C3 RIVALS

Wilson walked into the President's office with his hands to his back and stand facing him squarely. The President, Washington Dell was standing by the window side with one hand in his pocket and the other holding a cup of coffee. Two security guards were standing by the door and the Secretary was adjacent the President looking keenly at Wilson.

"You had it all sorted out yet?" Washington asked not looking back and taking another sip from the cup.

"Of course. She had seizure." Wilson answered.

"We'll look into that. Roberts talked to the Press yesterday. Were you aware?"

"No. I wasn't." Wilson replied.

"He is not helping the situation." He said turning to face him."you can make him stop?"

"Yeah of course."

"Your father has been so loyal to me Wilson. He made me here today. I was like a son to him and he was like a father to me. So, you're my brother.I wish he was alive to see how well his son is serving me now." He remarked smiling mischievously.

"How long are we keeping the child?" Wilson asked feigning the remark.

"That depends on Joe. Let's see how far he goes." He said walking towards his chair gently.

"Do you need anything now?" He asked Wilson.

"The PCS are coming for the checkings this week. We are still depreciating."

"I'll stop them. Anything else?"

"Not yet." Wilson replied.

"Excuse me then." Washington replied and Wilson walked out of the office.

Wilson's capital drastically dropped lower than the normal rate years after his father's departure. And knowing Washington and the help his father offered him when he is climbing into politics, he sought for his help. Washington had eversince then, being helping him in all ways. And now it turns out Washington had unsatisfied quench for immortality. And according to Joe and his researches, Samantha bears a very rare gene. Washington had her kidnapped for experiments.

Wilson walked into his car and drove out of the President premises. He looked at his gold plaited wrist watch and heaved. He took his phone and dialled Joe.

"For how long is the kid staying with you?" He asked.

"I don't know. The labs are working on it." Joe replied from the other end.

"I thought you only need her blood?"

"It doesn't work that way Wilson."

"Get on with it. He is growing impatience."

He retorted before ending the call.

The car parked in front of his company and he alighted. He walked straight in followed closely by his Guards. Workers bow slightly as he made his way up to the board of directors. When he walked in, they were already there.

He can see clearly most of them were mad for his lateness. He didn't care. He has never cared.

"Another sojourn?" Maxis asked.

Maxis is the Director of the corporate finance and the father of Orlena.

"We have the PCS on our nerves now and you're late to meeting?" Gordon, director of scales and rates, and the youngest.

"Didn't your father taught you how to talk before he passed away?" Wilson asked angrily.

Others went silent and he resumed to his chair. He sat facing them all and for some minutes, no one talked.

"What do we have today Halo?" He asked the man sitting adjacent to him.

"The Watch dropped their application and we are dropped to four." He said and murmuring started among the rest. For some minutes, he is silent. He knew the withdrawer of The Watch will squarely affect the droppings in rates.

"What of DeCour?" He asked after deep thinking.

"DeCour dropped by 1%. What are you talking about?" Maguss fired across the table.

Wilson turned facing Halo.

"What are we facing?" He asked.

"DeCour is facing down at the moment. They hardly have any capital output. And they're facing bankruptcy at the moment as well." Halo expressed.

"Bankruptcy by how much?" Wilson asked.

"Billions. They're waving tails now." Fredrick replied.

"What are you trying to do?" Maxis asked impatiently.

"For how long have they invested in 1%?" He asked ignoring Maxis question.

"Five months at most." Halo replied.

Wilson looked at the faces of the fifteen men across the table from him. He knew they'll talk but none of them can withdraw right now. Not even Arguro, the chief executives.

" I'm investing in them." He said and at once the office went silent. Just then, the uproar started.

"You can't beat that. We still have the PCS on our sleeves." They roared almost in unison.

"They have been taken care of. Anything else?" He asked standing up.

The room went silent. He observed Arguro didn't say a word since the beginning of the meeting. He knew he is up to something.

"I guess there is nothing else." He said and made for the door. No one utter a word till he walked out of the office followed by his guard.

Orlena hardly alighted from the car before storming inside. She met Ariadne by the entrance, she threw the bag at her and the latter caught it in the air.

"Where is Wilson?" She asked heading towards the stairs with her heels hitting hard on the marble floor.

"Inside ma'am." Ariadne replied trying to catch up with her.

"Stay downstairs."She said and Ariadne stopped.

She opened the door and stormed in.

Wilson was sitting on his chair with his glasses on and a newspaper in hand.

"Wilson?! What happened at the meeting and why did you shut Dad out?" She asked furiously.

Wilson removed his glasses gently and placed it on the desk.

"I didn't shut your father out Orlena. Can I rest now?"

"Why did you have to invest in DeCour? Shams is Dad's strongest enemy. Do you think it speaks well for you to invest his money in his enemy's business?"

"Shams is not the CEO of DeCour. He stepped down." He said calmly.

"He didn't step down. He was sick and he went on leave. He is coming back." She bellowed.

"I have nothing to say to you Orlena. I have people's property with me and I can't jeopardize my chance of stepping away from bankruptcy because your father had issues with the CEO. He is one out of fifteen. His interest doesn't matter. Tell that to the board not me. None of them objected when I brought up the idea. If your father was not fine by the decision he should have spoken out."

"You shut him out. And now? What were you saying?"

