Chapter 2
"You are late." Benji said to him from the sofa he was curled on.
"Why are you lying down there? And in my office?" Brandon asked him with a frown.
He took in his surroundings and the only person who appeared to be working was his brother. Alec as always was neck deep in a video game. His hoodie, covering half of his face. Benji looked like he was about to pass out on the sofa he was lying down on.
"I feel sleepy. I don't understand all your business jargon. The only thing I understand is something that has to do with fists but Kevin dragged me here." Benji told him with a yawn.
"Wrong, I never dragged them here…."
"Forced, more accurately." Alec added not once lifting his eyes from the video game he was playing.
"....I never forced them. They just happened to be present when I got the news. They took it upon themselves to be present." Kevin said to him with a yawn.
Brandon took note of the bags under his brother's eyes. He appeared tired.
"How long have you guys been here?" Brandon asked him as he moved to his chair.
"Few hours." Kevin said.
"Six hours thirty six minutes, forty seconds, oh, make that forty one now." Benji said to him.
Brandon wasn't surprised. Benji was a time freak. He was one who made sure his time was spent doing something worthwhile. Brandon turned to his brother.
"It's been hours since you found out about this and you are just telling me?" Brandon asked him.
"I'm sorry. I thought I could handle it but then things spiraled out of hand." Kevin said to him with an apologetic gaze.
Brandon sighed. His brother was always trying to prove himself and no matter how many times Brandon told him he was doing good, he always felt he wasn't doing enough.
"Give me everything. What is going on?" Brandon asked him.
"Basically what I told you on your way here but, JJ is annoyed and wants to speak with you. He thinks his goods have been destroyed." Kevin said to him.
"Thinks." Benji chuckled.
"Okay, they were lost in the disaster." Kevin corrected himself as he gave Benji an eye roll, not that Benji cared. He just chuckled again.
"I'm guessing this is what Godson revealed to the public?" Brandon asked his brother with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes." Kevin said as he avoided his gaze.
"You know you don't have to do everything by yourself right? There is a reason why grandfather made both of us CEOs." Brandon said to his brother.
"I know but you were having your time off and I know you needed the much needed rest." Kevin said to him.
They may be twins but Kevin was the one who cared more. He was the only one in their group who openly cared for the others like he did his lover. It was no surprise that he was the first to get a girlfriend. The rest had none. Well, Benji was in a different situation. His ex wife had divorced him. And the ex cop still did not tell any of them the full story. Then there was Alec. No one knew if Alec would actually settle down any time soon. And they also did not know if it would be with a girl or a boy because he swung both ways.
"Have you guys eaten?" He asked them.
"Nope, waiting on Carson." Alec said as he bounced his legs.
"He's back?"
"Yeah, but he's spending time at his mother's restaurant. He should be here soon." Kevin said.
"He better be. I can't function without food." Benji growled out.
Five minutes later, Carson barged, yes barged -because he had little respect for privacy- into Brandon's office.
"Did someone say foo…"
Before he could finish the question, Alec took a bag from his hand and went back to his seat to devour whatever it is that Carson's mother had prepared.
"Trust Alec to interrupt me." Carson said as he gave the others their food.
"What is it?" Brandon asked as he took the food.
"Nigerian, jollof." Alec moaned out.
"Thank your mother for us." Kevin said to him.
"Will do. I have to run though, I need to take mama home." Carson said to them.
"Are we still up for dinner night?" Alec asked him.
"Yup. Same time, my place." Carson said as he walked out.
Alec nodded and focused all his attention on his food.
Carson was the only black person among their group of friends. His father was Nigerian but he died a long time ago. His mother is Hispanic though and she loves cooking. Her restaurant sells mainly Spanish cuisine or food from her Hispanic culture but there was a time when it was a mix of both Hispanic and Nigerian. She and Carson's father had run the restaurant together but after he died, she stopped cooking anything African but ever since her diagnosis, she started cooking the little African dishes she knew how to. Carson had not given them the full story but Brandon knew his mother was dying. And Carson was spending every waking day with her. Any break he got from shooting, he spent with her.
"I'm ready to work now." Alec said with a loud belch.
"That is just so irritating. And how the fuck did you finish that in just a few minutes?" Benji asked him.
"I eat fast, I don't know why you are acting surprised." Alec replied to him with an eyeroll.
"Yeah, I have no idea either." Benji said as he went back to his food.
