Jake had his gaze fixed on Kyle as he looked at him with scrutiny. He didn’t know what to think of all he had said. He didn’t want to believe that they were all true. He had hated him for the past six years, harbored thoughts of killing him for his betrayal, he didn’t want to believe that all the anger and hatred that he had for him were not necessary. That it had all been in vain.
Because If what he was saying was true, that meant that Kyle was also a victim of Hillary’s ploy and he had been angry with him for no good reason.
Kyle could see the struggle in Jake’s eyes. They had been brothers for years. Though they didn’t share the same DNA he still knew Jake like the back of his hand.
“I know how you’re feeling now”
“Just shut up” Jake snapped at him.
Kyle sighed and continued nonetheless, he was used to Jake treating him like this since that unfortunate accident.
“I know you hate me and you’re so angry at me, I don’t want you to lose that. I don’t mind if you keep using me as your punching bag to relieve the pain you feel for father’s death, but I just want you to know that I would never hurt father in any way. He was like a god to me. He took me in and cared for me like his own, far better than my parents who abandoned me would ever do. I would never do anything to him, or you, or Blake, or even grandfather. It’s just unfortunate that things happened the way they did and for that, I’m truly sorry. But everything I said was the truth, I hope you can believe me. I’d never want father dead, and all I remembered I’ve told you. I just hope maybe someday you’ll be able to forgive me” Kyle said with sincerity before standing up to his feet.
Jake looked at him with a lot of emotions flickering in his eyes. He looked away and signed wearily.
“Hillary is after Dad’s will” Jake suddenly announced, halting Kyle on his stride.
A startled Kyle snapped his head around and looked at Jake who was simply looking ahead not bothering to see his reaction.
“What did you just say?” Kyle asked in disbelief. He didn’t think he had heard him well.
“You heard me,” Jake said with nonchalance. He still didn’t bother to look at him. Looking at Kyle’s face brings a lot of mixed emotions which he didn’t Want. Something in him was prompting him to believe that Kyle was probably saying the truth, while another kept telling him not to believe him at all. For all, he knew kyle could be lying and might be working with Hillary. But then again he knew Kyle. He might be stupid enough to bed his father’s wife, but not brazen enough to plot with Hillary.
Jake’s heart was torn apart. The confusion he was facing right now was making his headache so bad. He was unprepared for this.
Kyle returned to his seat and looked at Jake more intently. “How do you know this? What exactly did she do?” Kyle curiously inquired.
Jake gazed at him without replying to his question. He could see the concern and anger which was already brooding in his eyes.
“I don’t know if I should tell you anything, I still don’t believe you, don’t blame me. If what you say is true, we need to have that head of yours checked and when I say checked, I mean as soon as possible. That’s the only way I can believe this” Jake blandly told him. He wasn’t the type to sweeten his words just to make the other person feel better.
Kyle should know he still didn’t trust him.
If Kyle wanted him to believe, then he’d agree to have a test done. Something to prove that there was indeed a block in his memory.
Kyle understood Jake’s hesitation towards the truth. If he was to be in Jake’s shoes he’d probably do the same.
Without hesitation, he bobbed his head in agreement. Jake was quite surprised when he agreed. He had thought maybe he’d hesitate and give excuses, but he agreed.
Jake stood up to his feet and buttoned up his Jacket, “Well I see you tomorrow then” he said. He had to return to the office, he also had a battle there.
Kyle stood with him and nodded his head. Jake gave him one last look, it was at this time that he noticed how Kyle had changed. For the first time, he noticed how tanned his skin was and how rough and unkept he looked. He must have been going through a rough patch. Jake sighed in his head and censured himself for wanting to go soft on him. He still had to confirm the story he just said and if what he said was true then he had more work to do.
Jake didn’t say anything else to him before strolling out of the room.
“Jake” Kyle suddenly called out halting Jake who reluctantly turned towards him.
“Thank you for seeing me,” Kyle said with a genuine smile. Jake gazed at him as he took in every of his expression. The way he had said those words and smiled at him made him remember how happy they used to laugh and tease each other while growing up. He had to admit that a part of him missed this brother of his. Maybe it was the love that he had for him that had turned into hate.
He was beginning to understand the true meaning of the words ‘a thin line between hate and love.’
We can never truly hate someone we love or loved, especially when they cause us pain. The feeling makes you hate yourself for loving them in the first place, and for being stupid enough to trust them. And it drives you mad when you still care for them despite what they’ve done, and this feeling is what we reflect on them.
Now he knew that it wasn’t Kyle he hated, he has just been angry at himself for being stupid.
Jake was almost tempted to say something to him, but he simply looked at him and turned away to leave.
He slowly walked out of the restaurant and Kyle trailing behind him. He watched as Kyle waved at him before making his way to the car. That was only if what Kyle drove in could be counted as one. He was driving a dilapidated taxi.
