"But before I say anything, I request that we watch the Homestead news first." Ricky added, and then reclined against the seat while the news anchor switched the TV on.
Annabelle who was holding the remote, her heart in her chest switched channels, and they watched as another presenter came into view.
"We are here with information regarding Mr. Patrick Raymonds, whose offences of using the company as a font for his illegal activities recently went viral."
Jade inhaled a deep breath, licking her lips nervously. At this point, the world had already got to know about what she had tried to protect for years, and so emphasising it in a TV didn't ache her anymore as much as she had thought it would.
"Based on the evidence we have gathered so far, it has been confirmed that Mr. Raymonds forced his wife, the late Prima Donna to sign the company rights over to him, and then started using the company to aid drug traffickers in their activities."
The presente
Ricky gulped down his second cup of coffee for the night, the bitterness of the strong black coffee making him clench his teeth. It was just as he had requested for it; black, strong. Yet he felt like calling the staff to ask for a change. But it was exactly what he needed at the moment after being awake for a long long time. It was either that or he would sleep all the way to the U.S. without taking care of the urgent issues which awaited him. He checked the time by his watch, wondering why his assistant was delaying with his luggage. Not that he couldn't travel without his bags anyway considering that he could simply buy everything he needed when he got home, but there were documents he needed to sign as well before leaving. Documents like placing a ban on the P.I. in every country of the world for daring to cross him. He would ensure that although the man could live his life however he wanted without being arrested by the police, he would never be
She made his emotions a huddle of cacophony, pushing him into that state of euphoria and ecstatic madness and hunger. It was a kiss that expressed the feeling of raw desire which was mutual between them; unquenching thirst for each other driving them both, leading the way, making them mere passengers in the ride to Nirvana. He cuddled her neck, kissing her lips like the drink he had wanted, needed to be alive for a long time. He had missed her, and so had she, and they told this to one another without uttering a word. Their lips were the words, their touches every proof each needed to know how the other felt about them. It was he who broke the kiss, having been reminded by the medicine he inhaled on her neck that she was convalescing. He fought hard not to remember her fall, that traumatising memory being replaced by the reality of her finally being in his arms. He wasn't panting for breath, but his chest was heaving up and down, his pupils dilated wi
"How important is this deal to our corporation? Why can't you stop being inflexible and let go of it?" Ricky Mears asked the board of directors, checking the time by his watch and tapping his fingers on the table impatiently. The meeting was supposed to be over already, and he had a lot on his schedule. His personal assistant was already signalling him that his next appointment was in less than five minutes. "The Raymonds company is becoming serious competition, sir. With the situation right now, if we do not partner with them in this deal, we might lose many investors and shareholders. They are beginning to ask questions, losing their trust in us." One of the board directors said, his look pensive. The shareholders who sat opposite the board directors all had their eyes on the new CEO. They had all been used to his father, Joseph Mears who was kind hearted and considerate, unlike his son who hadn't completed his five months in the company but had succeeded in firing half of the emp
Ricky Mears stepped into the hallway which had the signpost "private" on it. Just as he was midway into the hallway, two security officers in uniform walked past him, their eyes cast downwards. They didn't even notice that a trespasser was walking in the private hallway, and walked past him without a question. He shrugged, knowing that whatever that had saddened them wasn't his business. Straightening his suit, Ricky pushed open the door where a young lady sat with a phone in hand. She dressed professionally in a black suit and took down notes. Her face a description of seriousness. Noticing his presence, she mouthed "I will speak to you later" and stood, offering him a polite smile. "Good morning, sir. Do you have an appointment with the CEO?" She asked. The smile on her face appeared practiced, like a soothing balm offered to irritating clients. Ricky wondered if she had read the impatient expression in his eyes, and again felt impressed inwardly at the good selection of the empl
Ricky stared at her, ignoring the hand she extended. For all he knew she would be twenty two! Wasn't she supposed to be a college student or anything other than what she had come to mean to his company; a terror? How had she managed to pull the stunt that had kept him awake at night thinking about? He felt ashamed for grovelling all those while to personally write and send those mails to her. For all he knew, J. K. Raymonds was only a woman, regardless of the business look she had, and he was going to get her to partner with his corporation, using everything possible. Everything... * * * "So, what is it you want exactly, Mr. Mears?" Jade asked as soon as she strode with the confidence of a peacock into her office, where Ricky had been directed to wait till she was through with her meetings. Now, amusement made her twitch her lips as she watched his fingers twitch in anger and obvious impatience. The wine he had been offered was left untouched, his stubborn jaw set in annoyance.
