“So, have you come to a conclusion?”Leilani bit her lower lips while she looked ahead of her.The registration to join the competition was going to end today and after today, no one would be able to participate even if they wanted to.She shook her head vigorously and then sighed.“No.”“Come on, Leila. We need to fill out the form and submit it before the day runs out. Come on.”“What if I don’t do well?”“What if you do well?” Anna raised a brow.Leilani shook her head, still unconvinced, and then turned to look at the lady.“You don’t know anything, Anna. This is going to be so hard. There will be so much pressure and if in the end I did not do well, I am really really going to be so disappointed.”“I am believing in you, Leilani, can you not do the same?”Leilani breathed out and then shook her head.The previous night, she had talked to Lorenzo but had never mentioned to him about the upcoming contest until the man did.What was she expecting, of course, he was aware of it.“Ah…
Lorenzo checked the report on the screen in front of him and then shook his head, smiling softly, and at that moment, his phone rang and he picked it up.He placed it on speaker, and then leaned back, pulling the laptop closer to himself.“What’s up?”“Did you see the news?”“News? What is going on.”“Apparently, someone claims to be you.”“Me?”“Yes, BENZO.”Lorenzo stopped for a while and then chuckled, “What?”“Exactly. He is going around, telling people that he is you, and people might actually buy it.”“That is because people are dumb.”“You don’t always take things seriously, do you?”“Yes, because this is not worth taking seriously.”“Oh, come on.”“I have something more exciting going on,” he smiled.“What?”“Jonathan.”“Jonathan? Who is… Jonathan?”Lorenzo could imagine his friend widening his eyes as he had apparently remembered who Jonathan was.“What is going on with him?”“He… he is really finished,” Lorenzo laughed.“How? It must be so exciting for you to have laughed.”
“The workshop is on fire!” The man repeated, crying.Instantly, Lorenzo felt his blood dry up and a wave of chill surged through him, he shivered as his eyes dilated.Not for any other reason, but because his wife, Leilani was in that building.“W… where is my wife?” He asked, stuttering.“S… she is still in there. Peter just entered to see if he could rescue her. The firefighters are on their way too and…”“Drive,” Lorenzo hit the back of his driver’s seat, rumbling.“Yes, sir.”“With the highest speed possible, don’t delay!” He hollered.“Y… yes sir!”“What is happening, brother? You are scaring me!” Mia cried out.Lorenzo didn’t answer and pulled his necktie from his neck, feeling so suffocated.He wished he could fly over there right now, not to lie.He wished there was some kind of superpower that would make him teleport there.Driving at the highest pace, he was certain they would arrive there in ten minutes, but a lot could have happened in those minutes and this stressed him m
“I am going to kill whoever did this.”Lorenzo shook his head, his fists still clenched tightly.“She will be fine,” Mia shook her head, as she sat across Lorenzo.Lorenzo stared at the woman who looked like her eyes could fall out if she tried to cry anymore.Her face was swollen and her eyes looked like they were about to come off their socket.“Yeah,” he nodded his head and then looked away.How could a fire have taken place?How could the workspace have caught fire, and while she was there especially?Lorenzo believed strongly that this was no accident.He knew for certain that his wife was indeed targeted before this happened.He was going to kill everybody who had a hand in this.Whoever they were, whatever position they held, no matter their number, he was going to make sure they didn’t live another day to tell the story.He was going to wipe them off the earth.He was going to…“Loosen up, Enzo,” Mia breathed out, snapping him out of his thoughts.He didn’t answer and only sta
“Enzo!” Lorenzo breathed out in relief as his friend arrived and rushed over to him.“God, Nicholas.”“What is the update now?” He patted his arm and then moved over to the door which he believed Leilani was in.He peeped through the glass, swallowed hard, and then shook his head.“Would you meet with the doctor first?”“Yeah, sure. Let’s do that first.”He moved away from the door and then returned to his friend.“Thank you.”Nicholas nodded his head and then hurried away.Almost a few moments after the man was out of the space, Martha rushed in. Together with Ella and her boyfriend, John.“Enzo!” Martha cried out as she got to his side.“Martha.”The woman leaned down to hug him and then patted his shoulders.“How did this happen? Martin told us!”“God, I don’t know either,” he shook his head and glanced at the door.“I suddenly received a call from Martins. I still don’t understand how this could have happened.”“So, how is she now? Is she responding to treatment?”“It’s been seve
“Lorenzo!”Lorenzo raised his brows as his father arrived and then cleared his throat.“Hi.”“I heard what happened, God!”They had already arrived at Nicholas’s hospital and after they had adjusted Leilani in, they began the treatment instantly.“Yeah, sure.”He leaned down in front of his son, took his hands in his, and then shook his head.“I am sorry this happened. It hurts so much to hear this.”“Yeah, sure,” he nodded his head again.“Come on, Enzo. I mean this.”“Sure.”Aaron shook his head at his son’s stubbornness and then sniffed. “What is her condition right now? Is she getting better?”“Why have you come here, really?”“God forbid that I come to check on my daughter-in-law after such an accident occurs?” Aaron frowned.“Yes. You could have played deaf ears. You are quite good at that.”“Leilani is a good woman, and I owe this to her.”“Good, you say? Oh, please, father.”“This is not even a time to pick a fight, Enzo. Set your priorities straight.”“Right. My priorities. S
