#THE_SACRIFICE_SEASON_2
Jake and his grandfather made their way to the elevator in silence, each with their own thought.
Jake was sure his grandfather was upset about the decision he had made, and he was trying not to berate him at the moment. He knew he shouldn’t have acted irrationally, at least that was what people were going to think, but to him this was the most rational decision he has ever made. Acrosoft was the Beau blood and sweat over long decades and he wasn’t going to lose it, never.
“Grandfather—”
“Wait” He said in a hush tone when he heard the heels clicking the ground and slowly approaching them. He had lived with the owner of those heels long enough to know when she’s approaching him.
He intentionally slowed down his steps not that he was walking fast anyway. He was certain she was heading towards them and there was no need trying to avoid her. Jake also slowed down his strides when he heard those heels. She always had a way of making her appearance known with those damned heels of hers.
And just as they predicted, Hillary stopped right in front of them, a smug smirk plastered on her face and she wasn’t been discrete about it. Her little entourage of shareholders were standing feet behind Grandfather Beau and his grandson.
“Father in-law” Hillary greeted with a pleasant smile, which the Grandfather and grandson pair found to be very irritating and nauseating.
“Ha, my perfect son. It’s so bad to see there’s a feud about to come between us” She hissed pitifully, but her eyes revealed nothing like the words she said.
“It seems I might have underestimated you…. step mother” Jake said sarcastically, his tone was filled with contempt and he wasn’t hiding it either.
“Ah, don’t be that way. I didn’t do anything. You were there when they forced it on me” She said faking a sad tone, like what she said was actually the case. Jake was livid with her pretentious act. This was all her handy work and he knew it, but if she wanted to play the innocent card with him then he’d let her.
Hillary sighed as she turned to look at Grandfather Beau, “And after all it is only natural for me to have what right fully belongs to me right?. The heaven just decided to work in my favour and have pity on a helpless widow like myself. Things were bound to happen this way. And for you underestimating me, I think it was an over sight on your part” She said with a meaningful smile, her eyes fixed on her father in-law, who was also staring at her expressionlessly.
Jake took note of her words and he could feel some hidden meaning behind it, which he believed his grandfather knew. ‘What rightfully belonged to her? What does she mean?’ He asked himself.
“I think you’re mistaken, because nothing here belongs to you” He declared.
“The little you have now, you should make use of it for the time being, till I decide to take it back from you” Jake said in a calm and cold tone. That he hasn’t taken back those shares in her name doesn’t mean it was going to remain so forever. He had let her hold onto them for the time being, out of respect for his father since he was the one who gave them to her. But he was going to get them back, because he wasn’t going to let her enjoy the Beau fortitude when she was responsible for his father’s demise.
Hillary let out a short sardonic laugh, “Honey, it seems you’re still in the dark” She turned to glance at her father in-law who was now glaring at her, with a look that says, ‘I dare you to say a word’
Hillary’s lips curved upward when she noticed she finally got his attention. He has been acting aloof and unfazed by all this since he came. “Father, do you think I should tell him about it,” She asked tauntingly before shaking her head pitifully. “He seems clueless about it. Should I help you?” She asked slightly tilting her head sideways, her brows arched in a taunting manner.
“There seem to be many secrets buried in the family, and even my capable son is clueless. Father you shouldn’t keep too many secrets to yourself, it’ll take a toll on your health. Your mental health is Paramount to us” From the look on her face, it was obvious she was enjoying herself. Her smile broadened when grandfather Beau’s look turned dark, and it looked like he was about to growl at her.
Jake would be stupid if he said he hasn’t known there was some secret between his grandfather and Hillary. One which he has been hounding him to reveal for a long time, but the old man has been too stubborn to let it out. Looking at Hillary’s he knew she has an evil intent for saying this here right in front of him. She was trying to create a rift between them, with an end goal of destabilizing him from focusing on the issue at hand. He could see through her and he wasn’t going to fall for her silly trap.
