Other side

CHAPTER 1: Be fed up

        In his car, the state-of-the-art 2019 Mercedes gazing over the window, with a calm air exploring all the resplendent images that the city can offer and those less pretty ones that made him smile all the more for him despite the number of millionaires and billionaires. in this state some areas are still very deplorable. They prefer to spend the holidays in other regions, to build bungalows there than in the most convincing regions. This individual debate ended in his head when his driver called out to him to know if he was coming home or if he was going to the 8 p.m. meeting.

  -We come home Nicolas. I don't really have the mind to hang out with these rich kids talking to them about things they won't be able to understand.

 -Excuse me sir but you forget that you are as rich as them and even more than them!

 -Just Nicolas! I am rich. They are rich kids. There is a difference in the fact that I earned the money with my own hands while they inherit those from their parents.

 -I understand sir but it surprises me that between rich you sometimes denigrate yourself.

 Ironically, so shut up and drive.

     Nicolas said nothing, smiled and continued his work as always. Not having the habit of returning so early in his big house provided with exceptional works of art coming from all over the world, the most remarkable artists, he did not carve any importance to all that. Younger he believed that being rich, he would be very satisfied with his life, however, this was not the case since this fortune sometimes requires certain sacrifices which sometimes involve his dignity. Unlike his partner Lila. These works of art define who we are. And marriage is only a contract between two individuals just to satisfy either the community custom or by obligation, by need for more fortune or to solve a more complex problem.

       His car parked in the field then he got out, still dressed as usual, elegantly beautiful and quite cute. Over three feet tall. Ilse walked to the door of his house. His gait was often the straightest it looked like he had learned to do it from a young age. Yes, wealth suits him well. He entered, left the large lower living room, went up the stairs to the bedrooms. The silence in the apartment was a little more suspicious to him. In front of his room he opened the door, went in to get rid of his jacket. For no reason he decided to go check if his wife was in his. According to Lila they did not need to share the same room since it would hamper their personal space. She had her characters and worse. Walking straight to his wife's room. He heard voices, moans, in short screams, frustrated by what he just heard, an anger rose to his sockets which changed the color of his eyes to red. So to be sure of the situation he opened the door and saw his wife get laid with a muscular man he was not aware of. The position in which he had surprised them was most gymnastic. Caught in the act. She jumped from her magical position

 -Mike? You’re already home.

Dazed, he didn’t say a word, frozen, his eyes full of redness.

-And besides, why don’t you knock before entering ?

The gentleman who took charge of taking care of Lila was picking up his clothes, looking scared as if he had recognized the man he had just cuckolded. It wasn’t long before he left the room, crossed the corridors, the stairs and the rest of the estate, finally getting dressed in the gardens. The driver saw the man in a hurry and understood what was happening already having witnessed many of these situations.

In Lila’s room. Mike no longer feeling his legs sits on one of the chairs in the bedroom. She then made her big mouth and continued

-I’m sorry you saw that but had to knock before entering

- Are you serious here ? That’s all that interests you, that I knock on your bedroom door before entering when two seconds ago you were getting wild with your gym teacher or I didn’t know who ?

-Of one, it’s not my teacher and sorry that it shocks you but anyway we don’t care who I get laid with in case we stay married. And besides, don’t tell me, don’t you do the same with your fans, your secretaries ?

His honor was in question, his dignity. He had never cheated on his wife but to equal the situation he had to say what she wanted to hear.

 -Yes I sleep with girls but I never bring them home. I don’t fuck with them in our living room, or kitchen and nowhere else here or I don’t know where you’ve already got laid with your strangers.

- Don’t make it a political drama anyway. She says

-Lila. At least respect my house, me, and at least respect our daughter who sleeps next door, but damn !!!!!!

    With these words he left the room. Walked through the halls and said

-If you continue like this, I risk asking for a divorce.

Following these words, she takes an air of gaiety and came to see him in the face to throw these words in his face.

-If you dare Mike. You know very well that you are going to lose everything, your fortune, I know that you do not care about me but you are also going to lose your daughter, and thus your dignity as a great writer, and businessman and filmmaker that you are. You know what is at stake.

-My dignity I already lost a long time ago.

Those were his words before entering his room and slamming the door loudly behind him. Finally he shouted through the door

-And never again will you cook for me with your dirty hands of I don't know what and neither of our daughter.

-Perfect, besides it makes my fingers stiff when cooking. And tomorrow I will tell your daughter that Dad refused to let Mum cook for him when she asks "why isn't Mum making me my salad today?"

