❣️LOVE IN THE ELITES’ WORLD❣️
🌏🌏Her new world 🌎 🌏
📖📖CHAPTER FIFTY ONE. 5️⃣1️⃣
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❣️❣️Stories before solution❣️❣️
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*
*
Michael was busy in his study when he saw Paulina’s message but he ignored it. He had some work to finish before the t day, and talking to her would distract him when he already knows what she wanted to discuss—blabbering on his return to school. Seeing her send a message in their after school club group chat made him wonder what she sent there, and his eyes widened upon seeing the contempt. He put away what he was doing, and hurried out, heading to the location.
**
Austin was having dinner with his parents, and he didn’t stop glancing at the wall clock waiting for ten minutes so he could excuse himself. He couldn’t even press his phone in the dinning hall with them, neither can he digest his food properly.
“Your couch contacted me regarding your training. What have you been telling him? Didn’t you tell him you might quit?”
“I’m not gonna quit, dad!”
“Do you have confidence?” His mother teased.
He exhaled heavily, and peeped at his phone when he saw a message from the after school club. Already curious about what it was, he took his phone.
“Put that away, young man,” his father said but he ignored them to read the contempt.
“What?” He shouted, and stood up.
“Austin, is there a problem?” His mother inquired.
“There shouldn’t be,” he muttered, and ran off to his room to get him keys, before heading out to the location.
**
Stanley put his phone away as he was enjoying his video game, he ignored all his messages until he aced the game and took his phone.
He saw several messages, but the one from the after school club caught his attention. He wondered what they were discussing there when their friendship group chat has been quiet.
He checked the message, and his eyes widened after reading the contempt.
He took the keys to his motorcycle ready to leave, but before he did, he searched for the emergency contact of that shopping mall, ti inform them about the intending suicide, and also requested for crisis response foam, incase things goes wrong.
**
**
THE SHOPPING MALL^^^
^
Micheal arrived first, and headed to the elevator, when Austin arrived, the elevator was busy so he took the stairs, Stanley arrived later and ensured the foam was properly secured for however he landed before intending to go to him, but to his surprise, he landed on the foam.
**
Micheal ensured that the news will dle down there, and compensate the few people that make videos to delete it before they left the shopping mall in his car.
The ride was in silence, and he called his secretary to reserve the closest restaurant for them. After driving for few minutes, they arrived at an empty restaurant.
“I was really holding it all in, until now. What’s that for, Steven? Do you think you are in some dramas? Committing suicide at this age and time, are you even thinking?” Austin snapped.
“Don’t be too harsh, Austin, you don’t even know what he is going through,” Paulina defended.
“F¥ck whatever he is going through. Is he the only one going through a tough time. I’m struggling to improve my grades, doing what I never could have imagined. Mike also has his own hurdles, and what? Suicide? How can anyone think of ending their lives. You don’t even think of others. Your parents, and we, your friends, how can you be so selfish?” Austin yelled.
“That’s enough, man. At least let hear him out first,” Stanley said, and Austin groaned angrily before taking his seat.
“Steve, you better have a good explanation for this,” Micheal said, patting Steven’s shoulder.
Steven bowed his head in tears, he can’t even think of the best way to start.
“You guys are making this hard on him. Yes, everyone has their own situation, but because you could endure yours doesn’t mean everyone are strong, people aren’t the same, everyone is going through difficult things. Don’t be too harsh on him!” Paulina shouted
“Steven, does this have to do with why you have been unreachable?” Stanley asked, and Steven nodded.
“Lina, since he already told you everything, then tell us,” Austin said.
“Why would I? If you are really his friend, you would make him share his problems with you, because that’s part of what makes us friends,” Paulina said, and they all exhaled heavily.
“Are you having some situations at home? Did your family went bankrupt?” Micheal asked, and Steven shook his head.
“Goodness. Do we have to puzzle our way to get the answers?” Austin lashed. “I got better things to do, man,” he added.
“Steven, we are the one who asked you not to talk, and I really regret that now. I never knew you were that obedient and would stay quiet until now. Talk to us, man, tell us what the problem is and let’s work it out together. Do you know how devastating it would’ve been for us to hear the news of your suicide? It would make us feel like we wronged you in some ways, and we will blame ourselves for it. We are friends, but you were so distant,” Micheal said.
“I’m sorry for making you worried,” Steven muttered.
“If you are sorry, then split it! What’s bothering you?” Austin nagged.
“Austin, that’s enough!” Stanley snapped. “Steven, if you are gonna be like this and not talk, we can’t force you, we don’t know anything about you and that’s our fault, but since it’s became this way, I’m gonna report this to the police, so your parents can come fetch you,” he said, and they all looked at him.
“No, don’t!” Steven, and Paulina shouted.
“What’s really going on, Lina?” Michael asked.
“You can’t report to the police, they are gonna find him if you do,” Paulina remarked.
“Did he ran away from home?” Austin inquired.
“Are you on the run?” Stanley asked.
