5. MICHAEL

I zoom off, I don't trust myself to stay another moment in her presence. I will probably end up begging her to forgive me. I can't describe how happy I am that she's still a virgin for me.

I love her so much. I glance at the side mirror and saw her walking slowly with tears in her eyes. My heart clenched, as I look closely to see her going to the park. I will give anything to see her smile.

“Is she the one?” Debbie asked as she watches me glance at the side mirror repeatedly.

“Is she who?" I ask, I pretended not to understand her as I schooled my facial expression back to neutral.

“Is she Nina? The one you love" She repeated the question, a little bit skeptical of my answer.

“Deborah, there's probably a million women in the world with that name, that doesn't mean that any woman that bears Nina is the one I love" I arch my eyebrows at her frowning.

“That does not answer the question, Michael. Stop playing smart" She huff and glare at me.

“What question?" I ask again feigning ignorance as I turn toward the route to her parent's house.

“Michael Thompson?" She shouted getting frustrated.

I sigh “No she's not the one" She searches my face for any sign that I'm lying, when she couldn't find anything, she smiles as I park the car in front of her house.

“Thank you," She said getting down from the car, she turns to me before entering “Call me when you get home and my regards to Daniel and Diane," she said and walk into the house. Her bubbly spirit now back when she heard Nina is not the person I love.

I reverse the car back to the route of the park and speed up. I want to get to her in time before she does something to herself, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if anything should happen to her.

I got to the park and search around for her. I found her sitting on a nearby bench and was on call. I wind down my car window to see her. Her black hair was pulled back and bound in the middle. Her dress was wrinkled. Her back was turned to me, so I couldn't make up her facial expression, but she looks tired and sad.

“Yes Aurora" I call impatiently into the phone because she wouldn't stop calling.

“Your mom has been trying to get hold of you sir, but you won't pick the call. She said to find out what time you'll be available for dinner tonight"

“Cancel the dinner plan with my mom but tell her I'll be home tonight"

“But sir..............?"she said a little bit skeptical.

“That will be all, Aurora," I said and disconnect the call. Suddenly, I heard an ear-piercing scream and quickly look to where Nina was, scared. She was curled up on the ground sobbing loudly and uncontrollably into the phone. It took all my willpower for me not to go there right then to hug and comfort her. I wonder who she could be talking to on the phone to make her cry.

She spoke a little while longer on the phone. But she sounded calm and okay now. I still couldn't help but wonder who she spoke with on the phone.

Curiosity got the best of me, immediately she started walking home. I turn to the other side of the road and saw a young boy smoking and looking around for a pocket to pick. I signal to him and he came rushing to me, probably praying that I offer him money.

“I need you to go to that lady over there, collect her phone, check the last call, and return it to her. Can you, do it?" I ask him when he has gotten to me.

“Yes, boss. I will do anything as long as there's money involved" he said as he started walking toward her. He ran into her causing her purse and her phone to fall, he bent down quickly took her phone check, and return it to her all in a second, he apologizes to her and she went on her way. I was awed.

“The last call was her mom, boss," he said smiling and smirking at me.

“Thank you" I handed him his money and an extra” And that's for a job well done" he smiled and thank me before going on his way.

What could her mom possibly say to her to make her cry? Come to think of it, she never had a mother. She once told me that her mother was late. I follow her closely in my car, keeping some distance between us.

“Hello, John. I need you to find some information about Nina Miller for me" I said to John my chief of security, he's job is to find any implicating information about my clients that may jeopardize my company.

“Yes sir. I will be on it right away"

“I want every information you can find both in the record and off-record"

“Yes sir" I hung up the call. She has gotten home now and was walking over to Deborah's apartment probably to check if she's home. Deborah didn't tell her that she will be going over to her parents then. She walks back to her block disappointed and sad; she took the elevator to her apartment; she opens the door to her apartment and went in while I stay back in my car a little while just to make sure that she was safe and probably to look at her a little more before going home. It's been long I've seen her and I still can't believe that she was in front of me a while back.

My phone ringing broke me from my thought as I force myself away from her window.

“Yes John, tell me," I said as soon as I pick the call.

“Yes sir, have gotten all the information you need about Nina Miller," he said.

“All the information?" I question softly a little bit skeptical, though I trust John to do his job thoroughly this is too soon.

“Yes sir" He repeated confidently.

“Okay. Leave the hardcopy on my desk at the office by tomorrow morning and send me the soft copy by email now"

“Yes sir, will send it now," he said and I hung up. Thirty minutes later, my phone alerted me that I have a message, I open it and was shocked.

Nina's father remarried three years after she left for school, they have a son who's seven. Her father is the CEO of Pandora shoes while her stepmom is a baker and CEO of Happy bites confectionary. Her family is doing pretty well for themselves. Even my baby has made a name for herself in the world of journalism. She's currently working at Melton's Media and has won many awards for herself both in school and now.

