Clara anxiously looked at the door. she was supposed to have dinner with her mother and brother but none of them had come. The dinner was supposed to have stared one hour ago. Had something happened to her mother and brother? Have they been into an altercation with any police officer? Clara stood up from her chair and walked the full length of her long dining room, slapping her hands on each other as she went. She looked at the time once again and just then, she heard a commotion at the door. it was her mother.
Her mother came in a rage. She was speaking angrily to someone on the phone. 'Mom what is wrong?' her mother settled her bag on the table in the sitting room and walked to the water dispensing unit to get a drink of water.
'It is your brother. He will never stop going to that hotel. You remember that the last time, he had an altercation with one of the top executives after he made a pass at his girlfriend. Please speak to your brother.' Diana said her anger raging over.
'Mom you have to calm down.' Clara said. 'I will talk to him. I hope you are good?'
'I am good, just that driver and his slow driving. How are you dear? How was your day?' Diana asked, noticing the worry and fatigue on Clara's face for the first time since she arrived.
'It was okay.'
Just then, the door flew open and Steven announced his arrival. 'Mama, I am here.' He sounded a little tipsy.
I hope you are not drunk. It is not nine yet and you are drunk.'
'Mama, I am not drunk, I promise.' Steven dragged himself to the dining table and attempted to grab a leg of chicken but Clara, who was following behind him, slapped his hand.
'Ouch. That was hard.'
'Go wash your hands first.'
Steven walked to a nearby sink, mumbling words as he went. Diana settled to eat, as well as Clara and Steven. The food had been ordered from a restaurant. Clara didn't know how to cook, plus her recent position at the company didn't allow her the chance. Moreover, it was Michael who did the cooking in the house, when he was still living with her.
'The food was good but not as good as the one before.' Steven said.
'Shut up there. Do you know how to cook anyone?' Diana retorted. She looked at Clara to see if Clara took any offence by the statement Steven had made.
'Mom, Steven, pay attention. I called us here to have a discussion on how best to win the bid from Donaldation. We must secure that contract if we want to survive the economic downturn.'
'Mom, you can speak with one of your friends in donaldation who can give us an insight. How else do we get it?'
'Shut up there. Won't you get serious for once? If I could get us in there, why has your sister called the two of us if she knows I can get us the contract? Act responsible for once.' Diana shouted at Steven.
'Mom calm down. This anger won't solve our problem for us.'
'I think you have been affected with the curse following Michael. You should go for a cleansing or something.' Steven said.
'Mom, what is he talking about?' Clara looked at her mother.
'She didn't tell you? Mom ran into him the other day at donaldation headquarters. Probably that fool has decided to stalk mom to beg for your hand.' Steven responded.
'And that will never happen.' Diana declared.
'You mean Michael has been stalking you? I should have him arrested.' Clara said.
Diana continued. 'Yes you should.' Diana said. 'He is a nuisance. He is even stealing clothes and wearing them to important places like that. You need to see the quality of clothes and the type of wristwatch and shoes he was wearing. But that is not the issue at hand now. Let us focus on matter at hand.'
Clara said, 'I will make sure to find him and take him to the police.'
'You need to do that sis. I can call some boys and have him beaten.' Steven said.
'I heard that there is a new departmental head at donaldation who will award and oversee the park project. We need to get on his good side and see if he will give us the project.' Diana said.
'I think we should do that.' for a moment Clara had forgotten all about Michael and focused on getting the bid for the park project. Clara continued. 'Yes I think we should send a large with a bouquet and a bottle of chardonnay to welcome him to his new position and wish him well.'
'That will be grand my dear. Good thinking.' Diana clapped.
Steven said nothing, only looking at who is talking at the time. Clara and her mother talked about how to send the gifts and Diana urged her daughter to send it as soon as is possible.
Michael took the elevator to his office. He had stayed up late going through the documents of the park project. He wished he could get some more hours of sleep but work demands he be here, so he has to be. His assistant, Cynthia, was standing at the door holding a cup of coffee. She had a strong physique like that of a soldier but her auburn hair and heart-shaped face gave her a beautiful look. She rarely smiled.
