Life After Divorce: The Rise Of Elijah Crawford

Chapter 3

"Help! Security! Help! He's killing me." Tiana's scream cut through the air, drowning out any semblance of peace. She held Elijah by the waist of his trousers and refused to let go.  

A growing crowd watched the turmoil unfold, a sea of curious onlookers drawn by the escalating event.

Elija grit his teeth, raising his eyebrow,looking at his ex mother-in-law’s clumsy performance. Though he had the strength to remove her hand from his trousers easily.

The hotel security sprang into action at the sound of Tiana's piercing scream, moving towards the unfolding scene.

"What's happening here, Mrs. Anderson?" The head of security, familiar with Tiana, swiftly positioned himself at her side.

All eyes in the vicinity fixated on the resolute security guards flanking Tiana.

"Why did it take you so long, Rack? This man has been abusing me both verbally and physically because my daughter divorced him. I insist he is detained for his actions," Tiana proclaimed, displaying her bruised arm before the guards.   

"What the hell! How dare you lay a hand on Mrs. Anderson? Have you lost your mind entirely?" Rack said, adding his voice and signaling the guards to apprehend Elijah immediately.

"He must kneel and offer me a sincere apology for his treatment of me, or he'll find himself behind bars," Tiana asserted.

The guards swiftly encircled Elijah, recognising the opportunity to curry favour with the Andersons, a chance they wouldn't let slip by.

"Go on, as she said, apologize," Rack instructed.

"Don't overstep, Mrs. T," Elijah retorted, his tone icy, devoid of any hint of fear.

Elijah's steely composure took Tiana aback. He had always seemed obedient to her, but today, she witnessed his different side.

"What are you waiting for? Seize him!" Tiana ordered, determined to teach him a lesson about crossing her.

Just as the guards prepared to carry out the directive, a voice intervened.

"Do not lay a finger on that man." 

A man dressed in black suits stood at the automated sliding glass door's threshold, momentarily preventing it from shutting. Behind him, several others accompanied him. He advanced towards the guards with an air of ownership as if he held command over them.

"Mr. Elijah, are you alright?" he asked, focusing solely on Elijah.

Elijah was surprised. 

"And who might you be?" he asked. 

The man introduced himself with a composed smile, "Nice to meet you. My name is John Koba. Miss Winnie Carter sent me here."

The whisperings among the hotel security guards grew more pronounced at the mention of Winnie Carter. The Carters were a household name known for their extensive business ventures across various cities and industries.

Winnie Carter was the president of the Carter Fashion Industry (CFI) in California. It was the most prominent venture in the city, and it held significant influence. 

Elijah nodded. He didn’t expect them to come so soon.

"Mr Elija,please,let me handle this,”John added,then turned his attention to the security guards, “He's Miss Carter’s distinguished guest. Anyone want to stop him from leaving here?" His tone left no room for debate.

The guards hesitated momentarily, glancing between Elijah and John, but ultimately yielded to the unmistakable air of authority surrounding John Koba. 

“Stop pretending! You must be a fraud hired by this stupid trash! I know what kind of people you are!” Tiana shouted with disdain. 

“I suggest you keep quiet,or my men will make you.” John Koba glared at her,said coldly with a threat in his voice.

Elijah gave him a nod, turned and walked towards the automated sliding doors,without even looking back at Tiana. No one dared to stop him. 

Tiana's frustration boiled over as she turned her attention to the security guards who stood idly. "What the hell? Why are you letting him go?"

Koba's bodyguards instinctively reached for their batons, but Rack intervened with a raised hand.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Anderson, but we don't want any trouble with Miss Winnie Carter or anyone in that family," Rack explained, his tone edged with caution.

Koba placed a firm hand on Rack's shoulder, nodding approvingly. "Good lad. I'm glad you know your place."

Tiana's eyes blazed with fury. "Nonsense! You're so concerned about not wanting trouble with her, but you're perfectly content having trouble with me. I assure you, I'll see that you all lose your jobs."

John's lip curved into a gracious smirk. He shrugged to dismiss the chaos unfolding around them. With an air of quiet confidence, he turned and strode towards the exit, his bodyguards falling into step behind him.

Tiana's eyes bore into John's retreating figure, a mixture of disbelief and disdain clouding her expression. She couldn't shake the suspicion that Elijah was a fraud and that John Koba and his associates were merely hired goons masquerading as people of significance. 

How could Elijah have connections to someone of real influence? Her daughter had never mentioned such associations before. Tiana had always regarded him as a penniless opportunist seeking to benefit from her daughter's hard work and dedication. Without hesitation, she reached for her phone and immediately dialed her daughter.

"Your ex-husband just laid his hands on me!" Tiana revealed urgently. "And the stupid security guards on duty allowed him to leave because someone came for him, claiming that the Carter family had sent them!"