Mr. President’s

“In your mind, who do you think she is to me? Nathan insipidly asked. Anyone who knew him immediately detected his mood from his tone but Mr Hayes was clueless. His eyes lit at the opportunity.

“You might think she’s a humble, hardworking, smart and intelligent woman but you are wrong. She is sassy, feisty and savage, not suitable for a company. The only place she could function well might be amidst the hawkers, which is why I fired her,” he shrugged, beckoning a waiter to fill his glass with wine. He flaunted a domineering attitude by which the waiter politely obliged.

Mercedes was frantic and couldn’t hide it. She was about to speak when Vincent took the fort. After all, he was the one who recruited her. “Mr Legend, I dis-”

“I haven’t authorized you to speak. Vincent Nathan cut him curtly, Vincent broke out in cold sweats, and so did Thelma. Their jobs were on the line. Mr Hayes let out a triumphant smile, as he seemed to get Nathan’s attention.

“So. Mr Hayes, from what you have said, you fired her because of her wild personality?” Nathan was maliciously calm, which caused everyone around the table to tread with caution but Mr Hayes still didn’t get a hint.

“Yes, and she was also incompetent, making silly mistakes and lacking concentration with work. She dresses seductively like she’s dressed now, and tries to find a shortcut to the top. Women like her are a disgrace to society,” he casually said.

Nathan subtly turned to Mercedes, his face expressionless and asked, “Do you have something to say?”

Mercedes nodded and cleared her throat. “Please Excuse my language Mr Legend, but I think Mr Hayes forgot to brush his teeth this morning, which is why he is spitting so much garbage and polluting the atmosphere with his stinking breath,” she

hissed.

Her countenance was sharp and she didn’t care what anyone thought of her. It would be a good opportunity for her to get fired, so she could escape her lifetime bond. Everyone gasped almost simultaneously, but Nathan was indifferent.

“This is proof, Mr Legend. She is uncivilized. Women like her deserve to be caged in the zoo,” he spewed while staring triumphantly at Mercedes.

“Mercedes, what reason did Mr Hayes give you before firing you Nathan asked casually.

Mercedes gulped down a bottle of water before she spoke this time. “With all due respect Mr President, I will answer your question with the last thing I told him and will say it once again to his face. Mr Hayes, I will rather endure a night in a pit full of snakes and scorpions than spend it with a devious bastard like you!” She hurled. Mr Hayes face reddened, complicated gazes followed him insipidly.

“You! Didn’t you destroy my laptop, iPhone and everything else in your office?” Mr Hayes was upset and yelled.

“That was because you refused to pay me for the two weeks I worked for you. What do we call that? Barter trade,” Mercedes waged her tongue at him and mocked.

“You!” Mr Hayes was so raged, his face turned red. Being unable to endure her humiliation, he lifted his hand to hit her across the table.

“Enough!” Nathan roared. “Mr Hayes, you are despicable and I demand you leave this meeting now. I will have a word with President Yates to not send the likes of you to represent him anymore.”

Mr Hayes couldn’t ratify it. Nathan hated women so how could he take her side? “Mr Legend, the one who should be sacked is her. Didn’t she just confess that she broke my laptop and phone?”

13

“You also didn’t deny the fact that she chose a pit of snakes and scorpions rather than your bed. Now, since you are making things difficult and wasting everyone’s time, I also demand that you compensate her with $30,000, in addition to what you owed her for working two weeks for you. This should be done within 24 hours or I’ll press charges against you like her new boss.” Nathan declared to everyone’s alarm. Even Mercedes was speechless. Perhaps, her boss was her new Griffin.

The whole room was noiseless. Even the waiters froze. Nathan’s voice was robust with a potent aura. Mr Hayes paled, cast a glare at Mercedes and stormed out of the room. He didn’t utter another word. Who knows if anything else he says or does, accrues enough compensation to wipeout his bank account. The tables had just turned against him in a sour fight. After he left, the waiters served the dishes with caution. No one wanted to fall on the bad side of Nathan Legend. Halfway through dinner, Nathan spoke,

“Mr Sima, we are merely in the second quarter and all you’ve raised is a party. Won’t it be wiser to discuss important matters first?” Nathan sounded casual but Mr Sima could detect the solemnity.

