CHAPTER 22OLIVIAI am amazed. Shocked and surprised.I am a whole lot right now.My emotions were all over the place like litters on the ground as Andrew shows me the electronic file on his PC.He had it all these while.He had created tens of copies already on his PC even before we had the final meeting on the contract.I was the backup. Incase he lost the file.And he was the backup Incase it was the other way round.“How smart of you!” I commended him with a smile.“You knew something like that might happen, didn't you?”“Well, let's just say I made my calculations even though I didn't, they would actually do this to me,” he responded.“What do you mean?” I asked, trying to figure out what he meant by the statement.“It displeases me to say I suspect Rosa is behind this.”“I don't know if my mother knows about it too but the secretary was bribed by Rosa to corrupt the files with an installed virus.” Andrew explained.My mouth widened in surprise.How could she think of that?Why w
ANDREWHow I wish we were already married. Living and dining together every single day.I can't wait to propose to her.The joy I feel whenever I am with her is unmatchable and I don't want that to fade.I planned to stay longer but my mother's call broke the fun.I wonder what is wrong with her. She was still okay and in good health earlier today.Now she is calling to tell me she is sick.I sat inside my car as I thought about my time with Olivia.She had left to go inside but I still stayed just to fantasize how more of what we had would have been like.My phone rang again.It was my baby sister, Andria.“Hello, Andria. Are you at home?”“Yes, I'm with Mom. She is ill, Andrew. Are you also coming to the house?”“Don't worry. I'm on my way already. I'll join you both soon.”Mother never got sick for once.She was that woman who was particular about the health and hygiene of the people around her.Even when my father was sick then, she was particular about his healthy lifestyle and
OLIVIAWho did this?I looked around to see if anyone was watching but there was no one.Practically nobody but me.Who then dropped such a note in front of my door?A threat note.Am I safe here?Am I safe in this house?I went back to the main gate to check if Andrew's car was parked outside but it wasn't.Andrew can't make such an expensive joke with me.It's not his thing to do such.“Could it be Stella?”After that stunt she pulled with the car accident, I had chosen not to check on her anymore or even call her and she had also done the same.“No, she can't be the one. She doesn't know this pl….” I thought to myself.A sound rented the air.My heart almost jumped out.I became scared. Only for me to realize it was just the sound of the honking of a moving car.I no longer feel at ease here.I called Andrew.That was the only thing I could do at that moment.I am more or less like a stranger in this vicinity.I know practically nobody around here.No friend and hardly do I talk to
ANDREWTen years ago.Love is indeed a beautiful thing.The love of my father was one of a kind.He loved us and cared for us; my brother and my mother.Robert Huxley. My father was a business lord during his time.There was not a single day influential men and women wouldn't pay us a visit in the house. Some do not only come for mere visits but to get business advice and investment strategy from him.He was an intelligent man, powerful and stinkingly rich.His wealth and impact awarded him fame in the business economy and a front seat amongst power holders in the city.There was practically no one that didn't know my father.Even I, Andrew Huxley, respected him so much that I sometimes do not see him as a father but as someone who could help me reach my business dreams.He gave us virtually everything we need. Clothes, shoes, houses, cars, just name it. Whatever we wanted, he bought and made sure it was the latest model/newly released.But something about him seemed off. I saw this
ANDREWMy eyes almost popped out of its socket when I saw the total revenue written at the bottom of the paper!$750,000,000.How on earth does one realize such an amount of money in a month?!My father was making a hell of an income from…….I couldn't say.I still wasn't sure how the business ran.I sat underneath his office desk in the house, hiding while I turned on my torch on the file with the almighty tag 'Xn'.I went through the file page by page, reading every single thing word by word and keeping it to memory.Robert Huxley, my father was an investor and he also had the superpower of persuading to invest. But there was something he had that the others didn't have and they failed to realise until it was too late.Information. He utilized the power of information to acquire money not only legally but also illegally from others and their investments.He controlled their losses and manipulated their wins.He had the luxury of doing that because the investment platform was his.O
ELLIOT“Magazine?”Oh please.Who would be so foolish to go into a stinkingly rich man's house only to read a magazine?What kind of person do I have as a brother?“Oooh,”I sighed. A sigh of calmness, joy, and relief.Another day of taking out of my father's huge amount of stacked cash without being caught or perhaps confronted by anybody.For some reason, I can't seem to get it out of my head.I remember Andrew didn't even move or try to check what I was doing.Isn't he moved by the large sum of money Dad has in that drawer?Whoo! I can't overlook it.The money calls to me every day and I shall keep answering.I wish I could have it all.I am in no rush though. I am the first son so everything belongs to me.His companies, his offices, his cars, his loaded bank accounts, and the treasures within; all belong to me.Shit! I just remembered we have an outing with Father.He was going to introduce me to some of his business associates.I wasn't the formal type but the Huxley family had
