Chapter 147

Book:The Billionaire's Bartered Bride Published:2024-6-2

Rafael stared at the papers in his hands with a feeling of unease and unforetold jealousy, he heard about it, but he didn’t know it was actually true, does that mean Nicole really moved on from him? He didn’t like it, he didn’t like what he saw at all, he hated the guy smiling at him in the photo and holding his woman’s hand, the headline wasn’t helping either, what do they mean Nicole’s, new man? He was the only man Nicole had and no one else could be her man.
“You should have thought of that before,”
The annoying voice in his head said.
“Just let me be, get the fuck out of my head,”
He warned, he wasn’t in the mood to listen to his subconsciousness, he looked at the papers one more time and closed it, they were wrong, Nicole wasn’t dating the dude, she was just friends with him, she can not be over him, if she was she won’t have allowed him to touch her again but she did.
“And you still don’t remember,”
The nosy voice said. Rafael wished he could remember but he had tried and tried, all he can remember from that day was he called her, he couldn’t even remember when he called Caleb and certainly didn’t remember her coming in but he had gone to the club two days ago and had requested for CCTV footage of that day and she did come and he left with her, he just couldn’t remember what happened after that, he couldn’t go asking for CCTV footage from everyone, not when it’s not crime-related, he tried to remember but his memories were clouded, the only other thing he remembered was the next morning, waking up to Josie, speaking of Josie, that bitch just didn’t know when to back out and move on, she has been on his case for the past few days, sending him texts and calling him at odd times, he didn’t bother to check the texts and never took her call, she will get tired at some point and give up.
He had one woman in mind and he needed to get her back before it was too late, things were already looking bad on his side with the Aron guy being in the picture
He made up his mind to go see her tomorrow, layout his heart, and whatever she decides to do he won’t back out, he couldn’t continue living alone when he knows she is the only one that he would ever consider being with, whatever that other man is to her, he was going to make sure he gets her back, for now, he tried to concentrate on his works, he would make out his plans later when he gets home.
He was halfway done when he got a call from his secretaries office that someone was there to see him, he didn’t have any schedule with anyone though.
“Who is that?”
He asked he didn’t want anyone who was here to disturb his peace,
“Simone,”
He considered telling them to tell him he wasn’t around but Simone won’t show up at his workplace just for show.
“Let him in,”
He said and dropped the call waiting for his unexpected guest, he stood up to welcome him when he walked in, Simone wasn’t a friend neither was he a foe, he was just there, Rafael didn’t like associating with people like him because their loyalty can change at any time but he didn’t hate him.
“Simone,”
He greeted, shaking his hand.
“Salvador, It’s been a while, we no longer see you around,”
“I was away actually,”
“Yeah, but before even if you are away, we still hear about you from the latest gist in town but now you are on the low, not that you are in the business aspect,”
“Take a seat, Simone, what do I owe this unexpected visit?”
“I was close to your office and I have been meaning to see you, so I just thought I would stop by,”
“Oh, that’s cool, want a drink?”
He asked.
“Nah, water will do,”
Simone responded and Rafael went to the little fridge in his office to get bottled water and a disposable cup for him.
“Did you hear about Leonard?”
Simone asked taking a sip of the water, it took a while for Rafael to remember who it was he was talking about.
“What about him?”
He asked when he finally remembered.
“He escaped from prison,”
He disclosed.
“What do you mean Leonard escaped from prison?”
He asked staring at the man, who didn’t even look surprised by the action.
“Yes, he did, I heard it this morning, though they are trying to find him on the low, you know he has a lot against the people that didn’t back him up and they are all scared that he might expose them, so they want to keep him silent by looking for him and sending him back there, as it is now, he has nothing to lose anymore,”
“Wow, and how fruitful is their search for him?”
He asked, he wasn’t worried about Leonard escaping prison, the man didn’t have anything on him and he wouldn’t dare look his way, he was just bothered about how the security system of the state is when prisoners escape unnoticed.
“From what I heard, they are not making any progress, I heard it had something to do with the candidate or whatsoever and he had a hand in helping him and,”
“Okay, that’s enough, I am not interested in this talk, can we go straight to why we are here, Leonard is none of my business,”
Rafael replied, he didn’t want to hear the gist anymore he already knew how corrupt the system was, that men in power use it and abuse it, it was no news.
“As usual, you are the businessman, anyway, I am here for business,”
“Now you got me, what do you have for me?”
“A sweet offer, I want to invest in your new mining company,”
Simone said, Rafael resisted the urge to laugh like he did his best but in the end, he just couldn’t keep it in he burst into laughter.