CHAPTER EIGHT
Zane winced as he helped the older man out of the private room. He was staggering some words as Dylan collected him from as the latter continued to help him downstairs. He rolled his shoulders as he made a mental note to resume back his early morning joggings too.
Just as he slipped his hands into his pockets and attempted to walk away, he caught a glimpse of a very familiar yet unfamiliar looking person. As he walked closer; he realized that she was Joanne Eres; Harley’s manager. A small furrow appeared on his face as he checked the time. It was already some minutes past 11pm, what was she still doing outside?
As he walked closer, he realized that Joanne had a small frown on her face as she talked to the bodyguard in front of her but the latter was barely spending her any glance. His furrowed brows pulled together the more as he walked towards them.
“Hello” Zane greeted as he watched Joanne and the bodyguard turn to him. The bodyguard immediately bowed his head in greetings.
“Mr President” he greeted as Joanne swallowed her saliva while facing the big shot in front of her.
“Ha, good evening Mr Wilson. Is there any problem?” Joanne asked as Zane shook his head.
“Well I think I should be asking you that. Is there a problem?” Zane asked as the bodyguard shook his head.
“No sir” he replied as Zane raised his head towards him with a puzzled look.
“I wasn’t asking you” he said as the bodyguard dropped in his head while muttering an apology. Zane withdrew his eyes as he turned to Joanne who was still debating whether to explain the situation to Zane or not.
“President Andrew wanted to meet up with Harley around ten pm but we came a little bit late. He said it was important so I came along but upon getting here; I was told it was extremely private talk so I wasn’t allowed to enter. It has been over forty minutes now and Harley is yet to come out. I can’t hear a thing and the bodyguard won’t let me enter either” Joanne said as Zane furrowed his brows.
“What is President Andrew and Harley talking about?” he asked as the bodyguard shook his head.
“I don’t know” he replied with his head dropped as alarm bells went off in Zane’s head while he chuckled lightly.
‘Get out of my way” Zane said as the bodyguard stood firmly at the door.
“What’s going on?” Zane asked unable to believe what was happening.
“I said get out of my way” Zane said more calmly but the bodyguard refused to move. Zane rubbed his forehead as he chuckled lightly before suddenly sending a kick to the bodyguard’s legs. Joanne was double sure she heard a ‘crek’ sound before the bodyguard yelled and fell to the ground holding his leg while Zane adjusted his suit and stepped into the room. And just as he stepped into the room, the words he heard made his blood boil immediately. Joanne wanted to rush at him but Zane held her back, he wanted to know where the conversation was going. His blood immediately boiled over the moment Andrew threatened her. He immediately stepped out of the shadows.
“You aren’t going to be plucking this flower and neither is she going to quit her acting her career” he said his voice emphasizing on each word.
“You dare not” he added as Andrew rushed to his feet upon seeing Zane.
“I was wondering what kind of important and private talk President Andrew had with one of his artistes at past 11pm in the midnight. I should have known” Zane said as he glanced at Dylan with the corner of his eyes. The latter had quickly led the two women out of the room.
“Everyone says it’s hard to meet President Wilson but here you are. Is there any way I can be of help to you?” Andrew asked as Zane brought out his phone while playing a video. Immediately Andrew heard the words coming out from the video he staggered as he glared at Zane hatefully.
A lot of the other artistes had gotten their hands on this as well, trying to fool him by recording but there was a reason why despite having two huge entertainments company; he had zero scandals. He had always taken care of them quietly and in the best way possible. But this time around, things were different; the one with the video was President Wilson, the one who no one knew he came from or his background. How he rose in the ranks was still a story that gave people goose bumps. He had to strike a deal with him.
“So the well respected President Andrew isn’t that innocent after all” Zane said as he chuckled lightly.
“What do you want?” Andrew asked as Zane raised up one of his fingers.
“Just one thing President Andrew” Zane replied as Andrew swallowed his saliva.
“Name it” he said his voice quivering. His gripped his palms tightly while silently praying that Zane shouldn’t ask for the company.
“Harley Madison” Zane said as he smiled lightly.
“She is my person. If you touch a hair on her head; you won’t live to see the next day” Zane added as he walked out of the room.
“I’ve sent them home” Dylan said as Zane nodded while releasing the hold of his tie on his neck. Different thoughts ran through his head as soon as he got into the car.
What if he hadn’t gone to the accompany the old man?
What if he had decided to stay for a few minutes and leave?
He didn’t dare imagine what must have happened if he hadn’t been there. What would she have done? Zane sighed as he rubbed his forehead lightly.
“Get me a full background check on President Andrew. I want to see everything he has done in the past five to seven years” Zane said.
“Yes sir”
Zane snapped his fingers the momenta he stepped into the seating room and the lights came on. A girl was sleeping on one of couches and Zane unconsciously wore a small smile as he walked towards her and bent down while shaking her lightly.
“Amanda” he called lightly as Amanda turned in her sleep.
“Amanda” he called again as the girl finally opened her eyes. A displeasured look covered her face the moment she saw her elder bother bending in front of her. Her eyes went to the clock in the seating room and she even frowned more.
“Its past 1am, what kind of business did you have to do till this time?” Amanda whisper yelled as Zane chuckled lightly while patting her hair.
“I had some very important business to take care of” Zane said as he stretched back to his full length while pulling Amanda to her feet.
“Let’s go and have some sleep” he said as Amanda pouted.
“I was waiting for you, I have so many things to tell you” Amanda said as Zane nodded.
“I’ll drop you at school tomorrow. We’ll talk on the way” Zane said as Amanda nodded as Zane led her to the front of her room, he walked in after her and the lights came on the moment Amanda stepped into the room. Zane watched her get in bed and pull the blankets over her body.
“What’s wrong? You haven’t done this in a while and I’m no longer eight years old. I’m a teenager now” Amanda said as Zane nodded.
“The little girl has grown up” he said with a smile as Amanda nodded.
“Go and have some sleep before tomorrow morning” she said as Zane nodded as he dropped a kiss on her forehead and stepped out of his room.
He walked into his own room and with a snap, the lights came on. He peeled off the clothes on his body as he dragged himself towards the bathroom to take a quick shower. After changing into his night wear, Zane got into bed and lied down on the bed while staring at the ceiling.
He didn’t dare imagine what must have happened to Harley if he hadn’t been around. He shook his head to shake off the negative thoughts welling into his mind. He was more than irritated at the fact that the latter not only coveted her but he threatened her as well.
Zane found himself unable to forget the blank look on Harley’s face when Andrew asked her if she wanted to quit her acting career. Zane knew just how much she loved acting; it was almost like her life and he wanted to take it away just because she had refused to sleep with him? He chuckled lightly as he turned on the bed.
“Luckily, I was there” he said into the quiet room while sighing again. If he hadn’t been there; what kind of sacrifices would she make? Zane rubbed his forehead as he chuckled lightly.
Every sacrifice she needed; he was going to take them for her.