Sebastian pointed at her. “Please leave!”
She had to stand. “I need you to hear me out. You don’t have to
shout.”
“I believe shouting is the only way you would leave. I don’t
need to hear what you have to say. If you don’t walk out this minute, I will call
the security to get you out!”
Olivia stayed quiet for a brief moment before she spoke. “Can we
talk when you are calm?”
He dipped his hands into the pocket of his trousers and he gave
her a look. “What makes you think I’m not calm?”
“Let’s talk please.”
“Not today.” Sebastian grabbed his two expensive phones and the
key to his car. He picked one of his complimentary cards from his desk and
extended it to her. She took it. “Call me whenever you want to see me. When I
have the time for that, I will let you know.” He walked towards the door and opened
it.
“But…”
He cut her short. “Are you not leaving? Or do you want to sit
and wait? I have a lunch date.”
Olivia shook her head, grabbed her bag and motioned to the door.
Sebastian had an annoying smile on his lips.
“This isn’t over.” She said and started to walk out.
“Yes, it is.” He stepped out and shut the door.
When Sebastian got to the reception, Olivia had gone. He gave
instructions to his secretary never to allow Olivia into his office, never
again otherwise, he won’t hesitate to demote her to a cleaner, after all, she
would still have a job.
He stepped out to approach his car and sighted the Toyota Venza
he didn’t recognize and then he saw her again. Olivia rested her head on the
wheel. He didn’t know if she was crying or speaking to herself. He wanted to
walk to her direction but hesitated and turned to his car to drive away.
When Olivia raised her head, she had tears in her eyes. She
wiped them off quickly, turned off the ignition and drove off.
***
“Are you serious?” The brother of Sebastian asked. They were
having lunch in a fancy restaurant. He had made a reservation for both of them.
He narrated what happened between him and Olivia, every detail.
“Yes. She came out of nowhere to tell me trash!” He exclaimed.
“At least you should have listened to her.”
He looked at him surprised. “Joseph, are you being serious?”
“Yes.”
“I shouldn’t be surprised. You are the good one.”
Joseph dropped his fork on his plate and leaned a bit forward.
“You are also good. I don’t know why you don’t see it. You are a good man
Sebastian.”
He rolled his eyes without saying a word.
“It is true. I can never forget what you did for me in the past.
Do you know if you had been in the same situation with someone else in that
accident, you would have saved that person?”
“I would never do what I did for you for someone.” He ate from
his meal.
“But you would have saved that person in any way you could. I am
sure if you sit down with that woman Olivia, you would be forced to help her.”
“Are you fucking serious? Do you want me to give her The Ark
City?”
Both abandoned their food to talk.
“I didn’t say that,” Joseph said. “You can compromise.”
“You are unbelievable!”
The tone of his twin brother didn’t stop him from saying his
mind. “Speak with her and see what you can do to help her. You called her
fifty?”
“So?”
“But she is not fifty.”
“No, she is not. I think she should be in her thirties.”
“Why tell her she looked fifty?”
“I wanted to piss her off!” He began to laugh.
Joseph laughed aloud and shook his head. “What if you like her
and used that as an excuse.”
“I just met her today. I don’t like her. Right now, I dislike
her. How could she barge into my office and claim what is mine.”
He picked his fork and rolled some Jollof spaghetti. “Listen to
her first before you conclude.” Joseph shoved the food into his mouth.
“Not interested. Don’t want to talk about her anymore.”
Sebastian frowned and grabbed his glass to gulp the remaining wine.
***
Olivia was pacing around Marcus' office as he stared at her, not
uttering a single word. It was obvious she was furious after she explained what
transpired between her and Sebastian. When he waited for five more minutes, he
had to speak.
“Miss King, what is going through your mind right now?”
“I want to kill him! You need to have seen the way he
embarrassed me!” She said still pacing.
“Can you please sit down?”
She halted in front of him. “For what? Why should I sit down?
It’s not going to solve my problem! I just want that son of a bitch to die!”
“Committing murder is a felony. You will go to jail.”
Olivia offered him a look and sat down. “I can’t believe you
think I am capable of murder! What do you take me for?”
“I know you don’t mean it. Let’s talk. What do you want?”
“The Art City of course. It is mine!”
“But you made a deal with a man that is dead now. He sold that
land to another person and he built that unique estate. You have to speak to
him again.”
“I don’t think he will listen to me. That man is arrogant. What
am I going to do now?”
“You made a decision when you were very young. I am sure you
won’t make such right now.”
“Advise me on what to do.”
Marcus Dotun detected the concern in her voice. He pitied her.
“Take the matter to court.”
“A court case can take years.”
“That is the only solution right now.”
“That is not the best solution for me right now. I want it. I
need it. Maybe I made a mistake when I was twenty years old but I am older now.
