*** *** ***
"Where are you coming coming from?" Melinda, Alex mother stops him by the door, her hands akimbo.
"Not now mum." Alex muttered tiredly, walking past her, fully into the house.
"I heard Grandma Joan collapsed." Melinda continue, following closely behind him.
"Yes, that's true."
"And I also heard you called in the best Doctor."
"Yes, that's right mum!!"
"Why are you kissing those family ass?"
"I am not the only one doing that." Alex retorted, plumping himself on the nearest chair. "I learnt from a professional."
"Alex!!" Melinda screamed in horror.
"I'm sorry mum, can you just let me be?"
"I kiss their ass just so you won't have to and that's exactly what you are doing!"
"I like Alina mum, you know that. Why are you stopping me?"
"Last I checked, Alina is married."
"Not for long..." Alex smirked, "I will make sure of that."
"Please tell me it's not what I am thinking."
Alex stands instead and disappears into his room without saying a word, then comes out few minutes later in a suit and a briefcase.
"I'll be going to the company. I have things to attend to."
"What hospital is Grandma Joan in?" Melinda shouts after him, unable to catch up with his surprisingly long strides.
"Find that out yourself mum, your informant should tell you that." Alex shouts in response, zooming up.
"Ah!!" Melinda sighs exasperatedly.
All she wants is try to maintain a good relationship with both families although her husband is solely against it. He believes two rich families doesn't necessarily have to be friends and he kept true to his words.
"Thank God he is in Angola." Melinda muttered under her breath as she walked to get room to make a phone call.
"Where's the hospital at?" She asks, the instant the person from the other end answered.
"New Hope hospital."
"Have the address sent to me as soon as possible."
"Okay ma'am." The person replied, "Any else you'll like me to do?"
"Keep an eye on my son and report to me anything he does."
"Yes ma'am."
"Is Grandma Joan awake now?"
"No ma'am, not yet."
"Is anyone with her?"
"Yes, Mrs Bruce is with her."
Melinda twisted her face in disgust, she and Faithy are not exactly on the best terms, they only just tolerate each other's presence.
She hangs up and changed her clothes, stopped my the market first to get fruits for Grandma Joan before continuing her journey.
*** *** ***
"Where have you been?" Devin, Alex's P.A yelled as they walked into company together, he has been waiting for Alex for quite sometime.
"I didn't know you are in the right position to yell at me or question my movement!" Alex answers nonchalantly.
"I have been waiting for quite sometime outside!! For you! Did you forget today was the meeting?"
"What happened to you calling me?"
"I lost my phone." Devin muttered, "But that's not the case, what took you so long?"
"This is the fifth time you are losing your phone this year Devin and we still have 6 months for the year to end."
"It's not my fault." Devin defends, "but that's not the case."
"Whose fault is it then? Mine??"
"Alex!!"
"Today will be the last time I get you a phone. I can't believe you forget anything concerning your phone but never forget about football. Which is more important to you, phone or football."
"Obviously football." Devin mutters unconsciously.
"I have told you times without number, as a business man, your phone and laptop are the most important asset you can have on you, key word, most important. I don't know how I manage to put up with your attitude for the past two years."
"You know you can't do without me!"
"If you do something like that again. That would be end of our relationship."
"You said that last time." Devin scoffs.
"I'm serious about it."
"You were serious the last time too."
"Devin!!!"
"Alex..."
"Where are the investors?"
"They are waiting in the conference room. I managed to convince them to wait for you."
"How?"
"You don't need to know."
"What did you tell them Devin?"
"I told them while you were bathing, your head hit the wall and you were bleeding so you were rushed to the hospital."
"Won't they be surprised if they see me without an hair band?"
"I have a back up story for that already" Devin huffed.
Alex chuckled, glancing at Devin as he bounced while he walked forward, his hair bouncing at the back of his neck.
He had met Devin two years ago with a family friend who wanted to have nothing to do with him because he was a spoilt brat.
Alex had taken him in instead to work under him and so far Devin has been submissive, managing to rub off his carefree attitude on everyone around him.
