It’s been over a month since Karen officially launched her fashion magazine and so far, things had been going on smoothly for her until a few days ago when Jack pulled out his investment from her fashion firm and finally ghosted her.
During her official launching program, he had invested one million dollars into her company which she had hoped to use in the expansion before his unexpected pullout. The fashion magazine was to be released monthly and sold at $2. 50 each. The company’s stocks had fallen by more than seventy percent in less than twenty four hours and it was currently still falling.
She had woken up to see the published articles on her phone and had fallen into an initial shock before recovering. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked numb, reading through the news on different blogs and channels. Jack was yet to say anything, and his silence was hurting her even more.
The bloggers had jumped greedily on the news, publishing half-baked stories on what they felt was true. “LA hottest billionaire, Jack Antonio dumps Karen Smith, pulls out investment from her baby fashion firm.” That was one of the major headlines she had read and the content made her cry. The blogger had alleged many bad things about her and her relationship with Jack and one of them was the fact that she wasn’t genuinely in love with Jack, she was just with him for the money. This was once true, but that was a long time ago.
“She’s just a fling for him, he’s done with her this time.” She read the comments inwardly as tears continued to stream down her pretty face which was now pale from crying.
Shortly, another harsh comment came up on the screen of her phone.
“She is just a gold digger, trying to fit in where she’s not needed. What a bitch!.”
As much as Karen wanted to believe these hurtful comments were just from women who envied her, she was also forced to believe what they said about her was the obvious truth. She didn’t fit as someone who could be with Jack.
She saw more hurtful comments but had to ignore them and turn off her phone. She didn’t want more of it, she didn’t know how much she could take anymore. To worst it all, jack might have seen them too.
Some days later after she had made the issue settle down since she couldn’t go out for days due to the press trying to get her statements, or unexpected reporters trying to hear her side of the story. A familiar figure stood in front of Jack’s door. It was Karen who continuously wiped the stray tears that keeps falling on her wet cheeks. She quickly cleaned them before she rang the doorbell. This was the fourth time she was coming to his house, and somehow, she still felt like a stranger standing there.
She rang the doorbell a second time and waited. A few moments later, the door was opened by Jack. He was half dressed in shorts that went a little below his waist, exposing his white Calvin Klein underwear.
Karen couldn’t help but swallow briefly on her dry throat when she saw his partly exposed body. Jack was always this sexy. But she didn’t come for that, admiring him could continue another day when they have finally settled. She struggled to maintain a dry face without any tears strolling down. Jack’s face squinted into a frown when he saw Karen by the door before he straightened and spoke out.
“What are you doing here?” He questioned with a raised eyebrow and she flinched at his tone. He sounded harsh.
“I came to see you” she answered boldly and he scoffed loudly.
“Wow. What do I owe this great visit? Come inside.” He mocked sarcastically, leading the way inside the house. She walked in slowly behind him and stood while he took one of the seats.
“Why? Why did you do all these?” She asked, almost breaking down in tears while he watched her from the chair where he sat.
“Why did I do what?” He asked innocently, picking a magazine from the table.
“You pulled out your stakes, you shut the door on me. Have you seen what the bloggers are saying?” She raised her voice, her voice breaking in between. Although he seemed unbothered by it, Karen tried not to believe he had a hand in the sudden growth of exposure to the news. How it was quickly found out by the Netizens who didn’t relent in trolling her. She knew the importance jack holds in society.
“I have seen everything and I have nothing to say, not even to you.” He replied coldly and her jaws dropped. “Let’s just say I found out about your plan to make a name off me, but I let it slide. You were never in love with me. You just wanted me for yourself, I found that out months ago and I think I’ve been gracious enough.” He revealed and she gaped at him in shock.
“What do you mean?” She finally asked after finding her voice.
“It’s over. Whatever game you were playing is over.” He stated. Matter-of-factly and she stared at him in utter shock. Did Jack just say this to her? It was unbelievable.
“You’ll walk out of that door rich and rich like you always wanted.” He added and she broke down in tears.
“But I love you.” She argued and he scoffed. “No. You don’t and I don’t love you either.” He stated. “Billionaires don’t love, and especially not me.” He added while she wept. He remained seated on the chair unfazed while she begged him to cry. His mind was already made up and her tears were not going to move him.
