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The Billionaire's Torment Chapter 57. Murderous rage
Max's POV The meeting dragged on and on, taking me closer and closer to my wife's wrath. She must be mad at me for being late. I could not walk out of these two investors. The Ratliff Group of Airlines would sink if l did. If l bagged these two the company was on the home stretch.My father did the company dirty. Talking of my dad, two weeks ago l got a frantic call from him, he asked for a meeting. He caught the reluctance in my voice, “ please son, it's a matter of life and death, please this isn't time to feud, time is of essence.”His plea fell on deaf ears, l trusted a hyena more than l trusted that man. “ I'm busy, sorry l can't accommodate you.” I caught what sounded like a sob from his end, Peter Ratliff crying? Maybe my ears played tricks on me. “ Son, l will not back down, otherwise i will die with regret and i'm not prepared to do that. Nora's life is in danger, please come home, now if you can.”My wife's name propelled me out of my office, l raced to the car, Frank read
The Billionaire's Torment Chapter 58. Bury the hatchet
Max's POV Ralph shouted into the phone as he sprinted towards us, “ l need an ambulance right now at The Wolverine. Be prepared for gunshots wounds, hurry. Dr Reidy has been shot.” He bent down, retrieved the gun and tucked it at his waist. He tapped my shoulder, “ move aside, let me have a look.” I shook my head, clung tightly to my wife, l wanted to be left alone in my grief. Nora's body temperature was already dropping, her head lolled on my shoulder, her pale face lifeless. There was so much blood, l could not pinpoint the origin of the wound or wounds. All l knew was my wife was dead.“Don't just stand there, come and help me. I will hold him, you take Mrs Ratliff out of his hands.”Ralph wrenched my arms backwards, l tried to fight him. In my weakened state it was futile. At the same time the bodyguard scooped Nora up and ran to the car.Frank helped him put her in the back of the car then asked for permission with his eyes, l inclined my head. “ Let go. I'm going with my wif
The Billionaire's Torment Chapter 59. Eavesdropping
Cathy’s POV I heard through the grapevine Nora came back from wherever she was. My rage boiled over. Time did nothing to erase the betrayal. A friend who found it easy to snatch my man was no friend. She denied it, Selborne denied it.They both made a fool of me. I would deal with Nora first then Selborne next. On a normal day l was a good natured person. The problem arose if you crossed me, then I became a vindictive, heartless bitch.To defeat Nora, it was imperative l got strong allies. The photographer was a small fish, he bucked under pressure. I had to find someone who could go head to head with Max if worse came to worst.Max forgave Nora's betrayal, l could not. It was clear any person who hurt Nora was in the line of fire, Max would hurt or kill for Nora. I found my ally in Caesar Shaman, he did not know it yet. l just had to convince him he needed me too.I drove to the Shaman residence one Saturday morning. The imposing black gate looked menacing. I parked the car on the r
The Billionaire's Torment Chapter 60. Plan B
Cathy's POV I vomited my guts out, the security guard watched, his face passive. The stench of the vomitus must have been strong because he puffed furiously on his cigarette, the smoke swirled around him for a minute before being blown by the air.Now his face bore disgust, “ miss, you must clean that.” He pointed at my stomach contents. “ I know.” I replied, my voice scratchy. He pivoted, went into the security room for a bit and brought me a pail of water and a rag. I glared up at him, “ no gloves?.” “Where do you expect me to get gloves?.” His indifferent response was accompanied by him leaving. He entered his tiny room and shut the door behind him. I cleaned the hard surface as much as i could, left the cleaning materials there and wobbled to the security room. He flung the door wide on my initial knock. “ What more do you want from me, miss?.” His irritated scowl failed to intimidate me, “ my friend, the Dr. Is she alright?.” He took a deep breath, let it out on a sigh, “
The Billionaire's Torment Chapter 61. Caught
