Return of the Tycoon

CHAPTER THREE

Pedro arrives his company, one of the biggest companies in Europe, that had over 100 sub-companies across Europe. It was his inheritance from his father, Pedro-senior, who died while Pedro was a teenager. Pedro had never wanted to be involved with the company, because he wanted a life of his own. So, he placed his younger brother, Alexander, in charge. 

"So, I'm back to this place?" 

He said to himself, on arrival at the company's premises. Looking up to the building, turned and looked around the environment. 

"I hate my life. Dad, I'm sure you are enjoying this, from where ever you are" 

He stood outside the entrance for more than 5 minutes. 

"No no no. Absolutely not. I am not doing this"

He said, while he turned back, heading towards his limousine. For he was feeling out of place, because he had never wanted anything to do with the company or its affairs. His father loved him so much and willed him the company and his estates. But all he wanted, was to leave a simple life, far away from anything that concerns his father's company and wealth. 

"Good morning sir!" 

A certain man greeted him 

"Good morning sir! Very happy to see you here today" 

the man said to Pedro, walking towards him from behind. Pedro turned around smiling at the man, pretending to be happy to see him.

"Good morning to you too. And you are?" 

stretching his hand to give the man a handshake 

"Simon, sir. Simon Torres. I am the head of operations in one of your sub-companies, sir. We were told to come for a meeting at the headquarters, today. Although we weren't told the reason for the meeting, but that, it was of utmost importance. But seeing you here today, I am guessing you are the reason the meeting was called, sir".

Simon said to him.

"Oh, I didn't know there was going to be meeting, I would have worn my grey suit".

Pedro said with a mild smirk.

"You look great in your black suit, sir. You don't need to worry". 

"Would you want me to walk you in, sir?"

Simon asked. 

"That will be very much appreciated, Simon. Thank you". 

They went in and made their way through the lobby to the front desk. There were workers in the lobby and they all starred at him, because they have never seen his face around the company's environment before. They were new employees, as the old ones who worked with his father, had retired, while some of them had gone to head some sub-companies. 

"Do you have an appointment today?" 

One of the desk attendants asked Pedro, on getting to the front desk.

"Really? Are you serious right now? You do not know who this is?"

Simon said to the desk attendant.

"Mr. Simon, please, kindly sign-in and go into the conference hall. The meeting will be starting shortly".

Responding to Simon.

"So, you are just going to pretend you didn't hear what I said or are you actually going deaf?"

Simon said to her.

"Please, by all means Mr. Simon, do tell me who he is"

Starring at Simon with a stern look, she said.

"Alright. I see you are tired of your job and feel like loosing it today. I will humor you".

"This is Mr. Pedro! Pedro Del Monte! President of The Del Monte group of companies" 

with a loud voice, so much that everyone in the lobby heard it. Suddenly, there were whispers and subtle noises in the lobby, because everyone had only heard of him, but had never seen him before. 

The desk attendant suddenly felt uneasy, started jittering and sweating profusely.

"I'm so sorry, sir. I didn't mean to disrespect you, sir. I am very sorry". 

she said in a shaky voice to Pedro. Fear had gripped her to her bones, thinking she was going get a query or even worse, loose her job.

"Come on Simon, stop scaring the lady. She's only doing her job" 

he said to Simon.

"Don't worry about it. It's my fault anyways. If I had come more often, I'm sure my face wouldn't be that complicated to recognize". 

he said to the desk attendant.

Meanwhile, Simon was busy giggling at her from behind Pedro. 

"Brother, heyyyy, there he is. The man himself, in flesh and blood".

It was his younger brother, Alexander saying and beckoning on him 

"Come now, brother, everyone one is at the conference hall waiting on you. Wait you wore a black suit? Since when do you wear a black suit to meetings, instead of your grey suits, you usually would wear, when attending a meeting?". 

Alexander said to him.

"Well you never said anything about a meeting, when we spoke over the phone. You just said I should come to the headquarters". 

He said to Alexander.

"No, I did bro. I said, 'Meeting at the company by 9AM. Please, try to attend'. Like, I said, 'try to attend at the end' even". 

Alex demonstrated with his phone in his ear. 

"Oh really? I guess I never heard that part".

Pedro said with a sad tone, with his hands in his pockets, with his head slightly bowed down. Indeed, he never heard it, because Alexander had actually told him about the meeting, but because of the state of his heart and that he was sad, he didn't really hear Alexander, tell him about the meeting, when they spoke over the phone. 

"Hey bro, are you okay? You sound like you are sad or something"

Alexander said to him, on noticing his brother's countenance changed. 

"I'm fine brother. Everything is fine". 

he said to Alexander. Alex stood there, starring at him, disbelieving what he just said. He knew his elder brother so well. He knew him so well, that he could tell when he is happy and when he isn't. When Pedro noticed Alexander was giving him that look, he gave him a friendly bump on his shoulder,

"Alexxxxxx, I'm fine bro. Are we going to go to this meeting or what?" 

Trying to deflect the question. 

So, Alexander took him to the conference hall, with Simon following him. He got into the conference hall and it was filled up, with over 400 sub-heads of the sub-companies. Not all the 500 were present, but the number that attended was quite high.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please? Thank you all for coming. Please, may we put our hands together for my brother, The President of The Del Monte group of companies, President Pedro Del Monte". 

Alexander goes straight to the podium and ushers in Pedro. Everyone one applauded as he made his way to the podium. While he was about giving his opening remarks, his phone rang. He apologized to the crowd, because it had escaped him that, he didn't put it on silent mode before going into the conference hall for the meeting. He then put it on vibration.

"Good day ladies and gentlemen, I am very delighted to be..." 

He stopped to cut the phone again, because the vibration was distracting him.

"Good day once again, as you all kno..."

phone rings again. He stopped again to switch off the phone this time, so it wouldn't distract him anymore, from addressing his subordinates. 

"So sorry about this. One minute please, let me turn off my phone". 

he said to the people. 

While he was trying to turn off his phone, he noticed a notification from an unknown number and it was an SMS message. He thought he opened it and quickly read it,  before turning off his phone. 

"This is Alice and Augusta's Legal Counsel. We are solicitors and legal representatives of Mrs. Lisa Del Monte. This is a notice of invitation to our chambers, for the dissolution of marriage between you, Mr. Pedro Del Monte and our client, Mrs. Lisa Del Monte, next week Friday". 

A text message from Lisa's lawyers. After reading the message, he turned his phone off, returned to the microphone, and tried talking again. 

"Ladies and ladies".

"Apologies".

"Ladies and gentlemen. I am very happy to be...I am very..."

"Ladies anddddd...".

Pedro couldn't continue. The text message he just read, had disoriented him, making him loose his focus and composure. 

"I'm so sorry everyone". 

he apologize to everyone and immediately rushed out, going through the east wing of the conference hall. He was immediately followed up by Alexander and Simon, because they were worried about him. 

"She wants to really divorce me quickly. So fast? That means she has been planning this divorce all along, for a while now". 

he said to himself angrily, as he got outside. 

"Brother, what is going on? And please, do not tell me you are fine, because I know you. I know when you are fine and when you are not. So, what's up bro?"

Alexander says to him from behind, while approaching him with Simon. 

"She is divorcing me"

Pedro said to his brother.

"Who? Lisa?"

Aksed Alexander.

"Yes. Apparently she has detested me for sometimes now. She thinks I am a pauper and have nothing to offer her, in our marriage". 

he spoke angrily. 

For Pedro has been pushed to the edge by Lisa and there was no telling the extent of the ripple effects that will follow after all the ruckus. Pedro was slowly becoming bitter and had started hating Lisa, from that very moment.