'Thank you very much. I needed this.' He collected the cup, took a gulp and pushed his door open, walking into his office. Michael liked the warmth and groaned from the taste of coffe in his mouth. He would have preferred the miracle plant that mr. Donald had gifted him but that plant is rare and he wanted to preserve the little he had. He was about to sit his buttocks on his chair when the assistant opened the door and announced that he had a visitor.
'tell the person to wait five minutes.'
'yes sir'. The assistant said and closed the door.
The sharks were already circling to get a bite, Michael thought to himself. He had heard of the buzz on social media when the news of the park project was announced on the news. But he was lucky tht no one kows him yet, else he would have had his phone lines buzzing with calls. Then a thought occurred to him. What if he maintained his anonymity, so that no one can try to buy him or talk him into favouring them.
'please come in.' Michael spoke into his phone receiver. A moment later, the assistant, Cynthia was standing in front of his desk.
'I don't want to meet with that visitor. Tell them that I am not in and that they can drop their message and go.'
'okay sir.' She responded.
'and one more thing, I don't want to meet anyone concerning the project. Anyone who wants to bid for the project should address it to your office.'
The assistant was surprised.
'is there a reason for that? I am just asking sir.'
'it is to give people a good chance at the bidding process so that no one take the advantage of kowing to try to win favors.'
'I understand sir.' Cynthia nodded. She was capable and knew what to do. Michale knew that she could do that. but the reason he stated for making Cynthia in charge of bidding applications is to trouble the Roberts family and make it impossible for them to win the proposal. Cynthi feared no one. She knew no one and she would not give them face if they try to buy her.
'so you can accept the proposal of the visitor outside.' Michael continued.
'the visitor borught a bouquet and wine.'
'what kind of wine is it?'
'it is a chardonnay.'
'Who is this visitor?'
'She says her name is Clara Roberts sir. And she was hoping to speak with you.'
Michael widened his eyebrows. Oh, the Roberts have decided to move fast. That is interesting, Michael thought. He remembered all the love he had for Clara and how he showed it to her. it was because of her that he accepted all the insults from her mother. He remembered that she had once told him that she loved him despite his poor background and he had accepted her with all his heart. Then the scene of the divorce flashed through his mind. He had cried and begged. It was as though something else had possessed her. She didn't even want to look at his face. Now she will pay for all the pain and humiliation that he suffered.
'Tell her anything you want but I will not see her. do with the gifts whatever you want too. and I want you to make it difficult for her to apply. Find some fault or something. I trsut you can do that.'
'yes sir. Will that be all?' Cynthia responded.
'yes. Thank you.'
Let the games begin. Michael thought to himself.
Cynthia went outside the office and walked to her chair. She pressed on the buzzer and asked the porter to send clara in.
'I am sorry the director went out for a meeting with CEO but he has directed me to accept your application.'
Clara was holding the bouquet and chardonnay. She didn't want to do anything to make the woman angry. She was already that she had an early audience for the project, because as she walked in the company. She saw no one coming in to make their application known.
'I wanted to tell you how honoured I am to have this audience with you. My company has the capability to complete this project and give the best result. Just trust and we will show you the how good we are. In the document here is our bidding and proposal for your perusal.'
Clara dropped the bouquet and chardonnay and then reached out for her bag and brought out a folder. Cyhtina tightened her fce, making clara fidget while submitting her file.
'you didn't add your insurance papers and some of the works you have dome in the past.'
'oh, I am sorry, I didn't think it was important.'
'do you think we are unserious people here? Don't you know you are supposed to have everything complete before coming here?'
'I am sorry. I can get ready today and come back.'
Cynthia didn't say anything. The buzzer rang and the potter announced that cybthia had another visitor. There was another comoany to interview.
'I will get it back today.' Clara said as she folded her file and headed out of the office.
Outside the office building, she ran into Michael as she looked for her car in the car park. clara couldn't hide her disgust at him and walked over to where he was standing, reading a newspaper.
