Chapter 10: Michael


    "Mr Thompson, I''ll suggest you keep your hands to yourself from now on. Nina is my girlfriend and it''s


    my duty to take care of her. Why don''t you gofort your wife to be".


    I walk away sad and downcasted while Austin cover her with his jacket. He guide her outside to his car


    and drove her home. I stood at the balcony and watch them from afar


    I still couldn''t believe that Nina will rece me so soon. What of the connection we felt?. I love her with


    everything I have and will do everything to take her from Austin.


    I walk away from the window immediately they left and went to find my parents. I met them in the


    conference room at the hotel arguing among themselves. The Melton''s were also there and Debbie she


    sat down on the couch crying. Immediately I walk in they all quiet down and turn to regard me.


    " what was that show you put on, at the auction. Michael?"


    "Mom. It wasn''t any show. I just came back from receiving an urgent phone call to find out that Debbie


    has found herself a recement..........."


    " If you didn''t leave, I wouldn''t be stuck with a guy I don''t even want to be with" Deborah counter in


    cutting me short.


    "Why couldn''t you tell them to wait still Ie back. If you don''t really want to jump so fast into another


    man''s bed" I felt a sounding p across my face and turn to see Deborah shaking with annoyance.


    She turn to leave without a second nce.


    "Good riddance" I mutter and turn to face her father who has rose from where he sat with his wife.


    "I will not have you insult my daughter in my presence. Michael!!" He point a finger at me annoyed. "We


    are not forcing this alliance on you. It was both consented. I will not have my daughter treated like a


    trash by you or anyone" He turn to my father" Talk senses into your son''s head or consider this alliance


    off". Then he storm off with his wife behind his heel.


    "What was all that Michael. I thought we warned you to stay away from that girl" My father say clearly


    pissed off as he run his hands tiredly through his hair.


    "Mom, Dad. I love Nina so much. I hope you understand that I''m doing all this because of you and not


    because I love Deborah"


    "Then I will advice you to continue treating her nicely or else consider yourself cut off from your


    inheritance" Dad walk away annoyed, leaving me alone with mom.


    I sat down heavily on the couch which Deborah has vacated a short while, mom move close as she


    wrap her hands around me.


    "Mom, please make dad understand. I don''t love Deborah and will never would" I pleaded with her


    "Micheal, your father and I knows what''s right for you and we will never lead you astray. Nina has


    nothing to offer you but with Deborah your future is secure"


    "But I don''t love her.............."


    "With time you will grow to love her. I and your father didn''t marry for love but look at us now, we are


    inseparable" Mom try to persuade me, I knew her mind was already made up, I turn to peck her on the


    cheek as I smile sadly at her.


    "Thank you mom, I will call Deborah by tomorrow and apologize to her" She smile happily as she bade


    me goodnight.


    I walk out of the room carrying my zer on my shoulder. Immediately I got into the lobby, Vino and


    Victor were waiting for me. I walk up to them.


    "Hey big brother, where are you taking us to tonight" Victor said climbing to me, like a little child. Vino


    sp me tightly on my shoulder as well all walk out into the night.


    We are currently sitting in a bar drinking,I really want to get drunk tonight. I never would have believed


    that this would happen to me. If only I knew, I wouldn''t have made that decision I took six years ago. I


    still can''t wrap my brain around this, that Nina is dating Austin Walker. Why Austin? Why?.


    "Are you alright?"Vino said sounding concerned as he noticed my unusual quiet attitude. I turn to look


    at him but I wasn''t really seeing him, my thoughts were far as I wonder into thend of unknown.


    "Michael?" Vino shouted as he shook my trying to break me from my thoughts. I look at him as the


    tears fell from my eyes. Vino and Victor were shocked, as their hands stilled on the drinks. Even I was


    shocked, I''ve never shed tears before in my life. I was always the stronger one between my brothers.


    Victor drop his drink as he came over to wrap his hands around me " It''s okay, big brother, everything is


    going be alright". Vino also came around to hug me. I will miss them when they leave tomorrow.


    "What''s going on Michael?. What did mom and dad say?. Talk to us" Vino question softly as wipe away


    the tears from my eyes.


    "It''s not mom and dad" I replied as I shrug, took my drink and sip from it.


    "If it''s not mom and dad, then who?" They both ask.


    "Nina and Austin".


    "Austin, the guy who sang at mom charity event tonight and Nina is the girl you love and is dating


    Austin. Right?". Vino ask looking at me weirdly.


    "Yes" I nodded and took another sip of my drink, as it burn my on my throat, I turn the bottle around to


    get a look of the name but my eyes were getting blurry.


    "But that''s good, at least it shows that she asked moved on. It now left for you to do same"


    I re at him, he''s not understanding me at all, " It would have been easier if it was real" I shouted at


    him, thankful that we were seated at a secluded corner of the bar far from people''s eyes and ear.


    "What do you mean by is not real"


    "Just that. Isn''t it obvious that Austin is doing this to take revenge. First Deborah, now Nina" Vino look


    at me as he finally understood what I meant.


    "But what happened six years ago was not your fault" Vino said


    "Austin doesn''t know that. I don''t know what to do. She wouldn''t even give me a chance to exin


    myself to her, not even to warn her".


    "But Austin Walker is gay" Victor suddenly said, he has been quiet this while only observing I and Vino


    as we banter on and off.


    "No, he''s not gay" I raise my hands to rub my eyes out of frustration"Don''t you get it. That''s the only


    way he could get Nina to date him, on the pretense of hiding his secrets. If he ask her directly, she


    would have refused. He''s using her kindness against her".