Although Alex is still a bit surprised with himself why he wasn't ready to let Devin go or how he could never fire him even with the mistakes he makes at times that causes him to lose huge amount of money.
"When we enter, please try to act like someone just coming back from the hospital." Devin winks, dabbing a cotton wool on Alex temple, filled with a red liquid.
"What was that?" Alex frowns.
"Plan B." Devin winked, "Blood tonic."
Alex rolls his eyes and w enters the conference room.
"Hello everyone?" He greeted, "I'm Alex and I'll be your host today."
"Don't forget, hospital!" Devin whispers harshly.
"Ah right!" Alex continued, "Sorry for keeping you waiting, I had to stop by the hospital."
That wasn't exactly a lie.
"Hope you're are fine now, we heard you had an accident." One of the investors queried.
"It's quite fine." Alex smiled politely.
He glanced at Devin, ready to glare at him but the ashen look on Devin's face stopped him.
"What's wrong?" Alex asks.
Devin's usual face was filled with worry and fear.
"It's your father." Devin whispers.
"What happened to my father?"
"Your father met with an accident and it's fatal."
*** *** ***"You should drop by the hospital today." Alina said, drinking a cup of coffee as she prepared for work.She is working as a manager in one of her grandfather's company and under her rule, it flourished more than everyone's."The hospital?" Ryan raised an eyebrow, still in his sleeping robe, "Why?" "Because it is your responsibility, especially as Grandma Joan is your patient." "No, she's not my patient. I only helped with the little knowledge I had.""And because it is your job as a son in law." Alina continued, as if Ryan did not just talk."You know how much she doesn't want to see me."Alina smacked her lips together, making her lip stick even, "That never stopped you.""Yes, but...""No butss.... Also, stop by the market and get fruits for grannie.""I don't have money with me.""I left some money on the dressing table in our room.""Does that mean I can move back to the room now?" Ryan asks.Alina glares at him in response and walks out instead. "Bye." She added by
~ ~ Ryan ~ ~"What is going on here?" The owner of the coffee shop intervene, coming to the rescue of Asher. "Why were you here with a mad man in the first place?" The owner question.Asher glared at the man, "This is my boss you crazy mf!" He wanted to scream but Ryan abruptly released his grip on him and stood up."I'm sorry for taking your time, thanks for listening to my story." Ryan said robotically and walked out of the shop. Asher flexed his fingers unconsciously, trying to reduced the pain he was feeling from where he was gripped, "Try to mind your business next time?" He snaps at the owner and runs after Ryan but when he got outside, Ryan was nowhere to be found. It was like he vanished into thin air. Asher sent another curse word the owner's way, tuts as he makes his way to his car. The company ain't coming up the way he expected it to, and he is really ashamed to tell Ryan about it but now that Ryan would seen take over, it means he would start looking at things and tak
~ ~ Bruce Company Limited ~ ~** Alina ** I entered the company, still brewing in anger from my conversation this morning with my husband. Why wouldn't he just listen to me? Who ever has a stay home husband when they don't even have kids yet for him to look after. For the love of my life, I doesn't understand why he is so comfortable staying at home. "Are you okay?" Hayley asks, snapping her fingers and jolting me back to reality. I blinked rapidly, "yeah, what's it? Is something wrong?""I've been standing here for a while and you didn't even notice me! Are you sure you're okay?" "Oh... Yes, I am.""Is this about Ryan again?"I roll my eyes in response, Hayley knows practically everything about me and how I, the rich spoilt brat of the Bruce family who everyone had so much expectations for, I ever imagined get married to an actual prince and yet somehow, thanks to my Grandpa who is always bent on returning favors, I end up marrying a poor man who isn't even read to change. "Do
