He had hundreds of staffs and directors across various branches of his companies who helped to oversee his businesses. Although he hadn't found time to meet them one on one, since some were scattered over different continents. He however held zoom meetings with them whenever he found the time to. Mr Zucker his administrator, did more of the travelling.
However, one of his silent fears was more on the thought of staying far away from the kids in his training hub. They had become part of his life, and shared
a special part of him. Most of them naa come from defaulted backgrounds and homes. Some were abandoned kids who scavenged on the streets until he found them and gave them a new life. He had also enrolled some, into other schools in the city. He shared a special bonding with them. And saw them as a new kind of family. He vowed to do everything to make sure they turned out better.
There were also things he had in common with them. He had being once like them. Homeless, without parents. But through the thick and thin, he and his brother had caved their way through the storm and turned out better.
Jay, his brother also played for another team in the states. They were called the 'northbank stars', and had also done
well in their past matches. His rot er played as a mid fielder even though Jack could play in all positions. Jay had also shown interest to sign into a new club the coming season. Even though Jack was yet to decide.
He picked up the TV remote and clicked on his favorite station. Jay had gone to get some groceries at the mall. They had being out of supplies for weeks, and had waited tirelessly for the contracted grocery company to make restock, only to wake up to the sudden news of their striking.
He stood and walked to the fridge to pour himself some wine, and returned to settle on the sofa to listen to his favorite sport news.
He saw his phone bleeped and noticed
he had missed a call from his manager. He quickly dailed the number, and it began to ring at the other side, until he heard the voice of the big man on the other end.
They spoke quite at length.
"Thank you" he finally said, as he dropped the call, when the manager was done talking.
Just then, Jay walked in through the door with some boxes and a young man carrying a huge bag containing groceries.
Thank you" Jack said to the man, collecting the bulk of load and tipping him before heading to the kitchen with them. He also helped out, taking some of the boxes to the store.
You aren't going to the academy today
Jay asked, as soon as Jack busied himself unparking the remaining stuffs in the fridge to make rooms for new ones.
'Maybe, maybe not" he chipped, just as the doorbell rang, and he left to see who was at it. They weren't expecting any visitor, as most of their friends were yet to find out they had returned from game. They usually kept it a secret until few days after resting out the stress of the work.
He checked through the transparent glass window and when he saw who it was, his feet suddenly became numb.
CHAPTER FIVE
It was Emilia. His worst nightmare.
She was the last person he had hoped to see that morning.
She never gave him any breathing space. He had tried all he could, to keep her away from him, but hadn't being successful. He had never wished to harm her and had also prayed she would let him be.
Though he knew she loved him, and had never ceased telling him, but he had inturn advised her countless times to go find someone else who could reciprocate it to her. But she had bluntly refused and stayed.
One good thing he somehow liked about her though was the fact that she
found a way of helping him to keep too many women from pestering him. For no day passed, without him getting passes from women or without them flocking around him like bees around honey. He sighed.
Emilia had once told a group of ladies crushing hugely on him, that she was his bride. He didn't even bothered to debunk it, even when some of them had called to confirm sobbing. He didn't care what they thought.
Anything to keep them away from him was a welcome idea.
He had no time for women. He was too busy trying to build a career for himself, and the last thing he wanted now was commitment. He didn't even want anything to do with love. Atleast not yet.
He had young kids in the sport hub to worry about, not forgetting his personal problems too.
He also needed to fix his heart and life, before thinking about any woman to love or settle with.
He needed to make sure his kids got the best, and won't have to go through all he went, just to have a survive. He wanted to be a father, his kids would be proud of.
He pushed the door open, and turned his back away from her, heading back to the kitchen.
'i haha" she laughed.
Someone doesn't look too pleased to see me"she said, and moved forward to circle her arms around him from behind
What would I do, to make you love me
Jack? To really make you want me?" She asked almost sobbing, as she held on to his biceps, running her fingers sweetly over his broad chest.
Jack felt like pushing her away, but he didn't. No matter how he felt towards any body, he never tried to maltreat or treat them harshly. Maybe that alone had given Emilia the audacity she had, to always embarrass herself around him. He thought.
He always remembered his sister and grandmother, and how much he had loved and cherished them. Wherever they were, he hoped others would treat them kindly too.
He and his brother Jay, had left home, when they couldn't bear the pain of seeing their grandmother pass through so much hardship, so they could survive
It's being over ten years now since they seperated, and five years ago, he and Jay had tried going back in search of them, after being away for too long, only to find out from concerned neighbours that his sister and grandmother had moved out unnoticed when they couldn't handle the debts they owed.
He felt like dying.
He had quickly settled every debt, they had left unpaid, but still couldrft get reasonable information on where to find them.
He was 10 years old when they had left. Jay was 12, and the only thing they had taken along, were few clothings and their grandmother's bank details written on a scrambled piece of paper. They had hoped to make money and send to her through it.
Many years after, when they couldn't find her, they had written to the bank to see if they could trace her location through the details, but no progress was made.
Jay had also written to the police headquarters of missing persons, but still no news.
Jack didn't know if his grandmother still access the account, but he still found a way of crediting it every month.
He wished he could see his
grandmother and sister again. He hoped and prayed they would still be alive.
Maria had just gotten in, when she heard Mr Jason, announcing the names of the finalists.
As soon as he sighted her, he asked his PA to go ahead with the announcement and immediately invited her into one of his scanty studio rooms, with anger written all over his face.
He just couldn't understand , why someone he had tried to help, even with no experience for the job would end up standing him up.
I am very sorry sir" maria pleaded, realizing how much mistake she had made in a row, and how she badly needed the job, especially with the
effort Tobi had put in to help her get it.
Mr Jason still had a questioning look written on his face. He wanted to know if she had found a way of raising the money she needed. He had earlier heard how she was in some kind of fix and needed help.
If not for Tobi, the son of his late friend, who had spoken highly of her and persuaded him in assisting her into any role in his upcoming movie since he believed she was very talented and that, it would also enable her raise the money she needed for her fees, he wouldn't have bothered.
He had only obliged, since tobi was someone he wouldn't refuse anything, and for the cordial relationship he once had with his late dad.
"What kept you so long?" He finally blurted,