It was a message from the Rivera family and this caused a frown to sit on his face.
Seth was born with a golden spoon, he was destined for greatness as he became the heir to the greatest conglomerate family in the entirety of Kingston city.He served with diligence to one day take over chroma creative as the chairman but things turned upside down father quickly.He was accused of fraud and embezzlement of funds and the entire family didn't care to make proper investigations before they cut him off of his rights as heir.As if that wasn't punishment enough for him, they decided to ban him from their clan and sent him into the street without a penny to his name.Even though he tried to explain himself and open their eyes to the truth, none of them cared to hear what it was he had to say.None of them cared if he would die or live on the streets and even his own parents flew out of the country without looking back.He hadn't set his eyes on them ever since that day and neither did he hear from them. How could his own parents not even care to know if truly he was guilty or not and just leave him on the dangerous street to die?The terrible torture he was faced with on the street still came back to haunt him sometimes and not only in his dreams bit reality too.At a second beep, it was only then he realized it to be his old phone which he used when he was still part of their clan.Sometimes he wondered why he still held on to it. Perhaps because it was the only thing he had left to remind him of his dignity.He clicked the message and read through it. "Mr Rivera, please, the company is desperately in need of someone to fund it or it might actually fall to rubble! You have to help us!"He let out a scoffed laugh. Were they sending such messages to tease him or mock his status? How could he fund the company when they chased him away with nothing?All he had in his pocket was three bucks!He was about to tuck the phone back into his pocket when another message came in again. "Mr Rivera, the family is truly indebted to you. We did make our findings after you left and we found out you invested the funds into a project."It was a huge sum of money but he felt the project might come to aid them later in the future which was why he did it.As the heir of the family, they should have listened to his reasons instead of just tossing him out like a used up napkin.The message still continued. "Now there is a lot of income from it and only you can access it and help the family. Please, our investors have already left us and we are afraid to fall. Mr Rivera, be considerate enough to help us.""Wait hold on," Seth said out loud as HD scrolled back up in the text to the place where they mentioned his incomes from the project he invested in.As a co-owner of the project, his own shares had always been deposited into his account for the past three years now and if he were to calculate it then... "No fucking way!" He exclaimed.He dipped his hand into his pocket and took out his wallet. A black card laid hidden inside it and he fished out before dialing the customer care line written on the card.The black card was said to be a sign of greatness and one could get whatever, wherever in the world as long as he owned an ultimate black card. He had abandoned the card for three long years!"I would like to check my account balance right now!"He heard a beautiful lady's voice speak to him from the other side of the phone. "Thank you for calling us, if you could please hold on for a minute." The lady said to him in a polite and gentle voice.He waited patiently for a few seconds only to hear a gasp on the other side of the phone. "Is there a problem?"Her voice suddenly faltered. "Mr Rivera... the amount in your account is too big for me to have access to. It has been made into confidential information so I have to meet with our chairman. If you'll allow me a few minutes Sir then I'll get back to you.""Alright no problem."Seth hung up. He couldn't help the smile that worked its way to his face. His account balance was too big so it had been made a confidential information?He let out a chuckle. Never did he think the profit would be so huge when he invested a few millions into the project three years ago.★Seth's mood had brightened up completely as he made his way home. Phoebe had been long home by the time he got back.He walked into the living room of his apartment and his eyes landed on three beautiful ladies.Melanie was a slim yet curvy lady with beautiful red hair and a cute smile to add to her beautiful features. Her beauty though was bought with money and a lot of it at that.Gem was a chubby lady with full breasts and sexy features. Her curves were always one to get easy attention whenever she walked and she couldn't ask for anything more.Her black long hair was let loose over her body and her plum lips pouted when she saw Seth walk in.Both ladies sat on each side of Phoebe as they chatted away. Their beauties were never ones to measure up to that of Phoebe's though with her elegant and effortless beauty.The three of them paid no attention to him as he walked across the living room to get to the stairs and they just continued with their conversation."Phoebs, how are you going to save your company now?" Gem asked with a concerned look on her face."I really don't know what to do. The only solution to save my company from falling into a crisis or worse crumbling to the ground is to find ten million dollars." Phoebe replied wearily as she rubbed her temples."How did your company even fall into such a crisis in the first place? With only that solution on our hands, how are we going to find ten whole million dollars in such a short amount of time?!"Melanie questioned with a sigh."I really don't know... I don't know what I'm going to do..." Phoebe's eyes looked up and met with Seth's where he was standing.Anger caused her blood to boil as she stared at him, he had made a fool of her at Grandma Patterson's birthday earlier and caused her to be an object of ridicule to her family. "What are you doing just standing there? Why