After crying for more minutes and being unable to change his mind, she got up from the floor and walked slowly towards the door. She dragged her feet slowly on the ground, her head growing heavier with each step she took. She got to the door and turned to take one last look at Jack who sat unflinching on his chair. She banged the door as she stepped out, the ray of the sun hit her face, making her eyes burn with unshed tears. She wiped her eyes and walked to her car, unlocking it and entering inside.
She sat in front of the car and bent her head on the steering wheel as she wept again. He had broken and shattered her.
Back inside the house, Jack sat on the chair and stared straight ahead of him. His eyes were fixed on the wall, but like a trance, his mind was somewhere else. He held the glass of strong alcohol in his left hand, taking a big gulp until the glass was empty. He was hurt, deeply, but he didn’t want to show it. He was almost falling in love with her. Until something happened, and it changed everything. After withdrawing from her firm, he had told his secretary to place an anonymous tip to the blogging house that carried the news of their separation.
His eyes burned with unshed tears as he thought of everything that had gone down between them, the good times, the dinner dates, the sex. It was all too good to be true.
Karen sat behind her large office table as she stared at the chart being displayed on the monitor screen. The first edition of the magazine had sold over a hundred copies and would have sold more but not for the withdrawal by Jack and his firm. Jack was one of the biggest businessmen in Los Angeles so his pull-out had caused a major setback for her and her brand. Now they needed a major investor to keep them afloat. She had spent quite a fortune, acquiring the assets for the firm, and though she still modeled for fashion, clothing, and other brands, she knew her time at the top was quickly winding up, especially with the announcement made with Jack.
“Ma, I just received a mail from a Chicago-based company. They want to invest with us.” Her secretary, Jasmine said as she walked into her office with her laptop in her hands.
“What is the name of the firm?” She questioned, taking a lot at the laptop screen.
“Harr Communications.” She replied. “I’ve checked them out, it’s owned by a certain Harry Blake, founded some years ago.” Her secretary added and she nodded.
“Forward the mail to me.” She stated, simply.
“Okay, ma. He asked for a meeting too.” Jasmine informed and she raised an eyebrow.
“Reply to the mail. Set the meeting for noon tomorrow, in my office.” She stated and her secretary nodded and walked out with the laptop.
She relaxed back into her seat as she stared at her secretary’s retreating figure. It has been days since her last meeting with Jack, and though it still hurt her, she was trying to focus on something else. She had cried so much that she was sure her tear glands were empty. Her eyes were red and puffy, with eye bags under them, due to the sleepless nights she had. Since then, she had tried contacting Jack on different occasions, but it was all futile.
Jack sped recklessly on the road as she swerved past cars, defying traffic as he sped on like someone in a motor GP race until he got to the hospital. He parked carelessly and jumped out of the car, walking quickly inside the hospital building. He walked up to the receptionist who smiled broadly at seeing him.
“Good morning sir. How are you doing? ” She greeted, a bit flirtatiously but he ignored her greetings. His mind was in a haze.
“Which room is my dad in?” he asked with a firm indifferent voice. She noticed from his tone that he was very serious so she bent and looked into the register. His family, especially him was quite popular in the city so she already knew his dad’s name without asking.
“VIP room 10, the left-wing when you get to the lobby.” She instructed, pointing at the corridor in front. Jack dashed off before she could complete her statement. He walked with fast and swift steps to the corridor and took the flight of steps that led to the VIP section. He looked at the description on top of the door until he got to the owner that read “room 10.” He waited outside the room and peered through the transparent glass door at his dad who lay on the bed. Tears pricked his eyes as he stared at his mom who looked like she’d break down anytime soon.
He opened the door noiselessly and slipped in quietly. His mom sat on a chair beside his dad’s bed, her back to the door as she held her husband’s hand, caressing it tenderly.
“What happened?” He asked as he stood beside the bed, looking at his dad who lay stiffly on the bed, his eyelids shut as some pipes connected to his body from the life support machine. His mother turned and noticed his presence for the first time. She sniffled, almost breaking into tears at the question. He noticed her mood and placed a hand on her shoulder, in a bid to comfort her.
They both stared silently at his father’s figure lying peacefully in the hospital, the only sound coming from the room was the occasional beeping of the machine.
“He just slumped, he was walking to the dining table, and he just slumped” She stated, looking at her husband with tears in her eyes. He pulled her closer until her head rested on his shoulders where she cried softly.
“What did the doctor say?” He questioned when he noticed that she had stopped sobbing.