Chapter Twenty-two
Rain
Another heart attack grasps me when a new debit alert comes in.
Maybe it was a bad idea to give Angela a pre-funded credit card for whenever Hazel needs to get something, because she has apparently been getting a lot of things.
I’ve spent three weeks in Philadelphia and in those three weeks, this is the third forty thousand dollars she has withdrawn from the bank.
Her message is loud and clear. Either way, I’ll make sure you lose forty million.
Contrary to her tantrums and thoughts of me ignoring her; I am busy, I do have a business to attend to in Philadelphia, and it is a deal worth forty million dollars.
A new website manual is being launched all over the world, but developers in Philadelphia hold the major ability to code the languages. It isn’t exactly a new project as it was first created by developers in Indianapolis, but since they were careless with the website’s traffic and allowed it to crash only a few months after launch, Philadelphia bought it from them and are working on it all over again. They’re searching for partners and I represent Florida’s Zone.
It won’t be a disaster to lose the deal—although it’d be great to have connections in Philadelphia too, especially since the website, if done well, can be such a commercial success, leaving me with more than the initial forty million. But Hazel’s words —each one of them— made me continue with my plans.
‘ Don’t go. ’
It was too raw. Too emotional. Too … her. I cannot not go after she asked me like that. We mean nothing to each other, so why do I feel bad for leaving her to go on a business journey that brings me money?
‘If you go, I can’t be accountable for my actions . ’ That sentence took up at least seventy five percent of the reason I proceeded with my trip. I was half amused and half curious as to what ‘actions’ she won’t be accountable for.
Now I’m not amused.
One hundred and twenty thousand dollars in three weeks is not amusing at all. I already got a text from the bank asking me if everything is okay and if I need to change my pin, but I don’t know how to tell them I have a childish wife at home.
Despite that I accumulate so much money monthly—even daily—I barely spend. At least not since my last relationship where I had to keep tabs on every latest item.
I have just one week left to spend in Philadelphia, and the final meeting with the Philadelphia Web Coordinator is in two days. But I’m contemplating flying back to Florida to my wife.
“…So that would be it for today. You’ll hear the rest in the general meeting. Trust me sir, we’re very happy to have you here,” the PWC’s assistant rambles on with the grin he has had on for almost an hour since we started the tour. I don’t know how he does it, but keeping a grin on for so long is impressive, if not sickening.
I give a single nod, desperate to return into my hotel room and take a breath from being around people for so long.
My phone beeps and Tia hands it over. My heart beats loud against my ribcage. What did Hazel do now? Run my car into a truck with her in it?
‘Debit Alert: Forty thousand dollars. Recipient: Home.’
And that’s the height of it, thank you very much.
If there’s one thing the debit alerts are telling me other than my account is reducing, it’s that my wife is calling me.
And I’m going.
“Cancel the meeting.” I throw into the air, my eyes still pinned to my phone screen.
It seems to apply to the two people beside me because Tia and PWC’s assistant both widen their eyes in dismay.
“Did… did we do something wrong, sir? I’m sorry. We can… I’m sure we can–”
“Can we postpone it? Tell your boss I’ll make it up to him.” The assistant’s face falls. “My plan to donate two million for the fundraiser still stands.”
I had no plan to do that, but I might as well just bribe them with something as noble as engaging in a fundraiser. If there’s something Micheal Silas adores the most, it’s seeing people show interest in his fundraising events.
I’m doing a good deed, while buying Micheal Silas’ time. It’s a win-win situation.
“Two million? Mr Silas will be so happy to hear this.” Which is exactly why I’m doing it. “Then please sir, do not let me disturb whatever plans you canceled for.” He bows and leaves Tia and I in the entrance to my hotel room.
“Get the jet ready in thirty minutes, we are flying back to Florida.”
“Is everything okay, sir?”
“Hopefully.”