“What? How dare you! Why did you miss out an information as important as that? You dick head!” one of Easton’s men screamed at another.
“I didn’t. I only found out late and…” the other defended.
“Late? F**k you! You know late is a word that mustn’t appear in our worlds. Now think. What should we do to salvage your mess? Boss will not forgive us if this goes wrong. We might have to pay with our heads!”
Easton entered the room at that time.
“What is it that has gone wrong and needs to be salvaged?”
A hush fell over them and they were drenched in cold sweat. Easton’s old but eagle eyes swept past all of them, one after the other.
“What happened? I will not repeat myself!”
“Sir.. it..”
“They.. I..”
“We wanted…”
“It was…”
All his men struggled to speak up at the same time. They kept quiet almost at the same time too and they all signaled the culprit to speak up.
“Punish me sir. I am ready to accept any punishment. I didn’t find out earlier that Ethan had a mother who was solidly behind him. I only got to know it today after she had gone to visit Nathan Stratford.”
Easton glared at him and an unnamed anger rose from the depth of his heart. He raised his hands and slapped the man very hard across the face. The slap came with much force, too much for a man of Easton’s age. The younger man fell like a pack of cards but sprang to his feet immediately after.
“You know I never accept late news. Always report these things first. Next time, I’ll…I don’t need to tell you what will happen you idiot! You said Ethan’s mother is solidly behind him and she went to visit Startford?”
“Yes…yes.. sir.. that’s what happened sir.”
Easton went to the window and opened it. The warm air blew in, filling the room with a warm feeling and doing away with the cold air that Easton came with. With a gloomy face, Easton looked outside the window, watching the scene expressionlessly. Two minutes later, he turned around and faced them. It was unclear what he saw but his indifferent expression sent shivers down everyone’s spine.
“Get ready now. We are going to the Stratford mansion. Quick!”
Easton and his men drove into the compound and jumped down from the car. Easton turned to security officials present and said,
“If you love your life, stay put. Make sure you are not an opposition to avoid being a scape goat.”
To his men, he nodded and they went inside like fine gentlemen.
Nathan had almost signed the papers when the door was pushed open and Easton Landers and his men entered. Easton went straight to Nathan and took the papers from him. Maryann’s eyes bulged out of their sockets and she flared up.
“What? How dare you! Return those papers to him this instant!” she yelled. Easton’s men looked at her like she was a lunatic. Did she really know who she was yelling at? Surprisingly, Easton ignored her. He believed she was too little to contend with him.
“Listen Nathan. Don’t you dare play with fire. What’s in this paper? What are you about signing? The company that belongs to me?” Nathan was partially excited for Easton’s timely intervention. He nearly signed off his beloved company! But it was sad that Easton was back with his threats.
“Return the papers to him. Let him sign it!” Maryann ordered.
“Tsk tsk… who the hell are you? Don’t disturb me here. Get out.”
“I won’t. Allow him to sign those papers for me. Then, you can sort out whatever you have with him!” Maryann retorted.
Easton looked at her and a thin smile appeared on his lips. He turned to one of his men and he nodded. The paper in Maryann’s hands was snatched and it ended in Easton’s hands. Maryann opened her mouth but no words came. Now, Easton had the two papers with him. He had both the contract and the one that contained the dirty details. Easton dipped his hands in his pocket and pulled out a lighter. Before Maryann’s eyes, the two papers went up in flames. Easton walked majestically to the bin and dropped it in it. Then, he folded his arms and turned to her.
“Next time, you mind how you speak. On no account should you interfere in my business. I don’t know and I don’t want to know what is between the both of you. Stay away from Stratford group. Keep off if you still want to live and if you want your head to stay in place on your neck. Now, get the heck out of this place and stay out of my business. Now!”
Maryann walked away quickly under the scary stares of Easton and his men.
“Now, you…” Easton turned to Nathan.
“If I ever have to come myself, you will not like it. You’re trying to sign off the company and you think you are smart! Heck. Deal with him,” he finished and walked away proudly.
Nathan lay on the floor, nursing his wounds when his phone rang. He looked at the caller and cursed. It was Ethan again. He was yet to recover from the beating he got from Easton’s men and the silly boy was calling again.
“Imagine Maryann asking for shares, a percentage of the company and monthly allowance. Nonsense!”
He took himself up from the floor and staggered inside. He needed to call his doctor.
Easton sat in the sitting room, nursing a glass of beer. He felt good and happy with himself. Nathan would learn never to meddle in his affairs. He smiled and refilled his glass. He was waiting for report from Aria Dean. He couldn’t wait for all his enemies to go down. Stratford was the goal. He grabbed his phone and sent a text to Ivan.
‘See me at home this evening.’
The door opened and a very nice fragrance wafted into his nostrils. He turned towards the door and watched as a beautiful pair of legs appeared.