Drake stood by the big glass window in his office looking out at the view. So many emotions ran through his mind and unknowingly, a tear fell down his cheeks.
"Why me of all people? What did I do to go through all this pain? When does it ever end?" He asked himself as another tear fell down his cheeks. He wanted to share his pain with someone, but that someone is the cause of it all.
He remembered her beauty, innocence, confidence, daringness and kindness. And he thought, everything about her reminded him of the qualities he had heard about his mom. She was now in her ninth month, and fear of him not seeing his child be born crossed his mind.
He wants to hold his child, caress its cheek, and swing him or her around his room. He doesn't want his child to be called a bastard, because of an ill fight between his parents. Such thoughts made him abhor life. Didn't get why things always worked this way for the innocent.
His thoughts got distracted by a sudden knock on his door. Gina walked in holding a pile of documents and shoved it in the air.
"The results are in and guess what, we are leading once again." she said happily.
"That's good news." Drake said without a tint of happiness even visible on his face. Gina frowned upon thinking of what could bring Drake back to his happy mood.
"What are you doing there?" She asked.
"Just checking out....ahh nothing." he said with his eyes getting teary. Gina noticed and then walked towards him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and stood there with him. Minutes later, Drake sobbed violently on her shoulders.
"Why is it so painful? Why am I the one going through all the pains in this life? Was I destined to be this way? Why do all my smiles never last long?" he asked as he continued sobbing.
Gina felt so sorry for Drake. She knew that deep down, Drake will never attempt to cheat on Jessica, not today , not tomorrow.
But now that all these are happening to him, she has no idea how to stop his pain. She wished he could share his pain with her, since he was like a son figure to her.
"It's okay now, it's okay". she said to him, robbing his back with her hand to calm him down. Drake heaved a sigh and then pulled away from her embrace. He took his handkerchief and wiped the tears off his face.
"Thank you Gina." he said
"For what?."
"For giving me a shoulder to cry upon." He replied.
She smiled looking at his cute innocent face "You don't have to thank me for anything. I am here and will always be here for you." she assured him.
Drake gave a weak smile at her assurance. He was proud Gina was like a mother to him, or else, what could he have done in this situation. "Okay, Is there any other thing for me to do?" he asked.
"Yes, the meeting starts...."she paused, calculating the time on her watch "Now. The meeting starts now actually. So I guess they might be settling in already "
"Okay then, let's go." he said and they walked out of his office to the boardroom.
Drake met with his executive members in the boardroom, all four deputy directors and his senior people. He took the document on the table and took a look at it.
He flipped pages with passable boredom, then gouged the document back on the table frowning. "It seems Daily Graphics and Magazines Interior Company are still interested in this tender." he said with his professional tone.
Daily Graphics and Magazines Interior Company had been interested to be partners with Lincoln's Paradise for three years now but had been rejected because of the Corruption in their company.
Drake doesn't want to work with any deceitful people who will end up ruining and tarnishing the image of his company. For months now, he had thought the corruption had been worked upon, but was wrong when he was offered hundred thousand dollars for information about the Montenegro Group of Companies by the DGMI, but he rejected it.
"Yes sir, but we cannot work with
corrupted people. How do we know they will not end up cheating us and steal any of our Company's personal information." One board director voiced his opinion.
"I know that. That is the reason why I don't want to accept it, and none of you will. Gina do me a favour, throw these documents away, and whenever there is a request from them, reject it.`` Turning back to the board members, he said "Is there anything else?"
"Ye...Yes Sir. The Chairman of the Montenegro Group of Companies is suing the company." The Information manager said with concern.
Drake's eyes widened as he could not believe his ears "What did you just say?" The members kept quiet waiting for Drake's anger to be released on them. "What are they suing us for and when did they sue us?" he asked, irritated.
"Mr. Montenegro said the company has stolen part of his goods and that is going against the agreement, so he is suing us." Drake kept quiet thinking. He knows that this had nothing to do with the company but Jessica. Mr. Montenegro already threatened him when he tried to explain things to Jessica.
"I will solve this situation. And make sure you all investigate this issue. Make sure none of his goods are mixed with mine, and if they are, return it back to him. Anything else." No one said anything so he stood up and adjourned the meeting.
"Drake, don't you think he is suing you because of his daughter." Gina asked.
"Yes, I know that is the reason why the company is being sued. And I will work on it, so don't worry." Drake replied.
"What are you going to do?" she asked curiously.
"Go there to plead with him," he said and shrugged.
"No. Drake, you can be arrested."
"I know that, but it is for the company and at least... this would give me the chance to see how Jessica is doing." He said , smiling at the thought of seeing her once again.
"But Dra…" Drake cut off Gina in mid sentence.
"No buts Gina, just let me handle this." he said then stroked to his office.
"Oh God, does this ever end. Just end all this chaos that has come into my boy's life." She prayed silently before walking to her office to continue her work as a secretary.