Before Forever

The game is the game

Mr. Allen’s POV

“You have to contact them immediately Greg”

“We can’t risk this deal for anything. We have to close in on it or count our losses and you know what that means right?” I swivel my chair to face Greg keeping a taut face.

“Yes Boss. I’ll do everything within my power to make sure I get them to sign the papers today”

“What you do to get them do our bidding is none of my business Greg. Results is all I want and your time starts now”

“Well noted, Boss”

“I beg to take my leave now if you don’t mind sir” Greg gawks at me but looks away when I shot him a cold glare

“Of course I don’t except sitting infront of me all day fixes the problem at hand”

“My friend get the hell out of my office before I lose my mind” I thunder and Greg runs out of my office in fright.

I exhale deeply and take a peek at my $40000 golden rolex wristwatch. Seven minutes past 4. I obviously should be home by now in company of my lovely daughter but Greg and the team screwed up a deal leading to this delay. Perhaps I’ll just make up for today even though Kalila would be so upset with me by now. Oh poor thing I’ve only got left in this whole world. I pray she forgives me and understand that I’m not so a bad dad as she thinks. I’m only trying to make enough money so that I can give her the life I promised Lucia; my late wife. Lucia, Kalila’s mom was such a beautiful soul and her sudden demise dealt me a great blow. Perhaps If only I had known she wouldn’t make it out of the labor room alive I would’ve given my consent and filled the CS form but lack of funds and other issues prompted me not to. I wanted both mother and child alive but before my eyes I watch life sneak out of her body like a thief in the night. I could have done better I know and I blame myself for all these. Now her death left me nursing the open wound it created right in my heart turning me into lonely and cold monster with a bad heart.

Kalila’s POV

It’s been nearly 3 hours I came home and my father is not yet back. He promised to come pick me today and spend some time with me but as usual he couldn’t keep his words and I’m so upset with him right now. He never makes time for me. All he cares about is money and business. I guess it’s right to say being the only daughter of a billionaire sucks and I wish I was never born into this family.

“What?”

“Why are you staring at me?” I turn to see one of the cook staring at me

“I’m sorry ma’am. It’s just that you haven’t had your lunch and it’s getting cold”

“I know and I’m not hungry. You can leave now”

“I’m sorry ma’am but I can’t allow you starve. Your dad will be so mad at me and I don’t want to lose my job” “Well in that case you can keep it for my dad. I’m not interested” I storm out of the sitting room in anger heading for my room. You see how annoying it is right? I’m literally a prisoner in here. I can’t do anything of my own. I always have to do what “The billionaire” says and wants. How pathetic?

Getting into my room, I sit on my bed and grab my cell. I missed two calls, one from my dad and the other from an unknown number. I’m not in the mood to talk to dad so I’ll call the unknown number instead.

“Hello my love”

“Hi, who am I onto please?” I sat up to listen with rapt attention

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about me so soon sweetie” I get more upset and begin rub my forehead “Who are you and what do you want from me?”

“I also want you to tell me who gave you my number”

“First things first Kali, I want you and you know it…” At this point it dawned on me that it was Jason speaking so I sigh.

“Kali my love are you there?” I gave no response and after a few seconds the line falls dead . I really can’t seem to fathom Jason’s obsession with me. I mean I’ve blocked him several times on all platforms including my social media handles but he still goes on to contact me with random numbers and I beginning to get fed up already. Does it mean if I eventually accept him this is how he will go on to bug me all the time. No it’s never going to happen. I can’t accept such an i***t. Jason’s POV

After my duel earlier on today with Bryan in which Kalila came in to rescue him I decided to call her to remind how much I love her and my decision to do anything for her but she didn’t take my call at first ring. I was still wondering what could be wrong when her call came in some minutes later. So sad to see that she couldn’t recognize my voice more so, didn’t even give me enough time to tell her my purpose of calling. Perhaps she is in a bad mood. I’ll call her later anyway.

“Can you give yourself a break. She doesn’t love you man” I sigh and place my phone on the bed

“What makes you think so Vicar?”

“Can’t you see it?”

“If she was that into you, she won’t be messing with your head as she is doing right now” Vicar, my best friend pats my shoulder.

Vicar is my bestfriend and also a member of the Amazing 7 dance crew. Our friendship actually started off from the basketball court at Hilton College in our first year and continued up till this point. “You seem to have a point but she isn’t messing with my head”

“Really?”

