Ruin The Billionaire

Jake.

“What is wrong with you, mother? How can you stoop so low as to blackmail your own son to do your bidding? What kind of mother are you?”

“The kind that loves her son and wishes the best for him,” she said, taking her phone away. “From the start, Lilith Hellman’s motive was to destroy you. Even you knew it and that’s why you asked me to return home and help you. Because I loved you, I decided to come back and help. I did what I thought you wanted. You were happy that I got rid of that woman. I don’t know what happened, or how managed to fool you. Now you believe she is the good one and I’m the evil one.

She wrote terrible articles about you, things that could lead you to being exposed to the whole world. I came and stopped that. I’m trying to separate you from someone who wants to destroy you. How sure are you that Hellman is actually in love with you and not trying to get close so she can get more information to publish? I have dealt with journalists longer than you, and I know that most of them would do almost anything to get their hands on a good story.”

“I know she’s not like that,” I said. “She’s a good woman. If she wanted to write about me, she would have done. She has information that no one else in the media has. She has not even used our relationship for fame. Do you know that she’s the one who stopped me from confronting you the moment I found out what you did?”

“Oh come on, she only stopped you because she was scared of what I would do to her. She doesn’t care about you, but herself. You’re just confused. Deep down you know that this is not the woman for you. You can’t find a girlfriend in the gutter when there are so many classy women around. You can have fun with her all you want, but you’re not going to have a public relationship with such a woman. I will not allow you to disgrace our name like this.”

I stood up to leave because I was tired of listening to her nonsense. Calling her back was the worst mistake I had done.

“Mother, you have disgraced this family’s name more than anyone else. You have no right to tell me what to do.”

“I’m friends with an editor for The Blue Paper. I can call her right now and give her the pictures. Although you claim to have changed, I don’t think Lilith Hellman will let it slide. You claim to have been influenced and forced but I don’t think she will believe that. I don’t think anyone will. The whole world will turn against you and you’ll lose everything. Are you really ready for that?”

“Whatever,” I said and started walking away.

“Wait, son.”

“What now?” I stopped walking.

“Go and pack your things because you’re going on vacation. Have your deputy at the insurance company take over your duties while you’re gone. You’ll leave in an hours’ time.”

“What are you trying to do? Take my company or ruin it?”

She shook her head. “None of that. I want you to have a good time with a good woman so you can forget about that damned journalist. She’ll be here in a minute but the good thing is that you know her very well.”

“Heather,” I guessed.

“There’s a condition. You cannot tell Lilith Hellman that you’re being forced to go for this vacation. For it work, she has to think it was your choice. You’ve seen a sample of what I can do to her. You know very well that I’m willing to do some bad things in order to further my interests.”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

I turned and walked away without another word. I wondered if the things I’d done were that bad. What if I opened up and asked for forgiveness in a tell-all interview? I hated that my mother was controlling using things I had hoped to take to my grave.

I started to develop headache as I thought of it. This was too much. I couldn’t just lose Lilly so easily like that. How could I accept defeat?

After a while, I realised that it was best to play my mother’s games until I found a way of dealing with her. Lilly didn’t want to be with me anymore, so it didn’t matter whether I went for the vacation or not.

I called for Carrie and ordered her to pack a few things for me. I needed to be away from there to strategize anyway. Heather was not hard to deal with. I wondered if she was actually happy with the arrangement.

I could hear voices downstairs which signalled that Heather had arrived. I tried to call Lilly but she did not come back. Why was she so stubborn? I just wanted to hear her voice on more time before I embarked on the stupid journey.

Eventually, I left the room. The main had already taken everything to the jet where I could hear buzzing outside. When I was at the top of the stairs, I saw Heather chatting happily with my mother in the living room. She was dressed to the nines and had full make up on. When she saw me, she smiled and stood up. I descended the stairs.

“That’s my handsome son,” my mother said. “I hope you two have a really good time.”

I didn’t say anything, but passed by them and headed to the door.

“Is this how you treat your girlfriend? Don’t worry Heather, he’s just angry. He’ll calm down soon. You just have to do your duties well as a woman. Have fun.”

Heather followed me like a puppy. Yeah, I would never be happy if I married such a woman. That was a sure thing.

“Does this make you happy?” I ask her when we were alone. A woman was standing in the front yard. When she saw us, she started taking photographs.

“I’m happy just to be by your side. You know that I love you so much.”

Oh hell.