As soon as Taylor got to Mark's house, Mark exited Taylor's car and ran towards the car which was about to take his daughter to school.
“Sir?!” the driver called out with concern, “Lower the glass, I need to speak to my daughter.” He spoke almost winded because of how fast he ran towards the car.
As soon as the glass lowered, Mark gazed at his daughter with pleading eyes, “Honey, I'm so sorry, I lost track of time, I'm just so stupid.” He facepalmed, trying to hide her from seeing the tears that gathered in his eyes.
If he had known what would happen, he would have stayed with his daughter all night.
“Daddy, it's okay.” Eunice stretched her hand towards her father's face, “This is the first time such a thing is happening. Besides, Aunty Queen was there to keep me company, I had fun too.” She gave him a sweet smile, one that made him forget his problems.
“Do you seriously forgive daddy?” He held her hands in his.
“Yes daddy.” She smiled and he kissed her delicate hands.
“I'm not going to delay you anymore, okay? I presume Queen is gone, right?” He asked and she nodded in response.
“Okay then, have fun in school.” He said, smiling, He turned to the driver, “Drive safely.”
“Yes sir.” The driver known as Thomas answered as he raised back the lowered glass before proceeding to take the young girl to school.
“Mark…” Victor called Mark, who was already going up the stairs.
“Look, I'm not in the mood to talk right now, okay? I have a bad headache and I need to rest.” Mark, who had paused earlier, spoke before he continued to make his way up the stairs.
“I think it's best we go, I'll put a call across to him when he calms down.” Victor spoke to Taylor, who was still staring up the stairs.
“Are you sure he'll calm down, I think what I suggested didn't help at all.” Taylor's eyes held worries.
“Don't worry, man, stop being a chicken. He just needs some time alone.” Victor explained and Taylor nodded in understanding.
“I'll drop you home.” Taylor offered as he turned to face Victor.
Once Mark got into the room, he shut the door behind him as he dashed into the bathroom.
He felt this fire fuming inside of him, and he needed to calm it down with a cold bath.
He never expected the girl to be a virgin, “No wonder she was hesitant.” He spoke to himself in the shower. His hands went through his hair as everything from last night, played like a saved tape in his head, “Ahhh!” He yelled inside the bathroom to let out his anger. He wasn't one of such men to take advantage of anyone, “What really happened? Was this how depressed I got, to the extent of placing my frustration on that young girl?” He questioned himself as he came out of the bathroom with a towel on his waist.
He didn't clean his body so, each of the footsteps left a print and drops of water followed.
He checked what time it was on his cellphone and realized it was too late for him to go to work.
“Phone, call secretary.” He was cleaning with the towel on his hand when the secretary took his call.
“Good day, Mr. Mark, you called?” She asked in her normal formal tone.
“Yes, I won't be coming to work today. Please forward all necessary work I have to my laptop.” He spoke in the best tone he could form.
“Done, sir.” She was still on the call but had done exactly what Mark had asked her too.
“Thank you.” He was about to drop the calm when her question caused him to pause.
“Hope there's no problem sir, you never miss work.” She expressed concerns.
“Yes, but something came up.” He wasn't totally telling a lie.
“Is it about Eunice? Is she alright? Do you need me to come over later?” She asked.
“No! Have a lovely day.” He ended the call.
At the office, his secretary's facial expression was that of worry. Her boss had been acting strange, and she couldn't place her hands on what it could be. Not wanting to be too concerned with the matter, she shrugged her shoulders and continued with her work.
Meanwhile, Mark went to the bar in his home and took a bottle of champagne. His intake of alcohol had increased, but he didn't care, he just wanted something to help him forget his sorrow. First it was his wife who cheated and asked for a divorce now, it was him, taking the virginity of a young girl.
He popped open the bottle of champagne and began to gap it down like it was just water. Hot water.
Different emotions ran through his head as he gulped down the drink. At some point, he cried like a little child. He felt so guilty and so stupid.
