"Tell me, is there any reason why I shouldn't speak to him in that manner? Is there any reason why he should have my respect?" Roxanne asked as she taunted Aaliyah with wide eyes in search of answers to set her ball rolling."Have you no shame? How can you pull a scene in front of guests who have come to celebrate with grandfather on an important day like this? What do you think grandfather would say when he hears about this?"Aaliyah pulled away from Rics hold and tried to call Roxanne to order in a low voice using their grandfather but Roxanne was ready to play in the mud as long as she could get a chance to drag them with her. Roxanne was absolutely shameless."Well guess what? I don't want him to hear about it, I want him to see it for himself." Roxanne replied as she closed the space between them, her eyes filled with anger and hate for the couple."What did I miss?" Reynold, Roxanne's husband walked to them, breaking the tension between the ladies who intently glared at the othe
We are running late already,” Damon said.Damon had plans, if Ric was going to be beating the challenge by Reynold then he needed a little shopping for the engagement. These were Damon's cogitations. Ric had told them both of the challenge.“Why are you hastening us?” Gordon reprimanded as he changed his sleeping position on the couch. Frank stood in a corner and watched the interaction between the three.“There is no need for all the fuss. We will just pick some designs of suits, pay and leave,” Ric shot from the bathroom.Damon groaned, trying to fix his pants. “It is not as simple as he says it. Get up, sleepy head.” He smacked Gordon’s butt.“Stop it. I am straight!” Gordon turned again. He barely had any sleep last night, and now that he wanted to get some sleep, his friends were disturbing him.Ric came out of the bathroom in a towel. “You are not obsessed, are you? It is just a wedding, and the date is not even that close yet.” He rolled his eyes at Damon’s fuss over the suits
Ric did his best to maintain his composure and not cause a scene by being physical with Alessandro but that was the only thing that clouded his thoughts.Finally he suppressed the urge and took the path of a gentleman instead. His friends were watching.“That is none of my business. My initial business here is what I will go for, and that is, to buy and leave. I hope you don't try to cause any trouble.” Ric replied calmly.The truth was that Ric haboured resentment for Alessandro, not only because he was Melissa's new husband which of course was a major factor but also because Alessandro had constantly poked his hands in Ric's eyes and though Lord Gullathova had claimed the snipper that was caught that night was independent from Alessandro’s thugs, Ric still had his share of doubts.“I need some particular designer suits for I and my friends,” Ric ignored him totally while he talked to the one behind Alessandro, a lady.That was the lady’s job. To bring whoever wanted to buy clothes s
The manager had sweaty palms and cursed himself for I'll luck when he saw the man that spoke.The man was draped in an expensive suit that even his cologne screamed Luxury. His shoes were obviously customized and Italian, his leather belt a match with well crafted details making obvious they were not the regular you saw even in a store like that."I'm sorry Sir, I didn't know you were with them." The manager pleaded when he noticed the man spoke in defense of Ric and his friends.Seeing the man's composure and attire, Alessandro did not dare push his luck.However, both Alessandro and the manager were shocked at the man's response."I am here on my own accord and I'm wondering if this is how you treat your customers." The man denied any form of affiliation with Ric or his friends snapping Frank's head to him.The man in question was one feared by the entire Avrilla city including Frank's employer; Mr. Rogers.He was Benhardt.The same Benhardt who had been the one to bring Ric the bla
Benhardt observed Ric's countenance towards him was beginning to fall, he pressed his lips in a thin line and managed a plain smile that didn't get to his eyes.Benhardt could barely comprehend why Ric was unwilling to forgive his father and identify fully as his son leaving behind wretched wanna be people like Alessandro."Young Man!" The manager scolded Ric but before he could charge towards him with a raised hand, Frank side stepped and blocked his path while Benhardt immediately held up his hand to him.Ric looked at Benhardt with disdain and Benhardt knew he had overstayed his welcome, he initially planned to teach Alessandro and the manager a lesson for daring to talk Ric down but at the time, he knew that any public action he took was only going to kindle Ric's anger towards him so he did nothing. "The young man is in his right," Benhardt declared calmy and slumped his shoulders disappointed that he could not prevail to defend his young master.The same person that he could
"I'll be in the car." Frank could not bare to see Ric humiliated since he was allowed to take no action.Frank was slightly disappointed but Gordon wasn't.“My complete outfit cost three thousand dollars all put together. What do you mean?” Gordon said proudly.Alessandro and the manager laughed. “You know what I mean? That you are proud about poverty!” The smile wiped off Gordon’s face when Alessandro scoffed.“I hope you can find your way out.” The manager finally said as he snapped his fingers at their faces.Ric wasn’t having it. “Why are you doing this? Why? We are harmless. We only came to buy clothes, nothing else. Why then are you doing this?” He asked frustratingly.Ric was trying his best to maintain his composure for the sake of his friends.“He still doesn’t understand, does he?” The manager chuckled, looking at Alessandro who nodded at him smiling sheepishly.“You don’t understand. You entering this place was a mistake. You all cannot afford it. I am a straightforward pe
