Chapter 20 Voices
Chapter 20 Voices
Charles POV
I watched her figure disappear from the door with awe.
“How long would she pretend to be strong?” I asked myself as she banged the door so loudly.
Behind that sternness, the way she kept her face straight, I noticed those frightened eyes concealing fear and vulnerability.
Whatever the Jenkins pinned her with was surely too strong for her to remain in such a toxic environment ignoring the call of her heart.
Last night's flashbacks came again. I remembered the way she held me tightly, clenching her fingers deep into my skin as though she was afraid to lose me.
Yet this morning, she pretends as though nothing special happened last night. Her heart wants me but she keeps stopping herself. I want to know why.
Why did she keep lying even in the presence of an obvious truth?
“When it comes to this marriage, I want both parties to stop using me” Her words echoed continuously in my head.
The marriage! My stomach twisted into a million knots.
It felt like being in the dark confused on making a very tedious decision, choosing between your heart and what you've spent your whole life building.
“I would get married to Nikki and then forget about Linda, everything would return to its place after that. I need that merger” the first voice spoke in my head then came the second, loud and overshadowing.
“Go after your heart Charles. You really love Linda, what would it profit you to enter a loveless marriage and then make kids who'd regret ever being born?”
My palms sweated as the heated argument grew in my head.
“Stick to the plan Charles! Don't let your emotion overrule your judgement” the first voice sounded louder this time, almost like Harvey
Then the second voice came quietly
“Call John and cancel the marriage. Perhaps he might give another condition”
“He's going to refuse Charles! The only option they have is their daughter and once you fail to marry her, the business you spent years building would all be in shambles!” The first voice snarled and somehow everywhere went silent.
I needed that merger with the Jenkins family, not only would it enlarge my business internationally, I would finally be able to pay off my incurred debts before it would be so noticeable.
“You need to come back to your senses, you taught your students that a successful business man takes risks and makes good judgement. Don't shy away when the need to practice what you taught arises” the first voice continued and I almost resolved to go in with the marriage when the second one came again.
“You built this business from scratch, what makes you think you'll fall just because of one failed merger? You're a young guy that deserves to be loved and love properly. Linda holds the key to your heart, why forsake your heart in pursuit of intangible things?”
Suddenly Linda's image washed over me and goosebumps spread over my body.
And suddenly, the thought of going another day without Linda broke me more than I imagined.
I took a deep breath then opened my phone and began random scrolling through the internet.
Then I saw it
“Breaking News!! Breaking News!! Breaking News!!
The merger between Kane's Real estate company and Jenkins Construction industry limited would be finalized a day after the grand wedding of the youngest Billionaire in Maple City, also the CEO of Kane's Real estate company and the heir to the Jenkins industry, Nikki Jenkins on the 27th of March.
Attendance strictly on invitation”
I hissed as I saw the engagements. Only an hour and the post has gone viral with over eight hundred thousand comments.
“The decision is already public. It's no good reneging again” the first you crept up again
But then something caught my eye.
It was news about a crash that happened very early in the morning by 4am. The victims were made anonymous but the car was very familiar.
It resembled Nikki's car, in fact it was the exact same with her car but I brushed off the thought immediately.
Nikki was fast asleep when I left the Jenkins home, ain't no way she'd go for a drive so early in the morning.
Anyway, I have resolved within myself to call off the marriage, I just have to discuss it with Harvey.
“He'd be against it but I don't care. He's my employee and therefore has no other choice but to obey and respect my decisions. If anything happens, all we need do is to restrategize and reposition ourselves firmly in the market.
So I dialed his line and he picked without wasting time.
“Good day Boss, I was about to reach out to you just now” his sharp voice came laced with alarm
I paused and asked calmly
“What's wrong?”
“Did you see the news?” He asked
“The one about the wedding, Yes” I replied
“No, the crash that happened at Brandon highway this morning by four am”
“Yeah, I saw that too. How does it concern me” I asked pretending to be unaware of the suspicious events
“That was Nikki, your fiancee and the gardener” he announced and honestly, I didn't know how to feel.
Happy or sad?
So I asked rather calmly after hesitating
“So that means the wedding would be postponed? Because the news says that the victims were currently in a coma”
“I made some research and found out that Rick sustained minor injuries but Nikki passed out and fell into a coma”
“Ohh”
“What I can't explain is the reason why she went ahead and published the wedding post. That news was published hours after the crash post”
“I noticed that too. What games would they be playing now?” I asked thoughtfully
“Mr John can't bear to lose this opportunity and I know that Jessica would go to any length just to make sure Nikki marries into the Kane family, even if it means getting a substitute..”
Substitute!
It clicked. This was the same thing that happened that night. Certainly, they'll be getting a substitute bride and guess who that would be?
“This is getting interesting. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?” I asked almost excited
“I had earlier thoughts of backing out but seems like I might just play along”
After a brief silence, he replied slowly
“It's a pity Linda is just a pawn in this game”
His words made an impact and I felt guilty.
Was I really using Linda?
“Well, sometimes we have to pay sacrifices to survive” he continued
“I'm not doing this on behalf of my business anymore. I need to claim Linda as mine, I can't bear to let her spend more days at that dungeon called the Jenkins mansion” I said firmly
“Charles!?”
“How was the meeting with the client?” I changed the topic immediately, keeping my tone more formal and somehow he understood that the case was closed.
I arranged my office and drove to my company and all through the drive, only one person occupied my thoughts and that was Linda.
Reminiscing on my relationship with Linda, everything was going accordingly and only what lacked was acknowledgment.
I slept with her and took her virginity and now, I would be getting married to her. I saw the love deep in her eyes and she knew the key to my heart lies in her hands.
But why is it too hard to admit the truth?
I knew why, Nikki was her boss and she was just a maid forbidden to fall in love with a billionaire who was her boss's fiance.
The thought of the wedding that filled me with nothing but coldness now spread warmth and excitement all over me.
I can't wait to see Linda walk down that aisle, though she'll be dressed as Nikki, her soul would surely be there.
“We have to go shopping” that was the first thing I told Harvey as I stepped out of my car
“What's up with the change of mind?” He asked confused
“I have to look my best at the wedding, it has to be the best day of my life”
“But you scheduled a meeting with some partners tomorrow” he protested
“Cancel all meetings!!” I snapped fiercely and he nodded instantly
“Sure boss”