   He didn't respond to her words. Got into the shower, crying all the tears in her body, trying to hide them under the drops of water as if someone there was going to notice them. Sometimes he wanted to let everything flee far from this woman even if it cost him his dignity, his fortune. But it shouldn't cost him his daughter. He said to himself thus to stay for her but only that until then he had not yet found himself the good reason to leave everything, something that was worth risking all that and going away. He had not yet found this happiness. So he understood sometimes that it had been a very long time since he had smiled without being forced to. Despair won him over and his only hope sometimes was his 5-year-old daughter who, awakened in the morning, asks according to him; wants him to bathe her, take her to daycare. Each time before falling asleep it was these only things, this importance that his little one gave him which helped him to wake up and not to finally sink

        The sunny flash, crossed his large window having a view on the whole garden thus projected on his very calm face, it was always this feeling of feeling his face lit by a light which woke him from his sleep. One of the times he was himself. Got out of bed he took a shower, got dressed and rushed to a smaller room, well decorated with garlands, drawings, and also very special children's paintings. He opened it carefully as if not to wake someone. He slipped into the small bed next to a tiny body, dressed in pajamas, hunched over to his right side and a deep sleep. His presence was noticed by his daughter who turned to him, thus face to face. He hastened to say

-Knock Knock !

-Who is there? .. She said in turn.

-He's your Prince Charming Daddy.

-And what do I owe the honor of such a visit?

 -Come and snuggle up against this queen's body before going to work and passing by to give her a lot of kisses so that she has a very good day.

-And so get some from her for a good day's work too?

-Indeed.

Smiling she put herself in the arms of her father who hugged her tightly without failing to give her kisses in her hair, her cheek, and all over her face.

-It's ok, Dad, you risk getting me wet.

She said bursting out laughing. Her father still took the time to stare at her while she was still in his arms and told her.

-So small but so smart. I love you my queen.

-I love you too Papa prince.

He left his little girl's room after a few minutes, then went back down to the kitchen near the downstairs living room. Monica a woman in her thirties dressed in white with a red apron made her her breakfast which he ate with relish

-You are not going to stop surprising me with your new preparations.

-It delights me to always surprise you and that you are well satisfied.

-Thanks for the scrambled eggs with sausage, Monica

-I beg you sir and good day to you.

-thank you.

-When you could write to me too. I would like to have a film about my story.

       He laughed and in order not to discourage the lady, -Do not worry. We have plenty of time for me to know your story and tell it to the world. Realized he was saying it just to please him so she said -You’re kidding aren’t you? -Yes I’m kidding Monica. You cook me very well and that is the most magnificent story you can tell. Bye. She smiled and then began to do the dishes. Outside, Nicolas was waiting in front of the car that his employer will take today. Closer he said hello to him, opened the back door for him but Mike decided to take the front seat near the driver. Surprised by his decision he then complied. For half the trip he was silent and as usual was looking over the window. At one point he asks Nicolas to play his musical tastes for him, which he then denigrates and which he did not have good taste and makes him play his own, which he alone liked of course. At his destination before getting off he turned to his employee for a more intense look and asked him? – Are you sleeping with my wife? Taken with fear he answered quickly enough -But no. I’ll never do that to you Boss. -I hope so, if you really care about your fucking life. -Of course I care about my life. -I hope it’s not because I just threatened your life, you tell me what I would like to hear? -Never, sir, I don’t even look at her! -Don’t exaggerate you asshole. It is a beautiful woman. No man can help but watch her but beautiful things suck you, empty you of everything. -What do you mean ? -That you come home and take my daughter to her school.

       He went out and entered a large building painted blue and provided with several floors. Hardly enter a woman comes to meet him greeted him and began to plan his day for him. She kept talking over and over again which sometimes annoyed Mike but he didn’t say anything since it was her job to speak as an assistant. In his exhibition of the day’s appointments, one had challenged him; the midday one with a film production company. Apparently this company wanted an affair with the “Mike Publishing House” on the sale of the copyright to a novel which they will produce for a television series as well. But the two sides were not on the same agreement on the price fixed for the sale of the copyright of this novel which is discussed by also other film companies. In this type of business, only the one who offers the best price is the purchaser since this is not only a matter of a link between the * Mike Publishing House * and the cinema company which would amount to sharing by percentage of the turnover at the release of the series but a total sale of the writing of this series which the * Mike Publishing House * will do which will deprive him of the copyright of the novel so he will no longer have income after the film or television series has been released. This then makes this sale complex and to thousands of FCFA. He took this meeting into account in order to quickly conclude the deal and that his box collects millions of FCFA thus making him a richer one. In the elevator he asked the question to know the exact time of the meeting.

      -Ash cancel all other programs for the day except this one.

