After Wilson's visit to the toilet, he sat down feeling and looking like a sick person. His assistant had gone to get his suit and breakfast from home, so he was left alone to reminisce about his life and how he messed up big time. At the end of his thinking, he decided that it was not his fault and concluded that everything was because of Lucia. Just then, he got a call from his mom. He reacted to the call by rolling his eyes and letting out a loud groan because he had an expectation of what to hear from her. It would be nothing but a series of faking a cry to make him feel guilty. “Son? Oh thank goodness you're alive. I thought you took your life. How could you do this to your own mother? Switching off your phone was a form of telling your mom to die of a heart attack. It was too much for me to bear” Mrs Lilian whined as she made audible sobs in between. Wilson had been silent all the while with hands placed on his temples as he listened to his mom rant. “Good morning Mom” Wils
The next morning, Lucia woke up to a rising sun which shone beautifully and penetrated through the small glass window, reflecting on the surface of her dark skin. She had slept on the floor of the sitting room while her visitors slept in her room. Her mom also slept on the only couch available. Jada couldn't see herself sleeping in the same bed as where her late husband slept before. It would take time getting used to that. Lucia didn't want to wake her mom or visitors up, so she made sure to be as quiet as possible as she tiptoed to the kitchen to get herself some water to wash her face. By the time she got back to the sitting room, Mr Thomas and his wife were already seated near Jada with sleepy eyes. After exchanging their morning greeting, Lucia was specifically instructed on what to do to prepare her for the little journey ahead. “You don't really need to necessarily pack everything. Just pick the essential things like clothes, shoes and maybe some things you can't go withou
The ride to the hospital was smooth as Mr Thomas didn't encounter any traffic on the way, coupled with the fresh and warm weather. Ever since the death of Montess, everything about the beautiful city of Chicago was ugly in the sight of Lucia. However that morning, the city seemed to have something new and comfortable, but Lucia couldn't really place her hand on it. Something felt good about the morning. “Is it because of the mini vacation?” Lucia asked herself as she began to see herself as pathetic. “What's in your mind Lucia? You seem to be lost” Mrs Benita voiced out. She had been watching Lucia for quite some time through the rearview mirror. “Oh, I do? I must have been mesmerized by the beauty of the city. I didn't seem to notice how the city was until now” Lucia confessed. “Child, you really are funny. We'll, I'm happy you're happy. You and your mom deserve all the happiness you both could get” Mrs Benita said as she focused her gaze on Jada who was by then sound asleep. M
The traffic on Wilson's part of the city was something worth getting angry at, and Wilson fulfilled just that as he spat and rained curses on every one he could think of. He moved from the government to the road construction workers, and then finally fixed the blame upon Lucia, his reason being because Lucia was the one responsible for him going to the police station. Jim who had been silently eating his meal made sure not to make any funny noise to avoid being yelled at. After a long wait of forty one minutes, yes, Wilson made sure to count the minutes, the reason for the heavy traffic got cleared up and Wilson was finally able to get to his destination. On getting to the gate of the police station, he wiped away his angry face and put on a straight face. The news of the police arriving at his company to arrest his worker had spread like wildfire, so he made sure to calculate his every move. He had a reputation to uphold, and this he preserved by trying his best to avoid making a
After following due process, he was finally able to come face to face with Henry who seemed to have aged under his few hours in a cell. His hands were cuffed, and his eye bags sank so deep that Wilson wondered if he had even a wink of sleep. “Mr Wilson!” Henry exclaimed in surprise and also in shame. He was told he had a visitor, but he didn't expect it to be his boss. At the sight of Wilson, his heart began to beat faster than normal as he feared the possibility of getting sacked. He however wasn't going to be surprised, especially after causing such damage to the company. “Good morning Mr Wilson. What brings you here?” Mr Henry enquired. “Are you really asking me that right now? Looks like someone forgot how he begged me for help” Mr Wilson reminded. “So you aren't going to sack me?” Henry asked hopefully, but still in doubt. .“That's up to me to decide when I calculate the harm caused. You can either pay with your salary or as you said get fired, so don't set your hopes up ju
