“Did you give it to him?” Mrs. King asked as Madi walked into the house, her face bare without make-up for the first time in a long time.
"Yes, mom, I did,” She barely spoke up, her face buried behind her face cap.
“Good, that peasant never deserved you in the first place,” Mrs. King said, settling down on a couch in the King-sized sitting room.
Madi didn’t respond but continued to her room.
“And where do you think you are going?" Mrs. King asked, her left eyebrow raised.
She sighed, looked back to her mom and said, “It’s been a day. I think I need to take some time out.”
“But you had a wonderful day, darling, breaking from that fool’s leash over you.”
"Mum, that wasn’t even necessary. He was a good..."
“Madi! You’d stop that nonsense talk immediately!” Mrs. King interrupted her. Her face was so still the smile that seemed to have had a permanent stay on her face varnished.
Madi, stunned as she were, took a step backward from her mom, almost stumbled on her own foot.
Mrs. King sighed, walked up to her, and grabbed her hands. “All I want is the best for you. The best for our family. With Alex, we, you can achieve everything you have always wanted and..."
Alex walked into the room, just in time to interrupt the conversation.
He had blue eyes that matched with his black, well carved hair. He’d have made a wonderful model if he wasn’t working at the King’s Corps as one of the top executives. His appearance matches well his financial flamboyance; he was all about posting the most luxurious of properties all over his social media. That was the way he had over ten million followers on i*******m in the first place.
“Am I interrupting something?" he asked.
“What are you doing here?” Madi asked, surprised to see him.
“Come on Madi, I wouldn’t miss your divorce party for anything,” Alex said, his lips curled in a menacing smirk. “But I didn’t mean to interrupt anything.”
“No, you didn't,” Mrs. King replied, facing Madi. “She was just telling me about the divorce.”
“That’s great news.” Alex said, emotionless, “Tell me the bastard, fell to his knees and begged.
Madi sighed. “First, I don’t think divorce parties are a thing. Secondly, you told me you’d get him fired after I gave him the divorce papers.”
“And?”
“I found him in the lobby, looking all dejected already. Do you realize how difficult it was to look him in the eye and give him divorce papers knowing he just got fired?”
"Jesus! Madi! His life is too messed up for us to debate on why he was at the lobby.”
Mrs. King frowned, interrupting them both. "How does it matter if he gets fired first?”
“That’s not the point,” Madi said. “I just wanted him to...”
“To what?” Alex didn’t let her finish. “I think you are letting emotions...”
“This is not about emotions, Alex! it’s about following the plan.”
Alex rolled his eyes, “Please cut me some slack; Steve hates that fool too. Perhaps he got so excited about firing him that he couldn't wait for you.”
“Madi?” Mrs. King added, “It doesn’t matter what comes first. He’s out of the picture and we are done with this chapter!”
All three of them went silent for a short while, each catching their breath, before Alex broke the silence again. "She’s right, Madi.” Alex walked closer to her, his eyes boring into hers. ``He was a mistake from the start, let’s just celebrate and move on to the next phase of our plan.”
Madi closed her eyes. “He hasn’t signed it yet,” she said as she swallowed.
“What does that mean?” Alex asked, and his face couldn’t hide his confusion. He looked back to Mrs. King and asked, “What do you mean by he hasn’t signed it yet?”
“How could you?” Mrs. King asked. “Madi, are you serious?"
“He hasn’t signed, mum. What did you want me to do? Force his signature on it?” Madi said it like she was a step away from losing her mind.
“We’d force him if we have to,” Mrs. King shrugged, “either way, he must sign it as soon as possible. We are losing time!”
"Well, we have to give him time. He’s going through quite a deal.” Madi's voice became soft.
“Or we can force him.” Alex said, “It’d be quite exciting to see him bleed.”
“Fuck sake, Alex! He was a mistake; that doesn' mean I want him dead,” said Madi.
Alex shrugged, “Just a scar wound, my love, just a scar wound.”
"Well, we can’t beg him to do it,” Mrs. King chipped in, “and we are running out of time.”
"Plus,” Alex added, “the man thinks he is special. I mean, the fool turned down a check for 5,000 dollars. Who does that after losing a job?"