“You all will be in danger if you get involved with me,” Steven muttered.
“What’s going on, man? I’m getting goosebumps,” Austin whined.
“My father is on the look out for me, and he can get rid of any obstacles as long as he finds me,” he muttered.
“I don’t follow. Is your father some assassin, or a mafia?” Stanley asked.
“What nonsense are you saying, Stan?” Austin blurted.
“He is a mafia boss,” Steven muttered, and their eyes widened.
“What?!” The boy chorused.
“Why are you on the run? He is your father, either is a mafia or whatever, he can’t harm you. Wait, what am I even saying? Why are you trying to commit suicide? Come on, man, don’t keep us in the dark!” Austin nagged.
“Relax, I’m gonna tell you everything, as long as you don’t involve the police,” he muttered, and they exhaled heavily.
They all listened attentively as he narrate his story to them, leaving them stunned.
“What? You are going through all these and you kept it on in without saying anything? How could you? How could you manage to endure that alone? How could you be that strong?” Austin yelled, hitting him.
“That’s enough!” Stanley shouted, and dragged Steven by his collar. “This… this must’ve been really hard on you,” he muttered, and embraced him.
Micheal ran his fingers through his hair, and shook his head before heading out. Paulina looked at him, wondering why he was leaving but going after him.
“Mike, where are you going?” She asked when they got outside.
“It’s all my fault, Lina, Steve is that way because of me, he almost committed suicide because of me,” he rants, and she looked at him confused.
“What do you mean it’s your fault?”
“If I haven’t forced to be our friend… no, if I haven’t ask him to keep quiet, he would have shared everything with us, we would have find a solution together. But no, I kept him by my side as a stand in to complete the MASS, oblivious to all his suffering, to the extent that he almost took his own life,” he said, and she embraced him.
“It’s not your fault, Mike. Yes, you made mistakes, and you should make up for it, that’s why it’s called mistake. Steve needs you all now than ever, he needs his friends to support him, not to blame yourselves,” she said, patting his back gently.
*
They returned back inside, and called the attention of the waiter to place their orders.
“First, I don’t know how best to help you, Steve, but I’m sure that we would all be able to work this out together,” Micheal stated.
“Man, you don’t have to keep your emotions to yourself anymore. Let’s be real friends this time. We have all known each other for years, we have been friends with you since we are in middle school even though you never considered us as friends. And mind you, you aren’t the only one with hurdles, so never outcast yourself. It might seems like I have a perfect family, but I suffered discrimination my whole life from my smart parents, and sister. At times I wish I could run away, I felt indifferent in that family, I felt like nothing whenever I am with them. I even ran away from home once when I was younger, and Mike…” he said, and they all looked at Michael.
“I’m an illegitimate,” Micheal muttered, and they all gasped.
“You…” Steven shuddered.
“You must’ve thought I was perfect, but I’m an illegitimate. If I get bursted, I’ll face a lot of criticism, and I can never think of becoming the chairman of Russ group. That’s how messed up I am,” he said, and Steven mouth was hanged opened agape.
“Mike…” Paulina muttered, and held his hand.
“We all have a situation, Steve, but at least we could say our genius is excluded,” Micheal said, and Stanley chuckled.
“Yeah! What’s that look? I would have to do a lot of good deeds to have your life in my next life. Not only are you a genius, but you have loving parents as well!” Austin snapped.
“We could say so,” Stanley muttered.
“There you go,” Austin sneered, hitting him playfully.
“Guys, we have to think of a way to help Steven. I’m sure his father can’t harm us, I mean… even gangsters know better than getting involved with us. We aren’t some common noodle’s restaurant owner,” Stanley stated.
“Yeah… Stan is right, our genius Al ways have a solution,” Austin said, and they all chuckled.
“With that being said, just until we find a solution, you can stay with us to ensure your safety,” Micheal said, and they all nodded along.
“My house is wide open, bro, and my bed is big too,” Austin said, and they smiled.
“Thank you so much for this,” Steven muttered.
“Gosh, you have such nice voice, you shouod talk often,” Austin said, and they all laughed.
“Austin, I hope your parents would accommodate him till we find a solution,” Michael said.
“Come on, man, his parents only bite him. I sleep over at his okave often,” Stanley said.
“They like you because you are a genius. But don’t worry, my parents don’t bite others,” he said, and they nodded.
They all talked about random stuffs as they eat, and Austin point out a day that they got into a fight at a party.
“I was also frightened that Steve could bring down all of those guys on his own. Since that day, I reserved huge respect for him, and I was equally scared,” Austin said.
“Same here,” Michael added.
“What party was that?”Stanley asked.
“Julian birthday party in Europe,” Austin replied.
“Who is Julian?” Stanley asked, and the boys all looked at him in shock.
“Man, eat up. She is no one, she is just a little kid that I fancy so much,” Austin said, forcing a piece of meat in his mouth.
“If she was just a kid that you fancy, then why did we attend her party?” He asked in confusion.