“This has transformed to bring an arson case,” the detective added to his statement.“Someone started a fire, on purpose?”“Yes, unfortunately. And with your permission, we would like to collect all the CCTV footage in the area. Since it is private property, I heard the footage goes to you.”Lorenzo shook his head and wheeled back gently, “Your job is done here.”“W… what?”“You have confirmed my doubts already, and that is more than enough. I can take care of things from here.”“E… excuse me, sir. This is my work and I would rather…”“Do you not hear a thing I said?” Lorenzo cut him short, his eyes broadening.“We need to find the source of the arson and whoever started it. You don’t intend to keep this under wraps, do you?”Lorenzo glanced at his friend and then shook his head.A while back when the detective had arrived, he had excused himself from the others and Nicholas had followed him.“Come on…” Nicholas mouthed to him to let the man do his work.“Alright. Do your thing.”“Sir
“Don! Killian!”Caleb hollered as he entered the house, and then looked around.“Don!” He hollered again.“Do—”“For fuck sake, Caleb!”Don hissed as he descended the stairs, and then Killian walked out of one of the empty rooms downstairs.“What are you doing here again?”Killian asked as he covered the space between them.A stick of weed, Canadian loud hung loosely in between his lips and he breathed out.“What do you want?” Don asked also as he got to where he stood.“I told you…!” He started shouting but soon lowered his voice.“I told you not to touch her!”“What are you…” Don shook his head, confused.“That woman. Leilani. I told you to leave her out of this!”“So?” Killian raised a brow.“So? Really? I remember telling you not to…”“Exactly, so what?!”“You set her workspace on fire!” He cried out.Don and Killian exchanged looks, shook their heads, and then walked away.“I am still talking.”Killian inhaled the smoke deeply before he exhaled and then turned to look at his brot
“Lorenzo!” Aaron hollered and then rushed towards the man.“I was just coming to see you!” He knelt down and then touched his legs gently like there were thorns around it which was preventing him from touching them well.But Lorenzo didn’t stand still, he walked past his father gently and then approached Shane, his face as hard as rock.“W… why are you coming in my direction?” Shane stuttered, moving backward.“Hi, brother,” Lorenzo tilted his head.“Someone stop this psycho from moving closer to me!” He snapped.“Why? Are you scared of me?” He asked when Shane’s back touched the wall, and he covered the space between them.“W… what are you doing?”Lorenzo tugged his lips into a smirk and then moved his hands from his pockets.“I know, brother.”“K… know what?” He asked, beads of sweat gathering on his forehead.“I know what you did,” he said, ever calmly.Shane swallowed the lump in his throat and then hurriedly wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.He was bluffing.He didn't
“I have things to take care of today. I will resume at the company tomorrow,” Lorenzo said as he buttoned up his wrist, his phone on loudspeaker and then dropped it on the table in front of him.“What do I do?”“You should get things in order. We are both resuming tomorrow. Release an official statement that I will be resuming tomorrow. Sort out the interview proposal that you must have received and pick up the best of them. You can do that much, right?”“Yes, sir.”“Good.”“Sir, how about the issue with Shane? You have not…”He cleared his throat, picked up his phone, and then glanced at his wife, who was still sleeping peacefully in the bed.“I will sort that out.”“When? We can’t let this drag out. We have all the evidence to apprehend him and…”“I will sort it out, David,” he cut him short and couldn’t miss the deep sigh he gave.“Don’t worry. I have it under control.”“Do you need me to go with you when you’re going?”Lorenzo chuckled and then shook his head like the man was goin
“But… Benzo is not one common name. I mean, I have heard it quite a lot in the past but I can’t quite remember where,” Leilani said as she stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in the bathroom robe.“Oh… yeah.”“What? You wanna say something?” She asked as she settled in front of the dressing table and then pulled forward her facial care routine.“Actually,” he started and sat upright.“What?” Leilani glanced at him through the mirror.“He works at my company.”“Who?”“Jonathan.”She parted her lips and then drew her brows together.“What?!”“So, the thing is, he works at my company. He recently got promoted to an executive, in fact.”“Lorenzo?”“I know what you’re thinking,” he raised his hands.“Trust me, you don’t.”“I have many companies to my name, you know? There’s Benzo electronics, pharmaceuticals, Architecture, mall… and a few like that, and he happens to work in one of them, Benzo Electronics.”“Why? I mean… why do you let him work for you?”“He has been a staff at the compan
