Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Nathan's pov

“Are they still bent on that same decision? Can’t you try talking to those you’re closer to? they shouldn’t be paying attention to a meaningless message.” Dion asked.

I was on a distress call with Dion, my very good friend and business partner because right now I was about to lose everything I had worked for.

My partners were threatening to disassociate because they got a message saying I wasn’t all stable because I wasn't married yet and although it seemed like a very stupid reason, they didn’t let me have a break about it leading to this call with Dion.

“Tell me about it, and when I find whosoever was behind these shenanigans, I’m not letting him off the hook for any reason, this is costing me a lot,” I said, burying my face into my hands.

“We are going to have to find a way around it or else we just go ahead with what they want. Getting married shouldn’t be a problem for someone like you. You have Regina, remember?”

“Yes, I d…” my voice trailed when the realization of what Dion meant hit me. How didn't I see this sooner?

Regina was my betrothed already and though I hadn't asked her to marry me yet, marriage was the long-term goal eventually.

“You're right Dion, I could just use this opportunity to get married to Regina,” I told Dion, grinning from ear to ear. “I should probably be on my way to her apartment right now, you know.”

“Yeah, I support that. See, it wasn't that much of a problem after all.”

I laughed and disconnected the call. With the speed of light, I grabbed my car keys, dashed out of my office, and took the stairs down to my private car garage.

My heart raced excitedly as I reached my car and hopped onto it, swerving the car out of the garage into the open road.

I drove for over 30 minutes until I finally arrived at her place. The hard stench of alcohol and smoke greeted my nostrils when I stepped out of my car into the little balcony in front of her house.

I groaned and covered my nose slightly, Regina’s only flaw was the thing she had for alcohol and smoke, except for that she was okay.

But we did talk about it and she promised she was going to curtail the habit so what changed?

With a curt sigh, I pushed open the door and stepped into the house. Distant moaning sounds filled the living room but I wasn't about to jump to conclusions yet.

“Regina,” I called, taking the stairs that led to her room, “Babe where are you?”

The closer I got to her room, the more pronounced the moaning sounds I heard became.

“Oh fuck! your dick feels so good, George.” That was clearly Regina moaning but who the fuck was George?!

I hastened my steps and when I reached her room, I kicked the door open only to see my supposed betrothed steadily riding a man that's not me.

“What the actual fuck is going on here Regina?!” I thundered.

“I'll answer that later Nathan, I'm so close..oh fuck!” She whimpered, not sparing me a glance.

My jaw clenched tightly as I watched her act like I was invisible. With steady steps, I stalked off to the bed and yanked away from the stupid dickhead she was on.

“Are you crazy, huh? Have you freaking lost it?!” I yelled, my voice low and deadly.

She scoffed and folded her arms across her chest, “No I'm not, look I was just having fun okay?”

“Having fun?” I cackled, “having fun on another man's dick?”

“You've been busy okay? I was horny and you were at work so I thought to help myself out.” She responded casually, like there wasn't any problem at all in what she just did. Like cheating was the most morally right thing to do!

It then dawned on me how much of a fool I was leaving a girl as good as Onika for Regina. Onika would never cheat on me and even if she did, she would never be blabbing so confidently about it.

“You know what Regina? Whatever we have between us is over!” I growled and began walking out, a part of me hoped she was going to call me back to beg but the opposite was what she did.

“I don't care, Nathan, not after you just ruined a leg-shakingorgasm I was about to have, one your tiny dick couldn't give me! And besides, you knew I wasn't okay with our arrangement” She yelled after me.

Arrangement. That's all our relationship was with her. A convenient arrangement. My anger boiled over and I spun around, taking a step forward, my eyes blazing with fury but then I stopped.

There wasn't any need to exchange words with her, the deed had been done already. With the last shred of dignity and self-controlI had, I turned and walked away.

**********

I gulped down the fifth drink in a row while rocking my head to the jazz music playing in the company's conference bar. The best place to be with a heart as hurting as mine should have been the club but I had to return to the company because my secretary informed me that the investors would be coming.

