CHAPTER SIX: WHO IS JAKE SMITH

NATHAN.

I tossed for the hundredth time on my bed. I hadn't slept a wink since last night. This is the first time in a while that I would be bothered by something to the extent that it would keep me awake all night.

My mind drifted to the incident that happened last night, and I couldn't help but wonder, who the hell is Jake Smith?

The look on Kim's face after that marketing lady mentioned the name Jake Smith was something I had never seen before. She looked like she had seen a ghost! No, no.

She looked mortified like she'd seen death!

Even though I couldn't describe what I was feeling at that time when I saw her Pale skin becoming paler and the way she was sweating profusely in a fully conditioned room, all I knew was I had to get that lady away from her!

What could have happened that would make her tremble when she heard that name?

Rather than stay here and be curious forever, I can as well just demand an answer to the question I asked yesterday.

I stepped out of bed and made my way to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face. After that, I made my way to the master bedroom on the third floor.

Ever since that night—our wedding night, I have never stepped foot on this floor.

I stand in front of the double door that opens into the room unsure of what to do next.

What if she's still sleeping?

Should I knock or should I go in without knocking?

What if I knocked and she didn't open the door? Should I just badge in?

I ruffled my hair in confusion while pacing back and forth in front of the door.

I have never tried to engage directly in a conversation with Kim before. Again, the only time we'd have a conversation was when She asked me to sign the divorce papers. And that is not a conversation; it's more like a fight.

After what Seems like forever, I decided to take the long way. I turned back and headed to the elevator at the end of the hallway. I called for the elevator, stepped in and descended back to the second floor.

Upon entering my room, I picked up my phone and called Jeff—my assistant. He picked up on the third ring.

“Sir…?” Jeff's grumpy voice answered.

“I want you to put a call through to one of our subsidiary companies, the director of cloud9 security company; I want him to get me everything he can on the name ‘Jake Smith’. I want to know everything about him, how he spends his days and who he sees. Including things he doesn't want anyone to know about him. He has till the end of today to deliver that file to my table.” I said in one breath.

“Okay, sir”, Jeff responded, still grumpy.

“Wait, do the same thing for the lady who came unannounced yesterday. I want to know everything about her and also, their connections to my wife.”

“Roger sir!” he responded, this time more alert.

“Meet me at the office in one hour”

“But sir…, it's just 5:16 am, sir.” Jeff complained

“You think I don't know that?” I responded sharply

“Of course not sir, I'm just wondering why we need to go this early” he said while laughing nervously

“I can't sleep,” I replied curtly and hung up the phone.

At Exactly 6:16 am, I pulled my Audi PB18 to a stop in front of a modern glass and steel symmetrical skyscraper that houses ‘The Pearce Empire’. Jeff was already waiting at the entrance.

“Good morning, Mr Pearce”, he greeted me as I stepped out of my car.

“There is nothing good about this morning, Jeff”, I replied annoyingly whilst taking a large stride towards the entrance with both of my hands dipping in my pockets.

I walk briskly across the quiet lobby towards the executive elevator with Jeff trailing behind me with an accurately calculated distance of two steps.

Jeff reached Out from behind me and pressed the elevator button, and the silver door slid open with a quiet whoosh. I stepped inside the mirrored box, and Jeff stepped in after as the door closed behind him.

He fishes out his I.D. card and points it towards the control panel below the numbered buttons. A small beep confirmed his access, unlocking the floor selection buttons and he pressed the button for the last floor.

I sat behind my big desk in my cold black and white office. Jeff had already pulled out his tablet ready to brief me about my schedule for today, but my mind wouldn't stop going over the mortified look on Kim's face last night.

I remember talking to the marketing lady last night when we got to my home office, but she didn't give me a satisfactory response.

…….~.......~.......~.......FLASHBACK.......~.......~.......~.......

I walked briskly ahead of the marketing lady who had called several minutes ago, demanding my urgent signature on an ad creative that was supposed to be sent out the following day.

Even though I was pissed at her, not because she was demanding I sign it tonight but because a mere team leader from the marketing department had access to my number.

And in addition to her insolentness, she pissed off my wife! That is an act I won't condone!

I had quietly observed the conversation between them during dinner, and I concluded that they must have been familiar with each other. Familiar enough to try to get on each other's nerves.

Even though Kim had always behaved tenaciously in front of me, I knew she was only doing that so I could sign the divorce papers. She has always been gentle and graceful.

But I must confess, her side that I witnessed tonight is something I have never seen before or would like to ever see again.

Her mortified expression kept riling me up toward this lady that I had never seen in my company before. If I hadn't called Jeff to confirm her identity or know how important the ad creative was, I wouldn't have asked Butler Lee to pick her up even though she said she was downstairs at the lobby.

I sat on my swivel chair as I leisurely crossed my legs, with one hand dipped in my pocket and the other resting nonchalantly on the glass desk. It took her forever before she could place the documents on the table for me to sign.

“Next time, don't call me. You will have my assistant deliver Whatever documents Need my urgent signature,” I said coldly Without looking up from the documents I was signing.

“Erhm, I'm sorry sir. I didn't think about that,” she responded, her voice low and sultry. It makes my skin scrawl.

“Well, next time, think, or it will cost you your job. And also, I don't know where you got my direct line from, but you better delete it. Trust me; it will do you no good if you dial that number once more.” I said, glaring at her as I threw the file on the table in front of her.

“The maid will see you out”, I stated coldly, pointing towards the door.

She picked up the file and walked slowly towards the door.

“Wait!” I called behind her. She slowly turned around towards me, a smug smile curving her lips. As if she knows I will stop her.

I buried whatever reason she had and demanded the answer I had been desperate to hear since dinner.

“How do you know my wife?” I asked curtly.

“Oh, we are friends from college”, she responded, smiling smugly, mischief trickling in her eyes as she turned and left.

I sat back on my swivel chair as I watched her leave. “A friend I did not know about?” I said to myself.

…….~.......~.......~FLASHBACK ENDS~.......~.......~.......

There is more to this, and I will get to the bottom of it. All I have to do is wait until that file arrives on my desk.