“Where are your shopping bags?” Frank came out of the car, surprised to see their empty hands.“We weren’t allowed to buy the designer suits that we wanted.” Gordon muttered in a low tone as he banged the car door closed.“Let’s head out to somewhere we can cool our heads.” Damon said to Frank while Ric got into the backseat beside Gordon.Everyone who was enthusiastic about buying from the exclusive store had gone, drained of their excitement.Damn Alessandro for ruining their plans!Frank drove to the nearest cafe where the friends could chill out and figure out what to do next. He understood perfectly well what they had gone through in that store.“I hope we don’t get bashed here like earlier.” Gordon muttered as they stepped into the exclusive restaurant.This restaurant was also one of the popular ones in the city, known for the best tastes and exclusive food etiquette.The friends picked an exclusive table. “What do you want, sirs?” One of their female attendees came forward to
“I’m glad you could see that they are only a bunch of trouble.” Alessandro told the manager.Even after Ric and his friends were gone, Alessandro still felt the need to drive his point deep and make it clear that Ric should not be allowed to shop here even in his absence. The manager smiled. “Of course. Not everyone can afford to buy from us. They can’t be as exclusive as you are, Mr. Alessandro.” They shook hands once again.“Have they been here before though?” Alessandro asked, referring to Ric and his friends who had already left the store.The manager quickly shook his head, doing a brief scan through his brain.“Them? No, not at all. This is the first time I have seen them here, and I guarantee that it will be the last,” he said.Alessandro smiled, he liked the assurancehe got, it meant that his point was well understood and would be implemented even in his absence. “That is great,” Alessandro muttered underneath his breath content. He had always wanted to show Ric that he was
Inside the Conover Club, Ric and two others were seen at a table. Ric sat quietly and observed the event. The Grahams had lavishly spent on the drinks and food there was more than enough to go round yet Ric was not bothered with eating anything."Will you just sit there and act like you don't want to have a taste of these luxury dishes?" Alessandro found Ric on the table where he sat and taunted him.Ric did not waste his time to look up at Alessandro, he was more concerned about the feedback from the assignment Melissa was working on."Come on, don't act all busy. We all know just how jobless you are since you can't secure a job be a of your status as Ex convict." Alessandro intentionally let out this information and just like he anticipated, the people seated on the table with Ric exchanged uncomfortable glances."Is he really an Ex convict?""The man seems to be ignoring him, he may be bluffing.""He didn't deny it, maybe it's true."The couple were not comfortable with the knowled
"What is happening here?" Camille had finally remembered he was to pick Ric at the entrance and had rushed over. Good thing he only met the end of things."Ask your guests." Frank shrugged before tossing the gun in his hand at Camille's feet."This not some shooting range, why did you bring a gun along?" Camille paled at the sight of the gun at his feet."I didn't, just borrowed it from one of them so like I said before 'Ask your guests.' Will you?" Frank lied.He never went anywhere fully armed with more than just a pistol even when he wore just a polo shirt and combat shorts.Frank wasn't exactly the careless type and he wasn't going to take chances with the young Master at all."Please no weapons allowed inside." Camille put his hands together and beckoned on them that was when he noticed the three wounded men."Oh shit!" His eyes widened in shock alarmed."Y'all already had a complete show down didn't you?" Camille looked to all of them and Frank smiled politely."I already told y
When Ric appeared at the gate of the Conover Club, he was quite mesmerized by the beauty of the infrastructure. He had expected it to look beautiful but the pictorial panoramic view he had envisaged, was nothing compared to what his eyes beheld."Excuse me Sir, please can I see your membership card?" One of the security guards interrupted his thoughts about the place."I'm sorry but I don't quite have that" Ric was naturally a polite person so it was nothing to him to respond kindly to a lowly security guard."I'm sorry Sir, but your card type is the determining factor for the entry access you are granted" the security man was not being rude since Ric had dressed up properly and looked like a rich man, however, he was only doing his job."That won't be any trouble, I'll just call my friend to come out" the Conover club was a place reserved for only the richest of richest. Some of these accesses, Johnson could give Ric to drive through preferential gates but Ric severally declined unwi