Lucia had just finished swallowing the last bite of food in her mouth before washing it down with the orange and lemon squash before letting out a sigh of satisfaction. She had helped in the preparation of everyone's breakfast with the help of Mrs Benita. “Thank you Mr Thomas and Mrs Benita for the meal, thank you mom” Lucia said happily as she stood up feeling energized. Most of the plates used were by then empty, so while taking her plate to the kitchen, Lucia also carried the free ones along. While she did the dishes, Lucia caught sight of what looked like an animal when she looked outside the kitchen window. When she looked closer, she found out that it was a squirrel which made her shriek out of excitement. “Dear God! What's the matter child” a surprised Mrs Benita asked as she quickly dropped the remaining dirty dishes on the sink. “I saw a squirrel just now, Mrs Benita. It was running towards a tree, and I think it climbed up the tree” Lucia announced. She felt a little di
“Call Mr Timberlake” Jim uttered. “What?” Wilson looked up and asked. He had just gotten to his office, and the first thing he did was go through the news articles on business for the day.“You told me to remind you to call Mr Timberlake when we got to the office” Jim puked from his cavity. “Oh, I almost forgot about that,” Wilson uttered in realization as quickly located his contacts. Mr Timberlake, who was not at all scared of Wilson but respected him, didn't waste time in answering his call. “Good morning Mr Wilson. What an expected morning call” Mr Timberlake expressed himself. He had definitely seen the news about what happened to the company and was aware that his help was going to be needed. “I don't know…but you seem happy whenever your company gets into trouble. Why so?” Wilson whimpered from his cavity. “I'll be sincerely honest with you on this one Sir. It's because the more the merrier. More cases means more money” Mr Timberlake answered truthfully, and this gave ri
A young man in a brown suit could be seen walking up to the Chicago police station looking all cool and professional. He had a black suitcase which onlookers guessed was his working bag. Upon getting to the main building, Mr Timberlake requested to be taken to Henry after he identified himself as the attorney. He followed due process, and under some minutes he was sitting face to face with Henry. “Good day Mr Henry. I came here strictly for business, so I suggest we keep it professional. I was sent by the CEO of the company on your behalf, so let's hear it. What really happened that day?” Mr Timberlake asked as he leaned forward for a clearer understanding of what he was about to say. Henry went on to explain all the events which occurred on that ugly day. “So, that's the total summary of all events which took place” Henry whimpered from his cavity. “Oh wow! Mr Henry, I must confess, you really messed up big time. I'd be out for revenge if I was under the poor lady's shoes” said
The ‘feast’ mood in Lucia and Mr. Thomas seemed to have vanished into thin air after the unsettling encounter with Wilson. While Lucia wrestled with thoughts about what she had done to deserve such an experience, Mr. Thomas, on the other hand, couldn’t stop thinking about the court case. Although the legal matter didn’t really concern him, he had grown attached to Lucia, considering her like a third daughter, even though they had only known each other for a short time.They were both so absorbed in their thoughts that they didn’t realize when they had arrived at their destination. It wasn’t until the taxi driver’s persistent voice brought them back to reality.“Hello? Can you hear me?” the driver called out, slightly annoyed. “Huh?” they both muttered in unison, snapping out of their trance as they turned to face the driver who had been waiting for them to acknowledge him.“We’re here. Isn’t this where you wanted to go?” the driver asked, gesturing to the building in front of them.
As Wilson and Jimmy drove through the streets and back to the Palma mansion, the weight of their mission loomed over them. Wilson, with his mind racing through the next steps, broke the silence after it was observed for some minutes. “Tomorrow is a workday, but I'll have my dad and Sandra handle everything while I’m away. You and I will be visiting Miss Lucia. I need you to find her workplace and get back to me as soon as possible. It’s crucial that you gather all the information you can, and if necessary, use any means to get it. I expect a report before midnight.” Wilson uttered, calculating the magnitude of his every word before saying it out.Jimmy, though used to Wilson’s demanding nature, was surprised by the urgency. He glanced at the clock on the dashboard to be sure of the time, and sure enough, it was late. “Tonight? But it’s already late, Sir. People might not be willing to talk at this hour as they may be packing up their shops or finding their way home” Jimmy explained
Lucia's fury surged as she picked up the empty bag, her hands trembling with anger."What is the meaning of this?" she demanded, her voice cutting through the noise of the market like a sharp blade. She had reached her breaking point."Get out of my sight, asshole! Just leave me alone. My life was going just fine until you interfered," Lucia spat, her words filled with venom as she swung the empty bag at Wilson. The bag, light and harmless, did little to physically hurt him, but it was the gesture that carried the weight of her frustration and pain.Wilson, caught off guard by the sudden attack, instinctively raised his arms to protect his face, which was his number one priority.Jimmy, who had been standing nearby, sprang into action. "Woah, woah, woah, take it easy, ma'am. You're hurting my boss," he shouted as he rushed over to Wilson's side, quickly grabbing the bag from Lucia's grasp. His loyalty to Wilson was unwavering, but even he could see the intensity in Lucia's eyes.Mr.
