Chapter 2 - Humiliated.

LEONARD KISH'S POV,

Upon our arrival in church that morning, I noticed the pews were packed with my fellow businessmen and rivals, invited and uninvited guests who had come to witness my wedding.

The news of her sudden collapse had gotten to us, but we were assured of her regaining consciousness within the hour.

As we awaited her arrival, my patience began to wear thin, and a great sense of uneasiness crept into my heart.

She had taken thirty minutes into the time already, but I tried to hold back my composure because I didn't want to give my rivals and foes the satisfaction of finding pleasure in my discomfort, but deep within me, I had sworn to make her pay dearly for keeping me waiting and encroaching on my precious time,

Seated on my right were the Yukas and Zeus, who I was sure had only come to witness my wedding fall apart. They kept whispering among themselves, with sly smiles playing on their faces, which further irritated me.

"What!" Sam my assistant and friend who was seated beside me exclaimed on the phone, drawing my attention back to him,

"How did it happen?" I heard him say in a hushed tone, causing my brows creased into tight lines,

From the expression on his face, I could tell something was off, but I managed to suppress the anger that was rising within me,

His expression conveyed the worry in his heart even as he listened to the caller, "Okay, make sure you do all it takes." He replied, and then he hung up and kept a straight face,

He nibbled on his lip, his shoulders tensed, and as I stared at him, I could tell he was struggling with his words.

"What now?" I asked, keeping my tone low and leveled to avoid being heard, since I was certain whatever it was had something to do with me.

"She's gone." he said in a small but clear voice, his brows slightly creased as he fixed his gaze on me,

As his words settled in my heart, my mind began to wander with countless possibilities, but the more I thought about it, the more confused I was,

"How do you mean gone?" I finally asked, my brows mirroring the confusion in my heart as I locked eyes with his

"She left Boss, and they're still looking for her," he finally let it out, his tone small but steady, echoing the fear in his heart.

"What!" I exclaimed as realization hit me. My fists rolled into balls as his words settled in my heart,

The first thing I thought about were my foes who were present in the hall, the fact that I was going to be humiliated right in their presence greatly annoyed me, and as I dwelled on it, my blood began to boil,

"They said she had left her wedding dress on the bed," His words came again like fuel to simmering wrath.

Although she was given to me as a repayment, never for once did I think she would flee on the day of our wedding. She never said anything about not getting married to me, and her parents had assured me that everything was in order.

My gaze flew instantly to Mr Yuka, whose expression was smug, at that moment I wanted to believe he had a hand in it, but then I realized he couldn't have done it. He never played such games without warnings.

From the expression on his face, I could tell he had already found out about it, he raised his glass of champagne in a toast, and I knew he was only trying to ruffle my composure. Instantly, pulled my gaze from him,

As I pondered on how to go about what had just happened, I turned towards Mr Elkins and his wife whose head were lowered all along and my anger burned,

"How dare they try to humiliate me like this in the presence of everyone, not to mention my foes?" I growled, my voice a raspy vibration.

Never in my lifetime had anyone done such a thing to me and as I dwelled on it I felt my anger threatening to boil over, I knew I had to let it out,

As I sat there trying to control the rage surging within me, Sam's words broke in, bringing me back to earth, "Do you need me to go..."

But before he could complete his words, my right hand shot out, snapping him off his words. I knew that was a matter I needed to take care of, myself.

"They're playing with fire and I'm so going to serve it hot," I said with gritted teeth, my gaze fixed on them,

Immediately, without a second thought, I sprang up to my feet, driven by the anger that coursed through me. I marched to where the Elkins were seated,

From the air around them, I could tell they were scared, I sensed the fear hanging on their shoulders like a thick blanket, even as they sat there unable to meet my gaze,

Immediately I got to their pew, he stood up, his back hunched. I knew he was trying all he could to avoid my gaze, he was trembling uncontrollably like a drenched chicken,

"What game are you playing?" I demanded angrily with gritted teeth. Deep within, I was trying to keep my voice low to avoid drawing further attention to us.

"I swear, it was not a game. I never knew she had such intention at heart." His response came immediately in a stutter, his words oozing the fear that had gripped his heart, yet, I wasn't going to let him off easily, not after they had thrown mud at my reputation,

I leaned closer, trying hard to hold back my wrath, I knew I had to keep my cool in the presence of my father's representatives and business partners,

"I don't care how you're going to do it, but you have to find her, she's my property already and you know I don't joke with my businesses. Nobody messes with my property and goes scot-free." My voice a low growl that sent him trembling greatly,

"I understand that sir, but Elsa is stubborn and I don't know where she might be at this moment. She has never left the city since she was young, I fear for her, my heart hurts to know that she's nowhere to be found." His words tumbled out in a rush, trembling as he spoke,

At that moment, I almost lost it. I slammed my hand hard on the desk, my lips quivering slightly, my eyes glinting in a fierce intensity. His words had grated on my already fraying wrath, threatening to let loose the monster I had been trying to tame all along,