Brandon wasn't that hungry so after taking a few bites, he went to work. They worked into the night. And even after that, they still had things to do. Brandon would have to call a meeting the next day with the staff although his brother would be put in charge while he spoke with JJ. Alec and Benji had no need to be present because it wasn't really their expertise but Brandon thanked them for what little help they could provide. Now, all he wanted was to take a quick nap before the buzz of the next day.
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A phone rang in the distance, awakening Brandon from the little nap he was trying to get.
"Put it off." He groaned as he adjusted on the bed.
"It's yours." He heard a voice say to him and opened his eyes immediately.
His assistant stood with Brandon's phone in his hand.
"Your grandfather." Charlie said to him.
Brandon took the phone with a groan and answered his grandfather.
"Grandpa, could you not look for a better time to call?" Brandon groaned out.
"What better time than now? The day is bright, the sun is up in the sky but my grandson is down on his bed." His grandfather replied to him.
"Very funny."
"Someone's grumpy."
"Work."
"I heard. I trust you and your brother so I'm not bothered. You guys have done a lot more than your father could even do in his time." His grandfather said with a hearty laugh.
"I was the only one father, they are two." Brandon heard his father grumble.
"Are you with dad?"
"Yes. We are going fishing."
"Fishing? This early?"
"It's never too early to catch those little things with fins." His grandfather replied to him.
"Too bad you've never gotten one once in your life." Brandon heard his father say to his grandfather.
"Your father has started his series of disrespecting me. I don't know how Riley copes with him." His grandfather said.
Riley is Brandon and Kevin's mother and she was the best person Brandon knew. Well, along with Carson's mother. She was the only one their father gave a little ounce of respect.
"Mum loves him so she keeps up with his nonsense." Brandon said to his grandfather.
"I know. I still thank the stars that she stayed with your father all this time." He said with a chuckle.
"Have you spoken with Kevin?" Brandon asked him.
"He's my favorite grandson. Of course I have."
"Way to rub it in, grandpa."
"I support you both. I'm just a little bit biased to your brother. I trust you both will do what's best for Silver enterprise." He said to him,
"It's just another hurdle. We will. Thank you grandpa." Brandon said to him with a smile.
"I'm the coolest grandpa you would ever get." He replied to Brandon with a big smile and ended the call.
Brandon took a deep breath. Today was going to be hectic but they will get through it. Godson thought this little trick could bring them down, but he thought wrong. Brandon stood up from the bed and moved towards the little bathroom. He was lucky that there was a little bathroom and bedroom in his office. It came in handy anytime he worked overtime.
"Is my suit ready?" He asked Charlie as he gave him his phone.
"Yes sir."
"How about Kevin?"
"I'm ready to get this started." Kevin said as he walked into the room.
Chapter 3Brandon and his brother were able to avoid the upcoming crisis that was lurking around their company. Godson thought he was smart but like they said, two heads were better than one. Brandon wasn't even sure how accurate that was but Carson said it was something his Nigerian father had always said whenever he and Carson's mother passed a hurdle or created a new recipe together. Brandon was just about to leave the office to meet with his brother for lunch, when he heard a knock on the door. There was only one person with that much respect for him, Charlie, his assistant."Come in." "What is it?" He asked him immediately as Charlie walked into his office."It's not a serious matter but I do not know how you will take this." Charlie said to him with a wince."Just tell me what it is. I have to meet with Kevin for lunch and I can't lie and say I'm not starving after all the work I've been through." Brandon said to him with a sigh."Right. Um….I'll just give you this then." Charl
Chapter 4THREE MONTHS AGO"You are getting married." Emma still remembered her grandfather's words to her. She hated the fact that he still had that much authority over her life and what annoyed her more was the fact that she could do absolutely nothing. She had to go with whatever her family said because of her mother. Her mother whose treatment relied on her grandfather. She hated it but she was also in a helpless situation. There was absolutely nothing she could do about it.When she was told she was getting married, she had no idea it would be someone twenty years her senior. He may be referred to as a dilf by the public but to her, he was nothing but trash. Emma had always hated him and nothing could change the fact. She tried to get her family to reconsider but her grandfather along with her cousin were dead set on it. Her father was anything but helpful. Just the mere sight of him disgusted Emma. She had just gotten back home that morning after her night out with Brandon but
