Chapter 04
“I do not owe anybody any apology and if someone has to apologise then it should be you, Mr Augustus,” Ethan uttered without hesitation.
He didn’t know where this sudden confidence came from either but he’s never going to apologise to someone who should have apologised to him instead.
Mr Augustus felt like this guy is really pissing him off yet he liked the fact that he’s one interesting guy, “How much would it take you to bow down to me?” He asks.
He didn’t even want to care about the things that have been going on for a while now, right now he’s after him making sure he worships him.
Ethan could not believe his ears, he’s going to go this far? “I’m never going to bow to you no matter how much you offer me” He cuts him off.
That’s something he won’t do especially with someone like him, he just wants to mock him and make him understand that money is everything.
“Are you sure about that?” He chuckles with his hand raised out from his pocket, snapping his finger, his girlfriend gets down from the car almost immediately carrying a suitcase.
Money is everything in this society they are but he’s not going to let money bring him down on his knees before this man.
“Tina, open the case!” Mr Augustus ordered and she opened the case full of dollar cash immediately.
Ethan swallowed hard and stood on his feet, remaining unshaken, “He’s too much for a pauper like him huh!” Tina scoffs.
Another car drove in from the entrance of the car pack, it was a sight to behold.
The cars are on another level from Mr Augustus' own and he felt small instantly, Ethan wondered how many people he might have worked for in his life.
If he wants to be a slave to money, here is another man who seems to be richer than Mr Augustus himself and the thought of this makes him chuckle.
Ethan believes no matter how much they would be offering him here today he can get more than that from the black card in his pocket.
The man walks down with his wife beside him, “Mr Bill!” Mr Augustus called, unbelievable.
“It’s so unexpected to see you here” He says to the person who didn’t give him a reply.
The man looked at Augustus and then at Ethan’s wondering what could be going on between the two, Ethan looks cheap!
He seized him from head to toe and started feeling nauseous, “Did you not bathe for days? Tell me, do they pay to get water to bathe now?” He asks disgustingly.
He had been rolled on the floor earlier when Augustus almost hit him with his car.
“That’s not a way to talk to someone” Ethan said with a frown regardless of who he might be, his friend slowly walked away from his side.
He’s not going to be one of his friends into this type of crime because he has family at home waiting for him.
“Tell me, how am I supposed to talk to someone who looks starved, homeless and to top it all you look like someone who is begging in the gutters down the straight” Mr Bill said.
Ethan almost looked down at himself to be sure all this quality befit him truly, “what are you doing with him?” Mr Bill asks,removing his dark shade.
“This dirty hag server is trying to tell me that money isn’t everything” Augustus laughed at his own words.
“Oh please he’s just bluffing! If he wants money tell him to work for one and stop his silly jokes” Mr Bill laughs.
“Really? You know money is a lot in this life but what I try to let Jim understand is that money won’t bring me down on my knees before him, never!” He stood his ground.
“This looks like one silly little man that I have once dealt with! Boys!” He calls and his boys get down from the other cars.
Mr Bill feels like getting him to knee and offering him money is tactless and a waste of funds , “Make him beg to keep his worthless life!” He ordered.
Ethan pushed the card and cellphone inside his pocket very well just to make sure that they are safe before he starts stretching his fingers.
He felt like he could just do this all day, they charged at him at once and he started fighting off, his martial skills suppressed what Mr Bills was expecting immediately.
Who exactly is this young man? It’s as if he works with seconds the way he has bitten them all almost immediately.
He takes his best men out with him and they disappoint him? “You!” He yells and before he could look back at Augustus.
He already steps into his car ready to leave, “it’s not over yet! Mark my words!” Mr Bills felt even more pissed.
He can’t believe what was happening right there, he walks away, His girlfriend scoffs almost immediately,
“I see no reason why we should be bothered by this nobody!” Elena said and glared at Tina who tried to talk to her.
Tina dial Gracie his wife's line almost immediately on her phone while Ethan walks away with his injuries.