He looked at her and scoffed. “Whatever secret you think you know, I’d advice you keep it for later. It might be the only thing you have left when I’m done with you” He paused and looked over his shoulder to her minions who were still waiting for their mistress,
“And those minions of yours. Make sure you have a sayhaven prepared for them, by the time I come after you all” He sneered at her, his eyes holding a dangerous glint, but Hillary didn’t flinch under his murderous gaze.
Turning towards his grandfather, he said, “Let’s go” before leading them off. He didn’t want to stand in same space with her for another second.
Hillary watched their back as they walked away.
“Hillary do you think your plan is flawless enough to take Jake’s seat?” Shareholder Andrew asked. He had walked up to her when the Beau’s left. “Jake might not look it but he is ferocious” He added, just in case she didn’t know. As much as he didn’t like Jake or any of the Beaus, he wasn’t stupid to step on his bad side.
If Hillary didn’t have leverage over him as well as the others, he wouldn’t be part of this madness.
Hillary was quite offended by his statement. She turned to him with her eyes looking dark, “You should be bothering your head with what I intend to do with those evidence I have in my hands and not my plans” She menanced, startling the man.
“I thought—”
She smiled and turned towards the men. “Gentlemen, you’re most useful today. I commend you all. Let’s look forward to some new leadership” She said with an eery smile which crept the men out, but they nodded regardless.
It was clear that they were in bed with the devil.
________
*Jake’s Office*
Grandfather Beau could feel Jake’s piercing gaze on him, but he pretended like he couldn’t as he looked everywhere else but at him. He had all the answers to his questions but he didn’t know how to start answering them. He knew he had to come clean to Jake today, and that was why he had come to the company in the first place.
“You can’t keep mute about this, grandfather” Jake said in a serious tone, making grandfather Beau finally look at him.
“I’m not keeping mute. Do you want me to scold you?” He cocked a brow at him.
“Grandfather!” Jake called out in a firm and strong tone. He didn’t have the time for all this dallying.
“Young Man, mind your tone. I’m still your grandfather” He glared at him and so did Jake. He knew his temper was no longer in par with that of grandson and it was time he said something. He sighed deflatedly as he sat up right.
“There’s something you should know”
“You mean the one I’ve been hounding you to tell me?” Jake asked with a sarcastic tone, but grandfather Beau ignored him.
“Hillary isn’t just after the company as you might think” He started.
“Then what else is she after?” Jake asked curiously.
“Everything” Grandfather Beau replied. Jake narrowed his eyes at him. His interest was very much piqued at this point.
“By everything, you mean the Beau family fortune” Jake wasn’t sure if he was telling his grandfather or if he was asking. Grandfather Beau sighed as he nodded his head affirmatively.
“And how sure are you?” Jake asked. He wasn’t doubting the fact that Hillary might be greedy enough to pine for their family wealth, but he also knew that is an impossible task for her to do, except his grandfather knew something he didn’t, which of course was what he was about to tell him, hopefully.
“Because she has a claim to it” Grandfather Beau dropped the bomb. Jake didn’t think he had heard clearly. What was his grandfather saying? Hillary having a claim to their family fortune, how was that possible? In what parallel universe was that even possible?
He locked gaze with his grandfather as he tried to process what he had just heard.
“What do you mean, by she has a claim to the family fortune?” Jake asked. His tone wasn’t as calm as it was before.
Grandfather Beau lolled back on the seat as he maintained eye contact with his grandson. “Have you wondered why I gave those shares in the first place?” He asked.
“Are you referring to the question I asked six years ago?” Jake asked in annoyance. Remembering how his grandfather had carelessly thrown those shares – though they were small, they were still shares– to Hillary even when he knew what she had done.
That was also one of the reasons why he had angrily left the country in the first place. He couldn’t stand the idea of being in the same room having a board meeting with Hillary. He would have gone berserk and probably murdered her with his own hands at the time.
“Well I gave those shares because I thought they’ll satisfy her and stop her from being greedy” He hissed exasperatedly. “Well I thought wrong”
“Yes you did. Because not that vicious woman has created a virus which is pulling this company down. You should have gotten rid of her all together” Jake snapped.