“You can't continue drinking all night Nathan, especially when you have your business at stake,” Dion muttered trying to grab the sixth drink I was aiming for but my reflex was quick enough to get the drink before he did.

“What would you rather have me do huh? I've freaking lost everything!” I screamed.

“Not yet Nathan, you haven't lost anything yet. You can't just give up on your business because you were cheated on.”

A derisive scowl escaped my lips as I processed Dion’s statement. It wasn't just about Regina cheating that got me pained, it was the fact that I let go of someone as precious as Onika because of her.

“Look I know how it feels but if you ask me, I'd suggest you still try to get married, it mustn't be Regina, I mean you’re rich and handsome, trust me a lot of girls will be glad to marry you.”

I chuckled inwardly if only Dion had an idea.

“I don’t think I want to get married anytime soon, it’s a lot to take in which I’m not sure I’m ready for, those girls will do everything just for the media.”

“It doesn’t seem like you have that much of a choice, does it? You just have to go ahead with it anyway because, in the end, you’re the one losing.” Dion persuaded.

The realization that this depended on everything, affecting everything I’ve worked for troubled me.

Where was I supposed to see someone to marry on such short notice? I didn’t want to get married to one of those girls who would do anything for the camera. They were just too desperate.

Even though I was supposed to be more desperate, I could see myself getting myself in trouble if I got married to someone I didn’t know. Speaking of someone I didn’t know, even if I knew Onika before, it was still like we never met before.

She was so different now and everything about her was just better. I didn’t know if it was just because it’s been a while since I saw her or if she was putting in extra effort but she has changed now and that was obvious enough.

I tried talking to her but she denied me her audience and I couldn’t blame her for that. I would be mad if I were in her shoes too. But I was being compelled then, my mom didn’t like her and I knew if I went ahead she was going to make problems for her.

I did everything for her but there was no possible way I was going to explain that to her. She seemed to be with the Kent guy as they walked everywhere together.  They even left together.

I was the one who ended things with her and I felt so sad about it now seeing her do so better than when she was with me. She finally achieved her dream and I wasn’t by her side.

She always dreamed of showcasing her art and she finally got the chance and Kent must have been a lot of help to her, more than I ever was.

I saw the smile on her face as she spoke with guests and I could remember it was all she ever wanted, and she got it.

She didn’t look like she needed my congratulations, all it seemed she was trying to do was make me jealous, and it worked.

“Do you remember the art conference we went to, Ken and the rest?”

“Yes, I do.”

“You won’t believe who I met there, Onika, and she was the artist at that conference!” I said in another round of bewilderment because I was indeed shocked.

“Are you kidding or you're being serious? I thought she was out of the country or something. How?”

I was as shocked as he was and I didn’t know how she achieved such in that period. I was happy for her, just shocked.

“She’s so different now man, she’s more pretty and more elegant and it’s almost like I never even knew her.”

“It happens, you should get going, the conference is starting in a few minutes.”

I checked my time and sighed in frustration.

“I messed up, I shouldn’t have let her go,” I muttered under my breath but I knew Dion heard but he remained quiet.

I picked up my suit and walked swiftly into the room. When I got in everyone was already present and seated so the meeting commenced immediately.

It was the best hot seat as they were barely agreeing with me.

They came to an agreement that they’d give me a month to get married and recorrect all my instabilities and only then will that remain a shareholder.

I stormed out of the room back into my office and Dion was still there waiting for me.

“How was it?”

“Bad?” I said, sinking into my chair.

“Same thing?”

“Turns out I need to get married as soon as possible.”

“You just have to accept it even if it seems hard, do you have anything in mind, the next way forward?”

“Onika.”

“You have to be kidding, what makes you dream that she’ll want to get married to you after you broke up with her?”

“You’ll see.”

I don't care what it’s going to take to get her back, but I was damn ready to die trying rather than not trying at all.