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The Billionaire's Torment Chapter 1. Job hunting
NoraI, Nora Reidy, was a 25 year old medical student. This was my last year as a student, when the results come out l would be a neurosurgeon. I had a mother but l might as well be an orphan. My mother abandoned me for a man and alcohol as a toddler, leaving me in the care of my grandmother, Sophia Reidy.Granny was now very sick, she needed a kidney transplant. Our dire family situation prevented her from getting the much needed treatment. We were dirt poor but happy and content. Granny's illness threw our little family into a spin. Joy fled from our lives. I needed to make an immediate plan. Right now l was on my way to a job interview at Ratliff Restaurants. I had to at least try to raise funds for her kidney transplant. I turned a corner and the Ratliff offices came into sight. I uncapped my l liter bottle filled with iced water from home. l could not afford to buy bottled water. I took a long refreshing drink and studied the building. Two glass doors faced me. l craned my neck
The Billionaire's Torment Chapter 2. Fire her
NoraMaxwell Ratliff entered the room with urgent footsteps. Did this guy follow me here?My eyes tracked his movements as he circled the table. He stood beside Mrs Ratliff.He raised his head and his sharp gaze fell on my face. He frowned and scowled down at me. I pressed my shoulders against the chair and straightened my legs to make myself smaller.Marylin beamed at me. “Nora, this is my son Max Ratli..” This man was my employer's son? Why did l not think of it.? The same surname on both their businesses. Maxwell removed his dark eyes from my flushed face. He addressed his mother, his voice irritated.“ What is she doing here?.”His deep hostile voice inquired. Marylin glared at her son. “ What? Max behave please, this is Nora Reidy, my new employee.”Max stared daggers at me,“ fire her.” Fire me? Before l even started? The man was not only rude, he was also cruel. I gave my employer a quizzical look. She was staring at her son with burning eyes."Why would l do that, l don't meddle
The Billionaire's Torment Chapter 3. Marriage proposal
Nora I was supposed to start working today. I opted to forfeit it because of two reasons. Firstly l poured water on my employer's son. My embarassed self recoiled at the thought of meeting him regularly when he visited his mother. The second reason was my employer, her offer put me off. If l got married, it would be for love, not convenience. I watched as Maxwell Ratliff bounded up the steps. I mentally observed my house from a stranger's perspective, chipped blocks, rusty roof, a house that appeared ready to give up the ghost anytime. His presence made me uneasy, to meet me at his workplace was one thing, to follow me home and witness my living conditions was another. My cheeks flamed with embarrassment. He halted in front of me, l peered at him. “ Hello.”He greeted, his voice deep and resonant. “Hi, armored SUVs, is that not an overkill?.” l joked to hide my uneasiness. He looked over his shoulder,“ no it's not, my father was nearly killed sometime ago. The culprits mistook h
The Billionaire's Torment Chapter 4. The contract
NoraI found Max pacing up and down on my porch, his anxiety showed through a deep frown and slitted eyes. I called him in. He remained standing. “ I will marry you.” I mumbled, my eyes on the floor. “Sorry what?.” I raised my voice, almost shouted, “ l said l will marry you.” A big smile split his face, dammit he was a handsome beast. Granny got up, “ well kids, l will leave you to talk, l need to rest.”Max went to her and shook her hand, “thank you Mrs Reidy, I will start the ball rolling, before the end of the week you will have your surgery.” Tears of gratitude filled my granny’s eyes. “ Thank you young Ratliff, you have no idea what you have done.” Max patted her back and steered her towards her room.He came back and towered over me, “ let's go to the Ratliff Restaurants, we will talk there.” “ Why can't we talk here?.”He eyed the sofa like it was a poisonous snake. “ Ok let's go, let me fetch my phone.” I informed my granny we were leaving.As we approached the cars, a
The Billionaire's Torment Chapter 5. Artificial insemination