'You are here again. Mother told everything you did to her when she was here the last week and you have come with your cursed self to lay a curse on me? No wonder the director didn't want to see me. You were the cause of everything. You made me forget some important documents I should have added to the file.' She was waving a finger at him
'Clara when will you stop this madness? When will you realize that your mother deceiving you?'
'Leave my mother out of this conversation.'
'But you brought your mother into it already.'
She paused and looked at him with hate in her eyes.
'Whose clothes are these because I am sure you cannot afford them?'
Michael kept shut and looked at her. She was shouting now and attracting undue attention from other people in the car park. When a guard offered to help to chase Clara away, he motioned for the guard to go away. He wanted Clara to display all of her madness in the open. Clara continued.
'I promise you, I will call the police to arrest you and have you put in jail.'
Then Clara walked to her car and drove away. Michael watched and resolved in her mind to make her life and that of her family a living hell. He picked his phone from his pocket and dialed a number.
'Hello Mr. Mayor. How are you doing?
'I am well. Thank you for the good work you are doing in our city. We are very grateful.'
The mayor had a tiny feminine voice and was a known womanizer in the city. He has been mayor for three years now and there are rumours that he is seeking re-election in the next election cycle. However, his opponent, a young female, is proving to be the favorite of the people. So the mayor is befriending all the richest families in the city so that they can help him win.
'Oh. It is nothing. We have to take care of our children and give them a place to relax, play games and have fun.'
Michael responded nonchalantly. His put his left hand in his pocket and began to walk to his office.
'it is a wonderful project sir.' The mayor was trying to say another thing but Michael cut him short.
'There is something I want you to do for me.'
'Of course, anything for you director. Say what you want.'
'I understand that the city had asked the Roberts family company to maintain the city's secretariat.'
'It is true sir.'
'I want you to cut them off from that contract.'
'May I ask why sir.'
'Let us just say that Mr. Donald, the CEO of Donaldation is interested in that project.'
'Oh, that is nice. Your wish will be carried out with immediate effect.'
'Thank you.'
Michael hung up the call and put the phone in his pocket. This is the first round. The Robert family will have a feel of his wrath.
Clara wasn't happy when she heard that her contract with the city council had been terminated. She asked to speak with the mayor but she wasn't allowed to. She was so disturbed that she couldn't stay in her office. So she decided to go out for a walk. Beaumont city was beautiful at night. The breeze was cool against the skin, giving it a calming effect. There were street light and many good roads. Also, there were electric billboards everywhere advertising different goods and services. One of them even showed the evening news. But the one that caught her attention was the advert about the park. She thought of how the lady in donaldation had treated her and she didn't see when walked into the road when an oncoming car was coming close to her. The car was on top speed and even when the driver tried to maneuver, it failed and hit.
Many people gathered. Some were taking photos and others were talking to themselves. The driver came out of the car and dialed 911. In less than five minutes, the ambulance came and took her. The doctor on call in the ambulance searched through her phone and searched for her emergency contacts. He got the phone number of the mother and dialed it.
'Who is this?' Diana said.
'I am calling from the general hospital. Your daughter had just been hit by a car. She is unconscious but we have made her stable. You have to come to the general hospital now.'
'Oh my God.' Diana cried. 'How did it happen?'
'She was hit by a vehicle and she collapsed.'
'I am coming right away. please doctor do everything to keep her steady. I will be there right away.'
Diana rushed to the hospital to see her daughter. She was shown where she was in the ward. When she walked in, her daughter was awake. Clara was crying. There was a doctor and two nurses close to her bed. One was tucking the bed sheets.
'Why are you crying? Thank God you are safe and alive.'
Clara kept crying.
'Talk to me why are you crying?'
Clara looked at her mother but couldn't talk. The doctors called her Diana aside and asked to speak to her outside.
'what is it doctor?' Diana asked
'I am sorry we have to cut your daughter's leg. The accident damaged the legs and there is nothing we can do.'
'oh.' Diana fainted.