Present timeOLIVIAThis is the third time.Third time in five days, the same dream, the same nightmare.I feel I am suffering from a trauma.Call it whatever; an emotional trauma as it may seem.It is gradually becoming a norm.Ever since I got that threat note, I have been nothing but disturbed every time.Every single time I close my eyes, all I see is those words replaying in my head.“My doom” What does that even mean?What exactly have I done to deserve those words?Is this because of Andrew?After facing a whole hazard streak of a life with Liam, now I am face to face with another.Another episode as I would like to call it.I woke up that early morning scared to put myself back to sleep.It was 4 am on a Saturday.It was the weekend and Andrew made arrangements already on how we would spend our day together.Today, he would spoil me with numerous gifts, the next day, more gifts, and other days, surprise outings and celebrations.There was never a dull moment with Andrew.Even
CHAPTER 29ANDREWI think he saw us.If not Elliot then probably just I alone.Anyway, I got there first so I am probably the one he saw.My father.I'm certain of it.He knew we sneaked into his office last night.Did he know all these while that Elliot was stealing from him?Dad was a man of words. He sometimes speaks in parables and codes.He never says anything too direct.You just have to decipher it yourself else you will be confused trying to understand it plainly as it comes.I was scared but Elliot wasn't.I knew something I was not sure Dad wanted anyone else to know.I wanted to share what I had discovered with someone.Elliot wasn't a good option.Maybe I should tell Mother but what if she already knows and just covering up for her stinkingly wealthy husband?Just what if?I thought about it as I gently sat in one corner at the venue sipping the cocktail drink that was served.Dad walked around shaking virtually everyone at the occasion.It was like the meeting of billiona
Robert HuxleyMy heartbeat raced with fear.Did I just hear right?Romeo, the man who made available every resource I used for Project X had just been arrested?That was trouble!Big trouble!!Joe wasn't so audible on the phone. I figured he was on the run or something.I turned to Andrew."Go and meet your brother. I need some time alone."If the police had caught up with Romeo, that could have meant trouble for Joe and me too.Romeo was into a lot of illegal tech biz. I have full reason to believe some of the devices at his workhouse were stolen.They were heavy machines that could only be owned by high-profile tech organizations.I wonder how one person could own and control that in such a small warehouse.I became paranoid all of a sudden.I needed to leave as soon as possible. At least away from here for now."What if he tells the authorities about everything? Then I would be in much bigger trouble. He knows everything. The plan, the process, and the execution….every single thing
Robert Huxley“Come here son,” I said to my second son, Andrew.I knew about what he and his brother had been doing whilst I was supposedly asleep or not looking.But there was something else I noticed.Whilst my eldest son was after the stack of cash in my cupboard, Andrew was more interested in my secret business, project X; my very main source of income.“Is there anything you want to talk to me about?” I asked him.“No.. no….no, Dad,” he stammered.“Are you sure about that?” I asked further.This time around, he kept quiet.He paused for a while and answered in haste afterward “No, Dad.”I put my arms around his neck and walked him to the garden just at the corner of the house.“You and your elder brother have been messing around my office lately,” I started.I saw the surprised look on his face when I said that. He tried to deny it but I acted like I believed him.I know your elder brother has been stealing from me but I don't have any issue with that. “It's my money and I am wo
Chapter 43Robert HuxleyI saw that look on Joe's as we approached the farmer's shop or whatever it is he called that place.That look you give a servant when his master is about to show him the secret of his possessions."Is everything alright, Joe?" I asked.He nodded in response. "Please don't fuck this up for me. I have a reputation to protect, Robert," he replied."Don't worry about nothing, Joe. I can do this. I won't let you down," I answered in haste.As we got in, there were a lot of men operating several computers and electronic devices as well as ladies who were dressed half-naked, caressing the men as they worked."What's this place?" I whispered to Joe."The farmhouse."It was nothing like a farmhouse. I was this close to turning back until something caught my attention; a pile of dollars.It must be like a million bucks. How does someone have such an amount of money and leave it lying around carelessly?"You look at that? It's nothing," one of the men interrupted.He we