"What do you mean you have a condition before investing in our business?" The chairman of the board of directors asked, a frown marring his forehead in form of folded flesh that came together to form a wrinkle. At the head of the U-shaped table Ricky sat, with Ginger beside him taking notes and wondering just when the meeting would end. She thought they had gone through this before, meeting the terms and conditions of their foreign investors. The meeting was supposed to consist of shaking hands and signing documents. But now, disappointment had her sighing beneath her breath at the way they were slyly stalling. "We got a report that your company has been losing deals of late. Or isn't that true?" The cranky looking old man in loose slacks and jacket so large Ginger thought it was hand me down asked, adjusting his tie. Ginger wondered exactly what he was adjusting. The tie had been undone even before he came in with the two other younger men. Ricky heaved a sigh then, wonderin
"Miss Raymonds, you have a call on line two." Annabelle, Jade's secretary and executive assistant informed her over the intercom, shuffling of papers sounding in the background. "From?" Jade asked, tapping her platinum black pen on the desk and searching for files with the other hand, the telephone was cradled between her ear and shoulders. "Mr. Freeman." He was a potential investor who always found a way of making his demands and terms sly. She didn't intend to deal with him first thing in the morning. "Hold the call, and put him through line three in ten minutes. I'm trying to contact Chloe here." She dialled again, wondering why she couldn't get through to her younger sister. Had Chloe Raymonds blocked her number? No way. She hit the dial button again, waiting. "Okay ma'am" Annabelle replied, and disconnected the intercom to do as she asked. Jade dropped the pen on the table in frustration, wondering where she had dropped the document she had been looking for since morning
"Alright, thank you Mr. Freeman, bye." Jade dropped the receiver, reclining back in the executive seat to stare at the most recent picture in her office with pride, a gigantic portrait of her in a business suit. Who would have thought she could achieve this within three years? She wondered, closing her eyes to inhale breaths of satisfaction. When she had decided to take over the company from the claws of her father whose existence she didn't even want to think about, started working as a model to generate funds while working as a secretary, she hadn't imagined that she would soar this high. The call had gone well, and if Mr. Freeman didn't change his mind again, she would be embarking on another huge project soon with the money she would generate from him. Recalling how far she had come in the business world while maintaining anonymity from the press and the previous day's events involving a certain young man, she chuckled quietly. The look of astonishment on Ricky's face at the r
She made his emotions a huddle of cacophony, pushing him into that state of euphoria and ecstatic madness and hunger. It was a kiss that expressed the feeling of raw desire which was mutual between them; unquenching thirst for each other driving them both, leading the way, making them mere passengers in the ride to Nirvana. He cuddled her neck, kissing her lips like the drink he had wanted, needed to be alive for a long time. He had missed her, and so had she, and they told this to one another without uttering a word. Their lips were the words, their touches every proof each needed to know how the other felt about them. It was he who broke the kiss, having been reminded by the medicine he inhaled on her neck that she was convalescing. He fought hard not to remember her fall, that traumatising memory being replaced by the reality of her finally being in his arms. He wasn't panting for breath, but his chest was heaving up and down, his pupils dilated wi
Ricky gulped down his second cup of coffee for the night, the bitterness of the strong black coffee making him clench his teeth. It was just as he had requested for it; black, strong. Yet he felt like calling the staff to ask for a change. But it was exactly what he needed at the moment after being awake for a long long time. It was either that or he would sleep all the way to the U.S. without taking care of the urgent issues which awaited him. He checked the time by his watch, wondering why his assistant was delaying with his luggage. Not that he couldn't travel without his bags anyway considering that he could simply buy everything he needed when he got home, but there were documents he needed to sign as well before leaving. Documents like placing a ban on the P.I. in every country of the world for daring to cross him. He would ensure that although the man could live his life however he wanted without being arrested by the police, he would never be
"But before I say anything, I request that we watch the Homestead news first." Ricky added, and then reclined against the seat while the news anchor switched the TV on.Annabelle who was holding the remote, her heart in her chest switched channels, and they watched as another presenter came into view."We are here with information regarding Mr. Patrick Raymonds, whose offences of using the company as a font for his illegal activities recently went viral."Jade inhaled a deep breath, licking her lips nervously. At this point, the world had already got to know about what she had tried to protect for years, and so emphasising it in a TV didn't ache her anymore as much as she had thought it would."Based on the evidence we have gathered so far, it has been confirmed that Mr. Raymonds forced his wife, the late Prima Donna to sign the company rights over to him, and then started using the company to aid drug traffickers in their activities."The presente
