Chapter 41: Michael
It's Nina, she
been questioning me about Nina and I, and I have to deny it every time. I'm getting tired of her emotional blackmail.
"I cut her off, as I cursed loudly into the phone impatiently" How many times do I have to tell you that there's nothing going on between Nina and me. That picture you saw in the newspaper was Photoshopped" I lied to her, after that night, Deborah has I scribbled something on the files in front of me, I have a 1:00pm meeting with the board concerning the launching of the new" Thomson's hospital" which has been built and now this.
"It's not that Michael, Nina was involved in an accident and she's dead" I froze as the pen hovered in my hand. Nina is dead? How come? No, it can't be true, I saw her two days ago and she was healthy. I laugh, Deborah has started again with her planks. I'm not in the mood for any of this.
"What did you say? Nina did what?" I stood up and paced to and from my office," What if, what she said is true? No, it can't be" I ran my hands through my hair frustrated with everything, why will Deborah lie to me? She can't, can she?
"I said Nina's dead" She repeated, crying on the phone as I rolled my eyes at her acting. She doesn't like Nina. Why will she be crying over her death?
"I know you won't believe me" she sniffles back tears" check my dads channel, it's been broadcast there " she sniffles again as I hung up and ran with a heavy heart to the television, putting it on, I searched frantically for the remote.
I found it later, lying in between two files, taking if, I ran through the channel, my heart beat escalating at every process. Stopping at Melton's media channel I sat down heavily on the couch, as the picture of Nina's battered face was being transported in the ambulance. Tears stream down my face as I unconsciously scream out loud, sending everything on my table flying in all directions of the office.
Who could hate me so much to do this? Deborah was home throughout today, she couldn't have possibly done that. And to think that Lilian was there, thank God she was not hurt badly, I don't know how I would ever face Danny. Could he have blamed me for what happened to Lilian?
Aurora rushed into the office and stood gasping at the mess on the floor, she probably heard the clash "Hello!, please send in the cleaner to the boss's office immediately" Aurora called into the intercom and rushed to meet me.
"Sir, you need to leave the room immediately, the cleaner is on her way here and I wouldn't want her to see you like this, it's not good for your image", she guides me in to the adjoining room in my office, I quickly followed here as she led me onto the bed. I was numb as all part of my body had died along with Nina except my frantic beating heart.
"I will put a call through to Mr john. In the meantime, please pick your phone, it has been ringing for ages" Aurora said, as she went into my office to bring my phone which has been ringing.
Truth is, I did hear the phone ring but I dreaded picking it, what if it's Danny? What can I say to him? Or even Nina's parents and brother?
"Oh! What I've I gotten myself into" I lament bitterly I should have adamantly refused when my parents asked me to marry Deborah. If I did, Nina would have been right here by my side. "Who's calling?" I ask Aurora as she thrust the phone at me to pick it up.
"Mr. Andrea "Aurora replied as I breathed a sigh of relief, collecting it. Aurora left me alone after warning me to be quiet that the cleaner is in the room.
"Mr Thompson is resting in the other room, be as quiet as possible "I heard Aurora telling the cleaning lady before she left the office, closing the door gently.
"Hello" I called hoarsely, into the phone as I braced myself for what Andrea would say. Will he blame me too like I'm doing to myself now?
"I don't need to ask, if you heard. Clearly, from your voice, you've probably heard the news. I couldn't believe it until I saw it with my eyes" Andrea said his voice sounding strained, obviously from all the tears.
I ignore whatever he said about Nina, as I ask the question that has dreaded asking "How's Lilian?"
"Lillian is okay, thankfully nothing was wrong with her. The doctor said she fainted due to shock" Andrea replied as I heard Danny voice in the background asking who Andrea is speaking with?. Apparently, Andrea and Danny are both at the hospital.
"How is Danny?" I ask him again, tears streaming down my face. To think, I caused all of this, if only she was with me, in my arms, under my protection.
"He's holding up well, he has been asking of you. I told him you probably need sometimes to process all of this. When are you coming?"
"I don't know yet Andrea. I don't know how to face Danny and Lilian. I don't know how to face Nina, I've failed her Andrea," I sobbed uncontrollably into the phone as I looked around for tissue to blow my nose " I told her I will protect her with my life and now this. How can I ever lived with myself that she's no longer in this world"
"Calm down Michael, firstly, this is not anybody's fault neither yours. How are you to know that her car was faulty and moreover, she's not yet dead. The doctor discovers a faint heartbeat in her heart this morning and they've been operating on her. We are praying she lived.