“B… brother is Benzo?!” Mia exclaimed as she stopped in front of Leilani and then took her hands in hers.“That makes the two of us. I’m excited,” she sucked her teeth.“What? You… you didn’t know about it?” She asked, raising her brows.“I am finding out for the first time tonight just like every other person,” she shrugged.“B… but…” Mia cleared her throat.“Maybe he has his reasons for…”“Don’t take his side, Martha!”Mia and Leilani snapped.“Good, he’s coming. He has a lot of…”Leilani snatched her hands from Mia and then smacked, “I will head inside first.”Mia, with her mouth opened agape watched as the lady walked away and then shook her head.“She is so pissed.”“He should have told her, at least.”Mia creased her brows at Martha and then chuckled, “Were you not just taking his side?” “I just needed to make her calm down, of course.”“I think you only made it worse.”Lorenzo rushed to them and then panted, “Why didn’t you stop her?!”“Why should I?” “You are so…”“You are t
Arthur didn’t know he had staggered backward and the panicked murmurs from the others had snapped him back to reality.“Y… you…”He pointed his index finger at Lorenzo who looked really unbothered as he turned to look at his security team.“Are you ready, sir?” David asked, and he nodded his head.The men formed a proper barricade, and then began to push through the crowd, with Lorenzo, his wife and Nicholas trailing slowly with them.They kept waking, ignoring the crowds while Lorenzo moved over to Leilani, and then took her hand gently in his.She raised her head to look at him, sighed and he nodded his head at her, smiling softly.When the security team stopped moving, they stopped too and David who was leading moved over to him.“There are so many paparazzi outside,” he whispered in his ear.“Really?”“Yes. Literally all media companies are here.”He looked down at Leilani again and then leaned down, “Are you good?”“Yes.”“How about the back exit?” He asked David.“It is jammed t
“I am Lorenzo Byers, and I am the founder of the BENZO group of companies.”Agnes choked on the water she was drinking as she stood up gently from the couch with Aaron opposite her.“That is…”She coughed out loud, dropping the glass cup in her hand and not minding the way it shattered to the ground. She hit her chest and then coughed again.“That is…”“Lorenzo?” Aaron whispered, and then removed his medicated glasses from his eyes as if that was going to help him to see clearer.“That is Lorenzo?!” Agnes hollered and then widened her eyes.They had both settled in front of the Television to watch the event as they had hoped that Arthur would be receiving an award that night.“He is… Benzo?”“He can… walk?”Agnes and Aaron stuttered respectively.“This is wrong. There must be an error somewhere,” Agnes shook her head.But, Aaron’s reaction was different.He staggered to the big screen, touched it, and trailed his fingers down his son’s supposed legs.“He is standing!” He cried out an
David shook his head as his boss wouldn’t stop laughing and then shook his head.“Sir.”Lorenzo smacked and then exhaled. “All along… it was him.”“Boss.”“We suspected someone from the house, did we not?”“Yes, but certainly not Shane.”Lorenzo nodded his head in agreement and then dropped his head on the headrest, his eyes closed.He might have actually imagined it to be anyone, but never Shane.He thought he knew the man.He was reckless and sassy, but certainly not the type to commit arson or murder.Well, in the past.He had just assumed the man to be a jester as he used to derive joy in making fun of his condition by coming up with numerous ironies just to insult him.But never in his whole life had he thought that Shane would go as far as wanting to kill his own wife.“Boss.”“Yes?” He opened his eyes and then sat upright.“What do we do?”“Where is he?”“He is in the hall also,” he answered.Lorenzo nodded his head and then chuckled.“Give me your orders. What do you want me t
“Is that not… Enzo’s wife?”Shane chuckled dryly as he leaned in his seat and then nudged his brother gently.Arthur took his hand from the woman who sat beside him and then turned to look in the direction Shane pointed at.“No way.”“Look there. She is sitting with Nicholas.”Arthur squinted his brows and when he confirmed that it was truly the woman, he chuckled and then hissed.“Who is that?” The woman, Emily asked.Emily was his girlfriend and he had hoped that after the event was over, he would take her home and introduce her to his family.“Lorenzo’s wife.”“Your stepbrother?” She asked and he nodded his head.“Woah, she’s pretty,” she sucked her teeth.“I don’t see it.”“She is so pretty. She looks better in person.”“Whatever,” he rolled his eyes and then turned to look at Shane.“Why is she here though?”“Perhaps… She came out to cheer for Nicholas? No one needs to be told, we know he’s getting an award tonight again.”For the past five years, Nicholas had been receiving awar
“Are you ready?”Nicholas asked her and she nodded her head, taking a deep breath.“I don’t know what we’re doing, as Lorenzo wouldn’t say a word but, okay. I am ready.”“Don’t fret. It is nothing serious,” he shook his head and then curved his arm beside her.Leilani nodded her head and then breathed out again. “If you say so.”She linked her arm around his arm, and together, they walked to the press.The moment they sighted them, they all turned to look at them, flashing their lights at them which almost overwhelmed the woman.But, Nicholas was holding on to her tight as they walked down the red carpet.They kept walking, ignoring the literally provoking questions the press was asking till they walked in through the opened door of the hall.Leilani gasped softly as she entered the hall.It was the largest she had ever seen. Real or on the television. It was so bright too that it could blind a person, and the ornaments used to beautify the hall could not go unnoticed.Chandeliers hu