5 - He stood up for her

Susan was awakened by her phone ringing. It was barely an hour since she went to bed. Befuddled, she answered the phone.

"Hey, will you meet us at the club?" It was Amelia.

"Club? Why?" Susan went blank.

"Don't tell me you've forgotten and are you sleeping already? We are supposed to go find him yeah," Amelia reminded her about her proposal to search for Andrew.

"Oh, that, I did. He's here," Susan chuckled. It was interesting how Amelia was willing to help with it. She had always been quiet concerning most of her relationships.

"What? How did it happen? Amelia asked, her voice sounding awed.

"I found him on the street on my way home."

"Alright, good night then. We shall have a few drinks and go home," Amelia retorted but there was some kind of relaxation in her voice.

"Don't get drunk," Susan cautioned.

"Don't worry. Pete and Jason are here," Amelia assured her.

"Alright, have fun," Susan said and hung up.

After the short conversation, she went back to sleep. The next day was Monday so she woke up early, dressed in a trouser suit, her hair was held in a ponytail and her make-up was flawless as usual after her morning bathing.

Absorbed with the aroma of scrambled eggs when she stepped out of her room, she recalled allowing Andrew to stay. "Good morning, you're right on time, breakfast is ready," his deep alluring voice rang from the dining room.

Susan felt a slight thump in her heart, which made her nervous. Andrew always made her feel that way at the sound of his voice.

"Good morning," she responded and sat at her usual spot in the dining room around the table. Andrew was still in his pajamas but was looking fresh and well-rested, Susan smiled when their eyes met. He looked so edible. Her cheeks crimsoned with every bite she took while he continued to gaze at her indescribably.

"How is the food today?" He asked, his gaze not leaving her. Susan was beautiful and also kind. One he's never met before. Most beautiful girls he met faked kindness because of his status. Susan was the first woman to treat him nicely after telling her that he was homeless.

"Much better," she said and munched. Andrew smirked in satisfaction. He intentionally prepared the same thing as yesterday, to improve on his amateur capabilities, which seemed to have worked.

"When will you close from work?" He asked expectantly? Thinking of what to make for her for supper. He didn't want to ask her what she liked but rather research and surprise her.

"I should be home by 6."

"I will make sure to get super ready by then and by the way, you look stunning," Andrew said finally and their eyes met again. He was battling within himself if it was right to compliment her but gave it a go. Susan lowered her eyes with unease.

"Thank you," she smiled. It was just the way Andrew said it. It tickled something inside her.

Susan was halfway through her meal when her doorbell rang, which surprised her because she never received visitors on weekdays. Her friends were all busy bees.

"I'll get it," Andrew wandered to the door before she could stop him, met with a tall man in a grey suit standing confidently in front of the door. He was quite attractive, creasing his brow at the sight of Andrew at the door. 'Since when did Susan allow a man to sleepover in her house?' Judging by Andrew's appearance, that seemed to be it. A rain of jealousy soaked the man damp.

"Who are you and where is Susan?"

Andrew wasn't comfortable seeing a man in front of Susan's door so early in the morning. He didn't know much about her but her reaction to the bell meant she wasn't expecting anyone. Then again, the man in front of him looked familiar. "I should be asking who you are."

The man laughed out loud, stopping abruptly when his eyes met Susans' standing behind Andrew. Her countenance was as wintry as her voice.

"Bismark. What do you want here? You aren't welcome."

Bismark couldn't let his jealousy show. He was the one who left her and he didn't want her to think that he regretted it. He thought Susan was too neat but the woman he married was quite the opposite. She hated doing chores and could leave the house messy till he returned but he wouldn't let Susan know that. Some mistakes were too late to correct.

"Don't flatter yourself, Susan. What do you think? That I came to beg for a comeback? Never." He flaunted his wedding ring and continued, "I got married six months ago in Texas."

He was disappointed that Susan was unmoved. He was her first love but she seemed to have gotten over him completely when he kept comparing his wife to her every day. Four years after the breakup, Susan was looking better than she was when he dated her.

"So what do you want?" Susan continued to emit the chills. Her attitude told Andrew that this visitor wasn't welcome but Andrew didn't want to interfere. Their conversation might make him know more about her. He was also satisfied that Susan didn't invite Bismark inside the house.

"I brought these forms for you to sign. The joint investment we did three and half years ago has matured but since I contributed more, just sign it off for me," he said unabashedly.

Susan wouldn't have recalled a thing about that investment if he hadn't shown up at her doorstep this morning. Bismark was starting an investment company which made her take the opportunity to be among his first customers. His company hasn't grown too much but he was comfortable till he got married to a freeloader. However, Susan might not be desperately in need of money but it was still hers and she had an extra mouth to feed now.

"You asshole, you will not have my money, even if it's just a penny."

