Chapter 3

 who is that man?

“Hi I am Mr. Bryce, I’m the sole CEO of Bryce communication conglomerate,” he said to Aunt Renee and Mr. Paul extending his hands to shake them.” Is Kathleen here? he asked searching frantically with his eyes looking for the most beautiful woman in the world in his words. He always had a special liking for Kathleen over the years but couldn’t bring himself to her due to his inferiority complex back then but now things were different, he had status, wealth and the cars.

Mr. Bryce was Kathleen's high school crush, who always tried to win her affection but couldn’t. Then Bryce was just a spoilt kid living off his parents’ wealth like the majority of the kids then but he was a slob, a dirty kid. Kathleen was the direct opposite of him, she always hated and despised him.

Kathleen being attractive had sort of admirers back then, but Bryce’s was nothing short of creepy, even to the extent of taking her pictures without her permission and stalking her. Bryce changed school and moved abroad and got better, polished also prouder, and more misogynistic.

They ran into each other after their college days in Washington, after a few drinks with him, and felt tipsy but tried her best and went home. The next day she was drug tested at work which was done at random and it came out with mixed results. it was negative for major drug cases like cocaine and positive for Rohypnol. She was perplexed as to how it could have gotten into her system till; she remembered the previous night.

She tried confronting him, which he denied, and threatened to sue her if she tarnished his reputation with bad press. She hated him before that, but now it increased tenfold. Over the years he saw her gifts which she rejected because that type of scar could never heal not even by time.

Ah! there she is! he said as he walked towards her. Kathleen who wasn’t in a good mood quickly flashed a big frown on her face. Kathleen my dear I heard about your grandmother and came here quickly to make sure you have everything you need and you are not sad.

Mr. Bryce, she said politely trying to contain her anger for him. what the hell are you doing here as she stepped outside the room followed by him. I was visiting a friend of mine in the city, I heard about your grandmom and decided to check in here because I know you always want the best.

“Before you get angry and storm off can you please listen to what I have to say, my dear?” He asked Kathleen, staring at her deep black eyes which betrayed no emotion whatsoever. Kathleen who didn’t want any commotion here blinked at him “you have five minutes so make it quick” while she stared bitterly at him, forcing herself not to bash his head into the wall.

” Well thanks, I happen to have the personal number of the renowned Dr Suess who is in town currently for an event and I took the liberty of inviting him over apparently, he is owing me a favour which I can extend towards your grandmother, if you agree to have dinner with me on Saturday night and don’t worry about the bills it’s on me.”

“I know about Dr Suess but I didn’t know he was in the city currently , it must be some big favour he owes you for him to come over because I know he is very expensive” Kathleen looked at him carefully trying to see if he was bluffing.

“Let’s say I kind of helped him to build his new hospital down at the capital city and quite some other things which made him feel indebted to me, so what will your answer be?”

“My answer is yes to the dinner but I will choose the location and time, hope it’s not a problem?” she asked with pain in her heart. She dreaded talking with him or even being this close to him.

He brought her close to him and gave her a kiss on her lips which seemed to make him bolder. Kathleen this was holding her breath all this while. She looked at him and comported herself, “I’m sure the family doesn’t know who you are or why you are here so can I introduce you to them” she feigned a smile when in reality she just wanted to get away from his grasp.

Bryce was a very gullible man who didn’t know when he was been played, he smiled at her and said “that’s a good plan.” Kathleen and Mr. Bryce walked back into the room, then her grandmom had just woken up. She went to her and hugged her, then assured her the best doctors will be assigned to her.

Kathleen now was watching her family; she noticed some uneasy movements between some of them and most of them were looking at the man she was with not knowing her relationship so she decided to clear the air. Mr Paul looked at her raising his brows in a manner that asked “ why is he here and isn’t this a bad time to conduct business” thinking he was a business partner of some kind.

Hello, she called everyone’s attention you all must be wondering who is here with us. “Mr. Bryce is a long-time friend of mine who happened to be state side when he heard what happened to grandma, so he took it on himself as a good friend to call the best doctor in the country Dr Suess to come to check on her and administer treatment to her. “

Hearing this the full family clapped for him in unison and took rounds to thank him for helping out. Mr. Paul

shook his hands  while aunt Renee openly praised him while using the same opportunity to send a dig to Klay “this is what a real man should have done, taking control not sitting down all day doing house chores” the whole room upon hearing this laughed out loud except Mr Paul he never did like how they treated him so he never participated neither did he stop them.

Klay hearing the joke smiled and thought to himself “these suckers really believe me to be helpless, well it's better that way” and moved towards Mr. Bryce. The whole room grew quiet and watched the spectacle that might unfold as he meets him, while Bryce was holding his wife as if they were a couple.

Hi, I am Klay, I am Kathleen’s husband he introduced himself to Mr. Bryce extending his hands for a handshake. Mr. Bryce who quickly noticed that he actually introduced himself to him without yelling “why the hell are you holding my wife that way” quickly met him halfway and took his chances thinking “what could possibly go wrong”.

“I am Mr. Bryce,” he said shaking his hands. Then with a stern face he looked at Klay and squeezed his hands firmly now, it turned to a death grip “you know you don’t deserve her, so what are you still doing in this marriage, why don’t you divorce her and leave her for more capable men you vile creature “he whispered to Klay seeking a reaction from him.

Klay who knew what he was playing at simply responded loudly for the whole room to hear “thank you for inviting Dr Suess over I really appreciate it and the family too; I couldn’t have pulled such a feat, its way above me.  I seriously wish there was a way I could repay you for what you have done here.”

Mrs. Paul heard the statement and sighed shaking her head” this husband of hers is the most useless than in the world. Imagine saying that aloud, doesn’t he have pride?” she asked aunt Renee who responded, “I wonder how low that man must be. Maybe he so low he could see under the skirt of an ant.” They both laughed and giggled.

Suddenly Dr Suess walked into the room accompanied by Dr Arshad who was holding his notes containing the results from the preliminary test carried out earlier. The whole room became quiet now while they looked at Dr Suess looked at the Olympian god Prometheus who came to earth to share with them the secret of fire despite it been against the will of the gods.

Ten minutes passed had passed, while Dr Suess was carrying out basic tests to be sure for himself what he was really dealing with. He checked her heart rate; pulse and even checked the dilation of her pupils before telling the family the danger will be over in a few minutes now. This was a little challenged he boasted out loud.

The whole family thanked him and called him godsent, and hugged Mr. Bryce while waiting for the miracle to happen.

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