Beep. The call disconnected, and Martin sighed in frustration as he placed the phone beside him.
He sent a message, but its status indicated pending, just like his previous messages, and he groaned more in frustration as he looked at his desk angrily and scratched his head.
He had tried calling Chloe at least 20 times over the past five days, and none of his calls went through.
Slowly he looked up and logged in to his computer to look at the email his secretary had sent him about his plan for the day and clicked his tongue, not feeling the need to work anymore.
"Please cancel all my appointments and reschedule them," he told his secretary over the office phone.
"The investors are coming in today. It's been a struggle getting this appointment," the secretary reasoned, and Martin angrily asked her who was in charge.
"But sir…your father…the board chair will be in today. Where should I say you went?"
"Just f*cking do as I say, or I will have you sacked. I can't be taking instructions from an employee. Do you hear me?" Martin angrily screamed before getting up, taking his coat, and hurriedly walking out of the building.
He got into his car and drove straight to Lisa's workplace. He half ran, half walked to the reception area, and tapped his feet impatiently as he waited for another customer to be served.
"I'm sorry, sir. You have to wait like everybody else," the receptionist told Martin when he walked up to the reception desk. He turned to act as if he had just seen people seated there.
"I can't wait!" Martin almost shouted.
"Well, I'm not requesting you. I'm commanding you. Wait, or I'll be forced to call security," the receptionist retaliated as she looked at him angrily and with a lot of hatred.
It wasn't her first time dealing with Martin, and she loathed him and couldn't help but wonder why Lisa was still in touch with such an egoistic man.
"I guess you'll have to call security then," Martin said after he turned to look around the office, and with those words, he started walking hastily towards Lisa's office.
The receptionist was panting and saying incredible things as she asked the security guards to go after Martin.
In front of Lisa's door, Martin angrily tried opening the door but found it closed.
He turned to look around him and saw the guards charging angrily toward him and instantly knew he didn't have much time.
"I have to see Lisa. It's very important that I see her," he pleaded as the guards pushed him to the wall and held him as the cops do to wanted criminals.
He was pleading with them and had eaten the humble pie that nobody could believe he had been so arrogant about a few minutes ago.
They got to the lifts, and before they could even press the buttons, the doors opened, and before them stood Lisa with her boss Andrew.
Her eyes were almost gauged out of their sockets when she saw Martin, and she felt shame wash over her. She wanted to turn to look at Andrew and explain through her expressions how sorry she was at Martin coming to her workplace, but her brain couldn't coordinate the other parts of her body, so she just stood watching helplessly.
I need to see you, Lisa," Martin said, and Lisa stared at him with a poker face.
Andrew threw one ugly and disgusted look at her and clicked his tongue before walking out of the lifts to his office.
Lisa felt the office space become smaller than it really was. Her head started throbbing, and it felt like the air in her lungs had been pumped out. She wanted just anything to grasp onto, but nothing was in sight.
"Excuse us for a while," she instructed the guards after composing herself, and they reluctantly let Martin free and stood at a safe distance at Lisa's request.
"What do you want? How many times have we warned you not to come here as this place belongs to you? You're f*cking putting my job in jeopardy, don't you see that?" Lisa almost shouted, but Martin just looked on as though he wasn't the one being addressed.
"I wouldn't have come if you hadn't stopped Chloe from talking to me. I have called and tried all means of reaching her, but there has been no response. I know you blackmailed her because she was already warming up to me," Martin answered with bared teeth and a clenched jaw.
"She is my daughter, and I decide what's good and bad for her. Now, get out of this place before I lose my mind," Lisa shouted as she pointed towards the stairs.
"What is he giving you, Lisa?" Martin asked in hurt as he looked at Andrew's door.