“And risk exposing the will?”
“What will?” Jake asked in surprise and confusion. His eyes desperately looking at his grandfather for clarification. Grandfather Beau hissed when he noticed the confused and anxious look on Jake’s face.
Jake frown deepened when his grandfather started stalling. “What will are you talking about grandfather?” Jake pressed. He getting agitated by the moment and he was trying to hold himself down at the moment. The past 52 hours hasn’t been easy for him, and grandfathers dallying wasn’t making things better.
Grandfather Beau was about to say something when the intercom began to ring. Jake had no intention of picking it up, he wanted to know what his grandfather was talking about.
“You should answer that. Every call matters to you at the moment” Grandfather Beau adviced, making Jake hiss. He turned to look at intercom buzzing on his desk before he reluctantly got up to go answer it.
“Yes”
“Sir, Ms Jade Peterson is down at the lobby, should they send her in?” Patrick spoke from the other side of the phone.
“Jade?” Jake was surprised to hear that.
“Yes sir” he reconfirmed.
“What is she doing here?” He sighed when he realized he Just asked that out. Of course his secretary wouldn’t know that. And he should know why she was there in the first place. She must have tried reaching him, to no avail.
He closed his eyes tightly and groaned out frustratedly when he remembered his phone which was still switched off. He must have gotten her worried.
How could he have neglected his woman like that, knowing she was going to be worried. He sighed for the upteempth time as he rubbed his hand down his face.
“Let her in” He said before dropping the receiver.
He was in so much trouble.
He turned to look at his grandfather who was staring at him with cocked brows and an inquisitive look.
He wanted to continue this conversation with his grandfather but that wasn’t going to be possible anymore.
“What is it?” Grandfather Beau asked with a concerned tone, when he noticed how grave his countenance has changed.
“My girlfriend is here” He replied as he raked his hand through his hair. He didn’t know how he was going to face her. She definitely going to be mad at him. They were both talking over the phone when he abruptly hung up and he had already broke his promise of calling her before that.
“Really?” Grandfather Beau beamed, making Jake to glare at him. Why was he looking excited?
“Ha, so I finally get to meet my granddaughter in-law?” He clapped his hand excitedly, completely forgetting about the matter at hand.
“Grandfather, you can’t scare her by calling her that. She might feel embarrassed and overwhelmed and as it is she might be angry at me already” He said letting out another deflated sigh.
Grandfather Beau frowned when he heard him. “What did you do?” He asked.
“I forgot to call her and it’s been days” He hissed as he walked back to the sofa, but he didn’t sit.
“You forgot to call her? Son you can’t do that. I know things has been hectic for you, but that doesn’t mean you forget about your woman. That’s why you’re man, you must learn to balance both your love life and work. But don’t sweat it I’m sure she won’t be too vexed with you. Just be sweet with her and she’ll forget all about why she was angry” He told him. Jake nodded in understanding.
“Grandfather I guess we’ll have to continue our conversation back at home” Jake said, even though he badly wanted to find out about what his grandfather meant with his words earlier.
“Yes we will, and also with Blake too”
“Hmm” Jake nodded affirmatively.
They were still talking when they heard a knock on the door. Jake heart skipped a beat when he heard it. He was undoubtedly sure it was his girlfriend by the door. He quickly made his way to it, and the moment he opened it, he was greeted with the beautiful yet worried face of his girlfriend.
“Babe” Jake called out softly.
“Hello Mr Jake Beau” She greeted back faking a smile, but Jake could hear the sarcastic tone underneath her words.
Jade turned to look at him the moment she stepped into his office. She paid intent look at his face, and her heart ached for him when she saw the stumble on his pretty face.
She stretched her hand to touch his face. “How are you?” She asked with concern.
“I’ll be fine now that I have you here” He said placing his hand over the one she had on his face.
“Just so you know I’m very much angry with you” She said frowning.