don't you just make yourself useful and make dinner or something. Just get out of my sight!" She growled angrily at him.Seth nodded his head and continued walking but his phone started ringing. He took it out of his pocket and immediately answered it when he realized it to be the bank attendant."Mr Rivera, we apologize for every inconvenience this might cost you but your presence will be needed as your funds have been transferred to an offshore account. You will have to come and check the balance yourself.""Why does it have to be so much trouble just to check the balance of an offshore account?"The lady attendant apologized and with that, he hung up.He heard Phoebe's friends break into laughter. "Does he even know the meaning of an offshore account?" Melanie asked.Phoebe rolled her eyes. "Please ignore him, he must have thought it meant a normal account when he heard me say it last week. With all the hundred dollars I give you everyday then you really must have a fortune by now since it's been three years." She sneered.Her friends chorused another laugh. "Wow, you really are very kind to even give him that much but then again, I guess one has to take care of her pet doesn't she?""You're right Melanie." Gem responded amidst a laugh.Seth stormed towards them with his brows furrowed. "Phoebe, you said your company is currently in debt and you need ten million dollars... Let me help you raise the money.""Ha!" Gem laughed hysterically. "You? Where do you plan on getting ten million dollars in only a few days?""Stop wasting our time and get out of our sight you useless piece of trash, you could never do it!" Melanie exclaimed coldly."And what if I can?" Seth arched his brow."If you happen to raise the money for her then I'll get on my knees and call you daddy!" Gem stated with a serious expression on her face."Oh this is interesting. Just don't back down on your words when the time comes." Seth responded with a smirk."Look at you talking so confidently like you can actually pull it off! What a fool! Do you think I am like you to actually back down on my word?" Gem said ignorantly."Who exactly do you think you are, little puppy? You couldn't even raise ten dollars on your own but yet here you are boasting about ten million dollars!" Melanie backed up her friend.The hatred they had for Seth was on a whole new level and they pitied their friend that she was tied down in a marriage with someone so useless.His good looks were all he had to himself but they wouldn't even give him that too because they believed there were other men out there more handsome than he was even though they were yet to meet one.Not even Marlin Murray could stand as a competitor with him and Marlin was very handsome.Phoebe groaned. "Stop embarrassing yourself and just go! Haven't you mocked yourself enough for one day?""Fine then." With that being said, Seth left the living room without further arguments and went to the kitchen to make dinner for his wife.He needed not to argue with them any further, it was a challenge and he had accepted it already.They just wait and see what'll happen.Seth knew in his mind his reason for boasting but arguing with his wife and her friends wouldn't prove anything. No matter how many times he tried to make them understand he was capable enough, they just wouldn't see it because his words were as nothing to them. So, he would let his actions speak for him when he gave them the ten million dollars. He retreated to the kitchen and started preparing dinner for his wife.Phoebe chatted with her friends all through the time he prepared dinner and finally sent them home as he began to set the table. After seeing them off, she returned to join Seth at the dining table. The only thing he was permitted to do with her was to eat at the same table.After eating together in silence, Phoebe went up to her room and laid for the night while Seth cleaned up the place.He took to doing the dishes and storing the leftovers and when he was finally done with every chore, he retreated to the study room to spend his night like he always did.He asked hi
The road was long and free and Seth drove down to his wife's company with the wind whistling inaudible things into his ear.He seemed to have arrived rather quickly than anticipated but the important thing was, he was there now and he needed to get the documents to his wife. He got down from his bike and took off his crash helmet before picking up the document and starting towards the entrance of the tall building. As he was about to step in, one of the security guards at the entrance barricaded his path with his buff body as he spoke in a bold and thick voice. “State your business here boy!” Seth opened his mouth to speak but the other security guard spoke before him. “What do you mean to state his business? Can't you see already why he is here?” “Right.” The security guard looked at Seth. “Ms. Patterson is busy at the moment and isn't taking any visitors for the rest of the day. Tell us what kind of problem you have and the assistant you need. “Do yourself the favor of includin
Seth didn't want to believe the words that left the security guard's mouth. How would his wife be secretly plotting to divorce him? It felt like the unthinkable! He had never even let such thought accidentally cross his mind and he didn't want to think about it now either. While he was still trying together his thoughts, the other security guard started to speak and it immediately snapped him out of his tangled thoughts. “The news of the almighty Marlin Murray proposing to the second to the youngest granddaughter of the Patterson family is all over the news and it seems to interest a lot of people! A lot of comments have been made saying that they actually are a good fit unlike the useless and penniless good for nothing man she currently fed in her home. “Mr Murray is known for his good looks, his power, popularity and wealth and he could do a lot of wonders in the life of Ms. Patterson. A lot could really turn around for her if she considered becoming his woman.” The guard said.