Max's POV Nora's eyes moved from my face and roamed around the room. She touched her bandaged arm, “ Max, l was shot, who shot me?.” The question threw me off guard. I thought the first thing that would cross her mind would be relief she was alive.A look passed between Ralph and I. “ It's Caesar, my love. He hired some thugs and then ran, we have no idea where he is now. Your husband will do everything in his power to catch the culprit.”Nora stared at me for a long time, mute. “ What's going on in your head, baby?.” I asked her when minutes ticked by and she remained unresponsive. She inhaled deeply and remarked, “ l maybe wrong, but l think you must track Cathy down. I don't think it's Caesar.” l sandwiched her hand between my hands. “ Baby, we have reasons to believe it's Caesar, he made threats against your life. After a short interval you are shot, it's him.”Nora searched my face, her gaze doubtful. “ Don't rule out Cathy, my gut feeling says it's her.” Once my wife made up
The Billionaire's Torment Chapter 62. Biological father
Max's POV My astonished gaze fell on my father, “ so soon?.” My dad hit his chest with pride, “you act as if you don't know your old man. I'm faster than a puff added if cornered. Caesar made me feel cornered.”I clapped his back, “ good job dad, l'm proud of you.” He took the compliment with a neutral face but his shining eyes betrayed him. “ Listen son, l think we should take shifts to guard my daughter in law. Go and do what you have to do, l will look after her.” I grinned at him. This was huge. My dad hated my wife, wished her out of my life. The turnabout was unexpected, l felt profound joy. The words he just uttered erased the animosity and grudge l harboured against him.You love my wife, l love you, you hate her l hate you more.After my dad snitched on his friend, l was still unsure of his motives, but his offer to protect my wife redeemed him in my eyes. I decided to let bygones be bygones. He and i would start on a clean slate. Shad or Ralph, l forgot who, advised me
The Billionaire's Torment Chapter 63. Onica Reidy
NoraThe voices l heard in my head confused me, was l dreaming or were they real? I struggled to peel my eyes, the sedatives did me in. My mind was foggy all the time. They pumped the damn things into my system because i suddenly started having nightmares. As l fought hard to open my eyes the bed dipped behind me, a scent l loved enveloped me, my body relaxed. The scent soothed my senses. I heard Max and his father talk about someone who fainted, it sounded like my husband hurt somebody. I hoped he caught my shooter. Before they mentioned names l heard Caesar Shaman's voice followed by one l knew so well and wished i did not, my mother's. So, it took this woman for me to almost die before she pitched up? I listened as my mother dropped a bombshell. Caesar Shaman sired me? Impossible, that thug could not be my father. Tears of betrayal seeped from my eyes onto the pillow. My mother slept with a man who wished to see me gone.I believed Caesar Shaman was inherently bad, l believed
The Billionaire's Torment Chapter 64. Where l belonged
NoraTo discover my father was a thug gutted me. My face burned, l threw the cotton wool l used to tone my face away. In my mood l forgot l was dealing with a delicate structure and scrubbed too hard. Initially l was angry that my mother allowed herself to be used by that despicable man. As the days went by and my anger subsided l put myself in my mother's shoes. She was a young naive girl, Caesar Shaman, a young man ready for marriage.He used his financial muscle to lure her, deceive her and have his way with her. To discover such a man played a part in my existence appalled me.I grew up without him, l was a full grown woman now, l did not need him. He attempted to meet me after my mother's confession, l turned him down. I finished my morning routine and joined granny and Onica Reidy in the kitchen. I loved weekends, especially Saturdays. Onica was staying with us for the time being. Granny and l used the dining room only if we got visitors. I hugged granny from the back and murm
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Chapter 78. Tormented
NoraAll my life and as a medical doctor and surgeon, l never witnessed anything like it. The days following Max’s accident were hell for me and him. He had horrendous nightmares. On the third week l was woken by beeping noises. I glanced fearfully at Max’s bed.He was sat on the bed, his arms reaching for an invisible enemy or whatever was in his mind. His eyes were clenched shut. I could not see his expression because of the bandages, but the way his shoulder muscles spasmed, l could tell.I quickly got out of bed, spoke to him in a low tone,” relax darling. It's a bad dream, relax.” I pushed his broad shoulders down. The next minute, a huge hand closed on my throat and started squeezing. Hard. Oh my God, not again. Images of the burly man at the farmhouse resurfaced. This time it was my husband who was straggling the daylights out of me. I beat at his hand frantically. The pressure increased. Air whooshed out of my lungs. Black spots danced in my eyes. A door opened somewhere, foo
Chapter 77. Is Maxwell Ratliff dead?
