6. Everlasting Hatred

Time passed and it was 8:00 a.m. on a terrible Christmas Day. Veronica was all dressed up and she turned on the TV for updates on flight A245 MAX.

"West Land aircraft which was reported to be missing was found this morning. The plane which was lost was found through an all-night search team led by US agents. The search was successful due to the help rendered by the Japanese agents and a host of others. It appears that the plane crashed in the North Pacific Ocean claiming hundreds of lives with no survivors. Military aircraft, naval vessels and the like flew over the area assumed to be the point where they lost contact with the plane and there, debris was found due to the explosion that followed after its fault." the anchor spoke and Veronica listened.

Veronica was shocked by the news even though she knew that it was imminent.

She stared at the TV and a scowl formed on her face.

She hates media engagement and now, she can't believe her company got dragged and that more of it is coming.

It was heartbreaking for her and she wished she could change what had happened but that was impossible.

She got angry and switched off the TV as she didn't want to listen anymore.

Out of anger, she threw the remote control away and dipped her hand into her hair.

Her annoyance was evident as she squeezed her face.

*****

"Argh." it's the sound I made as I woke up.

I slept on my neck due to waiting all night for sir Charles to return.

I expected him to because it sounds impossible for him to stay at work throughout the night.

I didn't expect to have slept off and neither did I think that I would find myself in the living room resting on the wall.

As I realised where I was, it dawned on me that sir Charles didn't return from work because if he did, I would have heard the cars screech or better, someone would have woken me up.

Slightly, I turned my neck which was still hurting to clock and I was shocked that it was already a few minutes past 8:00 a.m.

Immediately, I stood up and rushed to my room as I needed to start my daily duties.

"Good morning," I said to Claudia as I rushed into the room but she seemed absent-minded.

I checked my drawer and looked back at her worriedly as I remembered that she was in pain.

Immediately, I turned to her and said.

"Claudia, good morning," I yelled and she jolted with a gasp before she turned to me.

"Hi," she said and I left what I was doing and went to her bed.

I sat on it and held her two hands to console her.

I looked at her and I could see and feel her pain as though it happened to me.

Seeing how helpless she was, I realised that she wasn't such a bad person even though we never got along.

Moments like this make me wonder why God lets some things happen and what good could come out of it.

Claudia and I were more like foes because of our different opinions about sir Charles but now, I feel we share a bond.

We both love our friends a lot and I don't want to imagine how I would feel if I heard some bad news about Irene, my bestie.

Realising how this has weakened her, it's as though she finally left her pretence shell and it's clear that she's just as weak and normal as every other lady.

"Things ain't good Maureen," she said and a tear dropped.

"What happened?" I said and I was scared of what her answer would be.

I hope her info isn't bad and has nothing to do with any of her loved ones.

She stayed silent and it was freaking me out.

"Say something already," I said and she swallowed before she made her next speech.

"The plane crashed. The fucking plane crashed. It crashed. It crashed." she said and I felt her head on my shoulders.

She wasn't just sad and devastated like last night, this time she was panicking.

"It came in the news today." she cried.

It's okay. Please." I breathed out.

For a while, I listened to her cry on my shoulders.

It was a terrible thing to see as I had never witnessed someone I know mourn over a life.

"I'm so sorry," I told her to keep her calm.

*****

The news of the plane crash was a cold one to many even those who were not related to the crash but not Alexander Stone, the CEO of Strong Stone Constructions (SSC).

He is a businessman in his early sixties specifically sixty– two and he beares a scary face.

He was sitting in his study and his dark hair and suit added more features to his scary face.

"Sir, the newspaper has arrived." Jerome, Alexander's henchman informed and Alexander swivelled his chair before taking hold of it.

"Charles is such a big fool. This serves him right. I feel sorry for James who brought him into this world. If it was up to me, he should disappear and free his good father from his stress." Alexander smirked and dumped the papers on his desk.

Jerome picked up the liquor and poured it into a glass and both drank.

Their faces bore no expression and if not for their speech previously, one would think that they were dead men.

They sipped at regular intervals calmly.

Their eyes bore anger and sadness weirdly, especially Alexander's.

They drank with no emotions. Jerome poured more whisky and the two parties didn't cheer before drinking like people normally do.

This is to say that they were carefree about the news of the plane crash.

All James thought about was that Charles is paying for his wicked deeds and that he needed to be happy.

To him, Charles deserves to be in pain and never recover from them.

He believes that Charles doesn't deserve anything good in life and should suffer forever.

He is glad that he can witness this and wishes that more trouble befalls Charles.

He has always wanted Charles to fail and never rise again.

To him, that seemed to be happening.

He didn't care even if he doesn't witness it but all he wants is for it to happen eventually.

The evil he wishes for Charles is something he couldn't wish for his then-worst enemy.

Now, Charles has taken the seat of his most despised and hated fellow.

He despises him so much that he can hurt himself just to see Charles in pain.

That extent of hate can't be surpassed, even in a millennium.

When

Alexander reached for his drawer, and Jerome rushed and opened it.

He brought out the Indian hemp and gave it to his boss who dipped it in his mouth immediately.

He placed the lighter near the hemp and turned it on.

In a few seconds, smoke clouds erupted from Alexander's mouth as he breathed out.

Alexander smoked for a while and Jerome watched him.

He stayed mute and watched Alexander smoke.

"You can leave," Alexander told him.

"Ok, sir."

Jerome left and he was alone in his study swivelling his chair angrily.

One would think that his anger is because of the crash, one filled with pain and pity but it's not.

His anger arose because he thought of Charles.

Such an extent of hate should be feared by all.

Surprisingly, he doesn't hate the rest of the Jacksons and he's cool with James and Veronica.

Alexander put down the pipe and grabbed a book from his drawer.

He opened the book and brought out a picture.

He held it in one hand and stared at the picture of a young lady.

She's a brunette and a beautiful one at that.

In the picture, the young lady was smiling broadly and it revealed her perfect dentition.

She looked so happy and full of life as her blue eyes sparkled.

He started tracing his right hand on it. He dragged his fingertips on the bridge of her nose then, he traced it on her forehead.

He moved slowly and touched her eyes, ear and lips.

Alexander placed his second hand on the picture looking deeply as though he was looking for answers.

Answers to why he wasn't happy and rather than being excited, he was angry and sad.

He wasn't happy even after he heard of Charles' misfortune.

It was as though Charles still had a life and reasons to keep living.

He wishes Charles could disappear from the universe and his life.

He's tired of everything and he's sad that he and he alone feel hurt while his enemy is just tasting a little pain.

He doubts that Charles cares about the crash if not for the money he might lose.

He thinks the worst of him and in his view, Charles is an opportunist who shouldn't have been born into a wealthy family.

And if it's his destiny to be rich, he shouldn't taste premium riches like that of the Jacksons.

As he stared, tears dropped on it and he sniffed.

He was in a lot of pain and he didn't wipe his face which was crowded with tears.

He pulled the picture to his face and kissed it.

He kissed it as though he could change what was happening and become better.

He dropped the picture, picked up his liquor and drank it in a gulp.

By accident, the picture fell and turned revealing the back of the pic which had some letters written on it.

"Sweet Charles, I love you."

He picked it up, looked at it, squeezed his face and stood up.

He poured the liquor on the picture, held it at the edge and started burning it with the lighter at the opposite end.

As he lit it, he dropped it in the waste bin.

He watched it burn and the flames showed in his eyes.

The tears which he had in his eyes disappeared and anger crawled down his face.

It lingered and one can die from it out of fear of facing his wrath.

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