Claire did not want to know how these things happened. She did not want to know as long as it was sexual and it involved her mother. She stepped into the car and waited for her mother to get in. She stood anxiously at the pavement, looking like a lost puppy. Claire popped out her head from the car to see what was happening."I can not come in with you. Nick wants us to take a different ride. We will meet you there." She said sheepishly. Claire sucked her teeth and stepped down from the car."Could you possibly wait a minute, sir? I have to settle something with my mother. She is like this sometimes. Parents, am I right?" She was trying to get a laugh out of him but that was a poor attempt. He did not crack a smile."I will be back here in a minute or two. Please, hold on." She pleaded and ran to her mother whose grip on Nick could break a wooden rod in two. "You have to let go of Nick. We can all try to fit into that car and get to the cinema just in time. It could not be so hard." S
Nene's footsteps could be heard hitting the stairs. Maria could not thank God enough for loud foot steps. It had given them enough time to place the box back where they had found it. They came out of the hidden room and shut the big door behind them. Almost immediately, Nene walked in. They both released a sigh of relief and tried to act like they had been working all day. Maria reclined against a shelf of books. Aurora had taken a wooden stool and sat on it while she acted like she was sorting books. Nene beamed when she saw them. She clasped her hands together at her chest."Oh my dears. It gives me so much joy to see young ones like you two, working so hard. Come on, it is time you got a break. It is long overdue. I made cookies. You could eat that with some milk." Nene said. Maria and Aurora stared at each other. They returned their gaze to Nene and answered her at the same time."We want to finish up here.""We would love that."Nene stared confused. Aurora gave Maria a stern glan
Claire looked on with delight as her mother and Nick settle in comfortably. They were expecting more people to come in but the manager gladly sang her praises and mentioned there was no one else stepping in as all the seats had been paid for, for their viewing pleasure. Her mother was giddy while Nick threw glances at Claire when he thought she was not looking. He was probably contemplating on why he had left her for her mother if she could now afford to pay that outrageous sum just please her mother. She took a seat a few rows above them. Her mother turned to stare at her."Honey, aren't you going to stay with us?" Her mother asked, wanting to include her into the circle so badly. She felt bad because she knew her mother's efforts would be in vain. Nothing could make her want to be the third person in their duo. She would gladly pass that offer up anytime. She smiled sweetly at her mother."I am good, mom. You and Nick should have the ultimate couples experience. That is all I want."
An old black man with a full head of gray hair walked slowly into the cinema hall. He chuckled softly and they realized he was the owner of the voice. The narrator. Claire clapped her hands excitedly. Nick looked back at her, his mouth was ajar as he stared at the man. He pointed his index finger at him as though in accusation."This is you? You evil thing, you will pay for this. Do you know how much you have cost me?" Nick yelled in anger, his face slowly tinting a red shade. Claire sipped took out the bottle of wine she had smuggled into the cinema in her big Hermes bag. She did not think Nick would know who the narrator was or even know him enough to make an enemy out of him. She guessed he had a lot of enemies. She began to drink directly from the bottle. She chuckled as she watched the drama unfold. Everything looked amusing. The only one who did not look the slightest bit anused was her mother."Hold on. You both know each other? What a small world. " Claire said and imagined Br
153It was the last day of the vacation and everyone had been through the wringer. Bruce's clients were beginning to call in to see the CEO. Enough meetings had been postponed, enough presentations had been rescheduled. He packed his things, placed his laptop and pads into his back pack and rolled everything out of the room. He could hear Claire and her mother exchanging words down at the lobby. He shook his head. Those two only became close when they had an equal goal. He could not wait to leave Beijing. It had been a great vacation and he had enough time to avoid the toxic duo that had found a way to stick to him like bees to honey. He took deep breaths as he stepped into the elevator. Claire had been right for one thing. He had needed this vacation. He was renergized and ready to get back to his projects.He had felt bad for Claire's mother. After the showdown at the cinema, she had been silent and withdrawn for days. Her daughter tried everything she could to make her better but
Bruce looked at the side of her face and was perplexed by who he saw."Jade?" He said in a whisper. She fled from his side and got into a car that stopped by immediately she got to the other side of the house. He stood rooted at the spot. He never expected that he would meet her again. The honk of a car shook him out of his daze and he hurried away to his car. He drove off absentmindedly and soon he was at the company. His assistant hurried to the doors as he was approaching. He bowed slightly and took his briefcase from his hand."Where is he?" Bruce asked. He took fast strides towards his office. His staff members scurried away if they were in his path. He did not even have to say a word. He got to his office and there was there client on a video call with someone who sounded like his wife. Bruce cleared his throat and the man dismissed his wife almost immediately. "I did not mean to break up that family moment. But, I am sure you did not come here to portray a living example of g