NoraThe weeks after the kidnapping incident crippled my soul. I functioned on a base level. Breathing, bathing, eating, nothing more nothing less. A particular scene gnawed at my mind. The near molestation. In the car to our destination, the men were so sure of themselves they did not blindfold me. They talked amongst themselves. Ignored us. My neck hurt from graning, l memorised the landmarks for later. The car stopped in front of a dilapidated farmhouse. The men shepherded us inside. I took note of my surroundings. This must have been a storage room. It was one big room, with numerous windows. I observed a new mattress on the floor, a covered plate beside it, plus bottles of water. My kidnapper pointed to the mattress,”make yourself comfortable Mrs Ratliff. No bullshit from you. You behave, you and I will get along fine. Misbehave, l will not be happy. When i'm angry l do nasty stuff. Are we on the same page?.” He pushed me, l fell on my knees. The mattress cushioned the impact
Chapter 76. The explosion
MaxI reached the chopper in record time, my dad right at my heels. We started the machines and flew at top speed to the farm house. I put down the chopper in the middle of the road leading to the house. The tall weeds on both sides of the road swayed and bowed under the chopper’s draft. My men trotted over as soon as they spotted the chopper, with Nora and Kidlan in their arms.My dad landed a further distance from me. I watched the men carefully like a hawk,”careful!. Don't bump them into anything.” l barked at them.“Always sir.”l happened to glance out of the window and saw my men bringing the two bastards to my other chopper. They seemed more dead than alive, good.I lost it,”stop right there! What do you think you are doing? Don't disrespect me. There will be consequences. These scumbags harmed my family and you want me to take them along? In my property? Put them back where you found them.”My dad's face surfaced in front of me,”son, calm down. They have to live before they ar
Chapter 75. Black thoughts
MaxI zoomed in on aisle three because l saw someone who resembled Nora. Yes, there she was. The camera showed my son playing around in the trolley. He held a bag of cookies in his small chubby hands. A slender man, seemingly in his thirties, walked in a leisurely manner towards the trolley. He side eyed my wife, whose concentration was on the fridge. The man’s hand shot out, a black cloth visible in his hand. He snaked his arm around my kid’s shoulder and covered his face for a moment.Blood rushed to my face, which heated at once.I patted my cheeks with shaky hands to bring the temperature down. Black thoughts swilled in my head. The urge to hurt Selborne fatally surfaced in my heart. My heart rate accelerated. My chest tightened, it felt like it was about to explode. My gaze roamed around the room. Everyone in the room was going through it. The manager's face was pale, she crammed her fist in her mouth, l think to prevent her from screaming. The security guard had a hand on the
Chapter 74. Camera room
Max On our way back from the mountains, l had to remind myself from time to time l was flying the chopper. I lost concentration so many times. My gut told me Selborne was up to something. His insolent demeanor forewarned me to gear up and be prepared. The how, when and where remained a mystery but a problem was coming my wife's way. I could feel it. As the chopper crested the mountain range my anger and fear intensified. My anger stemmed from Selborne's assumption that he could hurt my wife and go scott free. He was about to see the other side of me if he dared to try. When it concerned my loved ones humanity left me. I turn into an unrecognisable beast. The fear stemmed from the unknown time frame, will he do it tomorrow, next week or next month? The feeling left an unpleasant taste in my mouth. We arrived in Bluewaters at five o'clock in the afternoon. Shad hurried home, Robert to The Falcon. He planned to leave the following day, we had a meeting later today. I heard noises in
Chapter 73. Snatched