MaxMy secretary Zoey Catland and l settled into Ted Reese's office. We haggled over the price of one of my helicopters Ted wished to hire for a year. You see, apart from the airplanes, l owned helicopters. Three were leased to the government, on a yearly basis for an astronomical amount.Ted needed two. AS we went back and forth with the negotiations, Ted’s landline phone rang. He answered and passed the phone to me. I frowned, irritated. The phone call floored me, my wife was at the reception area, looking for me. My wife? Since when? I hoped Nora was not going about telling people l was her husband. What did the troublesome girl want now? I gave permission to let her come up. She arrived in a fluster, her face flushed, hair all over the place, she resembled a Tasmanian devil. Her eyes raked over Zoey before she greeted everybody. So that was the reason Nora followed me to the meeting? Zoey? Women and their endless tricks, which included monitoring.It was one of the many reasons
The Billionaire's Torment Chapter 6. Heartbreak
NoraOn Sunday morning, my best friend Cathy, brought a salon to my house. The whole works. By the time the lady finished, my usual lackluster hair gleamed with health like Max’s. The makeup lady would come tomorrow morning before I got married. “ So, how does it feel to marry a total stranger.?” I boxed her ears," don't start, you know why l'm doing it.” “ l know but, knowing doesn't make me wonder less. Where is granny's dress?.”“ Move your ass, you are squashing my dress. Use your head, granny is very sick. Max's mother has invited us to her restaurant after the signing. You can't come, family only.”Cathy pouted,“ but l'm your family, l will stand in for granny.”“ Nope.”“So, tomorrow night, please check everything and report back to me. From size to style. I want the dirtiest details.” I put on my earrings, looked at Cathy’s face in the mirror, “find your own man, get married, l'm not the kiss and tell type.”Cathy pursed her lips in disappointment. Intimacy between couples
The Billionaire's Torment Chapter 7. Payback
Max's POV I tossed and turned, sleep eluded me. Nora Reidy brought out the beast in me, l had no idea why. Tonight l hurt her feelings deliberately, l wanted her gone as soon as possible. The woman who would grace my bed would be my choice, not someone who was thrown on my lap. Marriage was not for everyone, some people like me did not have a fundamental need to reproduce, which was the main reason for marriage. I got s.x whenever i wanted, there was no need to marry for it.Nora was a beauty, with a stunning figure, that big butt made my mouth water, that was my secret to know not hers. The way she glowed today still bothered me, her intoxicating scent refused to leave my mind. Dammit, l was a confused man. Her image refused to recede to the back of my mind, her hurt gorgeous face tormented me. Maybe l went overboard with my harsh comments tonight, l was a rude ass who disregarded other people’s feelings sometimes but tonight l was worse. At midnight as the sleep continued to flee
The Billionaire's Torment Chapter 8. Conspiracy
Roseline Shaman burst through the living room doors of her parent's house. She halted in the middle and screamed, “ dad, mum.”The elder Shamans descended the stairs in a hurry. Angela Shaman tripped in a haste to reach her beloved daughter. Her husband caught her in time, they reached the living in a minute and surrounded their daughter.Angela hugged her, Caesar Shaman patted her back. “ What's wrong baby, tell daddy.” “ Dad l'm done for, my heart is in tatters. Max is married.” “ What?.” Roseline 's parents said in unison.“ Tonight l swung by the restaurant and found Martha there. She told me Max had just left with his wife. He got married this morning, mum l'm dying inside.” Caesar Shaman loved his daughter with all his heart, anything that threatened her happiness he crushed. He had connections in the Mafia, he used those connections as much as he could, to thwart his opponents.Pity Max was out of question, he was his future son in law otherwise he would squash him. He whip
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- The Billionaire's Torment
Chapter 65. Confession
NoraChapter 65. The meeting Nora“So, when do you want to meet Caesar? There's no pressure, ok baby?” Max questioned, as he trimmed his beard. His eyes found mine in the mirror. I was babysitting him as he made himself presentable. “ I think the sooner l do it, the better. How about tomorrow evening?.” Max lathered his face, “ it's fine. Who would you prefer to be there?” He poured water onto his face then wiped his face. “ I know who l don't want there, Angela. Everyone else is welcome.” Max dropped the towel in the washing basket. He took my hand and we headed to the kitchen for breakfast.Matilda's breakfast spread made my salivary glands ooze. We dug in with gusto, “ Max, don't expect much from this meeting. I'm agreeing because you convinced me it will save my life. I have zero feelings for that man. He doesn't evoke a father -daughter feeling inside me. He leaves me cold emotionally.” I poured out my feelings.The thought of an interaction between Caesar and I gave me gooseb
