3: Disaster is inevitable

Romantic love is a passionate

spiritual-emotional-sexual attachment between a man and a woman that reflects a high regard for the value of each other's person.

Nathaniel Branden

My eyes peel open and I realise that it's already morning and glancing at my alarm clock I see eight thirty-three am and I jump up from the bed and I run up and into the bath before turning on the shower. The cold water descends on my body and I run out shivering from cold before realising I'd hit the cold button instead of the hot or warm button. I stared at the buttons which the cold water is presently demarcating me from and I decided to fuck it and step into the cold shower then reach for the button and hit hot and the cold feeling is replaced by a hot feeling and I sign and relax a little.

Since the past two years that I've taken over the company, I've never gone to work late and now I'm going to be super late if I don't hurry. My eyes hurt a little and I remember it's from holding back the tears that wanted to pour out yesterday after I got into my room. Zander pushed me to my limit and I cracked, that's not on him, that's on me.

Yes a twenty-two years old girl marrying a seventy-nine years old man will spark a lot of controversies and in most cases, all eyes will be on the girl and I went through all the name-calling the past two years and I lived, but none of the things they accused me of was true. So I've lived my life since Lucas death paying less attention to what people think of me and more of making myself better and richer and untouchable and that isn't going to stop, ever.

I wrap myself up with the thick white towel and once dried, I get myself ready and pick out a black high waist skirt and a blue, silk, short sleeve top and I put on my six-inch black heel which I picked out of my closet. I applied my make-up and I decided to tie my hair into a neat ponytail before leaving the room.

I run into Lauren my housekeeper holding a basket of clothes on my way down the stairs and I smiled warmly at her.

Lauren is a middle-aged, black woman with brown-grey hair and adorable brown eyes and standing at 5'1ft I always feel too tall around her, but her plump shape compensates her height and makes her look really good for her age.

Lauren worked for Lucas as one of his house cleaners and after he died and everyone left, she decided to stay with me and two years later, she's still here.

"Morning dear, how was your night? You're running a little late for work aren't you" She asks returning my smile.

I nod and add a shrug, "Had a long day yesterday, but my night was great, thank you and yours?"

"It was okay. Breakfast is ready dear, I already gave Mr Black his."

My ear tingles at the sound of her talking about my brother, and the smile on my face vanishes. Yes, she knows Alexzander is my twin brother because I introduced them months ago, but saying she gave him breakfast means Zander is in my house, which also mean he spent the night here and didn't get the fuck out like I literally told him to.

"You don't look too happy, did something happen?" Curiosity makes itself known in her voice as she enquires.

"No, do not mind me," I dismiss casually. "I thought he left last night."

She shakes her head, "He was here before I came in, so I'm pretty sure he spent the night here. He probably misses you and wants to catch up, give him a chance."

He'll be catching something alright!

Zander is so stubborn that sometimes I want to bash his head in with a baseball bat. Like who stays in a house they were kicked out of just to piss the owner off? You know the name Alexzander Joe Black.

As I climb down the stairs, I spot no trace of him in the parlour so I make my way to the kitchen where Lauren has made me a quick breakfast and there he is, eating breakfast and just like yesterday, my anger returns but only this time there is irritation.

He looks messy, still wearing his yesterday clothes and his hair is no longer in the bun it used to be because he has loosed it as he lets it fall to his shoulders in the messiest way possible. His face looks rough, and his eyes, the little I see of them looks worn and tired like he had little or no sleep all through the night. There's no comparison between the Zander I saw last night with the Zander of this morning because of how different they look.

Well good, he deserves misery and more for all the things he said to me last night.

He looks up at me and almost choke on his breakfast and begins to cough terribly and he takes the glass of water before him and takes a big gulp of it before setting the glass down on the island.

"You know you have a lot of nerves staying the night at my house after what you said to me last night. If you were not my twin brother I would have called the cops the minute Lauren told me you were still here, but that would have-"

"I'm sorry, Alex," he says, cutting in and not letting me finish. "What I said last night was stupid, I was wrong and I'm not just saying that because I want you to resubscribe my cable TV, I want you to, but that's not why I'm sorry-" he pauses and presses his lips together. "What I'm trying to say is you have never judged me before even when everyone did. I just felt like a hypocrite for the way I was quick to judge. I saw his age and I remembered news going around about a girl who married a man who was old enough to be her grandfather just for his money."