Now Madi was more shocked than confused. “Steve promised he’d pay him forty,”
"Yeah, about that, he owed some loans, and they had to deal with payoff tax and some other stuff, '' Alex replied, moving to the liquor cabinet.
Mrs. King smiled. “I bet he will not survive a month.”
“Not everyday do you see someone so poor and so dumb.” Alex stretched a half-filled glass of scotch to Mrs. King.
“So we know he’s strong-willed and you might not be able to talk him into signing on time. Plus, you two must be married as soon as possible;” Mrs. King said to Madi.
“Stong will? How can you be that broke and have a strong will?” Alex scuffed.
Mrs. King smiled and said, "That's funny.” She was still speaking when she saw Madi’s reaction: “what? It was funny.”
“He’d sign the papers eventually, so I don’t see why we should worry this bad,” Madi said, facing Alex.
“Baby girl, the meeting is coming up soon and if we don’t get married, we might lose our chance to get this deal on. We need to get it done as soon as possible. You have to call him,” Alex said.
“Call him... and tell him what?” Madi asked, then looked to her mother, expecting her to say something but she didn’t.
“I mean, it sounds better than beating the shit out of him,” Mrs Madi said, taking a sip from her cup.
“It seems like he’s strong willed because he has options.” Alex said, dragging Madi’s attention back “Guess what happens when we take out the options. Tell the wretch you want the document signed by tomorrow.” Alex poured the remaining scotch in his cup down his throat.
“I am not doing that,” Madi protested, “He’s had quite a day already. Let him fucking breathe.”
“I’d call him if you don't.” Mrs King chipped in, “I want those papers signed by tomorrow, Madi. So it’s either you call him or I do.”
…
Jacob was seated in his studio apartment with Christine’s business card in his hand, a check for ten million dollars on the second hand, and his eviction notice on the table. But of all things that happened in the past twenty four hours of his life, Madi leaving was heaviest in his heart.
His phone rang, and it interrupted his thoughts. He stared at the phone on the table for a little while, too tired to get up to pick the call, till his attention went to the name on it.
“Madi?”
“Jacob, when are you signing the papers?”
“Madi,” Jacob paused a little, “are we really doing this?”
“I called to know when you’d be signing the papers.”
Jacob heard Mrs. King telling her to tell him he had till the next day.
“Madi. I know a lot is going on right now but I can fix it. I need…”
“Jacob! I want those papers and I need them signed.”
“So that’s it. You gon’ just leave me. Because she asked you too.”
Madi paused, silent for a few seconds.
“Madi? Are you there?”“I’d send you an address. Bring the papers to me, Signed." She hung up.
Jacob had never been to the office but he sure knew who was sitting on the other side of the office table. Lydia. Her reputation is a big one in the King’s family. She was like their legal cleaning service. Her job, since Mr. King himself was a child, was simply to take care of the dirty jobs legally. She steals a peep at him, the computer screen reflecting on her glasses, “Miss Madi will be there soon,” she said, her voice void of emotions. Technically, she’s still Mrs. “How long do I...” Jacob tried to ask but was cut short by how fast she returned to her screen, typing—only God knows. Jacob checked his time again for the fifth time since he entered the office; it was already an hour past the scheduled time, and Madi wasn’t there yet. “Of course,” Jacob whispered. “She’d be here soon, Mr. Jacob,” Lydia repeated. And in no more than five minutes after the last words they shared, the door opened. “Let’s get started,” Alex said, dressed in his signature navy blue suit, white shi
Jacob fell to his couch. He had never been so grateful to be back to his studio apartment—even if he had a bandage around his chest and another slightly above his eyebrow. He could use a little of liquor if it wasn’t so fucking far off. “You should really change your locks,” Christine said, walking out of the shadows.Jacob jerked and the pain on his chest struck like lightening. He groaned, holding his rib. “For fuck sake!”“Jezz” Christine rushed to him, “What happened to you?” “I am okay…” Jacob raised his hand, stopping her from touching him. “I just need to rest.”“What you need is a doctor”“Close. It was a slight accident.”Accident, She froze, lips quivering and heart beating fast. She could hear the screeching sound of the tires and the blue and red lights. She could hear her name in a distance. It’s her mom. Next thing, flashing lights of the hospital as they pushed her bed. “Christine!” “Christine!” Jacob shouted her name the second time.She snapped out of it like wak