“Is he really the genius we know?” Michael asked, and Austin shook his head.
“Julian must have left a deep scar in him. Their relationship didn’t even last a month,” Austin grumbled, and Micheal nodded in agreement.
“Is he normally like that?” Paulina asked, and Steven shook his head.
“From now on Steve, you aren’t allowed to give any head signals. Since you were so obedient all these years, you should be now as well and always talk. Goodness man, you have such nice voice,” Austin rants, and they all laughed.
**
**
CHAIRMAN STANFORD’S OFFICE^^^
^
Paul couldn’t stop thinking about the picture that was anonymously sent to him, even after he listened to Grace’s conference where she and her denied all allegations.
“If she met with him again after he was released from prison, it could only mean that he was blackmailing her without something, considering how scared she was,” he thought.
The thoughts of that made him ask his secretary to run a background check on him, and his secretary report back to him with everything he got on t man.
“Leo Thompson,” Paul muttered the man name, before looking at his secretary. “What relationship do you think he shared with Grace in the past?”
“Sir, there is really nothing that could link him and madam Grace together. He lead a carefree life, that is awry to a world that fit madam Grace,”
“During the period that he claimed to be at prison, what does he do during those time?”
“He doesn’t have a permanent job, he also works as a chauffeur and an escort, madam Grace might have likely meet him from there,”
“What does he do now?”
“It’s not confirmed, but it seems like he works for a mafia boss, shark lord,”
“Mafia? What business could Grace have such person,”
“Sir, and about Mr. Louis,”
“Oh, yeah. What have he been up to?”
“Sir, there is possibly that madam Charlotte who s alive,”
“What? Charlotte is alive?” He shouted.
“A strange woman moved him with him about a month ago, and we were able take a picture of her,” he said, and showed him the pictures.
“This is Charlotte, Charlotte is alive!” He said in shock, unable to believe his eyes.
“Where is she presently?” He asked.
“At Mr. Louis’s house,”
“What? Charlotte and Louis are living together? What’s their relationship?”
“That’s not confirmed yet. Sir, and we also believe that Mr. Louis was likely the one behind Mr. Flood’s release,”
“Definitely! Since Charlotte is with him, he must have released her father… but why aren’t they coming to get Paulina?”
“They are probably waiting for the right time,”
“No! If Charlotte has been alive all these while, and made us believe that she was de@d, there must be a reason why Louis is quiet about it. I need to meet Charlotte,”
“Sir, you are going to meet her?”
“Let’s go,”
.*
The ride to Louis’s house was short, and he saw Charlotte in the compound from his car wetting flowers in company of a woman.
He asked his secretary to keep a watch on Louis after he discovered that Mr. Flood was out of jail. He couldn’t find any trace on Mr. Flood because the law firm was the one in charge of everything. He assumed that Louis could be the one to do it, and turned out he was right.
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“Sir, aren’t you going in?” His secretary asked.
“I should, since we came all the way here,” h muttered.
He was about to alight from the car when a car drove in, and Charlotte smiled warmly as she went to welcome Louis.
“Are they a couple now?” He thought
*
He wanted to get down from the car when someone knocked at the window. He asked his secretary to whine down, and he looked at the guard knocking at the window.
“If I were you, I won’t think of it,” the guard said, and Paul became confused.
“Who are you?” He inquired.
“Jay, leave hun to me “ Louis said approaching them.
“Louis,” Paul muttered.
**
**
MR. PACKARD’S MANSION^^^
^
Mr. Packard received report that they lost Leo from his right hand man, and he chuckled.
“You lost a man, just a man! Even that mafia lost him too?!”
“Sir, he seems to be working with someone. We were able to get traces on him at a hospital, someone seems to be helping him, and shark lord’s men claimed that someone came to his rescue in a car, they were able to get the plate number, but turns out it’s a fake plate number,”
“Fake plate number? Who could be behind him?”
“Shark lord’s men are everywhere searching for him,”
“Goodness! Just a man?! Who could it be…”
“Sir, we have another problem “
“What’s it?”
“You are being summoned by the prosecutor regarding a tax invasion case,”
“What nonsense? Which prosecutor dares?!” He shouted.
“I!” They heard a said from behind, and they froze, and turned prosecutor.
“How dare you barge in here?” Mr. Packard’s right hand man shouted.
“Who are you?is your chief aware of this nonsense?”
“I apologize for barging in, Mr. Packard, Im prosecutor Denis Godfrey, and I felt it would be honorable for me to escort you to the prosecutor’s office, rather than summoning you there like some criminals,” he said, winking at him.
“How dare you? You have no reason to barge in here, my lawyer will attend to this!” He lashed, and gunshot was heard, startling them all.
“Isn’t that gunshot, I should confirm that,” the prosecutor said, and Mr. Packard held him back.
“I’m a very busy man, so we should go. You, call my lawyer!” Mr. Packard said, leading the way out and the prosecutor chuckled before he followed.
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TO BE CONTINUED…
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