Chapter 68: A Lazy Man

Who would have believed that Simon would ever fall in love this way especially with someone of a lower class. Someone not even on same level with him in the society Bruce thought as he tailed the blue Ford that Paige was in. "Love is so stupid!" He exclaimed to no one in particular.

Back at the Mansion, Simon received a call from Charles. "Hello," he spoke into the phone.

"Good afternoon Boss." Charles greeted.

"Is everything okay over there." He asked knowing fully well that Charles hardly call unless there was something he needed Simon to know.

"I had my men track down Mr. Riley like you asked." He started. "He's in Yardstin Boss, Oceanview to be precise. He's been spotted twice with Miss. Rueben. I forwarded the pictures to your mail." Charles reported.

"That son of a bitch!" Stefan exclaimed angrily.

"Would you want to speak to him Boss?" Charles asked.

Be sighed thoughtfully. "As a matter of fact, I think I do." Simon replied. "I'd prefer we pay him a visit. Where does he stay?" 

"Globlet hotels at Oceanview Boss."

"Great, that's less than an hour journey from here. Meet me at the hotel." He told Charles.

"Sure Boss. It's closer to Lakeview, so I'll be there before you. I'll just set up the meeting." He told Simon who nodded. He knew or rather understood what Charles meant by setting up the meeting so be didn't bother asking.

"That will be lovely." He remarked. "And Charles," he called.

"Yes boss." Charles answered.

"Take care of yourself, be careful." He told him.

"Very well boss." He replied.

Simon hung up immediately and placed another call to Bruce. "Where are you?"

"Outside a beauty shop in town called Féminine." He replied.

"How is she?" He asked.

"She's okay Boss, just having her beauty care. Nothing out of the ordinary."

"Great, meet me outside the Globlet hotels at Oceanview." He instructed.

"On my way." Bruce replied starting the car and driving away from the spot.

Simon walked hurriedly out of the dinning hall to his car outside. "The car keys." He asked Nicon who handed them over to him and he drove out of the compound in high speed.

Just like he said, Charles arrived the Globlet hotels in a gray and neatly sewn suit paired with a navy blue tie, sparkly black shoe and a black briefcase. "Hello, he greeted the receptionist. "I'd like to book a room. Preferable on the second floor." He told her as prior to now, he already noted Stefan's room number. 

"Very well Sir." The receptionist said handing him a room key which bore the number 156.

"Thank you." he said and went upstairs. Dropping his briefcase in his hotel room, he covered his head with a woollen Beret, a dark shade and added a silencer to his gun which he kept inside his pant. Then he headed to pay Stefan's a visit at his room. Getting to his door, he picked the lock as fast as he could maintaining a cheerful appearance in front of the camera while his hand did the work. He stepped into the Stefan's room after successfully picking the lock and discovered that he was in the bathroom taking a shower. He bolted the door securely and texted Simon the room number then proceeded to do a quick sweep of the room before comfortably settling on one of the seats patiently waiting for Stefan.

Poor Stefan walked out of the bathroom to a gun pointed steadily at him. "Put your hands where I can see them and take a seat over there." Charles said nodding to the seat at the opposite direction.

"Who are you? Who sent you? What do you want?" Stefan asked afraid.

"My name is Charlie." Charles said. "I was sent by my boss. He's actually on his way down here. So you know what? We'll just sit calmly and wait for him." Charles said still holding his gun at Stefan who nodded meekly too afraid to move. Charles's phone buzzed with a call from Simon and he picked up immediately. "Yes," he said replying to Simon. I'm in position Boss." He further said. "Mr. Riley," Charles called after dropping the call. "The room telephone is going to ring any moment from now and you will pick up and confirm that you're expecting a visitor. Failure to do so or if you try to play smart, I'll kill you." Charles said without mincing words. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, yes please. I understand very well." Stefan replied scared. Few minutes later, the telephone rang and Stefan picked up immediately scared as a rat. "Hello, he spoke into the phone. "Yes, they are my guests. Kindly direct them to my room please." Stefan said and hurriedly dropped the telephone. He looked up at Charles who gave him a wicked smile.

"Now we wait." Charles said crossing his legs still holding his gun firmly. Stefan was disoriented and confused. He was scared for his life and kept wondering if he would survive the day when the expected guests arrive.

"What do you want from me?" Stefan asked willing to hear from Charles. But they were interrupted by a heavy knock on the door.

"Get the door." Charles said standing up. Stefan stood as well. "Lead the way." He said pointing the gun to Stefan's head. Stefan walked up to the door and opened it. Once open, Simon and Bruce walked in bolting the door behind them.

"Hello Mr. Riley." Simon greeted with a warm smile.

"You again." Stefan said pointing at Bruce. He immediately remembered their encounter at Warren city when he tracked him down to retrieve the money he stole from Paige. 

"Me again Mr Riley." Bruce replied with an evil smirk. "Did you miss me?" He asked as Simon took a seat at Charles's former sitting position. Stefan looked from one man to the other before his gaze finally settled on Simon.

"Mr Riley," Simon called. "Please sit." He gestured to the seat. Stefan sat down immediately. Charles and Bruce now have their guns pointed at him. "I'd love to know what you're doing at Yardstin." Simon asked calmly relaxing his back on the couch.

The guns pointed at him drew closer with the question. "I....... I... I came..., I came to visit my family. They stay closeby." He quickly added.

"Hmmmm," Simon hummed. "Let's try again Mr. Riley. For the last time, why are you here?" He asked. Stefan looked around at the mean faces of the men in the room. She was scared to his bone marrow but then he remembered the threat he got from the Rubens and decided that it was best not to talk.

"I've told you already." He said. "I'm here to see my parents." He repeated.

"Wrong answer." Simon told him. The answer earned Stefan a huge jaw punch that had him having a taste of his own blood.

"I'll ask again Mr.. Riley, what brings you to Yardstin." He asked.

"I came to see Paige Patterson my girlfriend." He  finally replied almost crying.

"I'm listening." Simon urged.

"I already told you everything. I came to see Paige." He replied almost in tears.

"And what business do you have with Fiona Reuben?" Simon asked again. Stefan became silent when he heard the question. He didn't know how best to answer. In fact, he was scared, bruised and tired already. His silence earned him another punch from Bruce giving him a swollen jaw. Charles was about adding his own punch when he shouted.

"I'll talk please, no more. I'll answer all your questions." He replied weeping uncontrollably. "The daughter and mother duo contacted me and asked if I wanted to make some extra cash without doing much and I told them yes so they made me an offer. They asked that I distract Paige and make her forgive me and take me back for a period of four months after which I can finally dump her if I wish to." He sobbed. "Initially, I refused. Honestly, I did. But the money was too tempting and inviting as they increased it.

"I was financially challenged at the time and I needed a little financial boost. So, I reached out to them and took the offer. Believe me, I never meant to hurt Paige. In fact, I already planned on letting her in on their plan once she give me an audience. Please don't kill me." He pleaded tearfully. "I am all my parents got.

"I wish I made a tape of your little confession so you could listen to yourself speak Stefan Riley. You were financially challenged and needed a boost?Such a lazy man. What happened to going out there and making a living for yourself? Must you leave off other people to survive. You sound so pathetic you incompetent fool!" Simon growled angrily. "You actually have a family that got your back and you have the guts to betray someone that keeps defending you shamelessly at any given opportunity. For god's sake, she doesn't even have a family. She's an orphan, she is all alone and you keep hurting her over and over again. You are indeed nothing but a shameless fool!" She shouted