- The Billionaire's Torment
Chapter 1 Job hunting
NoraThe metered taxi deposited me, Nora Reidy, at the corner of my intended destination. My neck worked overtime as l studied my environment. Downtown Bluewaters was cleaner, less crowded than my noisy, overcrowded stomping ground, the upper part of town.The upper part of town hosted a cauldron of races, blacks, whites, brown. Any colour you know, Bluewaters had it. Here the prominent race appeared to be white.The stationary and moving cars looked expensive. The few people l saw on the street wore costly clothes, shoes and accessories. I felt naked in my washed out jeans, scruffy sneakers and a sweater that had seen better days.I turned a corner and the Ratliff offices came into sight. I uncapped my bottle filled with iced water from home. l could not afford to pay for the taxi and buy bottled water at the same time. I gulped down the water and studied the building. All my hopes were pinned on this building. If l failed to get the job today, my world faced total collapse.You see,
- The Billionaire's Torment
Chapter 27. Framed
MaxI stood at the window watching the traffic below when i heard a knock, somebody came in without permission. “Sorry Max for badging in your office without permission but things are bad, you are being made a fool of. I can't stand it.” I turned around at the voice of my sister. What was this instigator doing in my office? When the shit hit the fan, she chose her side, our father’s side.Her action came as no surprise, my father always took her side in my altercations with her. My eyes tracked her as she came across the room towards me.“Who is making me a fool?.” Her eyes glinted with an unnamed emotion. She flushed down to her neck. “It's painful for me to see you in this situation but it had to be done to protect you. Your wife is the gutter rat we warned you against.”My anger was instant. “Get out. From today onwards never set your feet in my office again..”l barked at her, she walked backwards, the fear in her eyes warring with defiance. As she put one foot behind the oth
- The Billionaire's Torment
Chapter 3. Marriage proposal
Nora I watched as Maxwell Ratliff bounded up the steps. I mentally observed my house from a stranger's perspective; chipped blocks, rusty roof. A house that appeared ready to give up the ghost anytime. His presence made me uneasy. To meet me at his workplace was one thing, to follow me home and witness my living conditions was another. My cheeks flamed with embarrassment. He halted in front of me, l peered at him. “ Hello.”His resonant voice greeted. “Hi, armored SUVs, is that not an overkill?.” l joked to hide my uneasiness. He looked over his shoulder, “ no it's not. My father was nearly killed sometime ago. The culprits mistook him for me, so they are a necessary devil.” My eyes widened, “ you are a Mafia Lord?.” His deep throated laughter surprised me. His scowling face yesterday made me think he was incapable of such an act. “ I'm not, but l have Mafia friends. We had a meeting that day with one of them. My dad went home while l finished up at the office. They ambushed my c
- The Billionaire's Torment
Chapter 10. Father in law
Nora's POV I sat on the living room floor, my back against the couch, earphones in my ears, eyes closed. Majority of my peers listened to hip hop, reggae, l preferred soul music.It soothed my spirit. Hands removed my earphones, a face appeared in my sight. “Come, let's go to my home office.”Max helped me to my feet. I followed him into his office. My wondering eyes saw a family portrait on the wall, “ who are the others, l recognise Mrs Ratliff, Martha and you.” Max came and stood behind me, his cologne swirled around me, “ the silver fox is my father, on the chairs are my grandfather and grandmother.” “ Do you have to always look fierce? You are scowling in the photo.”Max massaged my shoulders, when did he develop the need to touch me? But deep down l liked it, it was better than our usual cold treatment that we subjected our lives to.I turned and peered at him, “ so, what is it?.” Instead of answering he caressed my cheek, his eyes intent on my face. “ From now on keep a cale
- 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
- 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 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 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