"Don't try to elicit my pity, Mr. Elkins, I have none left within me. How you handle your business is none of my concern. You should know I'm not the type to be messed with," I breathed, my chest heaving in a restrained wrath,

Instantly, he fell to his seat, his eyes wide open in fright. Yet, I wasn't deterred, as I continued without paying attention to his poor heart,

"You have ten days to provide your daughter, otherwise, you won't imagine what is coming for you. I'll start with your beloved wife over there," I said, my voice tight with a restrained anger as I turned to face her,

"When I'm done with her, I'll get the plantation you love so much. I'll turn everything you have to ruin before I come for you." I continued and with that, I withdrew myself and walked out of his sight leaving him gasping for breath.

Fueled by the anger that coursed through my veins, I marched towards the exit door, but before I could get to the door, I heard a voice call out my name,

"Leonard," the voice rang out in a fierce determination, which halted me in my tracks. I knew who it was so I didn't turn to face him,

"Not so my boy, you don't intend to go home and leave your guest behind, do you?" He said, his words laced with mockery, arousing laughter from the rest of his ally, which further infuriated me.

I clenched my fist in fury as I stood there unwillingly listening to what he had to say, and as if that was not enough, he walked over, and stood in front of me,

"I knew it, I knew it'd never push through. I was shocked when I received your wedding invitation," He said, revealing his creamy pairs of teeth, followed by a sharp throaty chuckle, which echoed the mockery in his heart,

"What do you care about them anyway? When does the almighty Leonard start picking interest in women? We both know it is unlikely of you to find interest in such things as marriage," he added, stretching his hands towards me, and adjusted my lapel which grated my nerves,

"So don't feel offended and just continue with the thousands surrounding you, you're better off all by yourself anyways," He words came again, wrapped with chuckle, his hands playing on my tie this time around.

At that moment, I knew I couldn't take it anymore, I hit his hands off my tie and looked deep into his eyes, my lips curling into a smirk. Without saying a word to him, I walked out of the church with Sam who ran after me,

My anger carried me into my car, slamming the door hard behind me. Finally, I let loose all the anger I had been holding back for long,

"How dare she throw mud on me like this?" I growled, "Never in my life have I been humiliated like I was today," my teeth gritted as I directed my anger on the empty seat beside me, hitting it with every single strength I could find,

"Please be calm boss, don't let what the Yukas said get to you, he does that to everybody, and you know he was only trying to rile you up," Sam who was sitting on the driver's seat said, and somehow, his words pierced through my anger,

"I'm glad you were able to hold back your composure without giving him the satisfaction he was looking for," he continued as calmly as he could,

"It took everything I had, to not let him see through me, Sam," I replied, my gaze fixed on a particular spot in space, and as I sat there, I felt my anger begin to steam off my shoulders.

Somehow, I was beginning to feel calm under the spell of his words, he had always known how to soothe me,

All through my twenty-four years of existence, he had always been with me, even though he was two years older than I was, he had remained undoubtedly loyal to me and all that was mine.

I found it easier to relate with him and talk to him about how I felt, he knew me well enough and had been my partner both in business and crimes.

"You did a good job boss, and I'm happy for you," he replied with a small smile playing on his face, while I stared out of the window, watching the guest come out of the church with disbelief written all over their faces except that of Zeus and Yukas who seemed to be enjoying themselves,

Mr Yuka pointed towards my car and said something to the rest of them which aroused a burst of laughter among them.

"About that girl..." Sam spoke up again, snapping my attention off them,

"Do you want me to do anything?" He asked while I remained silent for a few seconds, pondering my thoughts, even as I tried to plot my next course of action,

After a few seconds had passed, I said, "Don't worry about that, her parents would find her, they'll do all it takes to make sure she is found," my voice rang with certainty as I spoke,

"Mr. Elkins had always cared about his business, he can never bear to see it turn to ruin, remember he had exchanged her for his plantation?" I said more like a statement than a question, and as I peered into the rearview mirror, I saw Sam nod his head in agreement with a half smile on his face,

For the sake of his plantation, I was certain Mr. Elkins would look for Elsa.

"I have a task for you instead," I added, while he turned to face me,

"I want you to investigate her, get everything I need to know about her, I want to know about the little brat that had humiliated me like that in the presence of everyone, and ended up making me the subject of ridicule in the presence of my foes. Make sure you do it immediately," I gave the orders while Sam listened attentively,

Yet, I wasn't satisfied with what I had said, I knew it was necessary I had her by myself to uphold my reputation.

"Get everything I should know about her, I want information on her whereabouts as well. I need to have her by my side to prove to Mr Yuka that I can still have the last laugh," I said, looking deep into his eyes to convey the gravity of the task.

Sam's lips curled into a conceited smile as my words settled in his heart "Yes boss," he answered, his voice ringing with satisfaction.

"Let's go," I said and the car screeched away.