“Yeah. She is just…” I try to get defensive but my voice trails off

“Go on. Tell me what you think she is doing to you”

“You know what? Vic let’s leave it at that. I’m tired” Vicar erupts into a wild laughter and I join in

“Mr. Loverboy wants to defend but gets busted”

“Stop it Vic”

“I won’t”

“I don’t even know why I’m talking to you in the first place jerk”

“Get out of my room”

“Someone wanna cry his eyes to sleep huh” Vic teases and I hit him with a pillow. He stands up and grabs another pillow and a pillow fight begins. Bryan’s POV

When I got home I was lucky enough to meet the door still padded. If not so I wonder what would’ve become of me when my mom seems my bandaged head and hands. I know she must have been told in school but I still have to keep it concealed till I can think of something to ease her trepidation.

“Mummy is back” Annie my kid sister announced and I shifted uneasily on my chair.

“Welcome mum” I stand up to give her a warm embrace and collect the package in her hand

“How are my guys doing?”

“I’m fine Mummy but Bryan here is not” Annie poured in and I cringed in fright

“I know dear”

“How is your health now Bryan?” Mum breaks off from the hug and sinks into the sofa

“I’m fine mum but I promise it’s not what you think”

“I know son. The school management told me everything already” I look on in disbelief whilst feeling relieved “Really?”

“Yeah but still make sure you stay out of trouble” I nod in affirmation and walk back to my seat.

I can’t believe what just happened here. I mean I was expecting my mum to scold me for getting into a fight and not this soft talk she just did. Well, it’s soothing afterall she said she knows I wasn’t at fault. “What did you guys have for lunch?”

“The leftover pottage mum” Annie says gazing at mum

“Ok. Let me shower. I’ll be back in a moment”

“Bryan let me see the injuries you sustained from that fight?” I stand up then took off my favorite blue hoodie for her to see and after looking at it for a few second, she shakes her head and leaves for the bedroom.

“But Bryan why did he have to injure you this bad?”

“I don’t know Annie. Jason have always been this way”

“Can’t we do something about this?” Annie inquires with deep concern in her voice

“Something like what?”

“Something like calling the cops Bryan” I laugh in amusement and slowly turn to stare at her

“What?”

“Why are you laughing?”

“What makes you think involving the cops will do us any good?”

“It will bro. We can even file for assault too”

“The game is the game Annie”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you realize that Jason is the son of the highest shareholder in Hilton college? Not only that, his father is also well connected in this country and doing either of your suggestion will have a big toll on us like mum losing her job. I guess you already know what will happen if she loses her job so let me not go further”

“But he assaulted you first and he should be disciplined for doing that” Annie protests

“What have we got to gain if he gets disciplined?

“Absolutely nothing Annie instead we got more to lose instead because mum may likely lose her job and I’ll in turn lose my scholarship since it’s a conditional one”

“Life is just not fair Bryan”

“Life is always fair Annie. We only try to modify it to suit our selfish agendas and begin to protest when it doesn’t go our way”

Sir Pablo POV

“I’m really disappointed in your Son, Lara”

“He is our son Pablo. We both brought him into this world so he is not just mine”

“He is not my son. I cannot father such a person as him”

“Perhaps the nurses swapped your child for another after birth but nevertheless what is his crime this time?”

“You want to know right?”

“No problem I’ll tell you” I straighten up on my seat feeling irritated

“I just got off the phone”

“And?”

“Lara let me finish please”

“I’m sorry just go on”

“It was Jason’s class master. He said Jason got into a fight today with a fellow student and injured him badly”

“How is that now a problem Pablo?”

“When two kids get into a fight the stronger one usually outdo the other and that’s exactly what happened in this case”

“Really? Is that all you’ve got to say about this?”

“Don’t you get it when I say Jason your son injured a student? And why do I have a feeling you seem to be on your son’s side?”

“Of course I am or were you expecting me to choose a total stranger over my son? It’s not happening. Not in this world or the other so deal with it Pablo”

“When I say your love for that boy is turning him into something else, you wouldn’t believe now look at where such nonsense has taken him to.”

“Yes I love him and this won’t make me stop Pablo. I know what I passed through to have a son and I won’t stop even for a second to shower him with all the love he deserves”

“I see. Well, talk some sense into that lunatic son of yours because the next time this happens I’ll ask them to treat him as deem fit. I’m sick and tired of his misbehavior and I won’t have him tarnish my reputation in public this manner ever again”

“I’m out of here” I stand up and head for the door in anger

Sometimes I wonder if having a son is a curse. I mean why will God send me such an outlaw as a son? Right from the time of his birth till this moment, I’ve never seen rest. It’s always from one issue to another and in all; his uncouth behavior is usually the cause of all the problems. Lara my wife isn’t helping matters at all she goes out of her way to make sure she pleases him all the time but this isn’t the case with Lois my daughter. I can confidently say Lois is different and well cultured. I think it’s high time I already took back the house I bought him for his last birthday perhaps he will get the message with that hopefully. Now let me reach out to him.