Chapter 4 : The damage

Fabio caressed his cheeks in anger and returned to his room only to find Nikki packing her stuff and set to leave the house.

"What the heck are you doing here, man?”

"I presume you're not blind, are you? I overheard everything your father said to you. I'd rather sleep in my apartment tonight. I can't stand the heat,” Nikki wailed as she attempted to exit the room with her luggage.

"We can still discuss this, right?” he pleaded and grabbed her box.

"There's nothing to discuss. Didn't you hear the conditions? You'd be stripped of your inheritance. You're not that stupid to choose me over fortune, right? What I don't understand is why your Dad keeps controlling you as if you were a kid. I can't take this. I'd be back when the drama ended. But right now, I'm out of here.” She wept like a child and departed. All efforts to make her stay proved abortive.

The damage

The relationship saga hit Sophia so hard and pierced her heart like a dagger. She got carried away and forgot where she was.

"Go to hell, you silly girl. Can't you watch where you are going? I almost got you killed. If you're so tired of life, go jump into the deepest of Oceans. Don't get me involved in your mess,” the man yelled at Sophia for standing in his way.

"I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking. I never knew there was a car behind me,” She apologized. It took her some minutes to finally regain consciousness.

“Sorry? Really? Did you just apologize to me, for what exactly? Who cares about your apology?” The man angrily stepped down from his car and rushed to Sophia.

“I almost got you knocked down. Of course, you know what that means, right? I'll be spending Christmas in jail. Why don't I show you how sorry you should be?” pulling her by the ear and pulling her hair, he warned. “Don't try this shit with me next time because If you do, your folks will be planning your funeral. You pathetic bastard. Get out of my sight, you dummy.” He screamed and tossed her to the ground like a common thief. Amidst the oppression happening, no one came to rescue Sophia. Everyone looked away as though it were nobody's business.

Quietly, she stood up with shame and walked home without a fight. She decided to let it go for her peace of mind. Johnson has already ruined her day with the relationship saga. Adding this stranger to her problems will only worsen it.

"What happened to you? Why are your clothes stained? Did you fight with someone?” her Father asked after seeing his daughter come back home with her clothes stained In mud.

"Why do you care about my clothes? Just let me be. You aren't concerned about my feelings.” She ignored her father and went straight to her room. Minutes later, she showed up again. “Go call your so-called friend. Tell him I'm interested in the arranged marriage,” then she went back inside without allowing her father to ask questions. He was excited but stunned about his response. She has no idea how long he's been waiting for her to say that.

“It's a bit overwhelming. Last time I checked, we almost came to blows when I told her about the arranged marriage. So what changed? I thought she mentioned her relationship with Johnson. Did that idiot break up with her? Who cares anyway? That's precisely what I want!” Thompson echoed and rushed to her room, hoping to find answers, but he let the door shut.

“Sophia, please, I want to have a word with you. Open this door,” landing a hard knock on the metallic door, he requested for her to step outside, but she refused.

“Leave me the heck alone, Dad. I want to be left alone. I thought you wanted this to work. Aren't you satisfied now? You don't even care about me. Just go away. I don't want to speak to you. Is that difficult for you to understand?” weeping like a young widow, Sophia denied her father to come to see her.

“Don't say that. Of course, you know I care about you. I did this for us. To secure your future. I don't want your kids to suffer impoverished.” Highlighting his reasons for cajoling her into accepting the arranged marriage, Thompson begged. He tried all he could, but she wouldn't step out. After pleading for minutes, he gave up and left her doorstep.

"I feel so stupid and guilty. Am I making the right choice? Would she regret it?” Those were the questions that chorused his mind. Searching through his heart, he knows he screwed up, but he has no choice. The deed has been done already. If he had a second chance, he would have allowed Sophia to make her decision. But it's too late now! There's absolutely nothing he can do to stop the wedding from happening.

***************

   “You can't go inside. The CEO gave strict instruction not to allow any visitor to come in,” the secretary said, blocking the door entrance.

"Have you gone nuts? You do realize whom you're talking to?” The visitor boasted.

“I'm only following strict orders, sir. If you don't comply, I'll be forced to call security to come bundle you out of this office like a common criminal. Do the right thing and leave immediately!”

“Now I am convinced you are the silliest being on Earth. You need to visit the rehab because your brain has been damaged for real.” The stranger pushed the secretary away and forced his way inside the CEO's office.

"Dad, what in heaven's name is going on? Why would you ask your secretary to stop me from coming to see you? I have never been so embarrassed all my life. What have I done to deserve this?” he cried.

“Sir, I am sorry. I tried to…” The secretary attempted to explain, when Lucas halted her with an upraised hand and dismissed her.

"Hey, son. Good to see you. I knew you would come. I'm sure you got the info. I thought you would be behind bars now for refusing to pay at a local store. Haha,” laughing so hard, Duncan mocked his son.

“Wow! So it's you? I knew it

You froze my account. I can't even purchase anything. Dad, you're worse than the devil himself. How could you do that to your first son? Heir apparent to your billionaire empire,” slamming the desk with his hands, Fabio sparked outrageously.

"Soon, you'd be excommunicated from my affairs while your brother, Scott, will take your position as the heir apparent. But you can stop that from happening. Just say yes and marry Thompson's daughter, and then I'll put an end to this torment. Her father, my friend, just called. They'll be joining us shortly. His daughter just accepted. Isn't that beautiful?” Duncan beamed.

"Quite typical of a poverty-stricken family. I didn't expect her to decline the offer. Okay, I am. I can't sell my birthright to Felix. I'll marry his wretched daughter to save my fortune” Grumbling, Fabio reluctantly accepted.

“Good! That's the shit I'm referring to,” Duncan was elated and praised his son for making the best decision.

Shortly after, Thompson walked inside with his daughter, Sophia, to the conversation.

"Yippee! Look we have here. My in-laws. We were just discussing you before your arrival. Come have your seat,” Duncan welcomed them, while Fabio was unbothered. He bent his head to focus on his phone. Immediately he raised his head, and he screamed together with Sophia. “You? What the heck are you doing here?”

"Have you two met before?  Both Duncan and his friend looked at themselves and asked.

They were wondering what was happening. Neither Sophia nor Fabio were ready to speak up. They just kept staring at each other disdainfully.