Chapter 88: Michael


    I kept checking the phone time after time expecting Nina to return any of my calls but nothing yet and I


    have dialled her number like sixty times already. I''m so scared right now. What could have happened to


    her? She hadn''t done this before? Or did Deborah get to her already?


    “ Are you even listening to us, sir?”


    I came out of my thoughts to see my newly appointed managers looking at me with shock on their


    faces.


    I have forgotten that I was in a Zoom meeting with my managers. Actually, it was supposed to be a live


    meeting but that stupid secretary of mine has forgotten to send a message to themst night to be here


    in New York today.


    “ I am, what were you saying?” I asked them as I dropped the phone in my hands. I was tempted to


    check her at home but my schedule was jam-packed. I can''t leave...


    “ Hotel Italia''s ount isn''t bnced and I''m scared of taking over and being used of embezzling


    thepany''s fund” Mr Alonzo replied, he was the newly appointed manager who would manage


    Thompson''s Hotels in Italy.


    “ Damn! Not again. Why is that hotel''s ount not always bnced? First was with Leonardo now it''s


    Alexander” I cursed into theptop which was in front of me. I don''t want to deal with any of these right


    now. I just want to find my wife! I shouted in my mind.


    “ I''ll have the financial department look into it, any other problem?” I asked them already, signalling to


    my secretary who stood in front of my table taking note of the meeting to call the head of the financial


    department for me.


    “ Nothing at the moment,” Mr Alonzo replied, shaking his head as he nced through the paper in his


    hands.


    “ Speak for yourself, Alonzo” Mr Damien retorted angrily at Alonzo. I nodded at him to ask his question,


    he was the new Director of Thompson''s Hospitals.


    “ Sir, most of the equipment in the hospitals are outdated, we need newer fashion to aid surgery and


    ______”


    “ What is the estimated budget or didn''t you do that?” I asked him, cutting him off from his babbling.


    Any other day, I would have patiently waited for him but today, I just wanted to round everything up and


    go home to my wife.


    “ It is a hundred million dors” Mr Damien replied as he pulled his white coat nearer to his body in fear


    while others shouted at him in anger trying to tell him that the money was too much


    Any other time I would have questioned that money but right now, I was in a hurry which was why I just


    approved the budget without thinking “ That''s okay. I will have the ounting department forward the


    money to thepany''s ount by tomorrow. Have a nice day gentlemen”


    They were about to protest but I didn''t give them the chance to, I mmed theptop shut just as my


    door opened, ushering in my secretary. Another thing I hated her for, she doesn''t knock beforeing


    in. She enters anywhere like she owned the fucking ce and I don''t like that.


    “ I have given them the file, sir,” She told me as she came to stand in front of me going through her


    notepad in her hands.


    I nodded at her as I picked up my phone and dial Nina''s number again, it rang and rang before going


    to voicemail.


    “ Sir, you have a meeting now with your father and the investors. They are waiting in the conference


    room” My secretary told me, I couldn''t help ring at her. Can''t she see that I''m in no mood for the


    meeting? But I needed to go seeing that my father was around, I wouldn''t want him to think that I''m


    cking on my responsibility because of Nina.


    “ Okay, let''s go,” I told her reluctantly, already getting off my chair. I buttoned up my jacket and walked


    out of my office while she followed behind me with my briefcase in her hands.


    ***


    I walked into the conference room to see my dad and two other men I assume as the investors already


    seated. I took my seat at the head of the table and turned to look at therge screen ahead of me


    where the projector was mounted and Chris, who was in charge of the new contract. He was already


    there preparing to start the meeting.


    “ Let''s have it, Chris,” I told him motioning to him to start after I was through greeting my fathers and


    the investors.


    “ Casinos are the biggest and richest business in the country right now especially when it''s in______”


    “ Casinos? Really, dad” I turned to dad in shock, cutting Chris off as he was already showing the


    different casino games and their various ces with the estimated ie one would make.


    “ Just listen to the presentation, Michael. I guarantee you that you''ll love it” Dad told me, motioning to


    Chris to go on.


    “ Las Vegas is one of the biggest cities with numerous yers and________”


    I tuned out of their presentation and secretly dial Nina''s number again but just like always it rang before


    going into voicemail. What could have possibly happened to her? Is she alright?


    “ That''s all with the meeting. What do you think about the idea, Mr Thompson?” Chris asked me, about


    thirty minutester when he was through with his presentation.


    I turned my eyes away from the screen in front of me to the man who stood on the podium with a smile


    on his face awaiting my praise for a job well done.


    My face went nk for a few minutes as I tried to recognize the man in front of me. A flicker of


    recognition passed through my eyes, I smiled as I stood up pping my hands excitedly.


    “ Wow!! Good job, Chris” Iplimented him with a smile as I shook his hands. I can''t believe I was so


    caught up in my thoughts about Nina that I forgot everything and everyone. Dad was right, the casino


    business is a must go into for us.


