The Billionaires Contract Marriage

Chapter 2

Chinenye Faith Peters

If Chinenye could skip any part of her day, it would be this. Sitting at the top of the table and listening to men think they have a say in the happenings of her empire. She sat and watched them, only to give them hope that what they said was actually beneficial to the company.

"I say we don't get involved in this project, we're not sure of the outcome, let's play it safe. Come on a skyscraper? In another continent, if that fails, we'll be finished. Our architects can't design something good enough for them, it's risky", one of them managed to say without being interrupted.

Chinenye had taken enough, she stood to her feet abruptly, gaining all the men's attention. Her face so neutral that no one could figure out what she was thinking. "Are you all done?", She asked as she buttoned up her suite, she looked over at all of them, she didn't expect any answer from them, infact she didn't want a word out of their mouths anymore.

"I know Mr. Ugo you are a very small minded man who could never understand the essence of growth", she said looking him straight in the eye, her face plane of every emotion. Mr Ugo swallowed hard.

"My Empire can not only live on taking little works that the government call projects around here Sir. I like to believe we are capable of more than a stupid little bridge or a greedy politician's hotel or club!". She said emphasizing on every word this time to get her point across. "I don't know why or how a simpleton like you got into this room, or infact this building. You think so small, so little. It's actually belittling for me that you are my employee", Chinenye spoke with nothing but confidence in her voice, taking steps towards Mr Ugo, making him even more scared. "It is obvious that you are not capable of taking up a big project like this, your mind can only go so far as usual. Calling this a risk instead of a means of growth? How stupid can you really be Mr Ugo, how foolish?", She said taking a place at the edge of the table so she could look him in the eye. "Now be truthful, unless you will definitely loose your jobs. If you think we are capable of this raise a hand please", she said and looked around the table to see 8 out of 12 hands raised. "The rest of you, get out of this room, we will find people more sensible in thinking than you ",she said standing to her feet upright and and heading for the door of the conference room as her assistant followed her. "Come up with ideas, bring it to my table as soon as you can", she said already working through the door.

"Madam", Gregory said as he followed her trail. She could hear him but didn't need whatever he had to say when she was still walking. "Madam", he repeated, as he followed, building plans in his hands threatening to fall off. "Madam", he repeated himself, she had already reached her office.

She took a seat at her desk then, looked over at Gregory. "Yes Gregory", she said as she opened up her laptop, finally ready for the real day's work. "Madam the building plans for the hotel", he Said making her direct her gaze to him and notice what he was holding. Noticing the plans she already felt a headache coming, why was that on paper? She thought.

"The Accra Hotel?", She said trying to make herself sound as calm as she could. "Yes Ma, Mr Emmanuel said to give you to go over it?", Gregor managed to say despite the fear in him. Her voice was just low and calm, Gregor knew the tone a little to well. "Drop them over there, send him to my office imediately", she said her attention already diverted.

"I'm sorounded by idiots", she said under her breath but Gregor caught it as it left her mouth. He was expecting that.

She went through her email, most of them were Gregor's Job. Until she stopped at an email from Gideon.

Hey,

Sis, I won't be able to attend, we're having exams. Already told mom, just wanted to tell you incase you were expecting my measurements.

She stared at the screen for a while, till it hit her. She's the one planning the whole damn thing, it had skipped her mind, not due to the insignificance anyways, maybe she wanted not to think of it at all.

She reached for her phone to dial her mother's number.

"Chinenye", Mrs Peters voice called out even though her daughter was just at the other end of the call. She hadn't really expected a call from her at this hour, infact at any hour, her calls were never expected because she never called. "Mummy", Chinenye said her voice not sounding any bit deferent from when she talked to her employees or fellow business partners. "Your children are giving excuses not to attend their father's burial. Gideon has no exams, I know his school schedule", she said with zero emotions in her voice. Mrs Peters couldn't really object to the way she spoke, at least not anymore, she did not have the energy for. "Chinenye the flight is long, it's okay for him to skip it", she said trying as much as possible not to drag this on as an argument. "It's okay for him to 'skip it' then it's okay for me as well. I have a very busy schedule mummy and I've already inked it in. Tell your son he's coming, I'll have his transport taken care of", she said in conclusion and ended the call, not that her mother had anything to say to object, but she couldn't give her any space to object anyways.

"Madam", Chinenye looked over to a Gregor standing by the door, shyly as usual. "Mr Emma", "Come in", she said cutting him off promptly.

"Ms Faith", Mr Emmanuel greeted as he walked over to the wide glass desk that she sat at. He was quite a brilliant man, but he could never get a good enough tailor, either that or casuals were more of his thing. "Gregor set these plans for me", she ordered and Gregor immediately ran to them.

"Mr Emmanuel", she said dragging his name as she stood up and opened her glass case. Mr Emmanuel hadn't really been invited much to his bosses presence allot, the only time they were this close was during his interview, he had heard allot of stories about her, how strong she always was, her employees never knew what her next step was, he had also heard of how very swiftly she could fire someone without a second glance. Maybe the last part was what made him swallow hard for the 8th time since he walked into the office.

