looking for my brother. He needs comforting right now”, the pacing Joshua, who had been on the reception for over 10 minutes, started checking time continuously, tapping his foot profusely, and let out a heavy sigh as frustration was clearly evident in his eyes.

He hadn't seen his best friend for a month now. He had a business deal to go sort out in Africa, and had been off for a while. Only for him to return, and he's seeing and hearing news everywhere of his friend being a rageful monster.

“Richard can be very stern. I know that is one of his attributes that helped him attain a high level of wealth. How did it escalate to this level? That I'm surprised.” muttered Joshua to himself “I need to talk to him, to find out what's really going on”.

Now I am getting very impatient and can't bear it any longer. Joshua walked up to the receptionist and this time in a more assertive and firm voice he addressed the young lady behind the desk in the hospital.

“Where is the Reins ward? I'm looking for my brother. He needs comforting right now comfort.”

They were very close, so they formed the habit of referring to one another as brothers outside.

“Can you please hold on?”

“I can't hold on any longer, miss” interjected Joshua in a calm but very assertive tone. He locked his frustrated eyes with the receptionist as he spoke, his hands tapped his trousers in a rhythmic pattern radiating impatience.

His unwavering and clear display of patronizing superiority forced the receptionist to pause what she was currently doing and attend to him.

“Richard Reins is not currently in his booked ward, but his victim is there”

“Take me there, I'll wait for him” Joshua replied instantly, not bulging or thinking of what he said. He wanted to be attended to and that was what he was going to get.

Okay sir, second floor, turn to the left, first room before the hallway”, the receptionist told Joshua finally with a smile and immediately continued what she was doing before.

“Thank you” Joshua replied again.

“Cough cough cough”

“Here, take this. Is your chest giving you issues? Where are you feeling the most pain? Anything I can do to help? Joshua examined Claire on the hospital bed with empathy while offering her a glass of water.

“No, thank you” said Claire as she pushed the bottle of water away in denial.

“I know what it feels like to be in this situation. On the verge of your dreams coming through, the unexpected happens.”

“You want to know what I do when I'm caught up in this mess” advised Joshua when Claire refused to drink the glass of water.

He continued speaking when Claire turned to his side and gave him her full attention, though she didn't reply to his question.

“I sing.”

“Would you like me to sing for you?” he asked with a tense posture, furrowed brows and a sad expression on his face. He then leaned in closer to offer her comfort and held her hands gently.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” she said bluntly. “Isn’t this the first time you're seeing me? Why do you think I deserve your kindness and empathy”? Tears began flowing down her eyes as she said this. Her facial muscles tense up and her lips begin to quiver. She then proceeded to cover her face with her hands in emotional distress.

“It's okay to let it out, cry it out, I'm here for you” Joshua said as he continued with a gentle touch on her back.

His comforting presence was all Claire needed at that moment.

“Why can't he be by my side in times like this?”

“He claims he loves me but hasn't come visit me for 4 days since I was admitted here”

“I'm lonely and the pain I get from thinking about all the things in my head alone is greater than my physical pain” Claire burst out, saying all these words loudly, without any care in the world. She held her heart as she said this.

Mere look at her that moment, you would think she's mourning a loved one who just passed away.

“I guess I was daydreaming to think what I and Richard had was really love” she concluded as she began cleaning her eyes with Joshua's pocket handkerchief given to her earlier.

Joshua kept silent all the while, allowing her to pour out all her feelings she'd been keeping all inside.

“I'm here for you” was all Joshua said after Claire aired out all her hurt.

His words and presence mean so much to me. I finally feel seen and understood” crossed Claire's mind as she was now in Joshua's embrace. This was exactly what she couldn't feel with Richard.

“With Richard, it's always about Richard and his feelings; but with Joshua, she found someone who understands and supports her feelings.”

With all those thoughts and soothing emotions in her head, she did the unexpected!.

She turned to Joshua, looked at him with a welcoming, piercing, intense gaze; love and appreciation evident in her eyes,

She….