I smile proudly at the woman she has become. I wish I was there for her all these years but my father's warning has always held me back. I can still remember his words vividly like yesterday when I told him I want to marry Nina and not Deborah.

“Marry Deborah Melton, merge the two companies as one and keep your inheritance or Marry Nina Miller, lose your inheritance and your children probably suffer like how I and your mom did before we build the Thompson's Empire".

I turn the car around and was about to leave when I saw Deborah getting down from a man's car, I couldn't see his face clearly but it looks like they were in a relationship. She went into the house after kissing the man, while he drove off. I couldn't care less. I always knew she wasn't faithful to me, that's one of the reasons why I keep toiling the relationship until now. Now I just need to find evidence of her cheating lifestyle.

“John" I call into the phone, immediately the call connected.

“Yes sir" He replies.

"I need you to send one of your trusted men to monitor Deborah Melton as from tomorrow"

“Yes sir"

“I need evidence on who see meet, what she does outside and inside the closed-door"

“Yes sir"

“That will be all for now, I don't need you to rush, just find me concrete evidence"

“Yes sir! Good night, sir" I hung up the call and turn the car back home, I vow never to touch Deborah again. As I drove all the way to my parent's house, I couldn't help but wonder what kind of excuse I'm to give my mom for missing dinner. Mrs. Diana Thompson can be strict if she wants to. We were supposed to have a family dinner with my brothers tonight. I can't wait to meet my brothers.

I drove all the way to my parent's house and use the remote to open the big gate. I park my car in the garage and walk into the house.

“Welcome sir, everyone is at the dining" Maria my parents' maid said as she ushers me into the house. I walk into the dining room to meet everyone seated and all waiting for me.

“Good evening mom, sorry I'm late" I perk her on the cheek, I turn to greet my father who was seated at the head of the table, and mom was right beside him. Vino and Victor were both to the left and right of me.

“Where have you been, young man," My dad said with his authoritative voice.

“I was with Deborah today" I replied "It was mom's idea to spend the weekend with her"

Mr. Daniel Thompson smiles "That's good. You ought to have done that without your mom having to tell you" He chastised me. I shrug and turn to my brothers for help but they all pretended like they were not there.

“Okay. Enough of the talk, let's eat" Mom said coming to my rescue, Maria started dishing the food onto each of our plates.

After the meal, both of my parents have retired to their room, leaving us boys to bond. We are currently relaxing in the sitting room with a glass of red wine each.

Vino will be traveling to Greece soon to head out company, while Victor will also be going to continue his shoot.

“So, tell us, why were you late" Vino asks as he dropped his wine to look at me knowingly.

I smile as I shrug reluctantly about telling them, though I trust my brothers sometimes they could be a pain in the neck.

“I know something held you up and that something is not Deborah, come on bro, we both know you don't like her," Victor said, they seem to know me more than I know myself.

I sigh “Okay guys," I smile as I also drop my glass of wine on the table. " I met her today" My mouth curve up, as the smile spread into the whole of my face.

They both look at each other and laugh, while Victor came over to check my body temperature.

He nodded to Vino “He's alright"

“Then why is he saying nonsense?" Vino reply

“Wait guys, I'm still here. What are you guys insinuating, that I'm insane" I said angrily?

“What else do you expect us to think, you've been seeing Deborah almost every day, so why is it a new thing for us that you saw her today"

It finally dawns on me that they didn't understand who I mean, I calm down as I turn to them to explain slowly.

“Not Deborah. Her?"

“Who?" They both ask curiously.

“Nina" I shrug as I sip my wine.

“What?" They both exclaim.

“Yes. I met her at my outing today with Deborah" I then went on to narrate all that happens today for them. They were both shocked and astonished.

“What will you do now?" Vino asks sounding concerned.

“I don't know right now. She was so angry with me today but I still love her so much"

“I always knew that Deborah Melton was a bitch" Victor suddenly exclaimed while I and Vino both rush to cover his mouth, if dad or mom hear this, they will both have our heads for supper.

“Be quiet" I shouted at him, as he calms down

“For now, I'll just play along with her and as for Nina, nothing changes, we will continue just as it was before".

“Okay," Vino said and stood, saying he's tired and want to turn in earlier, Victor also follow him leaving me alone with my wine.

Immediately I stood up to go to my room, my mom was there asking how my outing with Deborah went. I told her that it went well, and even smile so that she will think that I'm smitten with her.

“Woah!! You must have really enjoyed your day cause you're smiling and you rarely smile"

“Mom are you saying that...."

“I’m not saying anything son," she cut me off before I could complete my sentence, I know she thinks I'm in love with Deborah but I'm not.

“Son, I want to invite her and her dad over for dinner next week Saturday, just the five of us" she blocks my way as I want to escape to my room. Knowing my mom, she wouldn't budge until I give her my answer.

“Okay, I will call her first thing tomorrow morning and ask her to invite her dad over" She smiles excitedly, and move from the step, making the road for me to walk into my room after telling her Goodnight.