Chapter Four

Leon

I rolled out of bed a minute before my alarm rang by 5. I'd been awake long before that thinking about so many things but most especially the fact that today was my birthday and I was supposed to be in Mercia celebrating with my parents.

They'd sent their gifts but I'd left them unopened in my home office just like I'd left their messages on read. Maybe I was just giving myself unnecessary heartache over nothing but I knew I wasn't ready to deal with anything concerning them just yet.

I changed into my sweatpants, grabbed my towel and walked out of my room. I went downstairs, grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator and headed straight to my gym. I'd never once missed my early morning exercises ever since I recovered from that accident eons ago and though it wasn't really mandatory anymore but I couldn't stop.

I ran on the treadmill for about forty minutes, lifted weights for twenty minutes and then I used the jump rope Liese had sent me last year which belonged to her daughter Kahlan.

I stopped counting when I got to hundred and dropped the rope panting heavily but my head which had been bombarded by thoughts was now very clear. I picked up the bottle, uncapped it then guzzled down the water, covered it after I was done and picked up the towel.

"Good morning sir." My housekeeper Joyce hesitated in the doorway of the gym. 

"Morning Joyce." I greeted back and sauntered towards her. "What's wrong?".

"Oh... Um... I just got a call from my son in law that my daughter has gone into labor. They're at the hospital right now and she's requesting to see me." Joyce said.

"It's fine." I told her. "Congratulations."

"Thank you sir." She smiled. "As per tradition.. I have to spend at least three months taking care of her baby so I was wondering..."

"If you should get someone else to stand in for you?". I asked her.

"Yes sir."

"I can take care of myself Joyce. Thanks for worrying about me." I smiled at her. "You go and take care of your daughter and grandchild."

"Are you sure sir?". She looked skeptical.

"Very sure."

"Um... If you insist then sir." She muttered. "I went grocery shopping just yesterday so there's enough to last you until I get back." Her eyes narrowed. "You do know how to cook right?".

I laughed. "Of course Joyce. I won't burn down your favorite place in the world."

"Hmm." She hummed. "I'll go and pack then."

"I have something for you." I said. "It's for the baby."

"You've done more than enough for us sir." She protested. "I couldn't possibly take more from you."

"I'm not complaining Joyce. Besides you're like family to me." I told her. "I'll be upset if you don't accept my gift."

Joyce pursed her lips then smiled gratefully. "Very well sir." She stepped back.

"Come." I walked out, shut the door behind me and led her to my home office. I walked over to my desk, opened the top drawer, withdrew an envelope and passed it to her.

"What's this sir?". She picked it up.

"It's a check." I replied. "Ten million."

Joyce's eyes widened and the envelope fell from her hands to the floor as she stared at me in shock. I knew her daughter's husband wasn't well off which was why I'd given her that for the baby's needs including - if they were careful people - money for the baby's education.

"Jesus." She gasped.

"Take it Joyce." I skirted the desk after shutting the drawer and picked up the envelope. "There's no ulterior motive here."

"I know that... but ten million is way too much sir." Tears streamed down her cheeks. "What did I do to deserve your kindness sir?".

"Let's just say I'm thanking you for sticking with me all these years." I grinned. "It's been what... Ten years?".

She nodded tearfully. "Thank you so much sir. God bless you." She sobbed.

"It's nothing. I'm happy to help." I hugged her. "I'll order for an Uber to take you to the hospital. It's still quite early."

"Thank you sir." She smiled through her tears. "I hope that one day you'll find someone to take care of you as well."

I'd lost all hope but I just smiled at her and she left my office. I made more money than I knew what to do with which was why I helped out anyone who came to me for help but it was limited because people were pathological liars and they'd say or do anything to get their hands on money. I'd thankfully not fallen victim of such people.

I paid for Joyce's fare when the Uber arrived even though I didn't know how much the ride would be but he'd probably give her change if it was over. I prepared breakfast for myself, took a shower then dressed for work, made sure all appliances except the refrigerator was off before I locked the door then went to the garage.

Hussein had brought back my car from the shop yesterday and it looked like it was before the "lady" rammed her car into it but I bypassed it and walked over to my Range Rover sport, pressed the button on the key fob and opened the door, got in behind the wheel and shut the door. 

I placed my phone in the Bluetooth dock, connected it to my car stereo system then searched for a song in my playlist that fit my mood this Monday morning, settled for a Spanish song then started the car as the tune of the song filled the car.

I pressed the button for the garage door and once it opened, I backed out of the garage and sped out of the compound through the open gates.

Traffic as usual was terrible but I managed to get to work before 9 and parked my car in my alloted space, shut off the engine and grabbed my computer bag from the passenger seat and got out of the car. The car beeped as I walked away from it and I made my way to the building.

I walked through the quiet hallway, turned the corner and got to my office. I opened the door and walked in, noticed someone sitting on the sofa but didn't bother taking a good look at the person as my secretary rose to her feet.

"Good morning sir." Barbara greeted with a broad smile. "Your nine o'clock is here sir."

"I need a minute." I said and walked into my office.

When I said work, I didn't mean a company or being the CEO of one. Nope, I had too much money than I knew what to do with and I didn't want to deal with the hassle of heading a company like my father so I took a more casual route; I bought a school that was on the verge of closing down for a small fortune and renovated the shit out of it.

I changed the name of course, let go of the people who'd probably been the ones pulling down the school and hired new ones, changed the school uniform and just every stupid thing about it. Now, Empire High school was the go to school in the state.

Two minutes later, I told Barbara she could call the person in as I bent down to check the router under my desk. I heard the door open and then close but I didn't look up, not even when the person cleared their throat.

"Please sit. I'll be right with you." My voice was muffled but I hoped the person heard me correctly.

I heard the chair scrape the floor as the person pushed it back and then a small creak as they sat and then I finally got it to work and raised my head to check my laptop and let out a sigh of relief.

"Sorry about that." I turned my chair around to face the person and froze. 

"You?!". Cruella de vil the third exclaimed.

"And... You." I drawled. "What are the odds?".