SHARES

Richard and John had this unbreakable bond years ago. Anytime John heard Richard was coming over, he would jump every corner of the house with great excitement.

Some people even went as far as saying John looked like Richard instead of his father, and some people termed it as John being Richard'son. It was in the news for a moment.

How their strong bond turned into heated hatred is what some close people find hard to believe. "Wonders shall never end."

"The only constant thing in this world is change."

That was what people whispered to themselves when the men come to their minds.

"Who do you plan on giving this to?" Richard asked again.

"How is that a business of yours?" John returned the box to where he had pulled it out from. "What's the deal about this?" He pointed to the envelope. "You wanted to give it to me?"

"Of course." He lowered his head and placed both palms on the envelope. "But not for free."

John and Neo exchanged short glances.

"Name your price." John said.

Richard pulled the white handkerchief from his breast pocket, and picked the pen on the table, then wrote something on it before tossing it to him. "Check that."

John checked the handkerchief and his mouth went agape. "What is this?"

"You saw right." Richard exhaled sharply. "That's for my shares."

John flipped the handkerchief back to him. "Are you crazy? You want this much for just ten percent of shares? You want everything I own?"

"Will you pay or not?" Richard asked and returned the handkerchief from where he had pulled it from. "What do you think about it?"

"This is too much, you are practically taking everything me and my mom ever gained from the company." He paused and said in a bit louder voice. "And even more!"

"You are going to make more of it with time." Richard reassured with a smile.

"Sure we are! But first we are going to be scrapping the floors because we would go broke! You think all the profits go to our pockets? Hell no! We have investors to pay too!" He frowned. "And crazy inconsiderate share holders like you."

"But at least, you will be rest assured that I am not after your mother's seat." Richard stood and picked the envelope. "I will be waiting for your call." He bent his lips in a smile. "Think about it well." He walked out.

John banged his palm on the table and hissed. "I never knew this man could be this heartless and crazy."

"What are you going to do now?" Neo asked calmly.

"I have no idea, he is willing to give up his shares, I have to do all it takes to get it from him and kick his supporters out too." He rubbed both palms in his face. "But I can't afford that much, if I pay him, we are going to go broke."

There was another knock on the door.

"Who is that?" Neo asked.

Mirabella walked in and frowned a bit when she sighted Neo. "What is wrong?" She sat on the table, facing her son and leaving her bag close to her.

"How come you are here?" John asked. "You never told me you were coming over today."

"I rushed down here when someone told me Richard was here." She sighed. "I was even told he went to some departments-"

"Which department?" Neo cuts in.

Mirabella sneered and gently turned her head to her lover. "Do not interrupt me when I am talking."

"Please, tell me." He looked straight into her eyes.

She turned her head back to face her son. "Why is he even here in the first place?"

"Which department did uncle Richard visit?" John asked ignoring his mom's question.

Mirabella eyed her son. "The production department and I heard he visited the chief accountant to check the company's current financial state."

"John, you are not going to get those shares." Neo said with a bit fear in his voice.

Mirabella looked at her son, then lover. "What shares are you talking about.

************

Mirabella walked furiously in her son's office with one hand on her waist. "That old hag, how dare he demand for such an unreasonable amount of money?"

"Mom, please relax, we are going to deal with this and get over it in no time. Don't forget you are hypertensive."

She walked back to the table and sat. "What plans do you have? How do we go about it? Do you think we opt for loan?"

"Loan is out of it." John sighed. "The interest is just too much plus we are working on a new product, it's isn't out yet, you know how much we have spent on this product right? And there is no way we can repay loan when the company is broke."

"So what do we do? We have to get those shares."

"We aren't buying those shares." Neo persisted.

"Neo? What is your problem? Why do you keep cutting my mom off and talking down everything she is saying?"

"John." He called calmly. "Please listen to me, it's a trap."

"You call him by his name as if you named him." Mirabella folded her arms. "Every time, you keep forgetting who you are, would you mind me reminding you?"

"I know ma'am, I am a mere driver." He faced John. "This man wants you to buy the shares with all you have and make sure you both run out of money, as you know the company too is currently out of money which is why you need investors." He moved closer to John. "You can't be broke and the company be broke too, he wants to make you hit the rock bottom and then he walks in as a messiah, by then you will have no choice than to do all he says."

Mirabella and John opened their mouths in shock, none of them was expecting something that meaningful from someone like him.

"Now I see why he went to the production department and the chief accountant." John mumbled. "He is really determined to take this company from us."

"Thank you." Mirabella whispered and caught everyone unaware, she hardly appreciated or apologized to people. "If not for you, I would have given my company out with my own hands."

"Do not mention ma'am." Neo whispered looking straight into her eyes. He could feel the sincerity in her voice as she spoke.

John, watched the both of them carefully, as they locked eyes. He felt there was something off somewhere but didn't say a word. He was over excited he didn't agree to buy the shares.