Chapter 3-She'll dump him first
Jonathan's POV...
This scandal has put me in a tight corner with my dad. He was the type who wanted his son to be spotless and free from any negative internet headlines.
He can be brutal at times, but I don't let him control my life. My life is mine to live.
I arrived at their house the next morning after the incident. I didn't want my mother coming over to my house. She was capable of sitting me down and giving a five-hour long lecture on living responsibly.
As I drove in, I sighted my parents on the balcony. They were drinking.
"Huh. They're so unbelievable" I muttered to myself, while I put the gear on reverse so I could park properly.
"How can they be toasting and drinking while their son's name was trending all over the internet for the wrong reasons?"
I alighted from my car and walked towards the door.
"Excuse me sir" That was Mike, the security man.
He had been here ever since I was a child. He was more like a second Father to me because he took care of me as a child whenever my Father traveled out of town.
My mom suffered from a heart problem while I was a kid therefore she spent all the time at the hospital. It was just Mike and I.
Till today, he still cares for me, even as an adult.
"Mike, we've been over this many times now. Just call me by my name, not sir, okay" Regardless of having spent almost my entire childhood with me, Mike maintained a professional relationship with me.
"Okay. Umm...Are you okay?" He asked with genuine concern.
I looked at him confused.
"With all the news circulating, I was wondering if you are doing well" He clarified.
"No, I'm fine. It doesn't bother me at all" That was a very big, fat lie. I was anything from being unconcerned.
"I was just checking to...
"Is that my baby I see"
"Oh God" My mom never ceases to be dramatic.
"Mom, how are you doing?. It's been a long time" I smiled and went into her outspread arms.
"It is. Since you've decided not to see your aging mother. Maybe you'll come to see me when I'm dead. During my burial" My mom's sense of humor was on a different level.
"You are just in your 50's. Nothing's killing you mom" We both laughed out loud when I said that.
I almost lost my mom to that terrible heart disease.
"I see you are speaking to Mike. He is always asking of you, you know. He is such a good man"
"Yes, he is. I'll see you some other time, Mike"
From the lines on his face, I could tell he was stressed and all was not well with him. The last time I checked, he was having some issues with his wife. I hope they've resolved their issues.
My mom and I went into the house and there, I met my Father.
"What is the meaning of all these pictures and stories I'm seeing on the internet?" My father asked.
He had always been like that. He was a stoic man.
"Dad, I can't explain it right now. I mean I'm confused and I...
"Explain what? What do you know you are going to say? Huh"
"Is this how I raised you?" My dad bellowed angrily. His voice was starting to rise.
If not for respect's sake, I would've told my dad plainly that he never raised me. That I was left to the care of the security man while he was busy traveling round the world seeking fame...
But I held it in.
"Matthew, it is okay. Calm down" My mom tried calming him.
"I bet he has a tangible excuse for what happened" My mom turned slowly and glared at me indicating I should vindicate myself.
"No, Lucy. He is a man. He should be held accountable for whatever mistakes he makes"
"Johnny, tell us what happened " My mom persuaded.
I would love to explain to her what happened if I had known how it happened, but I didn't and I have come up with a plan to help me escape this mess-and I wasn't about to give my plan away.
"Mom, it's difficult to explain. I'm so sorry" I said and walked away. I didn't intend on doing that but the atmosphere was getting heated.
"You see Lu, He is not responsible enough" I heard my father saying while my mother tried to calm him.
I'm so glad I didn't depend on my father's wealth and the empire he built, rather I channelled my focus and goal towards building my own empire and thankfully, I did.
I'm more like a business rival to him now. I needed to get out of this environment.
I drove straight to my office. That was the only place that helped me clear my head.
By the time I immerse myself with work, I'd get over my worries, temporarily.
I had some paperwork to attend to. I started by signing some deals and stuff.
Knock! Knock!
"Come in"
"Sir, the board meeting is due in an hour and thirty minutes" Richard, my personal assistant said.
He was more than a personal assistant to me. He was like a brother I never had.
He could be annoying at times.
"Okay, go in there and get me the files and documents for the contract with Ms. Willows" I gestured to a door by the left.
That was an extension of my office. I kept some personal and important stuff there. I kept some books I read at the office when I'm not working, there.
I was still attending to the documents, when the door to my office burst open.
What the hell?
Whoever this was, was about to bear my frustration. I raised my head to speak when...
"I've agreed to your proposal but on one condition"
Audrey Willows...
"What proposal? " I asked, sounding unconcerned.
"You said we should...
"I know what I said and that was clearly not a proposal. It was an idea that would help us scale this misfortune" I responded and looked down to see an email that just popped in.
It was from Maya... Uhh...This girl.
"They are the same thing. You're an entrepreneur, a businessman, you should know that" She countered back.
"You won't teach me my field and you know what, I won't stay here and argue with you"
"You've agreed, let's get to the next line of action" I said, reaching for my phone.
"Wait, I said on one condition" she retorted.
"Let's hear it" I said and folded my arms.
"I will be the one to break up with you" she announced.
I furrowed my brows as I didn't quite get her.
"When all this facade and deal and whatever ends, we'll tell the media that I was the one who broke up with you and not the other way round"
"We'll say I got tired of you and dumped you. All I'm saying is that you wouldn't be the one to end things, I will be the one dumping you" she added.
"Why? Why should I agree to that? Why should you be the one to dump me?" I frowned.
"I don't care," she said nonchalantly. "I've given you my terms, it's left for you to accept it"
"I'm not accepting that" I said in finality.
"Ok then" she shrugged and turned to leave.
"Ms Audrey Willows, are you a nut job?" She turned and looked at me in shock.
"Why exactly are you being so stupid and foolish... and selfish as well? You're only considering yourself here. You're only thinking about yourself and don't care what happens to the other person" I breathed out in anger.
"Did you just say that to me?" She asked, obviously furious.
"Of course I did. You act like a child. You want to leave right? Let me ask you, what do you intend on doing? I offered the best solution that would fix this scandal. But what did you do? You came up with a stupid demand"
"Wow. Your words really say a lot about your kind of person. I was right, you're a rude, arrogant and conceited person" she thundered.
"Call me whatever you want, I don't care. Lest you forget, I am also involved in this scandal and as much as I hate to admit it, you and I are in this together. You can't just walk out without a reasonable plan on how to work this out" I breathed in anger.
She remained silent, obviously thinking of a comeback.
"You're saying all this because you don't understand. I'm under no obligation to explain things to you, but I will. I'm a model. How people see me matters a lot. I'm a role model to many people..."
"Role model to many people seem exaggerated" I scoffed.
"Would you shut up and let me talk?" she shouted and pointed at me. "It wouldn't seem nice if a national sweetheart like me, gets dumped by a man. That doesn't work well for a model, who inspires a lot of females"
"Ehem. Excuse me" Richard butted in.
"What?" Audrey and I turned to him and shouted at the same time.
"The board meeting... it's almost time" he reminded me.
I looked at my wristwatch and discovered it was just a few minutes to go.
"There's the contract" I gestured towards the table. "It's left for you to sign. If I come back and it's still there, unsigned. Then, I guess we'd have to await whatever disaster comes our way" I said and walked out, with Richard trailing behind.
"What if she doesn't sign it?" Richard asked as we walked to the boardroom.
"Then I'll resort to plan B. I'd tell the media she drugged me so she could spend the night with me and milk me"