Chapter 5THREE MONTHS AGO "Do you know who the father is?" Lydia asked Emma once they stepped out of the hospital."What? Oh, yeah. I do." Emma replied to her with an absent mind."Who is he?" Lydia asked her."What?""Who is he? I reckon you have to tell him." Lydia told her."Um, I….I'm not sure. I slept with some people these last few months." Emma replied to her as she averted her gaze.Lydia frowned. Emma wasn't being truthful and she knew it. "Emma, I know you are lying to me right now and just so you know, you gave yourself away. You have only been with one person right?" Lydia asked her "What? Absolutely not. I just told you I can't recall. I've been with a number of people this…""You definitely used the word 'we' when you were talking about sex with the father before we arrived at the hospital, Emma." Lydia pointed out."What?""Yeah. And you also just told me you know who the father of the baby is but now, you are denying it and claiming to have been with 'numerous peop
Chapter 6THREE MONTHS AGO"What are we doing here?" Emma asked Godson with a frown.She had woken up tired that morning feeling tired but she knew she had to show up at work but then, Godson showed up in front of her apartment with the excuse that their grandfather wanted to talk with both of them. It wasn't really surprising to Emma. Sometimes when their grandfather summoned both of them, Godson stopped by to take her to the meeting place which was usually his home or office so Emma went with him. She thought that their grandfather wanted to talk to her regarding the engagement which she refused to go ahead with but it seems Godson had other plans. The vehicle they were in, stopped in front of a hospital."Take a look, Emma. Do you recognise this place?" He asked her."It's a hospital and it's obviously on the way to grandfather's office so yeah, I do." She replied to him.Godson tsked."Look closely. I'm sure you stopped by this place some days ago." He said to her with a raised ey
Chapter 7PRESENT DAYEmma stood looking at her reflection in the mirror. Her dress was dazzling but it wasn't something she would have picked herself if at all she was given the opportunity. It was a bit too much or maybe it was just her nerves speaking. Her engagement dress was sleeveless and had a floral lace design. It held her bust but spread from the waist down, sweeping the floor. The designer really took floor length to another level. Emma still wondered if she was making the right decision. She had doubts that this wasn't the best decision she could make. What if after everything, she loses her child and her mother? She looked outside the window. The weather looked dreary but even at that, she heard chatting and rejoicing from the guests. The hotel in which they were holding the engagement party happened to be one of the Templeton's hotels. It was one Emma had put in enough hard work to make it become what it was, now. She took in the dreary weather. Even the weather wasn't
Chapter 8"Enjoying the party?" Godson asked.Brandon turned to give him his attention. He hated people sneaking up on him especially when they were the likes of Godson. Brandon fought the urge to roll his eyes and punch Godson's face. What was he so smug about?"Seeing as you came all the way to my office to give me the invitation, I couldn't miss this." Brandon replied to him coolly."Of course you came here only because I gave you the invitation….""Um, no. That's wrong. You only delivered it individually. I had no idea we were that close. You came all the way to my office?" Brandon asked him."Ah, my apologies. You're right. Well, I hope the party is to your liking." Godson said to him."It's fairly okay. I have to say, I expected more from the Templeton's though." Brandon said to him."Oh? What exactly is not up to your expectations here?" Godson asked him."You don't really need me to spell it out for you now right?" Brandon asked him."Well, if it's not a bluff then I'm sure yo
Chapter 9"You can't use that on me forever. It will grow old at some point and you know it." Hugo said to him with mock bravery.Godson scoffed."Don't let people know of this." He said to Emma and walked out.Emma stood rooted to the ground. What just happened and why was Godson telling her not to fuck things up. Surely Godson knew the kind of person Hugo was before he and her grandfather went ahead with the engagement.Hugo released an annoyed sound and turned to Emma with eyes full of hatred. He held her shoulders in a tight grip and leaned close so she was within hearing distance and so that no one could hear what he was going to say to her. "You stay out of my business and I'll stay out of yours or your grandfather finds out that you are holding the lowest of the low in your stomach." He told her.He released his hold on her and gave her a small smile."Smile, bride. The world can't know we don't really suit each other now, can they?" He asked her with that same smile plastered
Chapter 10"Emma? Can I come in? It's Lydia.""Oh." Emma said as she breathed out a sigh of relief."Come in." She called out.Lydia opened the door and walked in with a small smile on her face."Hey.""What's up?""I couldn't find you downstairs. You k ow the party is for you right?" Lydia asked her.Emma released a tired sigh and folded her arms across her chest. She wasn't so sure the party was for her. It felt more like it was for her family than it being for her."I'm not so sure that's right. There is no way that party…..this party is for me." Emma said to her."Then who is it for?" Lydia asked her. "I don't know. My family? Godson? My grandfather? I have no idea who it's for but it certainly does not feel like a party for me." Emma said to her."So what do you plan to do then?" Lydia asked her."I don't know now. I'm not sure but it still doesnt feel right to go on with this. Do you think I should go ahead with this engagement? I men, I know my family wants this and I can hard