Set me free - Episode 53

 

William:

"Here he comes. Let me warn you. Mr Gabriel is a callous man. Don't let him find you weak or he'll prey on it." Diane says once she spot the old man walking in with a million buck worth of suit. He seem to command everyone's attention in the restaurant. I adjust nervously in my chair.
"You good?" Diane asks and I nod.
"Mr Gabriel! Always a pleasure to meet you." Diane stand to shake the older man. I quickly take her lead and stand as well . His grip is uncharacteristically hard for an old man when he takes my hand in an handshake.
"I finally meet the infamous true heir." He says. I smile shortly. We all wait for him to sit before we all take our seats.
"I ordered the most expensive wine in the house. I'll have it brought now." Diane says once we were seated. She starts to wave for a waiter before the old man speaks. 
"Don't bother with the wine. I just have a few minutes to spare. Let's get straight to it." His eyes never leave mine. I clench my nervous fingers into fist under the table. 
"So, you want your father's company right?" He asks. I look to Diane who nods for me to answer. I take a gulp of water before I face him again. 
"Yes sir

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. And I'll be in your debt if you give me your vote in the next shareholders meeting this weekend." I say. He nods slowly. 
"You'll be in my debt." He rolls the ring on his thumb finger back and forth.
"Yes sir. The company's worth has gone down ever since Mr Williams died, may his soul rest in peace. And his wife and her son took over​. My lawyer here did a little digging and found two records for the company. They do not match." Diane says and drop some files in front of Mr Gabriel. He picks them up and inspect them.
"You are saying they've been defrauding the company." He says.
"Yes sir. They've been keeping two records. With more evidence, William will be able to get her convicted for money laundering oh and tax invasion." I just watch, pretty clueless.
"I don't see how I'll benefit from locking her up." He drops the papers and focus his eyes on us.
"Well sir, the company in the right hands is worth three times the current annual income. You get to pack in more money every month if you support us with your shares." Diane says.
"The right hands you said. What makes him the right hands? From what I gathered, he's an uneducated ex convict.  He's surely going to do worse." I bend my eyes down in shame. He's right.
"He didn't kill anyone." Diane points out. 
"That doesn't wipe his records from the system. It doesn't erase the fact that he doesn't have any sort of education to run a company such as this. This is a waste of time." He says as he starts to stand up. My fingers dig into my palms. 
"I can work and study. I know I can do this." I say. The old man pause in his ascent up and study me.
"I don't bet on things I'm not sure about. Mrs William has a better deal." He says but doesn't try to stand again. He sits back down, still studying me. 
"Mr Gabriel. Let's stop with the games. What do you want?" Diane says.
"I like how you are perceptive Diane. You've really ran your father's company well so far." He smirks while we all watch him. Is he going to ask for money? 
"Personally, I don't give a rat ass about the shares in that company. It has been sinking for years now. I can hand over all my shares to him. But it comes with a price." He pulls the ring he has been fondling since he came in and drops it on the table. All eyes goes to the ring. 
"It's a recorder. Just for insurance." He informs us. I stare at him open mouthed but quickly catch myself and hide my incredulity at such a man. Diane takes a deep breath beside me before She takes a sip of her water.
"What do you want?" She asks casually. 
"A wedding."He drops the bomb and Diane nearly spit her drink on me. 
"What?!" We both shout at the same time. People start to stare in our direction. I don't care. This old man has gone crazy.
"That's the only way you get my shares. Marry my only daughter. Give me an heir. I don't care what you do with your life after that. Divorce or whatever." He states. I gawk openly this time.
"Mr Gabriel. We --I mean how do you expect your daughter to marry him just like that? " Diane asks. How do you expect me to Marry her?!
"She can't be choosy. She'll do whatever I ask. Now you have just two days and a night before the shareholders meeting. Make your decision before then. Goodbye." He pulls his ring back onto his thumb finger then nod to all three of us. This time he stands up fully and walks out on us. Nobody speaks for a while after he's left.
"William? "
"You don't expect me to do that, do you?!" I snap. 
"Dawn wanted you to have the company."
"Not like this! Marriage for shares? What about Aurora?"
"Aurora would have a new mother. She'll want that."
"Not a mother I don't even know. How would a child of that man be anyways?!" "For years I've wanted to do this so I can make things up to my baby sister who died unfairly. I've done my part, William. It's up to you from here. Whatever you choose is on your hands. I have to go now. My son needs his mother. " She says before both her lawyer and her leave me. I bury my hands in my hand. I thought it would be so easy.

Michelle:

"Would he be back soon?" I ask. It's almost nine pm and William wasn't back.
"He should have been back by now." She says worriedly. Aurora yawns on my laps.
"You sleepy sweetie?" I ask.
"I want to wait for my daddy. He always reads me a story before I sleep." She yawns again.
"Let me tell you a secret. I tell stories better than your father. In fact I taught him how to tell stories." I say in a conspirational whisper. The little girl light up. 
"Really?!"
"Huh-uh."
"Will you tell me one tonight?" She asks. William's mother nod her consent. 
"Of course. Let's go." I put her on her feet and take her hand.
"Last door to your right." William's mom instructs as we leave. I find the room without problem. 
"Here! I love this story!" She squeal as she grab a book off the little shelf by her bed. She push it into my hand. I smile fondly at her. I put her to bed and slowly read out the story of the little mermaid.

*****

"How was the meeting?" I must have fallen asleep with Aurora. I scrub my sleepy eyes as I try to listen for the voice that woke me up earlier.
"Didn't know you were in contact with Dawn's sister." It's William's voice. They must be outside the room. I tiptoe to the door to listen. The mention of Dawn has piqued my interest. Why did he meet her sister?
"She's been paying Aurora's fees for the past four years. She got me the job at the diner. Dawn's wish." His mother says.
"I can't believe she'll do all this for me. I killed her." William's voice. He sounds pained. How did he kill her? 
"She walked you to that aisle. She made you marry her. All through the relationship. She made the decisions. You are not responsible. Stop blaming yourself!"
"I wish I could take it back and never let her take a chance with me." I feel bad for listening. He sounds so emotional. I start to tiptoe back to the bed. 
"Is that why you are running away from the woman from abroad?" I pause at my name.

Read " Intoxicated Romance " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. I have to listen to this one. 
"She's not for me." William says. My heart falls.
"Why not?!" Yes, why not. I press my ear into the door.
"Mr Gabriel wants me to marry his daughter for the company." My eyes nearly pop out of their sockets. I stagger back from the door.
"Oh my God." I hear his mother gasp.
"What am I going to do? I only have two days. It's Dawn's wish, mother!" A sob leave my throat at this and I clamp my hand over my mouth to silent it. It's Dawn's wish. I've lost. He'll not choose me. I can't go back out that door. I can't face him right now. I drag my body to the window and jump out.