Adrian
Not two years have passed completely and my daughter came back to my house as a widow with tears unstoppable in her eyes, shattered and worn out like a dried flower. Her wails were incorrigible with no trace of control. My heart broke to pieces but I received her back with open arms. She is my little princess and the doors of my house will always be open to her. Though I was bleeding a river for her doomed fate I inscribed a rule on my heart that I will never let my tears go revealed to her.
Flashback
It was exactly one year and eight months since my daughter's marriage. On the wee hours of Friday morning I received a phone call. Putting on my black rimmed spectacles I wondered who was calling me this early. My feet came down hopping on the red carpet spread on the floor and the name of St George hospital was flashing on the screen. "Hello" I said groggily trying to lift the sleep out of my eyes and the news I heard got my senses into an immediate alert. My daughter and son-in-law met with an accident. Ria though suffers minor injuries, Richard was admitted in the Intensive care unit after suffering a brain haemorrhage. Ground washed under my feet as I immediately alerted Chris about the situation. We started of immediately and Liam joined us later in the hospital.
As I entered the hospital ward my heart almost stopped to see my daughter ceaseless on her cries. Her right arm was fractured and knee sufferes an injury. She would require a plaster for three weeks to heal it but that wasn't the issue what bothered me seriously was the condition of my son-in-law. He was admitted in the ICU and his situation was parlous. Hardly two hours have passed and I heard the news I dreaded the most from the doctor.
Richard was no more....
My daughter became mentally sick and went to depression. She seldom ate anything though I made it a point to tell my cooks there should be her favourite dishes prepared everyday in the house. I loosened my tie and removed the cufflinks of my cream coloured shirt and enquired like everyday about our daughter after coming from office. As usual the answer was negative. Filling the plate with steak, fish fingers and some brown rice, every dish - her favourite, I walked to my daughter's bedroom and knocked on the door.
As usual there was no response. She kept herself locked in a room which was always dark. Her gaze was outside the window looking at the garden blossoming in flowers. I wonder what she thought standing beside the window. As soon as I came closer, she hugged me and burst into a cry. My heart trummed from its ribcage at her outburst but I was happy. Her sorrows are released instead of going locked inside her soul which is a substantial improvement.
"Daddy I wanted my life to blossom like the flowers out there in the garden." She points to the window besides with her index finger. "But the bloom of my life is snatched away by the destiny. Daddy, why did he leave me and go?" She holds my shirt tight in her fists and blasts through her wails. I shook my head my voice withdrawn unable to bear her agony. She breaks to yowls and hits my chest going hysterical with her palms. "Why am I so ill-fated daddy?" I run my hands down on her soft silky hair. Words go locked in my throat helpless for my daughter's anguish if only I could win a smile back for her.
Six months later Sunrise Industries filed a tender to introduce a new drug 'Pandon' a pain killer that could also reduce inflammation in the joints of Arthritis patients. Since last three months for every quotation we filed we lost the deal just by one dollar from Raymond industries. Was it by badluck?
It is heard that the CEO of Raymond Industries Christian Wilfront is over smart and intelligent. I doubt there is an insider in our company who is passing the information to him. Though I do not have a proof about it I'm soon going to reach my hands on the culprit and rip the flesh out of his bones. I appointed a special secret investigation agency to deal with the issue but in the meanwhile I'm heavily bent on meeting Christian Wilfront the arcane young victor who mystifies me with every losing deal by his occult cryptic actions.
My secretary books an appointment and I was waiting for him in the visitor’s room reading a newspaper. Christian Wilfront is the first entrepreneur who had the power to make me wait for him. I never held on for anyone till date in my life except for my family a first that goes into his account.
There was a sudden low commotion in the office. The employee voices were heard in a buzz, who begin to move in a hurry carrying files and important documents. To my surprise within a few seconds the visitors lounge was jam packed. The secretary jotted down the names of people in a file who were to visit the CEO and instructed them to meet him stating an order of serial number.
Next minute the door of the opposite room or rather a conference hall turns open and out walks a young man with sharp features highly attractive at the same time a little familiar in a crisp navy blue colour suit with powerful long strides. A woman probably his personal assistant hurries behind him in quick steps. I wonder how she was managing herself in such long heels without falling. She was scrawling in quick the instructions he was giving her on a notepad. There were three other men who were walking behind in a line waiting to be blessed by an opportunity to speak to him.
Two minutes later after he walks inside the cabin the bell rings and the secretary hurries inside almost tripping on her steps unable to balance with three huge files in her hands. The next second she walks outside and asks me to go in. "Hello Mr Wilfront, very happy to meet you." I smile and extend my hands to him. He looks at me puzzled and watches my hand that was stretched out as if it was poison for a second. The man had an intensity to pull strings of my nerves to an edge I wonder why a when finally he meets his hand with mine. "Glad to meet you Mr Martin. May I know to what pleasure I owe to meet you in my office?" His voice was laced with a hint of sarcasm but at the same time courteous. The man was indeed a mystery with a tinge of egoism power and dominance - the apt anthropoid to get under my skin.
Before I could give him to taste his own piece of shit he enquires. "How is Angie? I am sorry about the news. I hope she recovered quick from her beloved husband's demise." I was shocked at the same time infuriated by his resentful jibe. "Mr Wilfront I do not encourage outsiders to intrude in my private matters." I condemned his words strong. "Oh then let us talk about business." He leans back in his executive seat with his right leg resting on the knee of the other.
So much of arrogance that too in a stripling born yesterday…. He may be powerful but he needs to learn the norms of courtesy especially on how to behave with elders. I wanted to extend a friendly hand and solve the problem amicable but he seems in no commitment of it. I get up from my seat determined not to see him again and about to give my final advice when he asks me. "You do not remember who I am Mr Martin?" I was getting irritated by him and his puzzles, my patience hanging on a thin thread. Before I would cross on him he replies me back. "I'm Alexander Spark, your daughter's once upon a time play toy. I hope now I remind you good of myself." He jeered.
My lips go sealed in a shock gazing at Alexander. "You...I mean you." He chuckles high pushing his head back. "As fate would have it, you are not the only one to win the luck of the draw, Mr Martin. My maternal grandfather doesn't have any children other than my mother and he transferred all his properties, assets to me before he left the world." I was still in a state of perplexity when he hands me the glass of water placed on the table. "You cheated upon me, did not keep your word. You betrayed me on your promise and married off your daughter before the time you gaged to me." He accuses. "Now the time has changed and the days are into my flow. I will take back what is mine and you will have no control on it. I will destroy your identity, your businesses, yours entire enterprise The Sunrise Industries and you cannot do anything but to keep your hands folded."
This is the vow of a bruised soul that would be more imperilling than an Almighty's curse.
The Beginning.