Lucia had successfully poured out her heart to the citizens who were available to hear her. The open speech she made had captured the attention of many, spreading like wildfire across social media. Afterward, she went on with Mr. Thomas to pick up whatever they had planned to get at the market. Her emotions were still tingling from the confrontation, but she politely requested to be shown the full video of the press conference that had triggered her anger in the first place.As she watched the video, her fury reignited. "I can't believe this guy," Lucia muttered under her breath, her voice shaking with emotion. "He has all the money and fame, and he uses it to manipulate people, to turn them to his side. Meanwhile, people like me are left to suffer alone. He tried to bribe me with that money, but he sure has his way of sweet-talking out of trouble." Lucia’s voice cracked as she spoke, her anger mingling with the sadness she carried within her. The injustice of it all seemed unbearab
Wilson and his dad, Mr. Palma, were already halfway home when Wilson’s phone rang. The name “Sandra” flashed on the screen, and Wilson’s brow furrowed in confusion. Sandra rarely called outside of work hours unless something was truly urgent. They had already wrapped up the day’s work, so this unexpected call felt unsettling.He hesitated for a moment, his thumb hovering over the answer button before he finally picked up. He then remained silent, waiting for Sandra to speak first, a habit he had developed in dealing with unexpected situations.“Sir, I’m so sorry to disturb whatever you’re doing, but you need to see the news. Miss Lucia is at her worst, causing a lot of issues. Live videos of her are currently circulating online, and she’s talking about you,” Sandra’s voice was tinged with concern.Wilson felt a cold shiver run down his spine. Lucia, again? The memory of their last encounter still lingered in his mind, and now she was publicly speaking about him. His pulse quickened, b
Lucia and Mr. Thomas had decided to stop by one of the busiest and most popular sub-streets in Chicago, a place well-known to the city’s middle class and poorer citizens. They needed to pick up a few things for the family.Earlier on the train, they had excitedly planned a mini feast to celebrate a successful deal with Mr. Benson. The feast was only possible if they visited the market, so they had made a quick detour before heading home.Mr. Thomas, who was such a sweet gentleman, respected the “ladies first” rule and allowed Lucia to lead the way. She walked ahead, her thoughts clouded by the discussion with Mr Ben, while Mr. Thomas followed closely behind. As they entered the crowded market, the usual bustle and noise surrounded them. The scent of spices mixed with the smell of fresh produce was everywhere, while vendors called out to potential customers, their voices competing for attention. Lucia had always found this part of the city oddly charming, despite its chaos. But today
“What can I get you Sirs?” The young and pretty waitress asked with a warm smile as she approached the table where Mr. Palma and Wilson had settled in the elegant restaurant. The place was all polished wood, ambient lighting, and the kind of atmosphere that invited deep conversations.“Well, I'll be having the macaroni and brie with the crab. Top that with a sweet and tangy sauce which you think would be best to go with the meal. I'll also have the cauliflower steak with hazelnut and browned butter. I'll have two portions of that,” said Mr. Palma, taking the lead with his eyes scanning the menu one last time before handing it back to the waitress. His voice was calm and measured, as if he had all the time in the world.The waitress nodded, jotting down his order with swift, practiced movements. She then turned to Wilson with the same polite smile. “And for you, sir?” the waitress asked, in expectancy of a reply. Wilson glanced at the menu briefly before responding, “I'll go with th
“Wow, son! You did a better job handling that question than I had imagined. I thought that lady had you trapped in a tight spot, but you proved me wrong,” Mr. Palma said to his son when they both returned to Wilson's office. His eyes twinkled with pride, the kind of pride that only a father feels when his son rises above expectations. The echoes of the press conference still rang in their ears, but Mr. Palma was more focused on the fact that Wilson had displayed his critical thinking skills perfectly and at just the right moment.“Well, thank you, Mr. Palma,” Wilson responded, his voice carrying a mix of relief and pride. “That reporter had my weakness pegged and made sure everyone knew it. It really took a lot of brainwork to wriggle out of that one, but what can I say? I’m your true blood,” Wilson added, with a touch of humor.As they settled into the office, Wilson’s thoughts began to wander. It wasn’t long before he noticed something—or rather, someone—missing. His mother’s abse
“Really? But why? I’m sure Mr. Wilson would like to stay in his lane to protect his esteem, at least after what I did to him,” Lucia said confidently. She knew to an extent that Wilson wouldn't change his proud and arrogant ways, especially not for her. Calling her would be hurting his pride. Mr. Benson’s response surprised her. He chuckled softly, shaking his head in understanding. “You mean the little act of flinging cash in his face? You don’t understand what someone like Mr. Wilson might do to protect his reputation. People in his position can be incredibly ruthless. They might go as far as kidnapping you if things don’t go their way. The rich aren’t like they are portrayed on TV. They’re often a mix of crazy lunatics and ruthless individuals who use their wealth to maintain their facade. You only see their dark side when you become an enemy or a significant annoyance. I strongly advise you to stay cautious. Avoid going out at night and stick to well crowded places for your own