-But why sir? These are also very important meetings

-I’m the one who decides what is important and what is not. Will they bring me millions?

-No but....

-So bring me a coffee and please don’t tell me about anything else besides this date, if you want to keep earning your salary.

-Okay boss, it’s noted

- It’s good, I like it when you understand it faster.

After Ash left he took the time to sit down, and looking at the photo of his little one lying on his desk, the smile came to his lips, which almost reminded him of his only happiness.

   Hours passed and it was already striking noon, the sun being at its zenith which was good weather for the sellers of ice cream and cold drinks. The cafeterias at this time are closed and reopen late in the evening. Already at 13h and 30min he was back from his meeting, got out of his cash register to go back to his place of work. At the entrance he made Virgil see why there were so many people in his entrance. Ash immediately joined him breathless

-Don’t get upset for this world. But today is the day of dedications. What you have so ignored in your daily programs.

-And then shit !!!

-Oh yes. I warned you to take everything into account.

-I understood yes. And stopped staring at me with that “I told you” air

She smiled and continued to try to calm people down for the dedication.

Suddenly a girl in her twenties, with brown hair that fell to her back braided in a ponytail form who apparently accompanied an old lady in her eighties in a wheelchair weighing at least three pounds to her knees, shouted at her. Above.

-He the writer ???

-Me?

Mike wondered to answer due to the way she spoke to him.

-Yes you. Are there other writers here?

-Excuse me? Corn.....

He did not have time to finish her sentence which she chained,

      The old woman and me have been waiting here for over an hour. She sent me to the other end of town for a dedication from you and although you made us stand here for an hour, finally you are there and you freeze at the other end of the room?

The old lady then saw Mike

-Excuse my little girl for her bad manners dear sir ..

Before she finished her words the rest of the crowd saw Mike and all stopped towards him but the security guards stopped them first. He then climbs into the elevator and asks that the old lady be sent to her office. Moments after sitting down at his desk and signing some documents regarding the prior appointment, he received a call though his landline. It was his secretary; to announce two women that he ordered to enter. The door to her office opened, revealing the young woman and her grandmother in an armchair.

- Please come in, he told them.

The young lady brought in the old woman and therefore accompanies her. Mike kept looking at her. This girl had something in her that they didn’t understand. He motioned for her to take a seat, which she did without delay. It’s up to him to start the discussion as well.

-Madam, how are you? I’m so sorry for the delay! And..

-I don’t make you say that.

-Cut the young lady to her lips.

The old woman, to calm him down, motioned to him not to answer her.

-You are a good grandmother who love to read even though you have a little girl.

But did not finish his sentence out of respect for the lady in the chair, he finally took the books and signed them. He glanced at the young lady next door who was very engrossed in his face.

  In a photo you would be very naughty and no I don’t like reading. I prefer to watch in the movies

- So you find me beautiful. Movies are less captivating than novels.

She smiled from the corner of her lips and moved closer to his face, whispering to him close

-You, I think I don’t like you.

-Do not believe too quickly, if not you risk loving me later .. He replied with a smile on his lips. The old innocent of the situation was looking at them both surprisingly. The young lady got up, held her grandma’s chair and pushed her towards the exit without saying goodbye to Mike who pointed out to her

-We say goodbye to us before leaving someone miss ...?

-Ushua. It’s my name. And it’s made on purpose for you to say it first. Bye.

And the door closed behind her. And in his head a sentence crossed his mind.

    “I think I will like this one”.

The office door has just reopened, Ash walked in, walked over to his boss’s desk and put his two palms on the table, questioningly.

-So this meeting?

-Well. She was quite a complex woman with her grandmother for a dedication.

-What? What are you talking about? I’m talking about the reunion that should bring us millions.

-Ah yes that?

-Yes this ! And not your dedication.

-Well, they were all there with their lawyers, as well as me and mine, we conducted the talks, he called me a jerk shark.

-What? That’s all ?

-No, he signed me a check with lots of zeros on it.

-After calling you a jerk shark?

-Yes.

-Obviously. I thought you’d screw this up.

-And why do you believe that?

-Because your partner isn’t here first, and they both know he’s better at carrying out this kind of contract. And not to mention that the CEO of our new partner hates you.

-Eric is on two weeks’ leave, that doesn’t mean

 The money should no longer go into the box. And their CEO is an asshole.

-I’m sure he thinks the same of you.

-Thank you. Be nice and go cash me this amount in our bank account

  She then took the check Mike handed her, smiling after a glance at the paper.

-It’s a hell of a lot. I did not expect such a feat in business from you.

-Thanks for the compliment and oops!

  She left the office very quickly to finally go to cash this money.