CHAPTER THREE
NATHANIEL
I walked into my office building, and everyone who wasn't at their duty post rushed back into it.
A look of terror crept on all of their faces. I wondered why I had such an effect on them.
I came in through the back door this morning, catching everyone unaware.
My driver had a course to absent himself from work today but had no ball to call until the last minute to excuse himself.
I had to drive myself to work and pack the car in the garage, which led to coming in from the back instead of being dropped off at the front of the building.
I ignored my workers and walked straight to the elevator, thinking of one million ways to punish my driver.
In my office, I walked to my desk, which is all leather and sat down.
I looked around me. Everything in my office screamed money, from the furniture to the all-glassed penthouse walls.
I had inherited this business from my dad. At that time, we had only four luxurious buses, which ran from the west side of the country into the east.
I had built the business beyond my expectations.
I can proudly say, taken stock yesterday, I own five hundred long buses, running through all the states of our federation, transporting goods and passengers.
I am also into all forms of transportation; when a friend suggested air transport, I bought the idea Immediately, checking my resources. I had enough money to invest, so I did. Now I have my airline.
At one point, I was given some goods too large for buses, and I had to move them by train. The train corporation had a slow delivery system. I was worried I would not disappoint my client, but luckily, the Federal Government chose that period to embark on debunking the railway. I quickly bought into the idea. Now, I'm one of the private investors. I also have a shipping line.
I, later on, ventured into hotels as most of my passengers needed a place to spend the night when they arrived late.
That led to having all the hotels, supermarkets, and malls I have in the big cities.
The building that housed my office was wood. A bungalow shark that looked so horrible from the outside and a bit presentable on the inside when I took over.
All that has changed, as this building is the tallest in the area with twenty-seven floors.
I also have seven buildings like this in this state to make navigating easier.
I, Phillip Nathaniel, can confidently say that I am super-rich, but then I have an obsession.
I stared at it every morning, and to subdue this obsession, I threw myself into work, which yielded all this great success.
Caroline is my obsession. She became one the day she disgraced me openly.
I have one of her pictures on my desk, staring at it with hatred and passion.
I look forward to the day I will take my revenge.
I had not moved in on her and closed this deal all this time because I needed the passion as a driving force.
One could ask why I hold on to a woman's talk, one I am sure no one remembered but me, but I know I couldn't just laugh over her statement.
Something inside me snapped that day, driving me to want to make all the money I could ever make.
I would then throw it in her face and laugh at her to scone; this is for rubbing my feelings on my face.
I know I felt something for her. The pain was so much that I shut me off.
I stopped attending parties, cut down my entire social life, and shut down any female who took an interest in me.
I could say that that part of me died. I buried myself in work and school.
When my Dad died, I managed school, work and the business.
The instant I graduated, I threw myself into my work, and with my team, it has finally paid off.
I knew Caroline sought me out weeks after she disgraced me, but I avoided her like a lech,
Why say something so openly that you might want to apologise in private?
Why choose her friends over me and keep me as her little dirty cupboard secret?
That's total bull's shit. I know I will never be able to forgive, so I made myself unreachable. When I am ready, I will be.
Nevertheless, I have been monitoring her. The day I saw her engagement on Facebook, I almost had a heart attack.
God, I have to question my motive and tell myself it is just because I won't be able to put my revenge plan to use.
God knows revenge or not, I won't sleep with a married woman.
I am just now keeping tag till she gets married. I will let my revenge go or plan a new one.
Sitting, I picked up my phone and opened her Facebook page as a daily routine,
I stared at her picture and status, which stated single. I stopped all movements.
She is single again. My lips lifted in a smack. I just knew luck was shining on me and my plans.
It was now or never.
I picked up my phone and called my friend Mathew, who I paid to keep a close tab on her. He picked up after four rings.
"Hello Mat, what's up."
"I'm cool. How are you and your lovely bitches? Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot, loveless life?" he questioned back, laughing.
"Mat, don't. Don't you see my date on social media and tabloids?" I fired back.
"You wish, tabloid indeed. Will reporters ever find your name? You the most silent millionaire ever," He joked.
"What is the need for all the noise?" I said seriously
"I am sure you didn't call to discuss your loveless life with me." he deadpanned
"Mat, what do you have on Caroline? That's why I called." he laughed at the other end. When he noticed he was laughing alone, he said
"Why won't you just let this go? He asked
"If you were me, would you," I asked.
"Don't answer that question," I said immediately, and he laughed again.
"So what do you have?" I asked again patiently. I knew he usually gets to it when I'm patient enough.
He had begged me times without number to drop my revenge,
He said it was pointless. I wasn't poor back then and would never be poor. But I told him he wouldn't understand; he did not have his image bruised.
We argued back and forth and ended the argument with him giving me what I needed.
"She lost her job recently, her bank did a meagre, and they had to let her go. Now she is..."
"Perfect," I cut in quickly.
"Now I can find a way to employ her in one of my branches and then carry out my revenge,"
I said, laughing sarcastically. I immediately worked on the modalities in my head.
"Sorry, my man, she has a job now." He was almost not audible. I snapped out of my thoughts.
"What? Can you say what's up and stop taunting me," I said angrily
"I was, if only you allowed me to finish. She lost her job to the bank meagre but got a less paying job at a flower shop in ikoyi."
"I need the address immediately," I said immediately, quickly making a mental note to send flowers to Mercy and set her up as my temporary girlfriend.
She had been at my beck and call as a cheap lay for over four years. I must plan this quickly and carefully.
"Man, slow down. I have other things to do," I heard Mathew say
"Mat, please do not cross me. I will pay you for this." I said, angrily losing my patience.
"And I feed on the peanut you pay." He fired back.
"It might not be much, but it pays at least one or two of your fucking staff," I said, more annoyed now. This fucker is interrupting my plans. Although my best friend, he is not to stand in my way.
"Man, calm down. What is it with you and this girl? Man, get a grip." he fired back.
"Matt, don't mess with me. Please, I need that address ASAP. I can't wait for another engagement from her,"
I said now gently, almost pleading.
"Ok, check your mail." I checked and saw he had already sent the address.
"Why do you like teasing me so much? Get the fuck off my phone?"
"Why not now that you have the info you need." He said, laughing heartily
"Just FFF OFF the...." I screamed as the line went dead.