He felt a sudden pang in his heart when he saw him like that. There was the feeling of sadness that he felt when Kyle smiled at him before driving away. He suddenly wondered if he had been too blinded by his anger that he might have done wrong by Kyle. Or if his father would be proud of him knowing how he had treated his brother who might be innocent. Jake didn’t know what to think of himself or how he’d face Kyle if what he said was the truth.
If it was indeed the truth, and Hillary had indeed tempered with his memory and had caused a rift between them, then God helps her.
_________
Jade was a little tensed when she stepped into the conference room. The faces of the people trooping into the room after her, made her nerves knot. She could feel her heart racing behind her chest. She struggled to calm herself down but no matter what she did, she couldn’t. Her eyes scanned through the faces of the people sitting there. Most of them were the same people who had determined the fate of her career a week ago.
She caught sight of Mr. Simon flashing her an encouraging smile, and it eased her a bit but not enough to completely calm her raging nerves. Her eyes darted to Mrs. Tracy who was sitting beside the president, but the woman had her usual stoic look on her face.
She moved to the front of the huge round table where a projector was projected to a white canvas on the wall. One of the tech guys helped set it up and passed her the remote control.
“You can start Ms. Peterson,” The president said, while Jade nodded.
“Good morning gentlemen and lady” Jade greeted before going to the presentation proper. Her heart thumped hard against her chest at the initial moments but soon she felt a bit more relaxed and she began to flow freely a few minutes into the presentation. The approving and understanding nod she received from the members of the board fueled her with more confidence.
“Xenox has been known for making mind-blowing games which have not just dominated the western market but also the eastern market, and that has fueled us into making something better. Level up isn’t just another game for us it’s a masterpiece. The world, storyline, and graphics of the game are above our usual game. Allow me to show a demo of the game” Jade said as she pressed on the projector controller to change the PowerPoint.
All eyes expectantly moved from the presenter to the screen. Their eyes were glued and eager to see the game that she had beautifully described, not because they hadn’t seen the demo before –at least a few members of the board had been privileged to see it while some had not – but because Jade had piqued their interest about the game with her beautiful presentation.
While they eagerly waited for the game to pop up on the screen, something else did.
Sounds of lustfully moaning men and women engaging in sexual pleasures echoed through the room. On the screen was an XX video on display.
Several gasps echoed through the room, as they all looked away. Jade who was shocked by their sudden reaction turned towards the screen. Her eyes flew wide open almost popping out of their sockets when she saw what was on the screen.
“What is the meaning of this? Turn that off” Came the angry voice of the president whose face had turned dark and gloomy.
Jade was thunderstruck as she turned to look at the furious man. She was shocked, confused, surprised… and whatever vocabulary was there to express how dumbfounded she was at the moment. Most of the people turned their faces away from the lewd stuff still being projected on the screen, but the lustful sound was still echoing across the room.
“Turn that damn thing off this instant” The man roared again, jolting Jade’s brain which had zoned out in shock to rev back to life. Her hands quavering tried to shut it down, but she couldn’t. She had no choice but to pull off the cable connecting the laptop to the projector. The room suddenly became quiet when she successfully disconnected the laptop. But only made the reality of what had just happened dawn on her.
Jade couldn’t help it, her heart was beating over the roof, she didn’t understand what just happened. She was panting at the moment.
‘Wh…what was that?’ She asked herself in a whisper. What just happened to her presentation? Was that her drive? Did someone tamper with her drive?.
A plethora of thoughts were going through her head at the moment, as she stood transfixed.
Someone should please explain to her what just happened. How had things turned out like this?
“What sort of nonsense was that?” Jade heard someone demand furiously. She didn’t need to look up to know it was the big boss who was yelling at her.
She slowly lifted her head and her eyes met the angry, scrutinizing, disappointing and embarrassing look they were all shooting at her. She felt like a lightning bolt had struck her dead.
Her eyes slowly darted towards Mr. Simon who was giving her a confused look and also to Mrs. Lin who’s face was still as stoic as ever. These were the people that knew her best, what were they going to think of her?
Jade’s eyes finally settled on the big boss who was shooting fiery darts at her. She felt her mind shatter as she looked at him.
She was going to lose her job, wasn’t she?
Jade tried to open her mouth to say something, but she didn’t know what to say. No words could form in her head. Her thoughts were incoherent, she was yet to wrap her head around what just happened. How did such a thing enter into her flash drive? Jade didn’t know how to explain this situation, because she also didn’t know what happened.
“I…I don’t know” Was all she could say. Jade could feel tears slowly pooling in her eyes, she clenched her hands just to hold them in. She couldn’t cry, she dare not cry at the moment. She wasn’t some sort of weak girl, but she loved her career. She loved her job and what happened is enough to take her job away.
The President’s eyes flashed red when he heard her silly excuse.
“You don’t know? You turn a meeting into a pornographic cinema and you dare say you don’t know!” He roared angrily as she slammed his hand on the table, making Jade flinch.
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 23
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