“I know”
“Uhm” Jade also jumped her skin when she heard someone cleared his throat from behind her. She snapped her head to her left and that was when she realized there was someone else in the room.
She quickly turned to look at Jake who was now holding her hand in his. Her eyes surreptitiously asking who was that.
Jake understood her look and started walking towards his grandfather who was up on his feet.
“Babe meet my grandfather; grandfather, my girlfriend Jade”
Jade also felt like disappearing into thin air when Jake introduced him as his grandfather. She felt embarrassed for not acknowledging his presence when she walked in.
“Ha, so her name is Jade. Beautiful! I love it. Jade and Jake… it’s like a match made in heaven” He beamed.
“Good morning sir” Jade greeted politely, with a small smile etched in her lips, as she tried to hide her embarrassed look.
“Morning my dear. You’re just as beautiful as I thought you’d be” Grandfather Beau said smilingly. “And call me grandfather” He added.
“Yes si-” She paused and shook her head.
“I mean grandfather” Jade corrected herself, while Grandfather chuckled by cuteness.
Jade’s heart was beating hard behind her chest as she stood under the old man’s gaze, who was very much smiling sweetly at her.
“What a good girl” He praised.
“I’d love to chat with you, but I’ll leave you two for now. Come visit me soon, I’d like to know more about you and if this grandson is being a good boy, okay?” Grandfather Beau said, while Jade nodded, as he turned to look at Jake.
“I like her. So be a good boy or else I might give her away to someone better” He teased, but Jake who didn’t see the humor in his words frowned at him. He had only met her and he was threatening to give her away to someone better than him? There was no one better for his Jade than him.
Was he even his grandfather? Jake tried not to glare at him.
“Jade it was nice meeting you. And I’ll be expecting you” He chipped.
“Yes grandfather, and it was nice meeting you too” She replied, making him nod happily. He gave them a full and appreciative look before saying, “Then I’ll see myself out”.
Jade watched as he walked out of the door, his happy smile not leaving his face for a second. It was obvious he was happy to see her, and she felt happy he liked her too.
“I like your grandfather” She said turning to look at the man standing beside her.
“And he likes you too” He said as he tried pulling her into a hug, but Jade was quick to step away from him, making Jake frown.
He knew she was angry and she wasn’t going to make things easy for him.
“Hungry?” She asked placing the bag in her hand on the table. It was at this point that Jake realised that she was holding a bag of takeouts. He just looked at her without saying anything.
“I Know you haven’t eaten, so I brought food” She said as she started to unpack the food from the bags. Looking at her, trying to be busy when he knew she badly wanted to scold him, Jake brushed his hand down his face.
He walked closer to her and held her hand, slightly startling her.
“What are you doing?” She asked in surprise, as she let him pull her up.
“Just scold me already. I don’t like what you’re doing right now”
“Bringing you food?” She asked cocking a brow at him.
“No, being angry at me. Babe don’t ignore me, just scold me, I’ll take it. I know I deserve it” He said gently rubbing his hand on her arm, his eyes were pleading to be forgiven.
Jade hissed frustratedly, as she locked gaze with him. “I really want to scold you right now, but I can’t” She hissed again.
“Why? Because you’re so mad at me?” He asked as he took a step closer to her till they were only a breath away.
“Because that would be insensitive of me. I really want to get angry, scold you, yell at you but doing that will be unfair since I know you’re passing through alot.”
“I’m sorry” He spoke in a soft tone.
“I know you are, and I’ve anticipated you saying that to me, but baby that’s not cool. I know you have a lot going on and you’re trying to fix all the problems you’re facing right….I mean you have a lot of responsibilities and I might not be of much help, but you shouldn’t forget to talk to me. I was worried sick when I couldn’t get across to you, I even thought maybe you were sick” She hissed and paused.
“I know it’s a thing for men to always try and solve their problems alone without being a burden to others most especially their loved ones, I know that’s your biological make up, but you don’t go solve your problem and leave the people who love you worried. You gave me alot of heartaches this last two days. You did” She said in a calm yet frustrated tone.
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 7
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