Andrea words give me hope as I stood up and shower getting dressed, I walk out of the room into my office to see everywhere sparkling clean, everything that I had damaged where replaced
"The speck of being a billionaire" my subconscious said
"What's the use of being a billionaire when my money can't protect the woman I love?" I walked out of the office with my car keys, I was surprised to see John standing at the elevator. I'm sure Aurora must have told him that I was not in the mood to receive visitors. I nodded at him as we both rode the elevator to the ground floor where Mark was waiting for me. I was surprised to see him, I thought I told him to monitor Deborah.
"Why are you here?" I asked Mark, as he opened the back door for me, I got in while John sat down beside him at the front.
"Miss Melton left the house earlier, she said she was going to the hospital" Mark replied immediately he was seated at the steering, putting the car in reverse, he pulled out the office.
"where to, sir?" Mark said, looking at me through the front mirror.
"To my parents' " I answered as their eyes widened.
John turned to look at me" But you are not in the right state to confront them"
"I need too, the guilt is eating me up here. I need to know that they were not involved in the accident" I replied as John nodded reluctantly, turning back to look out of the window.
"What happened to Donald we sent to monitor her?" I asked John after remembering that I had sent someone to watch her.
"He was there with her" John replied as he turned to look at me, I waited patiently knowing that there was more to come.
"But he ran into the factory after he heard Miss Miller's scream " That seems to get my attention, as I perk my eyebrow urging him to continue. I didn't know she screamed. What could have happened to her? Was it no accident but murder? "Apparently, Miss Miller tried to operate one of the equipment at the factory, but she couldn't and the blade cut her slightly on her finger causing her to scream" John explained as I frowned at him.
"What you are telling me now is that it was no accident" I ask John after I had put all the facts together
John nodded as he continued" they use that chance to penetrate the car, having know that someone was watching Miss Miller "
"Which brought us back to the reason why I need to see my parents?" I replied as I sigh heavily, to think that she had to go through all of that alone.
"Who called for the ambulance?"
"Donald did," John answered as I nodded just as Mark pulled over at my parents' house, cutting off all conversation in the car.
"Give me a minute, I will be with you shortly" I told them as I opened the car door and walked out. Ringing the doorbell with a heavy heart, I waited for Maria to open up...
"Signore " Maria greeted me as she stepped aside for me to walk past her into the room. Closing the door, she turns to regard me with curiosity in her eyes.
"Where are my parents?" I asked her without looking at her, my eyes going up the stairs to my parents' room on the second floor.
"They are both in their room" Maria replied. Without waiting a bit, I took the stairs in two's as I walked to my parents' room.
Without knocking, I opened the door to see both of them conversing quietly to themselves. Mom froze when she saw me standing at the door. She glanced around nervously, as she avoided my eyes.
Dad was uncomfortable too as sweat perk his brows and strim down his face. He gulped nervously as he also avoided my eyes. I strolled into the room, my heart escalating rapidly in my chest with tears streaming down my face. I don't need to ask them anything, their reactions have told me what I need to hear.
"Michael my son, I'm so sorry. I'm so_rry " Mom sobbed uncontrollably as she came over to hug me to her chest. I was numb to her touch, I never believed that she could stoop so low as to have Nina murder just because they didn't approve of our relationship.. "I'm sorry, I didn't know it would get to this point, " Mom continued crying as dad came over to pet her shoulder lightly.
I ignored her tears as what she said has awakened the monster in me "You didn't know it would get to this point? Are you happy now, mom? Shouldn't you be laughing and throwing parties, why are you crying?. You've killed her, right?" I screamed up at her pushing her away from her body as I tried to clean her filthy hands off me. "Young man. I will not have you disrespect your mother right under my roof" Dad glared at me as he pointed his fingers at me warning me.
I went closer to the wall and slid down on the floor. Using my hand to cover my face, I sobbed loudly. How can I face Nina's parents? How do I tell them that my parents killed their daughter? How do I tell Danny that my parents are the reason why his fiance is lying unconscious in the hospital right now? How!!!?.
"Your mother has been crying ever since she saw the news. She has refused to eat and now you are adding to her tears instead of consoling her " Dad continued hoarsely.
"Consoled her? Why should I console her?" I shouted standing up from the floor as I screamed up at him "She murder the only woman I love and you are asking me to console her. No, never"
"What?" Dad shouted as he watched me, he thought I was joking but when he saw the serious expression on my face. He laughed. He fucking laughed. I felt like punching his mouth.
"Where did you hear that, Michael?. Whoever told you that, doesn't have all his facts right" Dad said with calm as he sat down on the bed, pulling mom to himself his whisper to her trying to console her.
I looked at them shocked. "Are you trying to tell me that none of you killed Nina?" I asked them looking from one to the other. They both nodded as I sat down heavily on the couch drained" Then who did?".00