She rubbed her stomach for the umpteenth time, that completely flat abdomen of hers that had served as a habitant for food and drinks...Now carried a child, one created from her and Ricky.She now had responsibility for two; whatever she did would affect the tiny foetus probably struggling to mature into a baby.She wanted to cry, again."Say ahh, Jade."She forced her mouth open, accepting the porridge oats that Chloe held out to her. Now, she couldn't refuse to eat anymore, because one other tiny human would be affected as well.Chloe reached out to wipe the corner of her mouth which the oat had spilled on, and then scooped another spoonful of the porridge.For the past three days since she had woken up, Chloe had been taking care of her during the day, while Annabelle stayed with her at night, during which her sister returned to spend the night with Esmeralda.It had felt strange at first, being at the receiving end o
The last time he had got drunk, and drowned himself in a pool of alcohol because he needed to forget everything that had to do with reality, it had been the night he'd seen Jade with Rafferty at the restaurant, the night he had made the mistake of sending the red haired Kimberly to the floors and Jade had looked at him with those hard eyes.Tonight, he was here because his girlfriend and mother of his child hated him; because he had made another mistake of causing her reputation to be ruined, and killing the trust she had in him.."One more round, sir?" The bartender asked, staring at the empty glasses that Ricky had drained down his throat with skepticism."Yeah, fill everything up.""Just two glasses will do, Robert." Another voice intervened, that familiar teasing voice that Ricky had grown up having beside him."Okay, sir." The bartender replied, without making any pretence of feeling confused about whose order to take. When the owner of the ba
'Some time' became interpreted from hours to days, during which Ricky never left her side. It didn't matter how many times he received calls that the scandal was affecting his stocks as well because he and Jade had openly declared their relationship. Neither did it matter that in the expansive VIP room, Annabelle, Chloe who arrived the morning after the accident and Kiara took turns there as well, and urged him to go home even if it was for a day. He cleaned her every morning and night, his palm lingering on her stomach which was still so flat he still felt it was a dream that his baby was growing there. Outside, security was tightened both in front of her room and the entire hospital as well. Because the media was still outside, camping like locusts and waiting for either him or Jade to come out and give an interview. They had continued writing shit of course, stating that she must have hidden in the hospital room to avoid being prosecuted. B
"You didn't know she's pregnant?" Those were the doctor's first words when he announced after the first examination and scan that mother and child were safe. It had been followed by silence, throwing open of lips like a box of cookies and the question, 'Pregnant?' "No, no..." He muttered, shock gripping him whole. With the help of Kiara, he had carried her to the back of his home where Jade's chauffer had been waiting. Well, waiting for a healthy boss walking with her both legs and seething in anger, not being carried to the car by a crying man soaked in a flood of her blood. She had been admitted into the VIP floor immediately, and sent to the ER where she had been examined and scanned. Now, the good family doctor of his who was attending to her stood in front of him. "It's okay, Ricky. She'll be fine okay? Just get a change of clothes while we prepare for surgery, there's nothing you can do here anyway." The fuck he would have the co
After a while, she excused herself slid off the bed, her actions so calm it scared him so much. More than he could ever explain. He watched her pick up her phone and type some messages, before wiping the tears in her cheeks as though they encompassed a salty liquid of annoying flies rather than evidence of her pains. Then she walked to the closet, and pulled out her office wear. "Babe... Babe please, where are you going? The reporters must be outside." He dared to ask, standing and walking towards her as well. "I already asked my assistant to send for my chauffer. He will pick me up through the back gate. Is that okay by you?" "Fuck" he cursed beneath his breath, it was the tone of sheer politeness and emptiness, worse than the one she had used when they had first met. In desperation, he rushed towards her and wrapped his arms around her from the back, burying his head in her neck. "Jade please, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for l
She went deathly pale, green veins popping up visibly on her forehead, and spreading across her shaky palms; teeth clenched tightly together; lips quavering as her eyes failed to focus on a particular object. Seeing that she wasn't going to tell him anything, and that she kept hanging up on callers, Ricky took the phone from her, his heart skipping when his palms made contact with hers. Hers had gone cold like those of a person who had ceased to breathe and function normally. He read the information online as quickly as he could; it had exposed every damn thing about her family and business from Esmeralda's parentage, Chloe and the sleazy bastard who had denied the pregnancy, all the way to her father's crimes while in power as the CEO of the Raymonds corporation. He had committed all sorts of atrocities; using the company as a font for his illegal drug trafficking activities and their warehouses to aid female trafficking. And Jade was being accused o