SOME YEARS BACK,ROBERT HUXLEYI can't keep living like this.I just can't.My wife.My children. How do I take care of them?Working in Dunes isn't paying me so well.I can't be doing this. Working from morning till night only to be paid a chicken fee.I need to find a solution.A workable one."So what do you intend to do?" Joe said.Joe was my friend.A colleague who studied the same course as me; Accountancy.We were potential big boys. That was what he had always called us from school.He was richer. But I was never envious of his wealth and how comfortable he lived.Countless times I paid him visits. We ate and drank together and even made merry.That question rang aloud in my head."What do I intend to do?"I had no answer to that question.Not even at this moment. I was pretty confused. Clueless of what to do next."Joe, you have to help me out. I need your help," I started."What's that, friend?" He asked with an expression that showed utmost concern."I want to make money
CHAPTER 41ANDREWMy ears tingled at the sound of that familiar voice."Who would dare storm into the office like that?" I thought.Looking back, it was Uncle Joe. My father's closest friend whom he calls his brother."I said stop the merry!" He shouted."How dare you throw a party for a son without his father present?" He jested as he threw his arms around me."Uncle Joe!" I said."I never knew you were back.""Well, surprise! Or aren't you happy to see me?" I said"Of course I am, Uncle Joe. When did you arrive in New York City?""A few days ago, son. Here, I got you a present," he said, bringing out a brown envelope from his right pocket.What is this?What is he doing?I smiled. "Uncle Joe," I called out as I tried to unseal the envelope.I was quite anxious. The last person I got a gift from was my dad and that was the most expensive car in the city.I wonder what Uncle Joe had planned.I saw another brown paper inside the envelope and I brought it out to read the contents."Unc
OLIVIA"Is Stella joking or what?"Did she just say Elliot Huxley?The same Elliot Huxley, Andrew's brother.It can't be.How is this even possible? I looked at her in awe.What nonsense am I hearing? "Stella, pregnant for Elliot?"I froze."Are you alright?""How can you say such?" I asked."Say what?" "What happens to Liam?" She laughed. It was the coldest thing I had seen her do.I fear her. I wonder how Liam would feel when he hears all of this."Well, I have no shame. And just so you know, my real love lies with Elliot. I had known him even before now," she explained.How is this even possible?How did she and Elliot get to meet? How did the love and sex begin between them?Was that before she took Liam from me or after? All of these questions ran through my mind as she stood in front of me.She didn't even look bothered."I just chose to tell you cause very soon you will be seeing more of me around Elliot," she said and laughed out loud.Wow! Looks like the player got played.
OLIVIAIt's been a week now since I got the threat notes.I still haven't told Andrew about it.Now I look over my shoulder anytime and every time.That very day I got back from work, I came down with a serious migraine.My body began to ache and my bones were weak.I didn't even get the chance to pull off my clothes completely.“This is so unusual. I can't be sick,” I said to myself as I lay on the couch.My hands on my forehead and feet spread wide like I was preparing for childbirth.I thought of calling Andrew but I had already given him enough trouble.This time around, I am handling it myself.I can't have them thinking I am using him to my advantage.I struggled to pick up my phone.It was then I noticed I didn't lock the door properly.The aches must have gotten my attention.“I hope I met you home alone this time around?” A familiar voice came from the entrance.I looked up and it was Stella.She was looking fatigued.A part of me wanted to care and ask her what the problem
CHAPTER 38ELLIOTI looked at the expression on Liam's face.It was rather discouraging. A mix of shock of fear.Like I just threw a bomb in front of him.I can't have him going around with Stella.What business does he have with her? Why?I frowned at him as he kept staring at me after I had showed him the pictureWe stared at each other before he decided to break in silence.“She can't be your girl, Elliot!” He said repeatedly. He spoke so clearly like he was certain of what he was saying. “I wouldn't want this to cause a dispute between us, Liam. Who exactly is she to you?” I asked…Pretending not to be angry at his boyfriend's confrontation still.“She is my bitch!” He answered sharply. “Your bitch?!”“Yes, you heard me right. We've had sex multiple times while I was with Olivia and even right after your brother decided to pull his rich boy strings on my wife, Stella and I were sharing the same bed,” he explained. For a moment, I thought he was going to laugh off after saying a
STELLA"What's going on?""Why does my head feel so heavy?"I looked around and I felt like the whole building was upside down.Blurry visions, headaches, and all sorts.All at once I rent my head like they own it."Ma'am, you would have to be coming on the scheduled appointment to see the doctor," the nurse who stood beside my bed, said.I was still puzzled by the whole thing.Am I pregnant?Does he know?How would he take all of this?I need to make a call.Can I make a call? It's quite important," I said to the nurse who was in the room with me.Just before that, he walked in."Hey Liam, you are here," I greeted."What is this trash I am hearing, Stella? You are pregnant?""That wasn't the deal.""What are you saying? So what would happen to my baby?" "Oh come on. You are not a child. We both know I can't accept that kid from you. It can't be mine!" Liam responded in a loud tone.He paced around. The nurse walked out gently when she noticed the unsettling atmosphere in the room.I