Since the creation of the club, no newcomer had ever contended with a bonafide member for the position of club president. This may be the reason why all eyes gawked at Andrew as he stood up from his seat and walked towards the podium.As expected, tongues wag at his back and the loathsome son-in-law of the O'Connor family heard but ignored them. "I think have seen his face here before. Is this not the young man that was beaten sometime ago when he forced himself into our club?" A beautiful lady in an armless frock asked her equally beautiful friend. "Yes. His name is Andrew, and he is the son-in-law of the O'Connor family." "This young man can't afford to contend with you, Jerry," a lad with dreadlocks hair and a tattoo over half of his face cried out. "Don't be fooled by the chain on his neck and his wristwatch. I bet they were counterfeits," a lady sitting beside the tattooed man let out. "Fuck you, Andrew. It's now time for my payback," Jude's voice boomed louder in the hall
For the first time since Andrew became rich, he enjoyed the privilege of being rich.After eating a sumptuous meal and drinking some champagne, he stood up from his VIP seat and stepped into the midst of the dancing crowd. "Come and dance with me." "He is mine." "I called him first." Three ladies blocked his front and begged him to dance with them, but Andrew ignored all of them as his eyes searched the room for someone. "Hello, Andrew. I want to apologise for not believing that you are the secret heir of the Elizabethan family. I hope you will forgive me and let's be friends as we used to be." "No problem, Jude. I have forgiven you. Just be good and stop being snobbish," Andrew announced. He walked through the large hall, bowed and waved at his new fans and grinned when most of the ladies winked at him. Some years ago, they had all behaved differently to him. But today, all of them want to be his friend. Such is the power of wealth. Little wonder one of the wise men that eve
Betty was in the company of a stunning lady in a pink shirt and blue miniskirt. And she stood up and bowed as Andrew stepped closer to her. Dazzling in her white lace that shows all her beautiful shapes and contours, she stood up, bowed and let out, "Hi, Andrew. Nice of you to talk to me, despite how I addressed you the last time we met." "It doesn't matter, Betty. How are Uncle Sam and the rest of your family?" "We are all good. When will you check me at my place? My daddy would like to see you," Betty let out. She turned toward her friend and then back at Andrew and announced, "I want you to meet my friend, Alicia. She is an international student and is just here to spend her holiday... And this is Andrew. He is my friend." "Hi, Andrew." "Hello, Alicia." "Would you like to sit down with us? I have a few questions to ask you." "Yeah... Sure. What did you want to know?" Betty whirled towards her friend and said, can you excuse us, please? I want to discuss something confidenti
He stood and watched three men in black suits as they stepped out of the black jeep. And his eyes traced them into the receptionist's office. After some minutes, Andrew hurried toward the receptionist's office and saw the men as they entered an elevator. "Hello, Sir. How may I be of service to you?" After his first encounter with the guards at the main gate, most of the staff of The Palace Hotel seemed to have recognised him, and they all attended to him with respect. "Yeah. I would like to know who those guys were?" "Which guys, Sir?" "Those three men in black suits. I saw them entering the elevator just now." "Oh... They are Miss. Simpson's guest. She informed me to book an executive room for them." "Simpson ordered you to book an executive room for them?" Andrew asked back. And he grinned when the receptionist nodded her head. "I hope there is no problem, Sir?" "None. Thank you, miss -." "Sade." Thank you, Sade. Kindly keep an eye on them till I come back." Sade nod
Peeking through one of the sliding glass on the window of their room, Andrew watched as the ladies stepped into the VIP section. "That's Betty over there. I bet she is shocked to see her friend waiting for me." "You are heartless, Andrew. I can't believe that you also invited her friend," Miranda let out. She smiled as she pointed her finger toward a lady far off and let out, "She is beautiful, isn't she?" "Yes, she is. Her name is Brenda, and she is all beauty, but has no brain," Andrew let out. "She is married, but ready to divorce her husband if I promised to marry her." "You once loved her, didn't you?" "She initiates the relationship and I was a fool to think she love me. I never knew she had a bet with some of her friends." "A bet?" Miranda asked with a confused look." "Yeah. She claimed she could date me for three months, and they all bet over this. I never knew I was just a joke to her." "So what happened after?" "I followed her around, and I always wonder why her fri
As expected, the black Jeep drove after Andrew's Lamborghini. And for the first time, since he was aware of their tailing, he was glad to have them around. Audacious because of the watchdogs at his back, Andrew peeked at Ajay's face through the mirror inside the car, and let out, "You will be sorry for assaulting the royal family." "Royal Family indeed," Ajay mimicked back in Andrew's voice. "You will always remain the poor and loathsome son-in-law of the O'Connor family, even if you wear the crown." Jude giggled and let out, "You can't, Andrew. You will never be the king of this country as long as am alive." "What was his offence?" Miranda asked. "You guys were friends since childhood. So why all this hatred?" "You are wrong, darling. Andrew is our slave and not our friend. He was the one we sent to get our work done." "Ajay is right. Andrew used to eat our leftovers, do our laundry and don't dare look into our faces when we were talking to him. So calling him our friend is insu
Their flight back to Orange County was uneventful. And except for Isabella who kept murmuring about the insane amount she lost in the casino, their environment would have been silent as well. At last, Isabella grew tired of her whimpering and joined her family in the dream world. They slept through the rest of the journey and were only woken when their chopper landed inside their villa. Despite the sun peeking in the sky, Andrew and Miranda wobbled to their room and they spent the rest of the day inside. He woke before Cockcrow, had a hot shower and drank plain coffee. And he was dressed in a white T-shirt and pants when Isabella knocked on his door and stepped inside. "Hi, this is the second time I will be checking on you." "Hello, sister. Are we in the morning, afternoon or night? Have slept so long that I had lost track of time." "Is morning, dear. Simpson called me about the assault on you by Ajay and his friend. Why don't you inform me during our flight back?... Geez!.. I
Isabella drove into the private infirmary and parked in the car park. And both hopped out of the car and then raced into the private wards. Jude sat on the bed beside Jackson. She held his hand and caressed his back, and then peeked into his eyes. "Hey, Jackson. How are you feeling today?" Andrew asked as the pair stepped closer to Jackson's bedside. "Shh. He is sleeping," Jude said. "Is he aware that you are here?" Isabella asked. "No. I arrived some minutes ago and met him sleeping. Why are you here?" "Jackson is my friend, and I have the right to come here. What about you? You have seen him. It's time you leave?" "Not until I see my children. Who knows what he did with my poor little kids." Jackson stirred on the bed and opened his eyes. "Thank God that you are awake... Hello, Jackson. I have been waiting for you for a while." Jackson blinked his eyes at the sight of the woman beside him. And a frown appeared on his face immediately, "what did you want, Judy?" "Is that