I won’t make such a mistake again.”
“What do you intend to do now?” He asked her.
Olivia heaved a sigh and thought for a short-lived moment before
answering. “I have to speak to him again and give him the photocopy of the deal
I made with Chief Douglas. I have to make him understand why he has to sell the
estate to me.”
“Does that mean you want to tell him your story?”
She bowed her head, nodded and looked straight into his eyes.
“Yes.”
“Don’t you think it will emotionally drain you? I saw what it
did to you when you told me about your mother and siblings.”
“I know. I have overcome that. Telling you my story made me
stronger. I have to tell Mr. Sebastian everything, maybe he will reason with
me.”
“If you think it will help regain your birthright, who am I to
convince you not to do it.” Marcus smiled at her. “I wish you all the best
Olivia Sade King. You are not just a client, you are like a daughter to me.”
Olivia couldn’t help it. She smiled brightly at him. His words
made her feel delighted and appreciated. “Thank you. I wish you were my
father.”
The smile remained on his lips. He rose and motioned near her.
“I don’t mean to intrude in your private life. Have you ever thought of finding
your biological father?”
She stood on her feet. “No. I don’t believe I can find him.”
“You can try. My wife and I can help.”
The smile flew from her face. Olivia shook her head. “No need.
Right now, I have to focus on getting what is mine. That is my priority at the
moment.”
“Good luck.”
“Thank you very much for your time.” She pecked him lightly on
his cheek and walked towards the entrance.
***
Olivia drove to the location where The Ark City was just to look
at it. She was determined to get it back at any price. If she didn’t have the
amount Sebastian would ask, she would contact her ex-husband. She left and
arrived at the hotel thirty minutes later. She showered, rested and ordered for
food, the first time eating for the day.
Later at night, she called Andy and informed him to resume the
next day. She planned to go to the bank for a transaction and go sightseeing.
She felt Sebastian required a few days to himself, by then he would have calmed
down.
The following day, Olivia met Andy with an older woman beside
her car. He introduced her as his mother. She came to thank Olivia for her
generosity.
“You didn’t have to come,” Olivia said to her. “A call would
have been better.”
“No. I had to come and thank you for your kindness. God will
bless you.”
“Amen.”
Andy’s mom continued to heap praises on her. Olivia had to beg
her to stop. She ordered Andy to drive to his house and drop her before she
would proceed for her activity for the day. They arrived at a rustic location.
The road leading to the house was bumpy and muddy. Olivia wasn’t pleased with
the one-bedroom apartment. If Andy continued to do well, she would surprise him
one day. She was beginning to see him as a family, even a younger
brother.
After they dropped her, Andy drove to the bank. The moment she
finished her transaction, she ordered him to take her to the mall. After
sightseeing and buying a few pieces of jewelry, Olivia bought snacks for both
of them and paid for a comedy for them to watch at the cinema. Later in the
evening, they ate dinner and returned to the hotel. Andy went home and Olivia
thought for a while before she took Sebastian’s complementary card and dialed
his number. He picked the call.
“Hello,” he said gently.
“Good evening Mr. Sebastian. This is Miss Olivia King, the
woman…”
“What do you want?” He asked in a harsh tone.
“I thought you didn’t remember me. I…”
“What do you want? Why are you calling me by this time?”
She glanced at the wall clock. It was 8:43 pm. “You know why I
am calling you. It is about The Ark City. You need to hear me out, please,” he
didn’t say anything, she thought he had ended the call. She glimpsed at her
phone but he was still on the line. “Hello, can you hear me?”
“It is obvious you are a very stubborn woman. Don’t ever call
this number again and you are not permitted to come to my office without an
appointment.”
“I need an appointment. When can I see you?”
Sebastian ended the call. When she called back, Olivia frowned
at the voice of the phone operator saying; the number is not available.
“Damn you!” she spat and threw her phone on the bed.
***
For two days, Olivia tried to reach Sebastian but he wasn’t
picking her calls. On the third day, she drove there and met the secretary who
refused to allow her to see him. She became angry and ready to cause a scene.
She didn’t care, she needed her story to be heard.
“I have to see him! He can’t shut me out!!”
“You can’t madam. Mr. Sebastian is unavailable to see you.” The
secretary explained.
“I must see your boss! I have to see him! I won’t leave without
seeing Mr. Sebastian…”
A few employees of the company appeared, some peeped. Sebastian
heard the outburst and called. He ordered the secretary to allow Olivia to see
him. The moment Olivia stepped into his office and shut the door, he spoke
while he remained seated.
“I have said this before, and I will remind you. You are a
stubborn woman but I know that I am more stubborn.”
She walked to his desk. “You need to listen to my story. Why
this is important to me.”