Few minutes later,
He walks down into their mansion and the first person he sets his eyes on is Mrs Richard, Gracie's mother.
“Where are you coming from?” The old lady snapped at him while he remained silent.
“You have nothing to help this family but you have to cause more trouble!?” She scoffs and Mr Richard clears his throat.
“He should have watched the old man try to get into our daughter's pants instead?” Mr Richard intervened and his wife went mute.
He greeted the two of them and walked upstairs to their room.
“What are you doing here?” Gracie snapped at him immediately as he walked in.
“Gracie, look I’m sorry about everything that happened but ... .don't even dare to apologise to me right now cause it’s useless! Do you know what you have done?” She half yelled.
She’s sure he knows how his actions would affect her business badly but how could he still do it without thinking when he has nothing to offer.
“Here!” He said bringing out the black card and cellphone, “I will take care of everything and protect you Gracie, trust me please” He tried to make her understand.
“Don’t do anything! I won’t take something from you that would put me in trouble because we are divorcing!” She snapped at him.
“Trust me Gracie! They can’t affect the business, I will take care of everything” He says to her but she shakes her head in disapproval.
“Get out Ethan, I’m not sharing this room with you tonight, get out!” She said to him and he slowly walked out of the room.
He really hopes that she would give this a second thought, he thought and walks to the guest room to pass his night.
T.B.C
Chapter 05Ethan glanced at Gracie once more but she neglected him like she never saw him at all, he started feeling bad for everything he did that moment.He should have done it but the deed is already done now, “Gracie please” He hurriedly walks to her front.“I’m really sorry about everything please, I should have get angry and talks to them anyhow, I know it’s going to affect the family business yet I did it and I feel bad now”Gracie looked down on him and tries to work away but he held onto her tightly, “please don’t leave like this just hear me out”“See I promise I’m a changed person now, it’s never going to happen and I will keep my anger in control” He apologises over and over again.Gracie on the other hand didn’t know what to say to him, she hurt and didn’t understand why Ethan had to go to such length.The business would be affected badly even more than it is already with the two men he has made any enemy with and now she wonders how she’s supposed to fix it.He’s just to
Chapter 06Ethan walks slowly to the door, he was expecting to see his mother in-law's fierce face staring down at him again and yelling at him.He frowned when Gracie stood by the door staring at him with some expression he can’t seem to understand.“Here” She said, bringing out a card from her bag, staring at him with a little smile.“Why would you give me this?” He frowned, unsure of what to say next exactly, he might not be rich but these days have been working for him well in his profession.“It’s my grandmother's birthday you know right? You can also get yourself some gift from it, the card contains just $50,000” She replied shortly.“You don’t have to do this Gracie, it’s bad enough that I can’t give you all what you want. Why give me this?” He felt bad for his incompetence already.He’s ready to change all that soon and make sure Gracie herself would be surprised and sees him in a new light soon.“I never said it’s for you, I said for my grandmother but just make sure you get
Chapter 07The noise outside the door keeps getting even more intense and Ethan knows he has to do something about it before they bring down the door.“Calm down ladies, I’m going to open the door now and see what they want from us” He said to them.Verena panicked and so did her friends, “They sound dangerous and I’m afraid” One of the girls said.“They are not going to do us anything okay?, I’m going to see to it” Ethan assured them and slowly reached others to the door knob.He didn’t want to cause any trouble besides what if it’s Gracie boss’s men that had traced him down here? He’s just going to be another reason why these girls would be in trouble.He opens the door and faces the hefty guys, they seem like just area boys hoodlum.He steps outside the house and faces them, “what do you guys want?” He asks them boldly without any fear.They are about six in number and look much taller and built than he is,he didn’t really care about all those things though.After all they might al