Wilson stood up abruptly and made for his room.

"You want to leave me standing here." She said in anger before walking down the stairs again meeting up with Ariadne mid way.

"Give me my phone now."

Ariadne fumbled with the bag and hand the phone over to her.

She dialled the number and press the phone to her ear.

"Hey! Meet me there right now." She said to the phone before storming out again.

Arguro sat round the table with two others from the corporate.

"Shams is as good as dead." McCam pointed out.

"She'll soon be here." Arguro said.

"I don't know what he thinks he is doing. DeCour? That's ridiculous!" McCam added.

Just then, the car pulled over and she stepped out of the car and walked into the restaurant. She was taken to the back door for the VIP's and ushered in. She met the three already seated.

"I talked to him about it. He is not yielding." Orlena complained.

"That's what we want." Fredrick added.

"What's the suggestion now Orl? Arguro asked.

"My father deserves alot from Wilson not this."

She moved close to Arguro and whispered to his ears. The latter smiled mischievously.

Inside Principal Geroge. Most of the teachers were present in a meeting.

"I just want you to make sure you do all your possible best to keep this away from the kids. No one must know about the kidnapp."

"Of course." The teachers chorused.

She dismissed them afterwards.

Just then, Courtney who had been waiting by the office walked in.

"Hey! Hello Courtney." Principal George greeted with a smile beckoning her to sit down.

She sat quietly. And look straight at her.

"To what do I own this visit Court?"

"I want to know the reason why I have to be in the same dorm with Ariel." She said factly.

"Ariel is your sister Courtney. And as family, you were meant to stick together..."

"We're not family. I want another dormitory or she should leave." She said angrily standing to go.

"Okay then. I'll change your dorm. But you will have to stay for the rest of this session together. Let's see what I can do to it next session." Principal George said.

As soon as she stepped out of the office, she collided with Isla at the entrance.

"What are you looking for?" She asked.

"Have you seen Ariel? She is back." She pronounced with one breath.

"Okay. So?"

"Have you talked to Principal George?"

"I'm taking my stuff away from that dorm tomorrow. I can't wait till next session."

"You should stay Court. Use this opportunity to find out her weakness." Isla advised.

She looked on for some minutes before smiling.

"That sounds great. Where is she?"

"I saw her with Layla the other time. Let's go." Isla said grabbing her by hand. They both walked passed the library down to the corner of the historical building. And they saw from afar, Ariel walking towards Oliver.

"Hi. I'm Ariel." She greeted grinning all ears.

"Hey! I'm Oliver." He answered smiling back.

"Can I sit?"

"Of course." He replied shifting for her.

"I learnt you're new. Aren't you?"

"Yeah of course. Came in yesterday."

"Yeah. I was told. You're from Rob? Like Robs and Sons?"

"That's my father."

"Oh! Yeah of course. And I'm sorry for what Courtney did yesterday."

"No. It's totally fine. She just expressed herself."

For some minutes, they both looked on before she broke the silence.

"You play?" She asked touching the guitar lightly.

"Of course. Had my own band. We're no more together." His face dropped.

"I'm sorry for that."

"No, it's cool. I chose to leave."

"Well... that's a good decision."

"I hope so."

Courtney was boiling with rage as she yanked her hands off from Isla's grip.

"I'm leaving." She said.

"Why?"

"She is flirting with him." She retorted.

"We all know that's what she does. You shouldn't be surprised. Layla must have told her."

"Like I care!" She spits.

Malthus and Denver made for the school library as usual.

"Have you seen the new girl?" Denver asked.

"Yeah." He replied.

"She is pretty. More than Arabella I guess."

"Good for her."

"You're not interested?" Denver asked surprisingly.

"I've never been. I don't know why."

"Arabella is unto you."

"Of course I know. We just can't be together."

"Why?"

"I don't really know. But my mind doesn't belong here. Trust me."

"None of them is my type of woman either."

Malthus chuckled before looking at him.

"I know you like Scarlett." He said and Denver looked astonished.

"How on earth did you know that?" He asked surprisingly.

"I just know. Instincts."

"She is someone I can't reach."

"Why?"

"I know she loves Cleo. She just doesn't want to admit it."

"Cleo joined Ryan already. Nobody really like their group."

"I've seen her looked at him. I know those looks." Denver insisted.

"Maybe then."

They walked straight into the library and sat at their usual spot. Arabella is two seat away from them.

"She is here." Denver announced.

"Who?" Malthus asked silently.

"Arabel. She is sitting two shots away."

"Well... can we concentrate on why we're here please?" Malthus asked trying as much as possible not to look up to afford gaze with her.

Just then, she walked up to them.

"Hi!" She greeted quietly.

"Hi" They both chorused.

"Ehmm... can I sit with you?" She asked.

"Of course." Denver answered standing up from his chair for her to sit. He left afterwards.

"I'll be back in a jiffy." He said and left.

"It's good to be back here." She commented.

"Of course." He simply said.

"I'm hosting a party two days away. Will you like to come?"

"I'm not sure. Sorry. I don't normally attend parties."

"Then I'll have to call off the party then." She said and he only nods.

"I'm glad you talked to me." She said hiding her feelings.

"Anytime." He replied.

She stood up to go just exactly when Michaela walked in with Violet.