Eyes fell on the scene that Seth had created in the hall, all were snickering about their boss’ husband and Marlin Murray, wondering if they would have to fight for her heart. Marlin was at the edge of losing his mind. How dare someone like him throw away his thousand dollars worth of lilies? Thank goodness he hadn't taken out the perfumes and cosmetics that were inside the bag in his hand. If not, Seth might have broken them on the floor.“I'm going to punish you for this! You had better start bringing up a reasonable explanation for your crazy behavior or else I'll send you to jail for damaging my property!” Marlin growled with widened eyes and his veins popping out of his neck. Seth held back on throwing a hard blow to Marlin's face. Why was he the one that had to apologize when it was his wife Marlin was trying to seduce?“Explanation? What other explanation do you need than the fact that Phoebe is my wife and you shouldn't be trying to ask her out?” Seth arched his brow. Marl
Seth found himself walking out of Phoebe's company with his head bowed low. He knew that this was not going to be easy, but he did not actually think that Phoebe would leave Jim just like that."Of course! What was he thinking anyway? That he could just waltz in here and say some stupid things and Miss Patterson would just go with him?""He does not understand that there is a world of difference between them. And frankly, Ms. Phoebe would be far better off with Mr. Murray than slumming it with this good for nothing fool." The whispers around him did not do much to reduce their tones into incoherent sounds, yet, they spoke ever so loudly enough for him to hear their hurtful words.Eyes of hate and anger shot invisible darts at his back, and as he approached the security guards position, he could hear laughter erupt from one of them."And he thought we were penniless gossips. Look who was shown his place?" The guards laughed."I actually sincerely feel bad for him, I just wished he had
Seth stared at the Security guard again as he explained his reasons for stopping him at the door. "I'm sorry, but only the affluent of society can walk through the front door, it happens to speak volumes of our establishment, the kind of people we allow walking through our front door. I'm sure you won't understand what I mean". The Security guard mocked Seth."I understand clearly what you mean, and I would not want to dirty or put a stain on your establishment's front door." He said and pulled out his phone.He dialed the number the Manager had spoken to him with.The line rang for a couple of minutes before the deep, male voice which had spoken to him an hour ago came up again.Mr. Rivera, am I right?" The Manager asked over the phone."Yes, this is he. I have a little bit of an inconvenience going on outside your establishment right now." Seth said smugly, turning a glaring stare at the Security.Who by now was laughing at him in amusement. "He can't even afford a cab, and he is ca
Seth woke up the next morning feeling excited to go into his day. The whole thought of the fact that his life had completely changed for the better, and he was on his winning scale.The morning sun had set over the city of Kingston, masking the cold winter air that was set to blow in a couple of months.Seth's phone had beeped consistently through the night. His butler had been messaging him all through the night. He had also received a mail notification from the bank, notifying him ofhis account details and the passcodes needed to access his offshore account.The Manager had also sent him the IRS form he needed to fill for the sake of legalizing his accounts in the United States.He immediately put a call out to the Manager of Kingston's Treasury."Good morning Mr. Rivera," the Manager said in a cheery tone."I believe we have good news? I sent you the notifications I had received earlier today."Seth said to the man."Yes Mr. Rivera, and in a couple of...minutes or at most Less than
Early the next morning, Phoebe got up to leave for work, and found that the house had been cleaned. Everywhere had been left sparkling and not a single dust was in sight. The living room had been vacuumed properly and dusted.She walked up to the dining and found a cup of coffee with a note attached to it. The little paper stamp had a smiling emoji drawn on it. A single rose flower laid on the plate of food which had been covered and placed on a tray.There was a tray of assorted foods, salmon, steak, toasts, eggs a d a glass of juice. What exactly was going on. She felt like she had slept and woken up in a dream. She pinched herself severally, but found that she was still awake.She picked up a piece of toast, and found that it was still warm. "How did he..?" She thought to herself.Gloria walked into the house with her bag and the necessary documents for their presentation and meeting at Chroma Creative."Whoa, did you order breakfast?" She exclaimed at the sight of the delicious lo