Gregor finished placing only 3 of the papers. She placed her glasses on and looked at each one before looking up again at the artist. "Come on", she signaled for Mr Emmanuel to come closer.

He moved closer to the desk almost trembling.

"Before you say anything", she interrupted him before he could form even one word. She took her seat again. "Why is this on paper?", She asked in just the same calm voice she had been using since he walked into the room, if he wasn't so scared he would actually feel very relaxed just by her tone. "Ma'am", he stammered his hands wet from sweat. She noticed it, she could smell the fear on him from far away. Usually she would toss these papers out in front of him and demand a digital version from him and not an intern or one of the computer guys, but his fear somehow softened her a bit.

"I...... prefer to sketch", he stammered looking down at the ground while she just watched him through the lens of he glasses. She finally took a good look at the sketch, it wasn't half as bad. He had actually delivered exactly what the clients had asked for, it had details that were particular to royalty, exactly what the clients had asked for. A little smile made it's way to her face.

"This isn't so bad", she looked up at him who had stopped looking at the floor, probably surprised at her words. "You need a digital representation, get a tech guy on that and and some interns to help with the 3D representation. We're expecting the people next week Tuesday, I trust you'll give them a beautiful presentation of your vision of their hotel Mr Emmanuel", his eyes grew wide with shock. Ms Faith, chief ceo to CHITEF, actually acknowledged him,gave him a whole project? He was almost as grateful as he was stunned. He finally stood straight even as she still stared him down. She knew raw talent when she saw it. "That would be all Mr Emmanuel, take your sketches and good luck". She said turning back to her computer, "Thank you Ms Faith", he stuttered before leaving the office.

It was 5 in the evening and Chinenye had already had 7 deferent meetings, 3 of them were employees and 4 were people interested in either her investment or her company's skills.

She stood to her feet, grabbing all her things in her purse and took long strides to the door. Gregor was still outside faced to his computer, he probably deserved a raise for being her longest assistant yet. "Goodnight Gregor, you can go home now", she said as she got to his desk, he looked up imediately, almost surprised at her statement. She doesn't show much care for her employees, usually she'd just walk out of the office and not look back or even say a goodnight, however today seemed like one of those days, those good days.

"I need to finish this up first, goodnight ma'am", he said with a smile. She nodded in reply.

As she walked into the almost empty house, she didn't feel much of anything. She didn't feel at home, she didn't feel in more comfort, she felt nothing, this was her normal of course. She had no home to go to. Ever.

She took her stilettoes off and grabbed them in her hand as she went towards the stairs. She could need a drink right about now, she always did.

She got into her room, the familiar emptiness like a wave washed over her.

As Chinenye held her 4th glass, she still couldn't fill the emptiness she longed to fill. At least that was what she could never admit. The after taste of the bourbon satisfying only her thirst and nothing more. One could take her for an alcoholic, just like her father. Just unlike him it wasn't his coffee.

Memories from her past crept up to the surface of her mind and she took the downed the only liquid remaining in the cup..........

Mr. Peters stared at his first daughter, his eyes roaming her body like a demon.She could already feel his stare burning holes in her head. She had been on her knees for almost 2 hours. She couldn't bring herself to speak, she didn't want to, it would only anger him more. So would her tears, so she kept those to herself as well. She was already used to this routine.

"Chinenye", he said, his tone so soft one would think he was consoling her instead of scolding. She knew better than to answer to her name at times like this, the last time she did the punishment was way beyond bearable. "I see you've grown wings", he said his voice still calm and void of all emotions.

"I see all you really want to do is embarrass me", he began, she had heard this last year, only it was directed to her younger sister. "You just want to disgrace me in the presence of everyone. You choose to be a failure", he said just sitting on the bed and looking at her. "Look at me you stupid child!", He said finally raising his voice, making her look up at his stern face. He stood to his feet and crouched down to her level. "Chinenye, you are a beautiful girl" he said softly this time, touching her hair that fell in twists, "but your beauty means nothing if you are a failure", he said and a hard blow hit her stomach, she lost her balance and fell in his arms. "Don't you want to make me proud?", he said whispering the question in her ear and patting her back, consoling her.

He lifted her head up. She could barely stand but she knew she had no choice. He walked away to get what she had been expecting.

She closed her eyes, she knew what was next.

Before she could say a prayer, the hard metal had already landed on her back, the pain Making her cry out. "Make me proud!", He yelled as he landed the metal cane on her once again, making her almost stumble to the floor, but she stood there using everything she had in her to stand.

32 strokes,

Chinenye could barely move, but somehow she mustered the energy to go to her room once he was done. She was used to these, she kept reminding herself. She was used to it so much that the pain was nothing to her.

She laid on her back besides the pain she felt, perhaps it was her fault she would have tried harder, she was embarrassing him, she needed to make him proud.

The door of her room opened and she jolted up sitting up straight. "Chinenye", the voice called, as her father came into the room locking the door behind him.

He came next to her on the bed.

Chinenye felt his hand on her leg, "let me teach you how to make me proud", he said, rubbing his hands up and down her leg.