Bruce could hear noises coming from below. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and tried to sit up. He could hear voices. He wondered what might be making his house staff make so much noise. He slipped his feet into his slides and put on a robe. He walked downstairs and into the living room. There was Claire and her mother at the living room, barking orders to the maids for their luggage and lunch. "Hey, treat that bag nice. I have breakable objects in there." Claire yelled. The maids scurried around in anxiety."You really do not have to yell before you are heard." His voice boomed over the hall and they all looked at the end of the stairs. Claire plastered a false toothy smile. She rushed to his side for a hug. He did not hug her back but stood stiffly as she detached herself from his side. She stared at him confused. She had thought the vacation had sparked something between them. The lack of emotions on his face as he stared at her made her realize that whatever she had thought t
Bruce recalled how she stole and disappeared without a trace. He wondered why he was always unfortunate with the opposite sex. He couldn't differentiate who was loyal as even the ones he trusted and loved betrayed him. He kept scrolling on her page and saw an old picture of her. He had taken the shot when they were together back then. He closed his eyes to relive the moment.“Bruce dear, where are you? lunch is ready” Claire called out to him as she made her way through the stairs to the room. She found him coming out from the restroom. Bruce had heard her call out but didn't want to stay in a closed space with her. He then locked his room and hurried to the restroom to make her believe as though he was in there.Bruce looked at her, “ Any problem" he asked staring fixed at her ignorantly.“Oh, there you are. I was calling on you to come downstairs for lunch and I didn't get any reply, so I came up to check on you. I didn't know you were in the restroom, since you're here, let's go do
"My Dad? How is that possible? How did he know that I was here?" Jade looked at Bruce, wondering if he had a hand in what was going on. "Did you know he was coming?" She asked Bruce and he shook his head. "Bring him in," Bruce ordered. "Yes, sir." The butler left and he had no time, she returned with J. J. Fulton. Jade gasped when she saw her father. His clothes were faded. His hair and beard were unkempt. He had lost a great deal of weight too. She wondered what was wrong. He had enough money to take care of himself even without working. He could only lack money if he lost everything in a gamble and she knew that her father would never do such. Jade actually expected more from her father. Sure expected him to multiply the money he had. Or, was he this way because he missed her? Jade wondered. "I'm sorry for how I treated you, Jade." He turned to Bruce and placed his palms together. "Please forgive me for having a hand in your parents' death. I don't deserve your forgiveness, bu
"She'll be there all her life?" Jade's mouth hung open as Bruce and Archibald broke the news to her. She was packing to leave for Beijing and hence had little time to be at Claire's trial.It's been weeks since Claire got arrested. She was sentenced to stay imprisoned for life."I think she deserves it," Jade added and Bruce nodded in agreement."She threatened to throw her child off a tall building. Of course, she deserves something worse than a life imprisonment," Bruce said."And her mom?""She's going back to her hometown. I gave her some money to take good care of herself. She has her flaws but Claire's mother does not deserve the pain her daughter caused her.""Jade, tell me you're not still thinking of going back to Beijing," Mr. Archibald chipped in. "I thought both of you got married."Jade and Bruce exchanged looks. Mr. Archibald was right. They were once married and have never had a divorce."You can go back first. I'd prepare the divorce papers," Bruce said and Jade nodded
"Sir Archibald-" Bruce's voice trailed off. He was short of words."What is it now? Don't tell me you're not happy to see me."Bruce looked at Jade and then at Mr. Archibald and smiled. "Of course not. I'm very happy to see you."Bruce got out of the chair, rushed to Mr. Archibald, and gave him a hug. "I was scared that I would never get to see you again.""You were scared and you did not bother to call me.""You told me not to. That you wouldn't answer even if I did. I'm sorry."Mr. Archibald smiled. "You're like a son to me. I will always answer whenever you call."Bruce pulled away from the hug and smiled. "I was so dumb not to have realized that much earlier.""And I should not have tried to force you to marry Tricia." He turned to Jade and smiled. "I should have forced you to find Have instead."Jade smiled nervously. "We don't intend to get back together. I'm leaving immediately my work here is done and that is to make sure Bruce gets his properties from Claire.""And, how does