“Regret,” she said with a sneer. Regret is just a euphemism for guilt. It doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t wipe the slate clean, and it definitely does not heal the mess that you made.‘Christian,’ she said softly, ‘don’t come any closer.’ He stopped, as she decided to step back from him.Phoebe flared up again and asked him: “You said you came for the truth?” “Fine. Here’s the truth, Christian. I loved you. With everything I had. And you destroyed me. You were able to make me question myself in ways that I never knew existed. And now you stand here, asking me for what? Closure? Redemption? Forgiveness?”“No,” he said firmly. All I am demanding is an opportunity to prove that I can improve.” That I am better.”She scoffed. “And you believe that one conversation is going to make a difference?” You think I can just what? Stare at you and forget the years I struggled to climb up the ladder and get a life again?“No,” he repeated again, and there was no quiver in his voice. “But I can’t
Christian did not answer this for a while. He looked down, his hands were tightly bunched into fists at his sides. “I know it caused pain,” he said, his voice rising in a hoarse whisper. “I know I can’t undo that. But I can’t just let things be this way. Not anymore. If that means living with your hatred then let it be so.Phoebe only chuckled bitterly and began to pace in front of the fire. ‘Christian, you keep saying all the right things.’ Saying sorry, admitting my mistake, promising to take my anger on myself. But you don’t seem to understand. It’s not about you. Not anymore.”He stared at her with a frown on his face. “Then what is it about?”“It’s about me,” she said angrily, turning to him. ‘That’s about the years I’ve spent struggling to climb out of the pit you dug for me to fall into.’ It is about finding out how to be independent, how to live without the feeling that my chest is going to collapse. It’s about healing, or at least, about trying to put myself back together aft
Phoebe shook her head, her arms wrapped around herself. “You don’t get it, Christian. Other people also had the same feeling as you; they were scared. I was terrified too. Of losing you, of not being good enough. But I stayed. I fought. And you didn’t.”“I know,” he said and his eyes welled up with tears. “And I hate myself for that. I wish I could have been stronger and did not leave when I did. But I’m here now, Phoebe. And I’m not running this time.”She glared at him and her eyes were red with rage, hurt and something else which she could not describe. “You say that now,” she whispered. But what happens when things get hard again? This begs the question, what happens when the cracks start to show?“They won’t,” he said firmly. “Because I’ve come to realize that running in particular does not solve anything. It just leaves a trail of broken pieces behind.”Phoebe only shook her head and a tear rolled down her face. She gently removed it as if she was embarrassed to show her weaknes
It’s convenient. You were waiting until you felt I was ready and powerful enough to take the news. Until you thought I didn’t need you anymore.”“That is not true,” Christian said quickly, getting up, his voice a high pitched note. “I have been taking this guilt with me every day since I left.” I did not return because of convenience. I returned because I could not continue living such a life knowing that I destroyed something that was wonderful.Phoebe whirled on her toes, glaring. “And what about me? Have you ever thought what it feels like to wake up every day with the marks you have made on others? To have to break yourself down and begin to build yourself up again from scratch just to have the one who was responsible for tearing you down appear with an apology?”“I do now,” he said quietly. “Because I do, I see it in your eyes. I hear it in your voice. And I hate myself for being the reason it’s there.”She was breathing raggedly, her hands were balled up at her sides. “You don’t