Instantly, he dropped his cutlery. “I’m sorry, Mr Legend we also have the- Nathan raised his hand, cutting him off due to the ringing of his phone. Looking at the caller ID, it was his best friend Lanre so he wanted to make it snappy. Yet, he seemed to be embraced with shock from the receiving end.

“What? Where?” His appearance dulled with concern.

“Keep him under control, I’ll be there shortly,” he stood up before ending the call.

I’m sorry you would have to send everything to my email with my assistant in copy. She would get back to you with my response. Enjoy your meals and have a goodnight, ladies and gentlemen,” he casually said, while staring at Mercedes.

She was laid back, merely enjoying her food and nodding her head to his words. When she felt cold eyes staring at was confused and stared back.

“How will you get home?” Nathan asked her.

“I’ll find a cab. Don’t worry about me.”

her. She

“I can drop her off, Mr Bitman offered. Somehow, Nathan wasn’t comfortable with entrusting her to any man at that time of the night.

“Get up and come with me.” It was an order. Mercedes stared awkwardly before realization set in. She stood up and followed. suit. When they reached the entrance, Nathan took off his blazer before the valet brought his car. Mercedes was about to move when he said, “wait,” he walked over and covered her shoulder with his blazer. The scent of his cologne exhumed her, she closed her eyes immersing in it, Nathan chuckled and held the door for her.

“I will pick a friend at the club before I drop you home. I hope you don’t mind?”

“No, especially when my report has been made easier,” she chuckled. Nathan understood the words. She wasn’t going to send the report till she received the email from Mr Bitman.

Nathan arrived at the club, he went in while Mercedes waited in the car at the car park. He came out supporting a man whose face she couldn’t see because his head was lowered. Nathan opened the back door and laid him on the seat.

“I don’t want to go home, the man murmured.

“You better stop saying that or I’ll call her to come and pick you, Nathan responded solemnly but there was a slight amusement in his tone.

“I will hate you forever if you do that Nat, Lanre retorted befuddled.

Then shut the fuck up before Hose my cool”

G.

47%論

Silence rained, interrupted by the buzzing of Mercedes phone. She answered the call without checking the caller ID. “Griff?” The only person who would call her at this time was him. Nathan’s ears piqued, his profile differed.

“Don’t worry about me, just go home, Nathan heard her say. Then she sighed,

“My boss is dropping me off, I said don’t worry. I’m already on my way home so meet me there,” she ended the call. Nathan’s expression kept changing from heated to cold. His research showed Mercedes‘ brother was sick and his name wasn’t Griff. It was Oliver. So did she have a boyfricy?”

Before he could ask. Lanre’s voice sounded. “You have a lady in the car?”

“Shut

up Lanre or I’ll call Rebecca this minute. Nothing else was heard from the back anymore. Lanre seemed to not want his wife around. Nathan thought it wasn’t a good idea to ask her with Lanre in the car so he swallowed his question. ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

When she gave him directions to her house, not only was he concerned but also disturbed. Mercedes might not tell him but he quite understood her reason for not working overtime. That area was dangerous at night with stalkers, thieves and all. lurking around.

Thank you,” Mercedes said and alighted but instantly, he saw someone drive–in the red Chevrolet Cruze and stalked for a while to see the person. Why was the person driving Mercedes’s car? Or was Mercedes the one who has been using the person’s car? He knew the person was a man with the name Griff. If Lanre wasn’t in the car, he would have stalked around to see the person’s face.

“I’m hungry,” Lanre screamed from the back seat like a teenager. Nathan got furious and drove away without

his mission. The neighbourhood in which Mercedes lived with a man he didn’t know got him thinking throhing

to his penthouse. He will find out who the man is.

his drive

色