The Billion Dollars Revenge

Chapter 3

“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.