When the lady heard what Melissa said about Ric, she was a bit Ashamed of what was being said. The lady was Aaliyah.She had been passing and had only been oppurtuned to hear what Melissa said and because the man in question was related to her as her Fiance she had paid better attention.She had observed Melissa closely from her distance and concluded that indeed she was Ric's Ex wife."He is still so useless." Melissa scoffed annoyed.Melissa had dropped the items she carried in her car before she recalled she had wanted to pick an extra item and she had to return to the store in a rush.It was on her way back inside the store that she had bumped into Aaliyah on her way out."Oh, please watch where you're going." Aaliyah said politely when someone bumped into her.Melissa was rather rude, despite just being humiliated, she could just never change. That was how she was."You should also keep your eyes open to step aside before someone crashes into you accidentally." Melissa snapped at
Melissa had her heart in her mouth when Ric remained expressionless, she feared that he would ignore Damon and keep her on her knees for longer but she was wrong.Ric was not like that, he did not intentionally hurt people or their images for self gratification or cheap glory and moreover, Damon had a right over him since he also considered Damon as his older brother.When Frank noticed Ric gave no response, Frank was ready to prolong Melissa's suffering."Oh Mel it seems you would have to-""Let it be Frank," Ric held up a hand to frank and stopped his sentence halfway.Melissa had a slight frown on her face.How could Ric talk to the man that made her tremble to her bones so casually? Melissa was puzzled but then again she thought to herself that Frank surely was in a disguise around Ric so Ric didn't know who he truly was.That was just how Melissa was, it was better for her to think that way than for her to admit to herself that Ric could have such a powerful friend that frightene
Melissa's legs felt like jelly when the words hit her ear drums. She was expected to apologize to Ric and that too on her knees."Is there a problem Melissa?" Frank was going to surely see to the end of it all.Just as the drama was taking place, Damon came back.Melissa was already on her knees before Ric but her lips were heavy, she found it difficult to apologize to Ric.It would have been easier for Melissa to render the apology to a complete stranger than for her to apologise to Ric. Even if Ric looked clean, Melissa was not willing to accept that he was worth being treated more than a street begger.Yes! She thought that lowly of him."Say the words, I don't have all day to waste here." Ordinarily Ric would have stopped Melissa and ended all the drama but this once he chose to put her in her place."You! Don't even try to act high and mighty because I'm apologizing to you." She was quick to raise her voice and scold him but she had lost her voice ever since when it came renderin
If Ric wanted to punish Melissa by sending her off without purchasing anything then he would have done so but when he saw that what she came to purchase was beneficial to him, he let it slide and awaited a more amicable way to settle the drama. "I am sorry Ma'am," the Manager of the store ran behind Melissa and pleased after she threatened to shut down the store with her father's influence. Melissa often used her father's status as soon to be Mayor to intimidate people in the city and get her bindings done. "Don't even try to beg Me, that is the staff of yours that has insulted me and most of all because I was trying to warn you against wasting your time with this man." Melissa was raising her voice and shouting that she successfully got the attention of most if not all the people that came to shop that day at the store. "What is happening here? Why is everyone shouting so much?" "I hear that the staff here are insolent and even give preference to just anyone that steps foot into
Melissa had mixed feelings about running into Ric after he had hung up on her, she wanted to lash out at him for his misconduct yet she still wanted him on her side if she was going to complete her assignment but Melissa being Melissa, she let her emotions cloud her decisions and she decided to taunt Ric instead."Tell me what a man like you is doing here. Can you afford anything here?" Melissa said to Ric who was standing side by side with Frank."What do you want Melissa?" Ric asked when she would not get out of his way."Hmmm, a very tricky question you asked but the actual person who should be answering that is you. What so you want in a store like this?" Melissa said with a coy smile on her lips.Ric was very composed in as much as he detested Melissa for all she did to him in the past, he still gave her some respect as his ex wife and stood to give her audience."What I do with my life is none of your business Melissa," Ric replied with a blank expression.Melissa took her time
Melissa was shocked at his audacity, she screamed in frustration. She needed his help navigating her way in order to get to Italy but Ric was not cooperating.Ric dropped the call and massaged his temple, Frank's idea of using Melissa and her father's influence to find the assassin was a good idea but it was going to involve Ric constantly communicating with Melissa and possibly following her to Italy as her husband to reduce any suspicions.Melissa worked with the immigration so granting access and falsely approving fake identities was going to be a walk over with Melissa on their team yet no scam will be traced to the Milano Group president at all if the foreign authorities found out.Ric picked up his phone and answered the incoming call."Ric, you have to come home early today. Where are you?" Damon questioned him immediately the call connected"Why so?" Ric was a bit lost in the sudden demand from his brother and friend."It's Gordon's birthday anniversary tomorrow and we have to