"How do you know this?" Mrs. King asked, her eyes dimming on the phone in her hands. Alex stopped pacing, “I got a mail. An email.”Mrs. King raised her eyebrow, “You got mail about a six million dollar transfer into his account?”"Actually,” Tony swallowed, “his mail was logged into Madi’s laptop and I was with her laptop.”"So she doesn’t know about this yet?" Mrs. King interrupted him. Never the type for too much talk. Alex cleared his throat, then continued to pace, “I am not sure. It depends if she used her mail this morning.”Mrs. King shrugged, "It shouldn’t matter; they are divorced.” “Divorce?” Alex stopped to pace, saying, “This could be disastrous to our plan.” "I don’t see how," Mrs. King said, crossing her legs. "Besides, don’t you have a board meeting to prepare for?"Alex sighed, "Okay,” he said, sitting besides Mrs. King, “Just think of it, they’ve only been divorced for two days.”"...and?""What if we can prove that Jacob was supposed to pay Madi part of the ten m
He entered his office, shut the door, pulled off his suit and threw it on the office couch before sitting. He looked into the mirror opposite the leather couch. His face was beginning to show more wrinkles and his hair was mostly gray yet he would make one of the fittest sixty-five-year-olds in the world. But beyond it, he could see his plan coming to an end. A knock hit his door. He looked at the door and asked who it was. It was Charlie. He opened the door and went back to sitting. “Tell me what all that was,” he said, his naturally baritone voice coming out husky.Charlie pushed his glasses closer to his face. He was already sweaty and shaking. "Sir, my sources said it was the same guy that saved her from the accident ten years ago.” He raised his head to look at Charlie. “How on earth did she find the guy?” “She had had a private detective looking for him for the past two years, sir,” Charlie said, his voice shaky. But that’s the way Charlie has always been around him. “Thi
Madi barged into the room, her hands balled up and her eyes blood red. “Mom…”“Do you know that Christine Prescott is getting married?” Mrs. King asked before Madi could speak. She raised her head from the computer screen and said, “We just got invited.” “Mom...” Madi tried again. “A wedding in the middle of the week, and with an invitation for the one percent of the one percent? Now, the Prescotts, they just upped their game, now doubt.” Mrs. King giggled. “Mom!” Madi shouted. Mrs. King raised her head. Madi was panting. "What, my darling?“I heard about the five million dollars.” Mrs. King was shocked, but she refused to put on her face. She returned to her computer and asked, “And what about it?”“I thought we agreed we were done with Jacob.” Squeezing up her forehead, Mrs. King looked to Madi. “I don’t remember having that conversation. Besides, we are done when we are done.”Madi tried to control her breath. She walked up to the laptop her mother was on and slamming it close
Jacob sat with his hands clenched together in a corner of the giant sitting room. Different artworks, probably from the eighteenth century, hung on the wall: angry-looking paintings and heavily bearded sculptors of philosophers. But of all the paintings and sculptors, there was one that he could not get his eyes off. It hung slightly at a height of roughly three feet. The painted man had a fierce look that was not so different from the rest of them in the room, except this one was not from the eighteenth century. He looked different, except for the windpipe he held in his mouth. And the face looked like... “That is my father,” Christine said. Jacob turned. She was standing by the door frame. “I did not realize you were there.” “He looks scary, doesn’t he?” Christine said as she stretched a document to him before getting seated. “You know,” she continued, “sometimes I think it’s his fault I never found love. I mean, look at his face.” She laughed, then looked at the portrait.