~ ~ Ryan ~ ~ Alina entered the house, fuming in anger, she kept muttering in coherent words under her breath. She had refuses to go to their family house to mourn.After the big drama with her mother, she had ignored her mother, kissed Javier goodbye, glared at me as if I was the cause of the problem in the room and stormed out of the room.As her husband, I silently paid my respect to Javier and went after her. Neither of us said anything to each other on the way home. People had different way of mourning and I didn't know if she wanted to be left alone or not. "It's fine of you want to heed to your mother words. I won't ask you to forsake your family because of me. Above all, family comes first."She whipped her head around, glaring at me silently."What?" I ask her, "Did I say something wrong?""Are you stup!d?" She fired angrily, "I just lost Grandpa and that's what you have to say?" " Do you want me to get you anything?" I countered back. She nods her head, "Your just as
~ ~ Ryan ~ ~ The family had sent a car to come take us to the location. It was an open burial and he was going to be buried on the family cemetery land. Mrs Bruce glared at me the instant we arrived at the scene. It wasn't only her, though, everyone in the family, not excluding Alina herself. I don't know which Alina is more mad about, the fact her favourite grannie is dead or a lady got me a set of clothes or that I am wearing that same clothes to get grandfather's burial.I don't own a suit and I needed to pay respect to the only family member that didn't treat me as trash and took me in wholeheartedly. I had so much things to do with Javier once I claimed my rightful place, but sadly, it's never going to happen. Everyone looked suspicious to me as I am damn sure Javier was murdered, and from my point of view, he knew who wanted him dead and yet he allowed it to happen. After Alina paid her last respects to him, and I walked forward to pay mine, I was stopped by two hefty bounc
** ** **Alina entered the family house, her face void of emotion.She noticed the family were gathered around like they were waiting for someone. Ryan was at the furthest corner of the room, watching them. "Glad to see you know your way back home." Alina's mother smirked."What is going on?" Alina asks with a frown. They were supposed to be mourning, why does the atmosphere seem tensed."We have been waiting for you." Sasha said in response."Me??" Alina's frown deepened,. "Why?""Hi Alina." Alex muttered, waving at her, "How are you coping with Javier's death?""You see.... Such a caring potential husband." Alina's mother snapped, "I doubt your so called husband has asked about your well being.""I won't stand here and tolerate you insult Ryan, mother.""She didn't say husband.." Sasha muttered to Alina's mother, "That's a good sign. She is probably having second thoughts and considering Alex.""Now that everyone is here, we may proceed." Mrs Bruce announced. "Proceed with what?
*** *** ***"Alina, meet Eleanor, and Eleanor meet my wife."Alina's heart fluttered in her chest, her stomach churning with butterflies and excitement. That was the first time Ryan openly a knowledged her as his Wife. Eleanor expression changed, her smile dimming."Oh... Hi.." she waved at Alina. "Hi..." Alina nutters quietly, suddenly feeling self conscious. Ryan sneaked a peek at her. She keeps acting different and doing unexpected things. He has always known her as a spoilt brat, he was even shocked when she agreed to marry him."Where are you both going?" Eleanor asks."Are you stalking me?" Ryan counters."No.... I came to see a friend down the road and I came across you. I see you are still wearing the clothes.." Ryan kept mute staring at her coldly, Alina stared at both of them, putting pieces together."She's the lady that got you the clothes?" "Right!" Eleanor interrupts, "I didn't get to say the main reason I stalked you earlier today."Ryan kept mute, raising an
*** *** ***"What do you mean is Seal is stolen?" Mrs Bruce yelled."I'm sorry, when I got back to my office after my lunch break, it was in disarray. At first I didn't know what was exactly stolen until this morning when I prepared to come here and read the will.""So you are saying without the seal we can't lay claim to our share of the inheritance?"Jeffery asks."The rule is only applicable to Alina. Every other person don't have a problem.""Seems you ran out of luck this time." Mrs Bruce said to her daughter.Alina kept quiet loss on what to say and angry."I want an autopsy performed on Javier." She announced.A resounding slap landed on her face instantly. A low gasp erupted in the room, breaking the silence.It was Grandma Joan!"How dare you say that filthy word!!?" Grandma Joan shrieked, "Autopsy on the dead and buried?!"Alina held her cheek, staring at her Grandma defiantly."What exactly is your problem?! These days you are becoming more of a rebel than a granddaughter.