NoraCaesar recovered quickly for an old man. Three weeks after his accident he was discharged from the hospital. I visited him before then. He brightened when he spotted me at the door. “Come in my child”. He beckoned. ‘my child?’ lt sounded weird but fulfilling at the same time. All my life l was surrounded by women. My mum was a deadbeat mum, but l knew she was out there somewhere. No wonder children with two parents seemed superior to us who come from single homes. The feeling of your father acknowledging your existence is unparalleled. I quickened my steps. Upon reaching the bed l got confused. Do l hug him or just say hello? Deep down l needed the hug more than him. To experience the love of a father.He solved my dilemma, his arms extended towards me. I fell into them and hung on tight. His ‘ouch’ reminded me he was still recovering. I eased out of his arms and smiled down at him,”sorry. I got carried away. I'm just happy you're ok.” He grinned back. Oh my god. His smile mir
Chapter 72. Chicago
Selborne The cold wind made me hurry to my house. Out of the corner of my eye, l saw one of Shad Rolan's hotel cars. I never went to the hotel, Shad was Max’s friend. I valued my money, l refused to give even one cent to Shad. I ignored the car and proceeded to my house. It was a beautiful house with furniture but i hated it. Or rather l hated the place.I opened the kitchen door, fired the microwave and warmed last night's food, spaghetti and meatballs. I headed to the living room, switched the heater on. Summers here did not make much difference. They were slightly warmer than winters. You still had to wear your jacket in summer. Maxwell Ratliff did me dirty. I tried so many times to seek transfer, it fell on deaf ears. It hurt. Everytime l felt down, my mind gravitated towards Max. I wanted to gut him, bring him to his knees. His affluence made it impossible to take him on financially. I had to find other ways. The heater turned red, l extended my hands to warm them. Someone knoc
Chapter 71. In the mountains
MaxThe following weekend on a Saturday, l woke up early. Nora performed an emergency surgery last night. She laid on the bed dead to the world. Good, l did not have to explain my movements to her. I stressed all week, wondering how l would explain my absence on a weekend. I knew how her brain worked.She had the same mentality with Shad. I would be forbidden to confront Selborne. That's why l chose to sneak out of the house. I rolled out of bed, careful not to wake her up.I tiptoed to the bathroom, took a quick shower and donned a complete black outfit. Black jeans, t-shirt, black hoodie and black sneakers. In the bedroom l peered at my wife, still asleep, perfect. I opted not to kiss her, she might wake up.I ran out of the house, went to the back of the house to the hanger. Shad and Robert waited by the hanger’s big doors. “ Morning boys. You're true scout boys, you respect time.” Their burning eyes tracked me to the door,” you dog. You're not the only one who is married, you know
Chapter 70. Rattle his cage
Max“I'm fetching Martha from Robert's place. Are you coming with me?.” I questioned as l applied aftershave to my cheeks. I studied my wife’s face in the mirror while l waited for the answer. I could almost tell what her response would be.She shook her head,”no. I have things to do.”She and my sister did not see eye to eye. I smiled indulgently at her,” things like what? It's your day off.” She settled more comfortably in bed, gave me an irritated look,” woman stuff. You don't want to know about it, do you?.” I finished what l was doing and faced her,”no thanks. It sounds dangerous. I will try to get back tonight, if not l will let you know.” Nora’s brows furrowed,” don't you dare sleep over there. Everybody knows Robert is a casanova. I don't want him matching you up with some woman.”I reached the bed in three strides, flung the bedclothes aside and hauled her off the bed. I bear hugged her, put my chin on her fragrant hair,” fortunately for you, your husband isn't a casanova.