Chapter 08They finally get to the venue, Ethan finds a clear space and packs the car.He packs the car and they all get down while he went to the boot to bring out the gift he had prepared for Gracie’s grandmother.They inside the mansion all together, Ethan couldn’t help but marvel at the place structure.It seems more like a ball party, yet classics type just like his in-law would always do.It’s beautiful and everything is different, everyone at one table or the other drinking and chatting between themselves.He is stuck beside Gracie and they look for a spot together to take their seat, they finally get a table at the high table, where they are served drinks almost immediately.“What’s the gift you have prepared?” Gracie asked with her eyes glued on the flat thing he had wrapped up.She has been giving it thought and guessing what it could be but couldn’t find a thoughtful one that he could have brought.He won’t bring something that won't be worth it right? She had specifically
Chapter 09Ethan stand in his ground that his painting is the original whole Damon on the other believes he must be insane claiming his own is fake.“Ethan really? What is your agenda wanting to disgrace our family name and bring us shame now” Mrs Richard is already in their table.He really do not have anything to say the old man he just know that he’s never going to back down one bit, his painting his real and he knows how much he had put into it.The whole crowd keeps murmuring, the certainty that Ethan had brought a fake painting is very high, many of them already knows he has nothing.Where would he see money to get original painting? How could he claim that his paintings is real? “You really wants to disgrace us after almost bring down my daughter business right?”Mrs Richard starts getting annoyed the more, Ethan is doing just great and perfect in bringing down their family name.Gracie is confuse as hell, how could he be adamant that his painting is real? He could have just a
Chapter 10.A few days later.Gracie is in the living room when the doorbell rings. The door opens and a man steps in. He’s shrouded in a black shirt. The top buttons are open. His sleeves hug his huge biceps. His well-toned chest makes the shirt taut against his torso.His legs are in a pair of trousers.“It’s been a while.” He grins as his hands hold the edge of his pockets.Gracie looks up. Her mouth falls open and her eyebrows rise.The man was Alex. Her best friend since childhood. He stands there smiling at the shock on Gracie’s face.“Alex! Is it really you? This is a surprise.” She stands up and moves to embrace him.She hugs him tightly and rests her head on his shoulders. “I have missed you. You have no idea.” She coos as Alex pats her head and holds the small of her back. “I’m here now.” He replies.She eventually untangles herself from him. “Wow!” She exclaims as she takes in his appearance. “You really looking good. I guess you have a lot of ladies fawning over you.”
Chapter 11.“Calm yourself down!” Ethan cautions Gracie. His body is slick with sweat and blood. He places his fingers on Alex’s neck to check for a pulse. His countenance relaxes when he feels a pulse. Ethan proceeds to the other end of the ring. He sits down there and watches Alex closely.“Any minute now…” Ethan murmurs under his breath as he rests his head on the ring beams. Gracie kneels beside Alex, her face distraught with worry. “ I told you guys this wasn’t a good idea but your egos wouldn’t make you listen.”“Gracie…” Alex groans as he finally regains consciousness.“Look who decided to join us.” Ethan teases him with a sardonic smile. “You are pretty good. It’s not every day someone takes me out in a fight.” Alex replies groggily as he holds his head and sits up.He tries to stand up, “ I wouldn’t do that if I were you. At least not yet.” Ethan advises him.Gracie glares at Ethan as he walks away.“ I didn’t know your husband is such a good fighter. I wonder where he le
Chapter 12.A few days later. The sunlight streaks across the vast ocean of the blue sky heralding the dawn of a new day. The rays of the sun illuminate the room, giving it a golden hue. Ethan wakes up to see he is alone in the room.He gets up and goes to the window. Lines etch on his forehead as he stares out the window and runs his fingers delicately on the sill. “Ahh. The magnificence of sunrise.” He muses with a grin on his face. He watched with delight, the butterflies moving about poetically in search of their ambrosia. He smiles as the gleeful chirping of birds assaults his senses with pleasure. As long as he can remember, sunrise always held him spellbound. Moments later he goes out to the compound and takes in the ambience of the environment. He is with his sketchpad, brushes, and easel. He sets up the sketchpad on the easel and starts to paint. Painting has always been his retreat. When he paints, he lets go of everything that bothers him. It’s just him and his sketch