He got to a point he began to hell at himself.
“Mark, you're so stupid, you fucked a virgin girl, you're a dick head.” The alcohol had started taking a toll on him.
Just then, his phone rang.
“Who is it?” He yelled, still downing the drink. The phone was on the shelf, and he hadn't taken the call yet.
“I hate being disturbed.” He staggered but managed to pick up the phone before lying back on the floor.
“Mark, are you there? If you're hearing this, I just want you to calm down and…”
“Did you say calm down?” Mark yelled in a drunk manner, She was a fucking Virgin!” Mark's words got Victor worried.
“Are you drunk?” Victor inquired with worry printed over his face.
“No…” Mark lied, but there was no way it wasn't visible to David.
“I'll be over.” Those were Victor's last words before he dropped the call.
He didn't know that one little night could make Mark get this worse.
“Where are you going?” Victor's wife asked with a raised brow.
“I'm heading over to Mark's place, he's been feeling depressed and I…”
“It's fine, honey, I know you guys are best friend's.” She smiled sweetly before giving him a peck on the lips.
“Thanks honey.” David smiled. He was glad he had an understanding wife, but the most important thing was to get to his friend's place.
“Taylor…” Victor had called him while he was driving.
“Dude… I'm trying to have a decent rest, why must you be a pain in the ass.” Taylor's face had a frown on it.
Victor was Mark's best friend, but Taylor and Victor shared some kind of love-hate relationship.
“It's your brother, your plan only made him worse, asshole!” He said in-between gritted teeth.
“How's that my fault?” Taylor spoke, “We both brought up the plan, so don't lay it all on me. I'll be there as fast as I can.” He explained before ending the call.
Victor and Mark had been friends since they could remember. They had always been there for each other, that's why his wife didn't object to him leaving.
Besides, she felt indebted to Mark. Mark was able to talk some sense into Victor to settle down, and now their marriage was doing very fine.
“Mark, I just hope you don't destroy yourself.” Victor shook his head in a pitiful manner.
In about thirty minutes, Victor arrived at Mark's place, and the shape he met Mark wasn't a good one. Mark had passed out or slept off, Victor didn't know what had happened to him, but he wasn't awake.
“Mark.” he tapped on him, and Mark managed to make a sound. He wasn't too drunk and could still make conversation.
“What are you doing here?” He asked with furrowed brows as he gazed at Victor's face.
“To talk to you about what happened last night.” He lifted Mark from the ground and helped him to the bed.
“What happened man, whatever it was, it's eating you slowly.” As Victor inquired, Taylor ran in.
“What did I miss?”
“She was a virgin, a fucking Virgin.” He used his hands to cover his face in pain.
“What does he mean by that?” Taylor tried to understand what was going on.
“You fool, he meant the girl he hooked up with yester…”
“Don't say it.” He interrupted Victor's words.
“Ohh…” Taylor itched his head.
“I don't know what else to do, David, I think you should talk to him.” Taylor uttered tiredly.
“And what do you think I'm trying to do here? You got us into this mess.” Furrowed his brows at Taylor.
“I'm sorry, okay? I thought it was going to help, okay? Moreover, how was I supposed to know she was a virgin?” Taylor replied to Victor's words.
“Well, all I know is fighting or blaming you won't help, we need to come up with a solution, fast.” Victor said dryly.
“Yeah, by the way, I haven't seen your butler around.”
Tyler was Mark's butler whom Mark had given a vacation because the man had spent years with him, faithfully. Since his wife was firing staff, he sent the man away to avoid that.
“Your brother is depressed, and you're asking about his butler?” Victor stared at Taylor in disbelief.
“No, Victor, it's fine.” Mark spoke to Victor before replying to Taylor, “He is fine. He should be back soon. I let him spend time with his family since he's with us most of the time.” Mark added.
“Does he know about anything going on here?” Victor asked with keen interest.
“No. Not yet.” Mark replied sorrowfully.