I pick up the two toasted bread from the plate and slide them into my lunch box because there's no way I'd be able to make it for the board meeting if I decide to eat but he'll clear it all for you." "Anyone would have reacted the way you did, but you shouldn't have asked me how instead of jumping into conclusion."

"I'm sorry. I left six years ago and missed out on many wonderful years, I don't want to lose you again, so please forgive me. I'll try and keep working towards earning your trust and being there when you need me to be and be less judgemental when you open up to me."

I nod, I can't stay mad at him, not after the hell he seems to be in. "Fine, but I'm running late though, I've got to go."

I walk to the door then remember that I came in last night with two 4A papers with sketches on them and I turn around and make my way back to the couch where I sat yesterday.

"Looking for this?" I hear Zander ask, picking up the sketches from the other couch where he sat last night.

"Yes, thank you," I reply, feeling a huge relief to the fact that they are still in one piece rather than the fact that he's had them all night.

"He's hot," he compliments, shocking me beyond words. "Now I get why you got distracted, cause I would have been too." He adds with a devilish tone, causing my cheeks to warm up and shivers run down my spine as I think about what happened yesterday.

I walk over and collect the sketches from his hand, "Believe me these sketches have nothing on him, he's hotter and much more beautiful in person and I mean all of him." I reply, not denying what he just said and even adding more light to it, but my eyes drop when I realise I'm not going to let it happen again.

He smiles at me as though he can read my mind, "I may not have been around for a long time, but I've noticed how hard you work and how seriously you take your company, so I think he's exactly what you need for a distraction."

I give him a crossed look, wanting him to be on her ass a little instead of encouraging her to let go. "As tempting as he is, I can't afford a distraction, not right now and he succeeded in doing that yesterday, but I can't let that happen again."

All Alvin and Jacob Paige, Lucas's two stupid, spoilt and egotistical sons wants is for me to fail so they can laugh and say their father was wrong for believing in me and I swore I was not going to give them that satisfaction and that's what I plan to do. Stay focus and never let Lucas down.

But for how long? The voice in my head screams.

As long as it takes.

He nods and shoves his hands into his pockets, before stepping back but as I turn and walk off he says, in a somewhat hopeless tone. "I'll finish up and go. I'll see you soon sis."

I pause and turn to him, "Don't go, stay here." It comes out desperate, but I'm tired of shutting everyone out and having my walls up high and maybe this isn't such a bad thing.

"You're sure?" He asks a little sceptical, as he walks towards me, although his voice sounds super excited.

I suppress my laughter, "The house is too big for just me and it can get lonely sometimes. You can move in, but only if you want to."

"I'd love to!" He surprises me by pecking my lips before wrapping his arms around me. "Thank you so much," I haven't felt comfortable with being touched in a long time and always settle for handshakes, but the Spanish speaking stranger and Zander have decided to change that and before I can help it I wrap my arms around him as well, hugging him as hard as he was hugging me.

When I look up, I see Lauren up the stairs smiling down at the both of us before walking away.

Zander pulls away and l adjust myself before clearing my throat, "See you when I get back then?"

He grins widely, "Yeah. I'll just get my stuff moved over."

"Cool, take care. Call me if you need anything." I say, before leaving the house.

**

The board meeting was a disaster, and all the members of the board of directors had, were ideas with no proper execution plans for them and I felt like shooting myself in the head. Their ideas were so crappy I had to dismiss the meeting for fear of exploding and cussing at every single one of them. I don't know if they planned to frustrate and get me angry, because it worked and if my death wouldn't bring joy to Alvin and Jacob, I would have gladly committed suicide during the meeting

Speaking of the devils, Alvin a short, light-skinned man with scanty and greyish hair colour and brown eyes in his late thirties, wearing a navy blue suit and a black jean trouser and Jacob a tall light-skinned, bald, amber coloured eyes and in his mid-forties, he doesn't put much into his dressing wearing a red short sleeve and a black trouser. Together they make their way into my office like they own the place which is ironic because I own their ass.

"Did you bring it?" I demand, glaring at the both of them just like they are doing me.

Grumbling like little kids, they hand me their files and I collect them and drop them on my desk before looking up at them with the what else look.

Alvin snorts annoyingly, "You have us bringing in report sheets to you like some kind of babies, we are both grown men capable of making a grown-ass decision."