“I am not interested. I don’t bloody care.”
Olivia gave a cocky smile. “I am aware the public does not know
the rightful owner of The Ark City. I could leak it to the press.”
Sebastian burst into laughter. “Are you fucking serious. That is
blackmail.”
“I don’t have to do that if you lend me some of your time and
listen to me.”
He hissed. “I could reveal my identity to the public before you
do and believe me I will be regarded as the wealthiest and most handsome
bachelor.”
“No wonder you are still single. Your ego stinks.”
Sebastian's eyes turned red and he rose on his feet. “How dare
you!”
“Didn’t you call me fifty?”
“You are still pained about that.” He chuckled, adjusted his
jacket and sat. “Just leave. I don’t have the time for your story. I am sure I
would be bored.”
What kind of a man is this? She asked herself.
“He added, “Woman, I noticed you have long legs. I could shoot
them and nothing will happen. You are trespassing on my property.”
She knew the man saying all these to her wasn’t ready. She
wanted to cry but definitely not in front of him. Olivia dropped the photocopy
of the document on his desk and hurried out of the office. She walked in a
hurry; Sebastian’s secretary wondered what had happened. Olivia hopped into her
car and exploded into hurt tears. She cried, thinking about her mother, their
last conversation about her dream of The Empire City.
Olivia sniffed her nose
and wiped her face with the back of her left hand.
She decided to drive away, in speed, still, her mother’s face
kept flashing in her mind. Olivia couldn’t stop the tears from falling down her
cheeks as she drove. When she reached approached the highway, she grabbed her
phone and called Sebastian.
Sebastian was reading the document, despite unbothered. He peeped
at his phone ringing and chose not to answer. She was disturbing him. Olivia
dialed his number again and when she didn’t receive a response, she tossed her
phone on the passenger seat, shut her eyes for a few seconds as tears washed
down. The minute she opened her eyes, a bus that had lost control swerved in
her direction.
“Jesus!” Olivia tried to turn but it was already too late. The
bus had bashed into her car and it tumbled twice. Her face smashed the window
beside her and Olivia couldn’t feel anything before she closed her eyes,
unconscious.
***
Two hours later, Sebastian was about leaving when his phone
rang. He didn’t recognize the number, he didn’t want to answer but he had a
rethink and answered.
“Hello,” he said with a scorn on his face. The photocopy of the
document was inside the trashcan.
“This is doctor Arnold calling from Bello’s hospital. Am I
speaking with Mr. Sebastian?”
“Yes.” His heart skipped. He wondered why a doctor was calling
him. He thought of his brother and his family. “What can I do for you?”
“I am calling because of a woman named Miss Olivia King. Her ID
card was found. She has been involved in an accident.”
He felt relieved nothing bad had happened to his family. “Why
are you calling me?”
“There are only a few numbers on her phone. I checked her call
logs and your name tops the list. We thought you are related to her.”
“I am not related to her. You have to call someone else.”
“But her life is at risk. She is still unconscious and her face…”
He was about to end the call when the doctor said something that
caught his attention. “What did you just say?”
Doctor Arnold continued. “I said her face is damaged. She will
require plastic surgery as soon as possible.”
Sebastian opened his mouth in shock. What he said took him to
the past, about the accident involving him and his brother, how Joseph lost his
face and how he needed surgery to make Joseph bear a resemblance to him. “This
is unbelievable.”
“I am sorry for wasting your time. I will check her phone and
call someone else.”
“No, don’t. Please, don’t let her die. Keep her alive! I am on
my way to the hospital!” Sebastian grabbed his key and headed towards the door
in a hurry.
****
To be continued….
I enjoyed this.
ReplyDeleteI don refresh tire, now let me go and read
ReplyDeleteI am back, this is getting interesting and the atmosphere is tensed right now, please don't keep us waiting this time around. More power to ur elbow.
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting and the atmosphere is tensed right now. Thumbs up Carina but please don't keep us waiting this time around. More power to your elbow
ReplyDeleteMy o my. This is gonna be lit. I said it before. Carina doesn't disappoint. I hope u re fully back now. U re one of the few consistent writers I read their story... Even though we re not paying you for this. You write us very beautiful, phone glued stories..... Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThe love between Olivia and Sebastian... I can't wait..... Hmmmmm, hmmmmm..
The story is getting interesting. I hope she gets juctice for her mother.
ReplyDeleteCK have you thought of writing story about the kids of Genevieve Cole and Tiwa. They will make a cool friendship turn couple. Bildungsroman story
Pls where is my Carina. Someone should help me find her. I have been refreshing for the past 2 weeks.
ReplyDeletePls don't leave us hanging. We miss you.
We miss the story.
Pls come back to us. Thank you.,
Game.