My ex-husband's nightmare - Chapter 70: Chapter 70

Mason
The room went silent, all anticipating my next words.
I squinted my eyes as I stared intently at the screen, my palms fist into a ball underneath the table.
On the screen is a man assaulting a flight attendant. I inhaled slowly, wanting to calm the rage growing within me.
The man in the blue suit, unfortunately, happened to be working for my company, not just any position, but as a director, and his face was used to promote a product that was launched two weeks ago.
Not only did his act sabotage the entire product, but he had also ruined others brought as they are now being boycotted.
When the video stopped playing, Daniel moved the iPad away. He is standing by my side.
I placed my hand on the table, interlocking them, and pushed myself forward.
“Where is Mr. Arvin?” I asked.
“He is still in police custody.” He had been arrested and removed from the plane.
“I want his office cleared and a dismissal notice sent to him with immediate effect. Also, he will not be given any payment and will cover all the loss we have incurred because of his act.”
“Yes, sir,” Daniel said.
“Meeting is dismissed.” I said, about to stand.
“Well, sir.” One of the men seated by my right began. I paused and looked in his direction. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose with his hands.
“About Mr. Arvin.” He began, then he swallowed, looked down at his hand, and up again.
“Mr. Brown, go on.” I encouraged.
“I think dismissing him would be too much. He has done so much for this company, and he has placed so much effort into the product. We think it would be unnecessary to dismiss him; suspending him may be better.” He concluded and held my gaze.
I was silent for a while. When I spoke, he sank into his seat.
“We?” I asked, my voice cold as I looked around the table, wondering who constituted the term ‘we’.
He nodded slowly. “You think dismissing him is unnecessary?” I was puzzled at his courage.
“Your advice is unsolicited, but since we are on it,” I paused, then continued, “who else shares this same opinion? Who thinks I've been unjust and my decision is unnecessary?” They shifted uneasily on their seats.
No one dared to speak. Mr. Brown, who had spoken a while ago, looked from one man to another, probably trying to signal them to speak out, but they remained silent.
“Who does your loyalty belong to, the company or Mr. Arvin?’ I asked Mr. Brown.
“Well, Sir…” he began.
“If you think my decision to remove him is not necessary, then you are welcome to join him. I'll be more than happy to dismiss all of his lackeys.” I said and stood, pushing my leather chair, which I had sat on, backwards.
“I'm sorry, Sir.” He bowed deeply, “I was mistaken.” I didn't say another word as I walked out of the meeting room.
The day was long, with me answering calls from important investors who had questions about the inside. This incident has also affected the shares and stock of the company.
My phone beeped; I picked it up and opened up the message. I smiled when I saw it was from Zoe.
“Hey, bro, I read the news, are you alright?”
Another came up before I could reply.
“I hope you are well. I'll be coming next week. The flight and everything are ready. I know you are too busy to call, but talk whenever you are free.”
Another popped on the screen, “Bye, I love you.”
I began typing back.
“You had told me you'd be coming back this week; why did you change your mind?” I touched the sent icon.
I will always have time for her, “and I'm handling the situation well.”
Three dots appeared on the top of the screen, proof that she was typing back.
The door pushed open, and Daniel walked in. “You need to see this.” He said when he got closer.
I set my phone on the table and took the iPad from him.
“Kavas Corporation just launched the same product.” He said.
My hand tightened on the screen as I watched the video in front of me. Lydia was giving a speech. All smiles as cameras flicked all around her.
“I want to believe that this wasn't done intentionally.” I handed the iPad back to Daniel, ignoring his words.
I know, Lydia, this is intentional. That much is clear. But how did she do it?
I passed my hand across my hair, “Lydia, she keeps pulling these things and throwing me under the bus.” I said. I closed my eyes and rested my head on the headrest of my seat. I have underestimated her.
The video of Mr. Arvin had barely been five hours, and they were already launching the same product.
“We'll push the product as planned. Bring the date back from two weeks to one week. I don't care what the PR does, but I want all the news about Arvin gone.” I instructed.
A lot has gone into that product, and we had all agreed that it couldn't be discarded. We would wait for two weeks for the news about Mr. Arvin to die before reintroducing the product to the market.
But that would not be possible, I'm not ready to lose this to Lydia. Not this.
I pulled up a few feet away from the gate. Contemplating going in or staying out in my car. I have been trying to reach her all day but couldn't, so I decided it would be best to come see her at her apartment.
The gate soon pulled open, and Lydia came out with Marcus. She closed the gate, and they stood outside chatting. She laughed at whatever he said.
I scoffed; I'm sure that wasn't funny.
When he pulled her into a hug, my hand tightened on the steering wheel. He held her for thirty seconds before releasing her. I know this because I counted in my head.
At this point, I am more concerned about separating them than anything else.
When he pulled her into a hug again, I honked loudly before I could realize. They leapt off each other, exchanged puzzled glances, and then turned in the direction of my car.
Shit! I don't want them to see me here.
So I drove off before they could come closer.
My mom was seated in the sitting room when I got to the mansion. She wore a worried look on her face and sprang up to her feet when she saw me.
“Mason, where have you been? I've been trying to reach you all day,” she said.
I took off my suit and held it in my hand. I've not been here for the past few days.
“Are you ignoring my calls again?” She asked.
“Have you done anything to make me ignore it?” I asked back.
“No, it's just that…” she paused, then looked upstairs.
“Julia is here. She is not fine.” I furrowed my brows. “So…”
“She needs you.”
“I'm no doctor,” I said, she needs to see a doctor, not me.
“I heard her parents are in the city, so why not call them or take her to your penthouse?” My mom shook her head as though to say she's done with me.
“She's in your room. Go see her.” She said before walking to her room.
I shouldn't have come. It wasn't too late to leave.
I opened my door to see Julia coiled up on the bed, one hand on her stomach. She turned to me, attempting to sit.
“Hey,” she greeted.
“How do you feel?” I asked before sitting on the couch opposite her.
“Not fine.” She shook her head.
“Want to go see the doctor?”
“No. It's not that bad.” “You don't wait till it's that bad before going,” I say.
She refused to see the doctor, claiming that my presence was enough. We had plans to visit the exhibition in two days, so I decided to let her stay in my room and didn't complain much when she asked for my company the next day.
She asked for some chocolate, and to my biggest surprise, we had none.
“I'll go get them for you.” I know I could send someone else, but I didn't; I just wanted to be away from her as fast as I could.
Now standing in front of the row of various brands of chocolate, I pulled each one to check the brand to buy. But I couldn't decide, so I began taking two out of each brand. Why are there so many brands?
Just then, I felt a small pull on my trousers. I turned and lowered my gaze to see a little boy.
“We meet again; I knew it was you," he said, and at that moment, his face registered. I had seen him at the hospital some time back.
“Hey, buddy.” I greeted. He wasn't alone; this time, he was with a girl of similar height. She looked like my mini version. How can two unrelated people look so much alike?