"I have good news and bad news-" Cross said loudly as he barged into Wesley's suite. He had spare keys to the room.
"I thought I made it clear that I do not want to be disturbed?" Wesley winced. He was sitting at the edge of the king-size bed.
After signing the last papers with the constructors, Wesley had given a stern order that his suite was off-limits for everyone and that he needed to rest. He'd been attending one meeting after another since that morning.
"You did man, but I simply chose to ignore it," Cross said with a smug on his lips. "You know, before I'm your assistant, I'm your lifelong bro, so now listen up quickly." Cross shrugged making himself comfortable by sitting on the cushion in the middle of the room.
Wesley watched him move restlessly, struggling to pull a paper from his suit pocket. Unlike him, Cross was a workaholic. He knew he would not take his afternoon nap until he got the board back in City Z to approve the blueprint for the Mall construction.
Wesley already had an idea of what the good news was.
Wesley felt a vibration in the pocket of his sweatpants, and then accompanied by a ring, it was his cellphone. He delved his hands into his pockets. The screen read 'SATAN'S MISTRESS. '
He used his hands to signal Cross to remain silent.
"Wesley, how did the meeting go?" The caller on the other end of the phone asked.
Wesley Jameson had just gotten back from a series of meetings with clients, investors, and the shop owners and residents of land property he intends to demolish and build a mall in this city. Here he was trying to rest, his grumpy mum had to call and then Cross had to walk in.
He was exhausted.
"It went as expected. Construction ought to begin by the end of next month." Wesley said as he slumped into bed, massaging his nose bride with his fingers.
"Hm, that's good to hear." The caller, being his mother, said. "Get over with it, I need you home soon."
"Got it," he replied before ending the call. "Such a menace," he muttered.
"Back to you-" Wesley spoke up, tossing his phone on the bed.
"Who was that?"
"My Mother." Wesley replied.
"Ok…"
"For the record, I know the good news," Wesley said lowering his gaze as he pushed the duvet over his body.
"Ok smart one, keep it to yourself. The board approved the building plan. Yay! Your competitor's plans were tossed into the trash." Cross announced with a lot of energy, his eyes lit.
"I was going to get it regardless but thank you."
"You're such an ungrateful sonofabitch. You know?"
Wesley rose up, and by using the pillow up, he settled his head against the wall.
"The bad news is, there's a headstrong shop owner who has refused the payment of compensation."
"He doesn't want to move?"
"It seems so." Cross said and checked his files. "He's a descendant of Maquire and keeps saying that land belongs to his family, and the likes. What do we do about this?"
Wesley furrowed his brows, biting his lips, and he twitched his mouth.
"From the Maguire family, you say?"
"Yes,"
Wesley raised his gaze and then tilted it.
"Isn't he aware the land was mortgaged years ago, and his family wasn't able to pay it back? And the bank sold it off?" he calmly asked.
"Umm… I really don't know. I haven't looked into it yet. But his case is a special one," he said. "Everyone in his family seems to be aware that this is the case, but he's persistent with his stubbornness. If things go on like this, I'm afraid..."
"You know what, it's not a difficult matter." Wesley interrupted him. "Fix me a meeting with the dude." he said slumping back on his bed.
"Alright," Cross replied, standing up from the cushion he headed out. He was heading straight to his room to give Rachael a call to fix a meeting with the defiant shop owner.
He probably would first go to the hotel bar and chill off with some bottles of beer alone. He sure needed it. He yawned.
And maybe he could pick up a few girls that were worth his time.
But damn, would anyone be as good as that pretty lady he spent the night with previously. For a pickup girl, she was really nice to the touch.
"Business must be good for her." He thought with a smirk and closed his eyes. "Hope I get lucky to pick her up sometime again."
******
The city was bustling as usual, with cars moving to and from and traffic lights. Kids coming in and out of Mr. Coles Arcade stationed at the side of the street at the bottom of a story building, a plaza. It was the only shop open. The rest of the occupants had moved out with closed signs.
A kid ran out as he was being pursued by an older boy who finally caught up with him as soon as they got outside. He tried to struggle out of the older boy's grip.
"Sis, I caught him." The older boy calls out to the lady who had just joined them outside.
"Thanks, Jeff." She thinks him breathing heavily. She had seen the kid slip a gaming disc into his bag, and before she could get hold of him, he stole away with it. She had begun to call out for help when Jeffery, her younger brother, who was walking in to hand her lunch, caught up with the boy.
"Give it back," Charlotte stretched her hands to the kid, who reluctantly zipped his backpack open and then handed the disc.
"Young man, stealing is very bad. Good boys don't steal." Charlotte says to him, rubbing his cheeks as he keeps his gaze on the floor.
"Really Charlotte?" The voice of an older man rang behind the little crowd that had formed due to the chase. Charlotte turned back.
"Oh, Mr Maguire! You are here." She smiled awkwardly scratching her head. Her boss had just arrived. She took the disc from the boy and slipped it behind her.
Jeffery let go of the boy who ran off.
"Come with me," Mr Maguire, a middle aged man who had casual wear and sneakers, had in his hands a tennis bat and in his other hand his bag. Charlotte took hold of his bag and walked behind him.
"A call came in this morning; one Mr Cross of Jameson Limited called to fix a meeting with you. Again, I received an email concerning the same. There's been news of a demolition sir." Charlotte said in a breath; she had wanted to tell Mr. Maguire all morning, but his phone was not going through.
"Calm down, young lady; they called my phone as well." Cole eyed her, who was sweating profusely as she stood before him.
"Is the air condition bad?" He asked, scanning her closely. She held both hands behind her back and shook her head.
"No sir," She sniffed using the back of her palm to wipe the sweat off her forehead.
"Ignore those buffalos, I'll handle them myself. No, get back to work."
"Yes, sir," She turned to leave.
"Wait-"
Charlotte paused.
"Charlotte, what happened the other day?"