Bismark continued to put up a show. He didn't want to feel belittled in front of another man. "What are you talking about? I can see the new man you found is so broke for you to be crying over peanuts," he threw a disgusting glare at Andrew. His message was clear. If Andrew was a responsible man, he wouldn't be in his pyjamas at this time of the morning. He should have been dressed for work.

"Since you are rich and capable, why don't you sign it over to me then?" Susan shrugged and defied him. He didn't want her so why did he want her money?

"It's simple, Susan. You are not worth my money. I have a family to take care of," he expectorated, making her awkward. Now she wondered what Andrew would be thinking of her. Anger soared inside of her at that retort and she won't let him have her money.

"Even if I have no use for the money, I won't let you have it. It's still my hardwork. The value of the amount I put in should be nothing less than 10k," she said after making a rough calculation in her mind.

"It's actually 15k," Bismark revealed. He couldn't tell her that he needed the money because his company was going down. Just after six months of marriage, his wife has spent over five hundred thousand dollars on vanity. He couldn't stop her because he made her believe that he was a millionaire and capable of giving her anything.

"So I'm not signing. Transfer the money into my personal account, and then we can close the joint account," Susan said firmly. Bismark was disappointed and broken. He knew that Susan was kind. Except for her neatness disorder, she had always been generous, even to those who didn't deserve it so why not him? He felt that if he managed to anger her, she might give it up.

"You are so greedy Susan. Or is it that you couldn't find a capable man? I told you didn't I? You don't deserve a man like me. You thought you were too good for me and won't let me touch you till I had my shower or kiss you till I brushed my teeth. What are you, God?"

"She's a woman with dignity. It's just unfortunate that you weren't disciplined enough to respect her principles," Andrew growled. He couldn't take it anymore and stepped in uninvited. If Susan was upset with his interference, he would apologize later.

"Hahaha, see what we have here? You are falling for her gorgeous body too but trust me, she won't let you have the cake and just like me, you will pretend to understand and just keep another chick by the side," Bismark mocked Susan through Andrew. The only way he could date her for months was when he found another girl. Call it whatever, he never felt guilty. He called it back up. Andrew understood what he meant because he was once a victim of such.

"I'm nothing like you. You are brazen-faced."

"Then you lack pride. What job do you do and what car do you drive? Perhaps you have no self-worth," Bismark challenged him proudly. Andrew recalled him vividly now. He was one of the young entrepreneurs who had requested his company to invest in his. He also recalled that Bismarks' company was too small but what put him off was Bismarks' inability to impress him when given the audience. Bismark couldn't make out Andrew because the guy had disguised himself but if he was smart, he could have detected it from his voice. Andrew hadn't done anything about that.

"Enough Bismark, leave my house!" Susan blustered. Not only had Bismark ruined her sweet morning but she was also running late for work now.

"After you sign the document," Bismark was adamant. He needed the money but couldn't touch it without her signature.

"I won't and I'm already late for work. Goodbye."

When Susan turned to leave, he blocked her way and pulled her about by the arm. A stronger arm separated them with fury.

"Respect yourself or you'll leave here battered," Andrew threatened coldly. The moment Bismark touched Susan by the arm, his heart screamed, 'how dare you to touch her, she's mine.'

"I will do what I like and you can do nothing," Bismark pulled Susan again but this time, a blow disfigured his jaw, and he spat out blood. Susan took the opportunity to enter her car and drove off. It was good to have Andrew around after all and he proved that he could handle Bismark but what amazed her was the fact that Andrew, being homeless, was not intimidated or afraid of Bismark.

"You dare slap me? I'll get you arrested," Bismark exploded, entered his car and drove away.

Andrew made a call. "I want you to purchase Bitz Investment Limited, then fire the CEO."

"Consider it done," a determined voice assured him from the other side of the line but he couldn't discern any form of urgency in it, thereby proceeding to explain.

"Grey, this shouldn't take more than forty-eight hours."

"Why so sudden? We have to pay more to purchase it within that time frame," Greg explained.

"You have my approval on whatever amount to spend. Just get it done," he instructed sternly. Andrew was worth trillions of dollars and Bismark's company wasn't up to a million but he was ready to spend more than a million due to the urgency, knowing that there would be people Bismark would have to pay off. What he would be left you wouldn't be much.

"But Andy, why?" Greg was concerned about Andrew's sudden aggressiveness. He wanted to lie low so what prompted such action? He wanted to know.

"He disrespected Susan and I will never forgive him. I will make sure that he crawls before her." Andrew didn't hold back and explained. Greg was both his bestfriend and deputy CEO. He understood that Andrew had developed something special for this Susan he was still researching on and only prayed that Andrew wouldn't get hurt again.

"Consider it done. Forty-eight hours it is."