The Hidden Magnate: Cephas Walter

Chapter 5 - 500 Million Dollars.

Chapter 5 - 5 Hundred Million Dollars

“What’s wrong?” Cephas asked with concern written on his face. He had never seen her that way since he started working in her company. This situation was strange to him.

Ms Williams broke down in tears and sank in her office chair, he offered her a clean handkerchief to wipe her face.

He paced around her office then he sat down before he spoke. “It’s okay if you don’t want to talk, I am sorry for what happened.”

Ms Williams sniffed and dabbed her face with the handkerchief. “I am sorry for acting like a child. It’s unlike me to act like that.”

“You didn’t act like a child, sometimes crying helps to relieve stress.” He said to make her feel relaxed. Her eyes were red from crying but her makeup wasn’t ruined.

“It must be waterproof” he thought to himself. At least her makeup wasn't all over the place, the other members of staff won’t be aware of what just happened.

He didn’t like the way she was crying, he was eager to know what made her cry. She was important to him, someone that had comforted him all these while.

If Violet made him angry before he came to work, Ms Williams always gave him a reason to smile.

“If you don’t mind, I would still know why you cried? Did something happen?” He asked, not taking his keen eyes off her.

“No, it’s just that the company has been going through some financial troubles. If it weren’t for your help with our sales in the past year we would have gone under ,”

She paused to sniff.

“That’s how we were able to pay our rent and the staff .” She added.

“You never mentioned this to me.” he sounded like she betrayed him as he looked straight into her eyes.

“That was because…because…” She started crying again.

He could not blame her for not telling him, they never really spoke about business.

“Please don't cry,” He said from his seat.

He didn’t know if he should go close to her to give her a hug.He respected her that much and besides she was his boss.

“I am sure there is going to be a solution, a problem shared can get a quick fix,” He cajoled her to say what’s wrong.

“I’m sorry, I don't know why the tears keep falling.” She sniffed as she pats her chest.

Cephas was beginning to worry if she had breathing problems but he didn’t go to her. That was the only privacy he could offer her.

“Take your time, I'm here to listen.” he said softly.

“Mr Smith, the CEO of Smith and Co, wants to invest in our company so we can pay off our debts. He has given us one hundred million, we need the rest of the money to make things better.”

“Did he pull out of the investment? Then he’s requesting for the upfront?” He asked in surprise.

Mr Smith was a cunning old man. They had done business together in the past, he liked to sneak his ways around things and cheat people.

“No, he wants me to sleep with him so he can invest the rest of his money.”

Anger boiled in Cephas’s veins, he curled his hands into balls, if Mr Smith came anywhere close to him, he was going to get a punch.

He wondered why the rich like to reap off people beneath them. He had seen them act like that over and over again, many of them don’t even own up to a quarter of his properties.

"That old geezer said that?" Cephas asked furiously.

She nodded in response, "It took a lot to get him to agree to this, and now he is asking me to sleep with him."

He could read anger and frustration in her voice. He didn’t want this to slide. Mr Smith had asked his company representative to buy him meals and gifts before he discussed business with them.

“How much is the rest of the money?” He asked authoritatively. Even Ms Willams was surprised by his tone.

“200 million dollars. No bank will let me take a loan for that amount of money.

“I will give you the 500 million dollars instead of 300 million right now to save this company and in return I will get 50% of your profits annually, does it sound like a good deal?”

He searched her eyes for an answer but she seemed to be fascinated by what he was saying but she wasn’t giving him a response so he continued.

“Without Mr Smith’s help or anyone else, I can help this company climb up to the number one in the bakery industry.”

His revelation took her by surprise, “How can a mere delivery boy say he’d invest 500 million dollars? Did he rob a bank?” She thought to herself

“I know you are cracking jokes to make me feel better but it’s a bit expensive, I don’t think I feel any better right now.”

“That’s no joke, Ms Williams, I mean every word I said.Have I ever lied to you in my life?” He questioned her.

It was true that he never lied to her but how can he even see that amount of money, something that was gathering money to buy his wife a designer bag just yesterday, how do he have 500 million dollars.

“I don’t want this kind of joke, I’m sorry, Cephas.”

“Why would I joke about this situation? 500 million dollars?” He scoffed.

Where will he get that amount of money from? He is not acting like he is lying, as his boss, she could not even raise ten million dollars in a month.

“If you had that ridiculous amount of money, why were you working as a delivery man?”

It is impossible that someone owned that amount of money and was still suffering as a delivery man who earned daily wages. Did he win the lottery? Or he robbed a bank?

“I had my own reasons, I might not be able to share them now but in future. Please, I don’t want you to sleep with Mr. Smith. You don't deserve that.”

“Have you been lying this whole time about who you truly are ?”

“I have never lied to you, it’s much more complicated than you think, Ms Williams. This is the last time I’d be asking, do you want the deal or not?”

“I have always taken you as a hardworking and a good man but you are starting to sound like you don’t know what you’re doing. More like a mad man.”

He was offended by what she said but he understood that she had her doubts.

She quickly reversed her words when she realized how harsh it was.

“Look, I’m sorry if I sounded mean. I can’t just bring myself to believe that you have that amount of money without being suspicious or curious.”

“I know.”

“No, you don’t. I know you don’t understand me either because you are not answering my question.”

“Ms Williams, if you don’t agreed now, your company might crumbled and don’t tell me you want settle for that disgusting old man,”

“I won't sleep with him,” She replied to him then she faced her computer and started turning a few things.

She printed the papers out and put a bind on then she swung it towards him. “Check that contract.” she tapped her table as her heart continued to pound hard.