“It’s your wedding,” Bob said, “not mine?”“Just answer me, goddamn it!” Jacob shouted. “Red or brown tie?” He went to the mirror and placed each on his neck to see which went the best.“That’s not even red, Jacob; that’s like oxblood or something,” Bob said, biting his hot dog.“Really, but Franklin said it's red.” Jacob said as he turned to him, “Are you serious? The best time to eat is now.”“What?” He said with a huge chunk in his mouth, “I am the best man , not the best woman.” The ketchup from the hotdog dropped on his white shirt. “Aagh, fuck.”Jacob turned back to the mirror and sai
“Mrs. Prescott,” she said as she approached her.Mrs. Prescott, holding a glass of red wine between her fingers, helped close up the gap between them. She also had a smile on her face, one that seemed to have been plastered on it for a while. “Where is your mother?” Mrs. Prescott asked.“I am right here, Lady Prescott,” a voice teased from behind her.Just perfect—a lovely reunion, Madi thought. “I didn’t quite see you there, Lady King,” Mrs. Prescott teased back.The three women soon started to talk about random things from old times. Mostly two women. Madi was more or less just there because she had to; she laughed when she had to and spoke only when she had to. After all, she could not relate honestly to what they were saying. It's always about them talking about knowing each other's kid when the kids were still young, perhaps when the kids grew their first tooth, and when one came to the other's house and something totally not funny—yet they'd laugh- happened. "So, Madi,” the at
Jacob parked right in front of her house. It felt like yesterday when he and Riley had come to live there. It was the worst moment of his life, and Aunty Jen's too. Jacob had just lost his parents—his father, who was Aunty Jen's brother, and Aunty Jen had just lost her husband too. Losing your brother and your husband in the same month. He was too young to understand the kind of pain his aunt must have faced at that time, but he sure did understand now that he was standing there.“Jacob?” She called, turning to the person who just walked in. “Is that you?”Jacob walked up to her, leaned in front of her on one knee, and held her hands. “Aunty Jen.”“Oh, Jacob,” she removed her hands and held his chin, “have you eaten? You look pale.”She was doing it again. The same thing she did when it was her brother and husband. Jacob shook his head, he wouldn't let her do that to herself. “Aunty Jen, I am fine. I am here because of you.”"Because of me? Well, then you need to eat something first. I
Every time he thought of it, his lips curled into a smile. Everything was now set for the first time in a long time, except for... Mary. His smile faded into a look of concern. 'That bitch,' he mouthed, 'she's the only one who can break this.'A knock hit his door, and before Victor could say anything, it opened.Charlie walked in with a folder in his hands.“Sir, the plans for the rail contract are a go,” Charlie said, dropping the files on the table and standing at attention.Victor smirked. “Isn't it funny how many unnecessary people we have working on this project? Someone's job is just to check for grammar errors, and yet we still have to pay him.” He signaled for Charlie to bring the files. “You have a few people in your department whose job it is just to agree with you.”“I am sorry about that, sir.” Charlie handed over the folder to Victor, unsure of what else to say.Victor received the folder and dropped it beside him. "And what about Jacob?" he asked. That's what mattered m
Victor smirked, seeing that he had gotten her attention. “You never asked, did you?”“You are telling me that Jacob was married to Madison King?” Mrs. Prescott said, hoping he’d say otherwise.“Well, you are no stranger to the Kings,” said Victor.“ I never attended her wedding. Rebecca never made a deal about it. She never invited anybody.”“I wonder why?” Victor flaunted a victory smirk. Mrs. Prescott's friendship with Rebbeca King has always been complicated. Everything about that friendship was just for pictures and gossip on the blogs. Two wives of billionaires pose for the camera as best friends
"What did you say to him?” Christine attacked him while Victor was having a conversation with another guest. Victor smiled at the guest. “Sorry, if you will excuse me?” The guest nodded and walked away. “What did you say to Jacob?” Christine asked, her voice not as loud as the first time. “I don’t understand what you mean.” Victor looked around, as people were already looking towards them. “But if you haven’t noticed, you are ruining your wedding and ultimately the reputation of the Prescotts.” “You are a full-time asshole, aren’t you?” She shook her head. Victor laughed. He took a step forward. “Listen, Christine. There should be at least sixty people at this wedding. Half of them are investors and, if you must know, nobody cares about gossip more than investors. Funny, I am not even an investor and I already know you argued with Jacob before he left. If I were you, I’d focus on holding on to the little respect this wedding still has left.” “Victor,” Christine poi