Christian sighed deeply and rested his hands on the table. “I am a man who wants to know how to accept what I have done. To challenge it, rather than avoiding it. To be able to admit that I can change the future but I can’t change the present and I can’t change the past.”Phoebe scoffed. ‘You really believe that taking responsibility is sufficient?’ You really believe that saying you were wrong in any of this makes it alright?”“No,” Christian said quickly. “It doesn’t make it okay. Nothing can make it okay. But it’s a start, isn’t it? A step toward being better. Towards becoming a person who does not destroy things.”Phoebe looked at her sister with her face impassive and then shook her head. “You want to be better? Good for you. But you don’t get to use me as your redemption arc. I am not some check-point on your way to self-improvement.”“I’m not asking you to be,” Christian said, his voice quiet, but commanding. I don’t need your forgiveness or your approval for anything I am doin
“Phoebe,” he started cautiously, “I’m not here to put more load on you regarding this.” I know you didn’t want any of this and I’m not going to say that I’m so great for coming here now. But I’ve been attempting to take responsibility for my actions. And part of that means realizing how much I caused you pain.”Phoebe’s lips formed, her arms drawn tightly around her in the manner of a shield. “It does not heal the wound, Christian.” Oh do you think that knowing you regret it will give me back the time I lost? The trust I lost? The parts of me that had to be reconstructed?”“No,” replied Christian, who now looked ashamed. “I don’t. And I’m not asking you to forget what I did or even forgive me. I just had to tell you that… I can see it now. I can now understand how self-centered I was and how unable to notice your suffering.She tilted her head to the side, her mouth tightening as she looked out the window and saw the rain running down the glass. “Blind, huh?” she said with much bitter
Phoebe went back to the fire, her hands folding over her chest. For what seemed like a long time she did not respond. The fire crackled in the background, and its heat was the only thing that made the atmosphere between them warm.“What do you want from me, Christian?” she asked after a long time her voice was so low that it was barely audible.“Nothing,” he said quickly. “I don’t want anything from you. I just… I had to share it with you because it is the truth. To say sorry and let you understand that I noticed your suffering. That I see you.”Phoebe only managed to stifle a sarcastic laugh. “You see me now? That’s rich. Where was this clarity two years ago?”Christian moved a little closer and spoke slowly and calmly as if he was pleading with her. I was blind back then Phoebe.” As if the rest of the world does not exist, or, at least, I don’t exist to the rest of the world. But now… now I see everything I should have seen before. I understand how powerful you are, how much you inv
“Sorry isn’t enough,” said Phoebe, tears rolling down her cheeks. “They think they can just come out and apologize and that’s the end of it.”“I’m not expecting that,” Christian said quickly. I know that I can never reverse the wrong I have done. But I had to tell you. I had to stop bringing this with me without doing something about it.”Phoebe exhaled hard and then rested her weight against the windowsill. “Well, did you even know what you left behind?” “How much I had to tidy up after you?”“I’ve thought about it,” Christian said, softly. “But I know that thinking about it isn’t the same as living it. I still can’t fathom how difficult it must have been for you.”Phoebe looked at her and shook her head, fuming again. “And you didn’t just hurt me, Christian.” You made me doubt, everything, including us, including myself. I used so much time thinking why am I not enough. Why I couldn’t repair whatever was ailing you.”Christian cringed as if the words that came out of her mouth had h
One part of him wanted to kick Christian out, shut the door and never see him again. But there was another part, a lesser, more contemplative part of him that was interesting. What if Christian really had transformed? What if this wasn’t just another one of his games?“Alright,” Phoebe said in the end, the word coming out sounding more like a bitter grumble. “You want to talk? Talk. ‘I’m not making any guarantees here,’ I tell him.Christian nodded and his shoulders dropped down as well. He looked around the room, and then looked at the couch. “Do you mind if we sit?”Phoebe frowned, then reluctantly gestured at the couch with a nod. He stayed on his feet, leaning with his arms folded against the wall, a defensive air about him.Christian leaned back on the couch, placing his elbows on his knees and his hands on top of each other. He looked at the floor for a moment with a blank face, then he said something.“I know I hurt you. And not just once—repeatedly. You wanted to help me and I