MICHAEL STARED AT STEVEN

Michael felt like his heart was being weighed down by a heavy anvil as he left the building of Robert and co. 

He knew his marriage was over but he still found it hard to believe. Just like that? Had she never even loved him once? And all of those words she said to him, did she mean any of it?

He always loved his wife, whatever assistant she needed, he was willing to do it for. His wife, being the one that worked, Michael decided to be more helpful around the house. He'd make dinner before she got home from work and made sure she always had clean laundry.

Never for once did he complain about living like that. In fact, he loved it! As long as his wife was by his side. 

He didn't even realize that someone had been calling out to him until the man tapped his shoulder. "Mr West!" The man exclaimed one last time. 

"Huh?" Michael woke up from his thoughts at the touch of the man. "Mr Brian, what are you doing here?" He asked when he finally acknowledged the man. 

Mr Thom Brian was the CEO of international corp in Beaumont city. Everyone was dying to partner with him and Clara had managed to score herself a shot all thanks to Michael--unknown to her though.

"Is everything alright? I had been calling you since I saw you leave the elevator. I'm here to see your wife, I've only partnered with her a while ago and I've come to sign some papers." Mr Brian explained.

"I don't think she'll be needing our help anymore. Clara already has that King kid for a backbone plus she divorced me today." 

Mr Brian's eyes widened at the words that left Michael's mouth. His ears found it hard to believe. "What? But this is so unlike her! Would you like me to talk to her?" 

"That won't be necessary. Clara and I are over and she wishes to never see me anymore. I think I'd like to keep it that way." Michael remarked. "To her, money and power is forever greater than love." 

Mr Brian let a frown take over his face for a moment before speaking up. "I have news for you too. I found the special breed of ashwagandha you've been looking for. Apparently thriving in a field in the home of the Donalds." He explained as they walked together towards Mr Brian's car. "But Mr Donald cares exceptionally for these plants and won't let go of the littlest possible." 

"And you have found a way around that?" 

"His daughter, Isabella, came down with a serious illness years back and no doctor could cure her. If you can save her from it then he'll let you into his garden to pick as much as you need and more." 

A weak smile curved on Michael's face. He needed the plant to add to the others he already had and there was no sickness he couldn't cure. "Let's get going then." 

"Mr Brian!" 

A voice stopped them both as they were about to enter the car. A disgusted look crawled up on Mr Brian's face as he saw 

Steven, Clara's brother approaching them. 

"My good man, have you already finished the meeting with my sister? What are you doing with this--" 

Steven was cut off as Mr Brian went ahead and got into his car. 

Michael stared at 

Steven with an unreadable expression on his face before entering the car and before 

Steven could even try to talk again, drove off, leaving him with nothing but their dust. 

Steven was confused, "what the hell?" He asked himself. His feelings told him something was not right and he immediately rushed into the building--with his mother who was standing by the door--to see his sister.

Meanwhile,

Clara paced about in her office. She ought to have gotten a call by now from Mr Brian about their final contract to sign together. 

Countless times, she had decided on calling him but the man never gave her a fixed time so she'd hold back. 

Her secretary did all she could to calm her, offering a cup of warm tea to help lessen the tension in her. 

The door to her office flung open and a gasp left her mouth. As she sighted her brother, a frown sat on her face. "Do you not know what knocking is? Or at least be gentle with the door!" She growled from the tension in her. 

"Have you spoken with Mr Brian already? Your brother and I saw him leaving just now." Mrs Robert , Clara's mother said.

"Leaving?!' Clara's eyes grew wide in surprise. "Why would he leave? We haven't even talked yet? Did you say anything to him?" She faced her brother. 

"What the fuck? He didn't even let me speak!" 

Steven barked.

Clara panicked as she dialed Mr Brian number and her other hand raised to her mouth, her teeth biting on her nails nervously. 

"It better not be what I'm thinking." 

Steven said and Clara immediately shushed him. 

Mr Brian answered her call to her relief and she barked into the receiver. "Mr Brian! I just heard of your departure, is--is there a problem?"  

Her mother and brother shrouded around her as they waited impatiently for a reply. They both stood so close to her like they wanted to hear directly from the phone what Mr Brian was saying. 

"What?" Her eyes widened. "Is there... Is there a problem? I thought everything was fine just yesterday!" 

Mr Brian let out a sigh. "I misjudged you, Ms Robert , you are far from the woman I had imagined you to be and I'm sorry but I cannot work with you any longer." 

Before she could speak another word into the receiver, Mr Brian hit the red button and the call was cut off. 

"He--hello--hello?" Her face fell pale immediately. 

"What is it?!" Her mother demanded. 

"He called it off." 

Her words shock both her mother and brother almost off their feet. "I knew it!" 

Steven barked and they both looked at him. "That bastard must have said something to him." 

Confusion played on Clara's face. "What? Who?" 

"That son of a bitch! Your fucking ex husband that's who!" 

"Ash?"

"Yes, him! I saw him with Mr Brian and I rushed over to them. I was quite confused as to why Mr Brian would slam the door of his car in my face and I suspected something was up when Michael got in the car too!" He explained to his sister. 

"Yes!" Her mother added. "I saw it with my own eyes too! I took it that your brother had offended Mr Brian but I should have known it when Michael was with him." 

"That can't be, Michael would never do something like that." Clara didn't want to believe it but her mother growled at her. 

She thought to herself, there was no problem before but now he suddenly called off the contract after she divorced Michael and they were seen together!

Michael knew most of her family secrets since they were married for years so he must have said something. She couldn't believe it. 

Her face scrunched into an ugly frown. She must have misjudged him after all.