“You leave,” Victor said. Jacob shook his head with his eyebrows lowered. “What do you mean by leave?”Victor pressed his lips down. “hmm.” He took a step closer to Jacob. “I’d double whatever she has given you,” Victor said. “I’d give you twenty million dollars if you leave now.” Jacob dropped his head. Money…“What do you say, huh?” Victor shook his hands in his pocket. “It could be yours right now.”Jacob raised his head. “Money,” he said. “It’s always about money, isn’t it?” Victor raised his eyebrow and said, “I’d tell you what? Forget about the twenty million dollars. I’d double that. Forty million dollars. It could be wired into your account immediately.” Jacob dropped his head, lifted it, and leaned towards Victor with his eyebrow raised, “If you will excuse me, I have a wedding to finish.” He was about to walk out when Victor called him again. “Everyone has a price.”Jacob nodded, backing Victor, “Well, meet the first person you will know that doesn’t.” He started to walk
“Madi” Alex tapped her from behind. She slowly turned to face him. Her face has gone pale from what she just saw. It was one thing to hear about it and it was another to see it. “We are leaving,” Mrs. King said, looking at Both Madi and Alex, “And…”“Lady King?” Mrs. Prescott called, walking up to her.Mrs. King turned slowly, pretending to have a smile on her face. “Lady Prescott?”“I’d love for you to meet Christine and her husband.” Mrs. Prescott looked to where the couples were and they were already swamped by another family. She turned to Mrs. King “Well, when they are a little less occupied.” “And we’d love to,” Mrs. King said, “but sadly, we have to be on our way already.” “Oh, so soon?” Mrs. Prescott frowned. “Yeah, something came up,” Mrs. King forced a smile, “But, hey, I promise I’d come visit you one of these days.”“Are you okay, Madison?” Mrs. Prescott asked. Madi smiled. Mrs. Prescott must have caught her still staring at the couple. At Jacob. “Yes,” she said, "Yes
“Mrs. Prescott,” she said as she approached her.Mrs. Prescott, holding a glass of red wine between her fingers, helped close up the gap between them. She also had a smile on her face, one that seemed to have been plastered on it for a while. “Where is your mother?” Mrs. Prescott asked.“I am right here, Lady Prescott,” a voice teased from behind her.Just perfect—a lovely reunion, Madi thought. “I didn’t quite see you there, Lady King,” Mrs. Prescott teased back.The three women soon started to talk about random things from old times. Mostly two women. Madi was more or less just there because she had to; she laughed when she had to and spoke only when she had to. After all, she could not relate honestly to what they were saying. It's always about them talking about knowing each other's kid when the kids were still young, perhaps when the kids grew their first tooth, and when one came to the other's house and something totally not funny—yet they'd laugh- happened. "So, Madi,” the at
“It’s your wedding,” Bob said, “not mine?”“Just answer me, goddamn it!” Jacob shouted. “Red or brown tie?” He went to the mirror and placed each on his neck to see which went the best.“That’s not even red, Jacob; that’s like oxblood or something,” Bob said, biting his hot dog.“Really, but Franklin said it's red.” Jacob said as he turned to him, “Are you serious? The best time to eat is now.”“What?” He said with a huge chunk in his mouth, “I am the best man , not the best woman.” The ketchup from the hotdog dropped on his white shirt. “Aagh, fuck.”Jacob turned back to the mirror and sai
Jacob sat with his hands clenched together in a corner of the giant sitting room. Different artworks, probably from the eighteenth century, hung on the wall: angry-looking paintings and heavily bearded sculptors of philosophers. But of all the paintings and sculptors, there was one that he could not get his eyes off. It hung slightly at a height of roughly three feet. The painted man had a fierce look that was not so different from the rest of them in the room, except this one was not from the eighteenth century. He looked different, except for the windpipe he held in his mouth. And the face looked like... “That is my father,” Christine said. Jacob turned. She was standing by the door frame. “I did not realize you were there.” “He looks scary, doesn’t he?” Christine said as she stretched a document to him before getting seated. “You know,” she continued, “sometimes I think it’s his fault I never found love. I mean, look at his face.” She laughed, then looked at the portrait.