CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR.
Jamal was dressing for work that morning when he heard a knock on his room door. He stepped out of the closet to open it and he was flabbergasted to see his father standing outside.
He could not remember the last time his father came over to his room. If he was there that morning, it meant there was something very important he needed them to discuss.
“Dad?” He called in surprised.
“You must be shocked to see me here.” Said his dad with a smile which didn’t last two seconds.
“I am, I really am surprised. What brings you to my bedroom at this time?” He asked.
“Can I come in?”
“Of course, come in.” He said, stepping away from the door to make way for his father even though he didn’t want to. He led him over to the sitting area where they both sat down to discuss.
“I returned from Italy last night and that’s when I got the news of Adele’s disappearance from your mother.”
“Oh… I see.” Was all Jamal could say.
“We will talk about that later. Let’s talk about business first, shall we?” He questioned and Jamal nodded with an uncomfortable smile.
Business first.
That was the same notion that had turned him to a shitty husband and the murderer of his own child.
He hated the phrase with everything that had life in him.
“So, I had a zoom meeting with the board of directors when I returned home from my trip last night and all they did was tell me how happy they were with how you were handling things at the conglomerate. I had also asked the senior managers of every department to submit their sales reports and when I went through it, I was impressed. The company is no longer in danger and it is quickly picking up all thanks to you. I am very proud of you, my son. Thank you for putting in so much effort to keep our family name flying high.” His father thanked from the depth of his heart.
“You don’t have to thank me father. Dominick Co is a conglomerate I grew up knowing and it has always been my wish to take it to higher heights and to keep our family name flying across nations. I can never relent in my efforts to make us richer.” He said, giving his father a pretentious smile to make him feel like everything was alright between them, but deep within, everything was not alright.
Mr. Dominick had no idea that Jamal knew about his trap for him. He didn’t know Jamal had found out about the documents he had made him sign without his(Jamal’s) knowledge. Documents that could completely ruin his reputation and throw him in jail if they reached the press.
Danielle was the person who opened Jamal’s eyes to that reality and she knew how to get him out of it, that’s why he was getting close to her.
His father on the other hand had no idea that his secret had been revealed and he also had no idea that Jamal was planning to get his revenge against him once those documents were destroyed.
“Mr. Johan Owens called and he said he has a business proposition for our conglomerate. You know he is a big deal as well and doing business with him is a good fortune. I want you to find time with him so you two can talk about the proposition.” Mr. Dominick continued and Jamal just kept smiling and nodding.
Mr. Johan Owens was Danielle’s father and he was his father’s best friend. He was the one who had proposed to Jamal’s father to prepare documents that he could use against Jamal if he ever tried to leave Dominick Co. His company was leeching off Jamal’s father’s conglomerate and he was aware of the bad state the conglomerate was in. When Jamal took over, he revived the conglomerate and as a result, Mr. Johan’s company went back into business. He never wanted to go out of business again, so made that crazy proposal to Jamal’s father who agreed with him wholeheartedly.
Jamal hated them both and was planning a very hot revenge against them once he was done sorting out the mess they put him in.
“I’ve heard you father. I will ask my personal assistant to schedule a meeting for us and have him notified. As you already know, I am always ready to serve you and Dominick Co.”
“You have my business spirit and that proves you are my son indeed. I am very proud of you.” His father complimented yet again and Jamal fought his urge to roll his eyes.
He was proud to have him as his son, but Jamal was not proud to have him as a father.
He wished he had a father who would be greedy enough to forge documents and trick him into signing them just to have him work in his conglomerate forever in his name.
“Thank you father.” He said with his fake smile and wishing in his heart for his father to leave his bedroom already. He was tired of seeing his treacherous face and listening to compliments that didn’t come from the heart.
“So… about Adele, can you tell me what exactly is going on between you two? I have never known the cause of her miscarriage and now, I just heard she left the house, what’s going on?” Mr. Dominick asked and Jamal wanted to tell him to back off because he knew he didn’t care about his problems, but on a second thought, he swallowed those words and looked at his father.
“I caused the miscarriage.” He confessed.
“What?” His father asked, alarmed.
“It wasn’t and intentional act, father.” He said and swallowed dryly. Everytime he recalled what happened between him and Adele that night, he died within. “We had an argument and when I was about to leave the room, she held my hand so I tried to get her to let go by forcefully jerking my hand out of hers and then I pushed her slightly. She fell to the ground and screamed but I didn’t hear because I was already out of the room and had closed the door behind me. It was when I returned a few hours later that I found her in a pool of her own blood, unconscious. That’s when I took her to the hospital, but it was too late. The baby was out already.” Jamal narrated in a calm voice. “I killed my own baby with my own hands and I’m never going to forgive myself for that.” He explained in a calm tone.
Mr. Dominick, after hearing what Jamal had said, went short of words.
He didn’t know what to do at that moment to make him feel better.
“Son…I… I..”He stammered and Jamal cut him off.
“You don’t have to say anything dad. The deed has already been done. There’s no going back.”
“Yeah, that’s true. What about her whereabouts? Do you have any idea where she is?” Mr. Dominick asked further and Jamal nodded. “You do?” He asked, surprised.
“Yes, my guards found her last night. She moved into an apartment and I intend to let her stay there for some time to give space to sort her thoughts. She needs to be far away from me for now.”
“Alright, if you say so. Just so you know, I’m proud of how you are handling all this. What I mean is, I’m happy you are not letting marital affairs get in the way of your work. Keep it up.”
“I will, dad.” He nodded his head. His father had just made another statement he did not like to hear and he was already fed up with his presence, so he rose from his seat.
“If that’s all then, I’ll just go and keep preparing for work.” He announced and his father rose from his seat as well.
“We can both drive to work when you are done.” Mr. Dominick proposed and Jamal quickly shook his head.
“That won’t be possible. I have to pass by Adele’s place before I get to the office.” He flatly refused and lied before heading to the closet.
He did not want to drive in the same car with his father because he knew he might be tempted to open the car door while the car was still in motion and push his father out of it because of the hatred he had for him.
When he heard his room open and close shortly after, which meant his father had left his bedroom, he took out a tie from his closet and walked over to the mirror, gritting his teeth in anger.
“For making my life a living hell, I’m going to strip you two old men of everything you have. You will pay for all the hardship you have put me through, I swear this on my dead child.”