The Bet - Episode 14

 

Raymond got to the family house and drove in, he got out and slammed the door not expecting anyone to come welcome him home as was typical in his family, everyone was busy with their lives, that was why he was surprised when he looked up and  saw his brother staring down at him from the balcony, drink in hand.  

Richmond, his elder brother of two years studied Business administration and was the brain behind the success of the Williams Company, he was very smart and could get any deal on the planet, his father had wanted him,  Raymond to study Law and follow in the family business but him,  always being the rebellious one had other plans for himself. 
Richmond was usually a very busy person and seeing he was based in Lagos, when he came to port Harcourt , he was usually with his father at the office working,  they both were workaholics and Raymond decided that  if they were both home,  this was important. 
 
"Good to see you bro" Richmond raised his glass at him, Raymond stared at him skeptical  then shook his head and walked into the house...  Nothing had changed, this was where he grew up, ran around and broke things, he knew the hideouts and getaways of the lil mansion.. 
"Father's  precious son comes home"Richmond walked down the stairs to meet him
"Make that prodigal "Raymond said, they laughed and hugged
"Where's  Mom? "Raymond  asked looking around 
"She's out for one of them meetings, Trace's out too " Richmond said then looked his brother over "you've done well for yourself, Abuja looks good on ya"
Raymond psst "you don't look so bad yourself, you don't look overworked as is typical "he walked towards the bar and fixed himself a drink"how's Lisa and the girls"
A pause " I cope " Richmond replied with a shrug then leaned on the sofa" you still chasing on them girls? "he asked, 
Remembering Jessica,  Raymond got silent
"Where's pops? "he asked instead
"Somewhere indoors.. Waiting for ya "his brother replied 
Raymond quirked his eyebrow"What's up?"he asked 
"If I know"Richmond said with a shrug
Raymond watched his brother and decided he knew more than he was letting on
"When you heading back?  "Richmond asked
"Depends but I should hit the road by Monday, got something waiting for me back in Abuja" he took off his suit jacket
"Hmm, does this something have anything to do with a woman? "
A pause "Yes it does"
"My nigga, I did teach you well, i just got knocked up too early" he said giving him a chop knuckle 
"Because you always do what father says"Raymond said"you are the good son"
"I'm not like you Ray, I can't stand up to father"
"You can Rich, you just worship him too much"
"And that's supposed to be a bad thing?,   I want to be as successful as he is in future, so I have to follow in his footsteps "he said
"You do not have to bro, all these.

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. "he waved around "is gonna be yours " he said 
"Not when he has a favorite "Richmond said, 
Raymond tsked and went inside..  no one ever believed he didn't want a dime from his father. 

At dinner everyone was home, his 21 year old sister Tracey had just jumped on him and rubbed her makeup all over his t-shirt, he glared at her, but she just flipped her hair which she had dyed red with gold tips this time
"you know you love me and I missed you too"she batted her lashes and winked at him, he couldn't help but smile before  he turned to  look at his mother who had refused to age with her beauty... 
"How's your work dear"She asked 
"Been fine so far mom, just kinda stressful sometimes, the ratio of patients to doctors is terrifying"
"If you worked for me you wouldn't have to stress so much"his father said
"Its a good kind of stress"Raymond replied and there was silence on the table. 
"There's a contract  we've been working on, it is very important to the Williams company but we need investors to be able to claim it... The Whites seem to be the best bet on all grounds, your brother and I have been working tirelessly in order to seal the deal.. "Raymond ate more and wondered how that was his business "we finally met with the investors last week and reached a consensus,  they'd only trust our company with their money  if we had an alliance"Raymond looked up" in marriage "
A long silence as it sank in, Raymond still didnt get it, how did that have anything  to do with him... 
"You ll have to marry their  daughter Cilia, now i've met her,  she's beautiful and well behaved"his father finished. 
Raymond looked at his Mother who focused on her eating  then brother who gave him a look.. 
"You knew about this"
"We need this deal bro, and Cilia is beautiful"
"You know I would never consent to such a thing father,  why bother"he looked at his father 
"Son.. I did not ask you for much, if Richmond was not already married am sure he d have done it gladly, the White family is a great Family to be in alliance  with, they have affluence all over the world and this deal is a big one, all our major competitors want it and yet all they ask is an alliance to be made in marriage, I don't see anything wrong in it,  I feel it d be a perfect match except you decide to defer me again of which this time there would be dire consequences, I did not bare you to be useless to me, I allowed you do whatever you like before now but I need this, I'm asking this from you as a father, marry the girl, do whatever you want with her, just let me get this deal"
"Can you even listen to yourself, when did you become this selfish and malicious "he roved his face and stood up"I won't marry her Dad, I have someone else in mind"he said and pushing back his chair, walked away 
"If you refuse to do as I say this time, you cease  to be my son Raymond"his father said
Raymond paused then turned "I could give a fuck Dad"
He went out and slammed the door behind him
"I knew he won't listen to reason, you just have to talk to him"his father said to his mother who was distraught at the outcome of the evening
"No I would"Richmond stood up" lemme talk to him "he said,  ever the good son, he walked away towards where Raymond had gone and saw him on the balcony, stared then
"You shouldn't have walked out like that "he said
"Well he shouldn't give me such an ultimatum, I can't believe I travelled all the way for this"
"You haven't even met the girl "Richmond said
"I'm not ready to get married bro, I have things to do with my life, I'm just 27"
Richmond sighed and leaned on the balcony
"Dad doesn't know that or care, all he cares about is his deal and when Tracey is old enough he d also find her a suitor from one of his numerous business partners "
"That's just bullshit bro" Raymond pulled out a cigarette and lit, "I'm not going with it, I have too much on my plate to add this to it"he thought about Jessica and got pained 
"Dad can do his worse"
******
Jessica used the 10th strip then stoned the whole kit to the wall, they were all positive, how could this be, how could she let herself go, allow this to happen to her, she had shooed her mother out the door after her statement but when she realized her period was actually more than a week late she decided to go to a pharmacy and do the tests, an hour after in the bathroom she was still crying... 
She took up her phone and decided to call Gina
"Hey babe, sorry I missed your wedding, I've just been going through a lot lately"she apologized, Ginas wedding had been that Saturday but she had been too depressed to move out of her room, thank God she had only been a bridesmaid
"Its no bother girl I totally understand,"Gina said," how you, hope your not taking that bastard back "she said
Jessica began to cry
"It gets worse girl.. "she cried more"I'm pregnant "
There was a long silence "What, you sure"
"Except all the 10 strips are expired"
"Omg, have you gone to the hospital "
"I know I am, my period is late"
"Omg, what's gonna happen now, have you told him? "
"What no,  I don't even want to talk to him, please don't tell him"she pleaded
A pause "I won't, but at a point he has to know.  he deserves to know at least "
"No he doesn't,  he has no right whatsoever to this baby"
"Omg, this just got complicated " Gina was silent "So um, are you gonna keep it"
Jessica  cried more"I don't even know Gina, I'm so confused, this is not how I pictured it  at all"
"I know dear, life just has a way of changing  things for everyone , you ll be fine Jess, would come see you immediately I get back from the honeymoon "
Jessica kept the phone,  laid on the floor crying more, her mother tapped her awake, she saw a phone on her face
"Your father wants to talk to you, I told him what happened "Jessica stared at her
"I don't know what to do anymore Jessi, your holed up in your bathroom, and not talking to anyone... he wants to help"
Jessica hesitated then took the phone and put in her ear.. She paused as she glanced at her mother 
"Helo Dad.. "
****
Comments on next episode, it gets more twisted... 
Sorry for late upload