    “Let''s have the office in Las Vegas then,” I told dad who nodded before turning tomunicate


    something to the investors. I checked the time to see that it was nearly two p.m.


    We signed the contract after both parties reached apromise. The investor both shook each of our


    hands before turning to walk out of the conference room. Chris also excused himself leaving Dad and


    me alone.


    “ Dad, don''t you think thepanies under our empire are getting too much? I can''t handle all of them


    alone” Iined to my father. If we get to sign a new contract every day I''m afraid I might break


    down like theputer in my office which had stopped working this morning.


    “ Rx, Michael. You worry too much” Dad told me patting me on the shoulder lightly. I wanted to tell


    him that I was married now and needed more time with my family but I refrain from telling him that


    “ I have everything sorted out already” Dad continued gently as he smiled at me. I nodded at him and


    waited for him to continue.


    “ Vino will handle Thompson''s Art. Victor will handle Thompson''s Entertainment while you are to take


    care of Thompson''s Hotels, Hospitals and the newlyunched Casino” Dad continued, already dividing


    his inheritance among us.


    “ That''s great dad, I love it. Now the workload wouldn''t be too much for me______”


    “ That''s not all. Nina will handle Lush Beauty and Thompson''s Media. How''s that?” Dad asked me


    looking up at me with a smile on his face already going to the door.


    “ But dad, Nina''s my wife. Don''t you think that will be too much for her to handle” I protested angrily at


    him? I wouldn''t want anything that will slow her down. I cherish her health more than anything


    “ And she''s my daughter-inw too. Goodbye son” Dad told me, already walking out of the door. I stood


    ring at his retreating back, too tired to say anything.


    I turned to my secretary who had witnessed everything in the room“ Go print out that note. I want them


    on my table by tomorrow” I told her pointing to the notepad in her hands.


    “ I didn''t take down any note sir,” She told me, causing me to pause on my way out of the door.


    “ You didn''t do what? You are fired!!” I screamed at her before stepping out of the conference room. Her


    being fired was long overdue, I was only giving her a chance to change but that won''t be happening


    again.


    I took out my phone to call my administrative office downstairs as I walked into the elevator that will


    take me to my car“ Have Aurora reinstated back to her former position” I called to them. I heard a faint‘


    Okay, sir’ before I hung up.


    Mark opened the car door for me as I sat down at the back. He took the steering wheel with John


    beside him“ Did you know where Nina is?” I asked John who turned to stare at me at the back.


    “ She left for her parent''s house this morning,” John replied, raising his eyebrows at me like I ought to


    know where my wife was.


    “ Take me to the club,” I told Mark and rxed in the back seat, closing my eyes, d to know that


    Nina was fine. Maybe she''s busy with her parents that''s why she couldn''t pick my call, I said in my


    mind making up excuses for her


    ***


    “ I needed that” I eximed after ourst match of golfing at the clubhouse. I collected my water from


    John and gulped it down at a go before turning to wipe the sweat off my brows with the white towel on


    my neck.


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    “ I second that. We all needed that” Andrea replied as he settled himself beside Mika who was already


    opening the bottle of water for him. They will be getting married in a month''s time. I''m so happy for


    them.


    “ So, Michael. What''s this news that I''m hearing


    around town that you don''t want kids yet?” Danny asked me as he fixed his gaze on me.


    I scoffed at him, not in any way surprised by his question “ I know mom told you about it, right?”


    “ Just answer the damn question!” Danny screamed at me. I was shocked. That was the first time in


    ages I saw him angry. What was this about?


    I gulped nervously. I can''t have my friend hating me because of one stupid idea I told mom“ I didn''t say


    I don''t want kids just not yet” I told them defensively.


    “ So, you want her to abort the baby in her womb, right? You bastard”


    We all turned to the voice which had caused shivers down my spine. Lillian stood with her arms folded


    across her chest ring down at me.


    “ What are you doing here? I thought I told you that I will handle it” I heard Danny say to her but my


    brain was trying toprehend the meaning behind her words.


    “ Answer me. Do you want her to abort the baby that you bastard put in her?” Lillian screamed at me


    ignoring Danny''s protest. I always knew she hated me ever since I was pretending to hate Nina.


    “ Nina is pregnant?” I asked her in shock as I finally decipher the meaning behind her words.


    Everything came back to me sincest night. From the white envelope to her strange questions.


    “ Oh My God, Michael. You are so naive” I scolded myself. I can''t believe I say all of that to herst


    night without knowing that she was already carrying my baby.


    “ I didn''t know. I swear. I want babies, many of them. I want them with her” I told all of them, already


    scolding myself for hurting the woman I love more than my life.


    “ I have to go. I need to beg her to forgive me” I told them, already walking out of the club, I could see


    Lillian''s eyes already softening as soon as she heard that I wanted to go begged Nina.


    I got into the car andmanded Mark to drive fast as he drove us to the Miller''s house. I couldn''t help


    praying and wishing that Nina would ept my apology.