My cheeks heat up in anger and my brows pulled together as my eyes dim, "Decision like what Alvin?" I demand my voice going cold and unfriendly "gambling Lucas's hard-earned twenty million away in one night? Or you Jacob marrying a woman without a prenup and then cheating on her? How much did she get during your divorce?" I tap on my cheek dramatically trying to remember, "Oh yeah I recall it being everything you owned, which was a total of seventy million dollars. The both of you are sinking ships and left for me I wouldn't lift a finger to help, but since I'm not your father thank God, you get another chance and until you meet up with the requirements don't you both dare come to my office and talk about being grown-ass men!".

"This is not your office, this is not your company, nothing you have should be yours!" Jacob snaps, slamming his hand in my desk.

I get up on my feet, planting my palms on the desk and stating Jacob straight in the eyes. "Unfortunately, they are mine because Lucas would beg to differ with your opinion. He knew how incompetent and spoilt you both were and gave me this and all other of his companies to run and you both only get sixty-five per cent of what he owns if you can meet up with your target of twenty per cent income for the next three year. Now if I've made myself clear, then get the fuck out of my office."

With their tails between their legs, they make their way out of my office and I pick up the desk phone and dial Havana Lewis my PA's number. She picks after the first ring and her tiny, but witty voice comes to life.

"What else do we have today Ava?"

"Um give me a second," she requests and I hear a page being turned at her end, "Nothing on the list today though, but you have a dinner date with Lucas's long time business partner, Mr Felix Zain tomorrow then down to the fundraiser at seven... Hey, sir, you can't go in there!" She calls over the line before the line drops dead, making me wonder who she's talking to.

My office door flies open and the next second Patrick Adeyemi a short, potbellied, sixty-something-year-old with bald hair and thick, four-inch-long beards storms in his native short sleeve shirt and trouser, looking all red and angry and well I knew this would happen, just didn't know when. Ava runs her 5'2ft self into my office as well with a worried as well as apologetic look on her face as she tells me.

"He stormed by without saying a word while I was speaking to you, Alex," Havana reports her eyes narrowing at the Patrick.

I smile calmly at her, "I know, give us the room please Ava and close the door as you leave." although still looking worried, she nods and steps out, closing the door on her departure.

"Mr Adeyemi, what's got you in such a bad mood?!" I ask, trying to play cool and sound nice even though I want nothing more than to throw up in his ugly sickening face.

"You kept me waiting at the hotel and never showed up yesterday!" He roar, the anger too obvious on his face that anyone walking past my office made of see-through glass would definitely notice there a throw down, "We had a deal!"

"Well, I realised the deal wasn't good enough." I causally answer.

"I'm putting my hundred million on the line and that's not good enough?!"

"I just said that I'm sorry and I won't say it again. The deal was never signed, so there's no loss, keep your contribution, Mr Adeyemi, I was a few seconds away from your hotel room when I realised it wasn't worth the effort."

He grits his teeth and charges towards my table, "You little cunt-"

"No, you listen here, this is a see-through glass office and almost everyone working here know you're a married man, faithful to his wife and they might even respect you, creating a scene, because I turned down your advances on visual sex won't be nice for your image, but whatever happens know it's all on record," I point up to my office camera up, and I smirk as I see him quake from fear. "It would have been better if you never stepped into my office, now you owe me even more."

Sighing in defeat his anger vanishing, "How much do you want the deal to go for then?"

"Five hundred million," I reply, without blinking.

His eyes widen in surprise and his jaw almost hit the floor at my audacity. "I don't have that kind of money for a deal that cost so much less just because you will be part of it. I will give you three hundred million instead."

I smile, knowing I've got him by the balls now, "You've got more than that kind of money Mr Adeyemi and that's why five hundred is the lowest I'll go."

"Fine, but you won't just spread those legs of yours when you're naked-" he says, regaining his confidence and sounding a little bossy.

I shake my head, already knowing what's he aiming at and I but him off, "I'm not having sex with you neither am I going to let you touch me."

"I won't touch you, rather, I'll watch you touch yourself just like I'll be doing."

The thought is revolting, but the offer is a hard one to let pass by. "Fine, next week then," I get up and stretch my hand out to him for a formal shake. "Same place, same time as before."

He takes my hand and shakes it. "Fine by me. I'll have the contract drafted out today. I look forward to a long business relationship."