CHAPTER SIX

BENEATH THE FACADE

Behind the façade of wealth and power, a web of secret awaits.

Emily's POV

“I want 70% of the profits from the merger,” I said, my eyes never leaving my father's. “I want it in writing, and I want it to be binding.”

The merger was the signed financial agreement between my father and Billionaire Ethan Kingston. So I was referring to the money my father would get from Billionaire Ethan.

My father raised an eyebrow, a calculating glint in his eye. “Emily, let's do it 40-60”

“It's 70-30 or forget it”

“You drive a really hard bargain, Emily,” he said “but I would see to it”

“That wouldn't be all” I said, my gaze still fixed on him.

“What again?”,he asked aggressively, his fists clenched. But I didn't care,I was done playing the cool girl. All the time I played the cool girl, it took me nowhere, neither did it get me anything. So I was done with that life.

“I want to be a shareholder in your company, a 50% shareholder but of course without buying a single share”, I said my tone low but very firm, my gaze not wavering away from him. I needed to face my challenges head on and if I would do that, I needed to take the bull by the horn. To speak without fear.

“Emily no! no!, that would never happen, not when I'm alive, I'd decide what I want to give you in my will. I won't do it under compulsion”,he blotted out, the veins on his forehead thumping out, before storming out.

“You're nothing but a manipulator, the only thing you're good at is using people for your selfish desires”, I screamed out after him, my voice echoing off the walls.

“Damn it! Damn it!”, I said, pacing my room.

I needed to leave this house, very fast at that. My father was capable of doing anything when he was angry. He loved me but he was a totally different person when he was angry. But was I backing down on my negotiation? Never!

“Nyla! Nyla! Nyla’s house”, I said, still pacing around the room.

It was an hour’s drive from my house. I rushed to my wardrobe and pulled out a small travel bag. I soon began pulling down clothes from the hangers and stuff into the bag. I didn't know how long was going to be away for, so I packed clothes I could wear to work as well.

Then I suddenly remembered the merger document I got from my father's office.

Later that morning, I stepped out again to return the plates I used in snacking. I noticed there was no ray of light coming from the room again. I dropped off the plates and hurried to the room. Luckily it wasn't locked as always, I looked around and the flashlight in my hand called my attention to the blue shiny envelope on the table. I knew it was not just an envelope, and curiosity got the better part of me.

I opened it quickly and behold, it was the merger document, the legal binding between my father and Billionaire Ethan. I tucked the document,put it into the envelope and made to leave the room. I suddenly turned back, and decided to punish my father by keeping it for a little longer, and probably return it later.

But now with the merger document, I was a step ahead of him. I picked the merger document from where I had hidden it, one of the handbags I took to school and placed it neatly in another compartment of the small travel bag I was leaving with.

I was still putting on my nightwear, suddenly conscious of the fact that I hadn't taken my bath.

I hurried into the bathroom and within 10 minutes I was done. I changed into a jean trouser and black tank top, used my pink strawberry lip balm and vanilla-flavoured perfume.

Hanging my small black purse across my neck, I carried my small travel bag and whispered a silent prayer for my father not to be in the living room or anywhere around. I wasn't ready for another heated exchange, and God answered. I hurriedly ran out of the house and flagged a taxi coming my way.

Immediately I got in, I remembered I hadn't texted Nyla I was coming. But even if she wasn't home, I had the spare keys to her house.

“Babes, I'd be in your place within an hour”, I typed.

Within a second, she called, but I wasn't ready to break into tears. I typed back “babes don't worry, I'm okay, we’ll talk when I get there”, I sent the text, and stifled a tear about to drop from my eyes. The truth is I wasn't happy with all that was going on, I just wanted peace.

***

“My Emilyyy”, she flung her arms open as soon as I entered her minimalistic apartment. We lived not far from each other but didn't get time to see as her job and baby didn't give her the chance.

There was no strength to speak,I just dissolved into the torrent of tears I had been fighting hard to keep all along.

Liam’s babble brought us back to reality, as we had been lost in worlds of our own. I hadn't realized we had been hugging for over five minutes. As we pulled apart, I realized she had been sobbing herself. It melted my heart that she could feel my pain too.

She collected my bag and left to drop it in her room. While she was away, I headed straight to where Liam lay in his cot. I bent and carried my cute chubby little man, who was holding fast to his toy. Nyla was doing a good job, as her baby looked so healthy and adorable. I couldn't stop gushing at the gift God blessed my best friend with.

Months ago she was so unsure about keeping the baby as it was never in her plan to raise a child without a father. The father,in which she had refused to reveal to anyone.

Holding Liam, I looked around the house which I had frequented when things were normal, now it looked like it was my first time there. A lot had changed, she had changed the designs of her furnitures and had refurbished the apartment completely. I was happy, she was doing very well.

Now returning my gaze to the handsome chubby child I carried in my hands, his huge brown beautiful eyes revealed his innocence and I wondered when I would have a stable life let alone a child of my own.

“Emily, we have a lot of talking to do” Nyla said walking out of the room.

“But first, what do you want to eat. Anything girl, I'm at your service today”, she said as she hung her hand across my shoulder.

I laid Liam back into his cot and turned to look at her. “Nothing babes I'm full, I ate a few hours ago and I'm still full”,I said remembering how I munched on the breakfast my father had prepared.

“So Emily what really has been going on?, talk to me” Nyla asked peeringly.

“Nyla, these few days have been a lot”. I was cut short by a beep from my phone.

“A text message from Billionaire Ethan?”