    "But why is he doing that" Victor asked again as he use his hand to flick his long blond hair to the back


    making his face toe out smaller than before.


    "That I don''t know"


    "Then what''s did dad say" Vino ask sipping his drink as he sit back on his chair raising one leg on the


    center table.


    "He was extremely annoyed. He reminded me of his warning ten years ago" i said as I also put my legs


    on the center table fighting for dominance with Vino''s leg, he finally give in and remove his leg while


    Victorughs heartily.


    "He said that?" Vino said after sometime, with his mouth open. Among us three, he''s the only one who


    doesn''t fancy dad too much. But he''s mummy''s boy.


    I shrug as I sip my drink and turn to observe the bar that we were in, not really seeing or hearing


    anything. I could still see the hatred in his eyes when he drap his zer on her. I''ll give anything to be


    with her right now.


    "I think I need to speak with Danny" I stood up as I walk out of the bar leaving my two brothers to stare


    at my retreating broad back.


    "Frank?"


    "Yes sir" He answered immediately I enter into the car.


    "Take me to Nina''s house"


    "But sir………..?"


    "No but…?" I scream at him as he scrambled quickly into the car and started driving. I close my eyes


    as I wind down the window to let in the night breeze as he drove us all the way to Nina''s house.


    I''m thankful that Deborah is spending the night with her parents, wouldn''t want any drama tonight. I


    took the elevator that will take me all the way through.


    "Where''s her floor" I ask Frank, when we step out of the elevator. He turned to look at me like I''m crazy.


    "I don''t know sir" He replied as he shrug, his mouth curve into a smile. I know he''s trying not tough at


    how pathetic I am.


    I walk out of the elevator angrily into the car with Frank closely behind me. It''s pointless searching


    through a ten floor building for Nina. I''ll just warn her when the time is right.


    Frank got into the car and turn to face me, his hand on the ignition"Where to sir?".


    "Home. Just take me home" I said as the car plunge into darkness.


    I walk into my Vi sad. John and Emma were waiting for me as usual.


    "Wee sir" he said as he walk closer to me.


    "Yes John?" I look at him questionably.


    "I need to brief you on the security situation for the past seventy two hours" he said. I nodded and


    follow him into the CCTV room.


    "Miss Deborah Melton was at Mr Austin''s ce yesterday and " He pause and look at me weary.


    "And what?" I question him impatient.


    "They kissed and were making out in the sitting room"


    "What?. That lying bitch". " Any news on Austin" I ask him after some minutes.


    "Yes" He said picking up a file from the table and scan through it briefly.


    "Mr Austin and Deborah Melton has known each for ten years now. They met in an hospital in france"


    "Why did Deborah went to France? And what was she doing in an hospital"? I ask him as I ran my


    hands through my hair frustrated.


    "We don''t have all the facts for now, but Me Austin was there due to the death of his younger sister, he


    has been going to France to get prescription for his Insomnia. He was there for his regr check up"


    "Ok. Anything else?"


    "None at the moment sir" He replied.


    "OK. I need you to find out everything about Deborah Melton for me"


    "Yes, sir"


    I walk out of the CCTV room into the kitchen to get something to eat. Emma was already dishing out


    my food. She ced them in front of me and turn to walk out. I told her thank you and begin to eat.


    My phone ringing in my room cause my to stand up and went to pick it.


    "Yes Vino" I answer as soon as I pick the call.


    "Hey! Michael. Are you home now?"


    "Yes" I replied as I went back to eat my food before it get cold.


    "I''ve been thinking, why don''t we talk to Nina, as in I and Victor. Maybe she might listen to us" Vino


    suggested as he dump clothes on his bed, I guess he''s already packing for his trip tomorrow.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    "No that''s not a good idea. She wouldn''t listen, she''s stubborn just like mom" I smile sadly as i


    remember us arguing in front of Deborah, that''s why I love her so much, she''s just like my mom who


    happened to be the only woman who always contradict what I say.


    "OK. What do you think we could do to help" He replied as he sigh heavily.


    "Don''t know yet. But I''m thinking of seeking Lillian''s help"


    "OK. That''s her best friend right?"


    "Yes. Where''s Victor?"


    Vinough " Are you asking me that, as if you don''t know Victor" He scoff.


    Victor and I arepletely the same when ites to women, we cahnges women like our clothes. I


    was once like that until I met Nina. And now I regret my actions, that''s why I''m in this mess now…..


    "Ok. Just make sure you warn to use condoms" We bothugh. "When is your flight tomorrow"


    "Very early in the morning" He reply. That mean we won''t be able to see each other before they leave.


    "OK. Have a safe flight. Talk to you tomorrow"


    "OK. Goodnight" He hung up, I abandon my food as it was already cold and went to stand at the


    window. Opening the blind, I gaze up into the sky. Trying badly to hold my tears. It hurt more than the


    first time?. It hurts to see her in the arms of another man?.


    It takes only a woman to make my whole worlde crashing down. I''m no longer focused at work. It


    was easier when I didn''t see her but now that I did is like I can''t get enough of her. This feeling is new


    to me. I don''t know what to do anymore. I try reaching out to her but she just wouldn''t listen.


    On one hand there''s Deborah Melton, my inheritance and my family. And on the other hand there''s


    Nina Miller, my happiness and love. What can I do? I need her in my life to breathe again. To make me


    whole again.


    I reluctantly close the blind and went into my room to sleep as the alcohol in my system was already


    taking a toll on me.