Jade stopped before a hotel."This is where I stay.""Why stay in a hotel when you have a family house?""It's sold.""No, it isn't. I bought it back.""You did?" Jade's face brightened, then it became dull. "Claire now owns all your properties, so it's hers now.""I bought it in your name," Bruce said dryly and got out of the car.Jade beamed. "Thank you."She was here because she wanted to give him his money, but knowing that Bruce still cared made her happy."Then we should go there, instead of staying in the hotel. I'll quickly go to my room and get a few of my things."Bruce got back into the car and Jade got out.She walked into the hotel. After about ten minutes, she came out with a traveling bag and dropped it in her boot.Jade handed out a debit card to Bruce immediately after she got into the car. "It has your five hundred million."Bruce took it from her and mumbled a thank you."What about Mr. Archibald?" Jade asked, breaking the silence that lingered between them as she d
Bruce's eyes flung open. His breathing was back to normal and his heart stopped beating fast. He felt everywhere was brighter too. He guessed right. The door was opened and he furrowed his eyebrows in confusion immediately he saw who opened it. "Jade?" "Bruce." She ran to him to check if he was alright, but when she touched him, Bruce slapped her hands away from his body. "What are you doing here?" "If I had not reached here on time, you would have died." "That's what you want, isn't it?" Bruce scoffed. Jade shook her head. "If I wanted that, I would not have risked my life to save you." "Risk your life? I know you're on Claire's side. Stop the pretense. I know you somehow found out that I had a mp3 player that could land Claire in trouble. You told her about it and like you wanted, she was not absent. As a result, the case was dismissed. " "That's not true," Jade said, defending herself. "I was the one who took the audio recording. I asked the old man to give you
"He is your son too. Are you seriously going to kill your son?" Bruce could not believe his ears.Claire scoffed. "He is your son. Not mine. According to the contract I signed, you did not need a mother for your son. You only wanted an heir. You planned on paying me off so I could leave the child I would give birth to with you.""He is your blood. Don't tell me you're this heartless.""You know what poverty is like. You know what being powerless is like and what being powerful is like. So you should understand when I say that I want power and money. I want to teach those who have ever looked down on me a lesson. I want to be able to get what I want whenever I want. I want people to look at me with respect. I want the kind of money you have without being at your mercy.""Claire, don't I give you what you want whenever you ask?""You can wake up one day and decide you don't want our marriage again. What should I do then? I refuse to be at the mercy of a man. I want to have your money. I
It's been two months since Bruce saw Claire. She was nowhere to be found. He involved the police, and his men and searched for her himself but he still could not find her.Finding Claire was the only exciting thing that had happened in the space of two months. He worked from 7 am till 9 pm, then from work, he would go to the bar.Once in a while, his eyes scan the bar for Jade. The night before his first trial was the last night he saw Jade. He never saw Jade again after that day.Bruce looked around his office. The furniture was sleek and modern. The floor-to-ceiling windows gave the office a good view. He placed his hands on the mahogany desk, his eyes on his phone.His phone rang and he picked up the call immediately."Have you found them?""Ava still lives in this city but Naomi has relocated," the caller said and Bruce Ace nodded."Text me Ava's address."The last time he saw them was the day Claire ditched him on their wedding day. He smirked, remembering how they had looked do
Bruce Ace sat on the wooden bench. His eyes moved around searching for any trace of Claire. The courtroom was filled to its brim. The judge was visibly annoyed at everything that was happening.Murmurs filled the air.It's been an hour since the trial should begin but Claire, the plaintiff, was absent.The judge finally raised his court to talk. "The plaintiff seems to be nowhere to be found. In this light, the case is therefore dismissed."Bruce Ace frowned.He was ready for her.He has something to prove his innocence. Something to show that Claire was the guilty one here.Bruce was fixed to his seat. Refusing to get up. If this was the case, everybody would think that he had paid her off to shut her up.They will think he was the cause of her absence. Not like he cared what they thought of him but he wanted to shut her up the lawfully way.He wanted everyone to get a glimpse of what he had to go through because of women.Bruce finally left his seat and headed for the exit. His body
"Claire?"Claire raised her head from her food to see who was calling her. Her eyes flew open."Jade."She frowned."Oh my! How have you been?" Jade asked, joining her at the table. "Where have you been?"Claire raised an eyebrow, wondering if Jade had no idea of the ongoing case between her and Bruce. The news was everywhere. How would she not know?"Are you talking to me?"Jade smiled. "I know we don't have a good past. The issue with my brother and Bruce and stuff like that, but now these people are no longer in our lives, so I think we should be nicer to each other now.""Have you not seen Bruce?""I've seen him." Jade's face fell. "I saw him in a bar yesterday. He only talked to me when he did not know who I was. When he did, he yelled at me and left. He was telling me something about his wife trying to kill him to get his property and that she had sued him for beating her up which is not true. Do you know how he has been?""You don't know who I am?" Claire asked, just to confirm