The Mysterious Chairman Keith

Chapter 13

What do you want?

The news came upon manuel like a heavy boulder. His aura vanished instantly and cold chills ran down his spine. He pushed Laura aside and began to sprint towards the crowd, Christopher followed behind.

Manuel pushed through the crowd, making his way towards the scene where the ex chairman had collapsed in

In.

“Stay back! Stay back!!” The security personnel were doing everything they could to push back the crowd and create enough space.

Manuel pushed his way through the security until he got to his father who was being attended to by medical officials.

Upon seeing Manuel, they paused and stepped back. Manuel scooped his unto his laps, gently tapping his cheek.

“Dad! It's me. It's me your son, Manuel.” Tears were now gathering in his eyes.

“Looks like you may finally need the services I render.”

Manuel knew whose voice that was. He slowly stood up, running the traces of tears on his face before turning back to face Christopher. He was held back by security.

“Let him through!” Manuel ordered and the security team broke their formation to allow Christopher to walk through.

Christopher didn't waste time. He rushed to the fallen chairman, knelt down and first placed two fingers on his neck to check his pulse.

Christopher let out a sigh as the chairman was still alive. Then he looked back at Manuel who wouldn't hide his anxiety.

“Let's move your father to a secure location first.” He said.

Lisa had just gotten home and get face couldn't hide the obvious frustration she was experiencing. She flung her bag on one of the sofas, throwing herself on another.

Her mother walked out of the kitchen holding a plate of desserts, approaching her daughter with a fulfilled look. She dropped the plate on the small table beside the chair Lisa was seating on.

“I just want to kill someone.” Lisa growled.

Then she noticed her daughters countenance.

“Lisa what happened?”

Her mother couldn't wrap her head around what could have possibly gone wrong. The thought of Jamie breaking up with Lisa at the last moment was all she could think of.

No! It couldn't be.

“That good for nothing, Manuel!”

Her mother's countenance changed from fear and anxiety to disgust, “what could Reeves have done to anger you that Jamie couldn't handle?”

“I don't know how he did it but somehow he was able to sever the contract between the Darwins and Nightingale.” Lisa said, defeat evident in her tone.

Her mother covered her mouth before spring up to her feet. Realization fell upon Lisa's mother. Then she remembered what happened at the medicine store.

Yet she didn't want to believe it was actually true. She slowly returned back to her seat.

“What about Jamie?” She asked.

“He said he would speak to his father to rectify it with Dave Keith and then he would destroy Manuel next.” Lisa was staring to feel confident again.

“Mr Lucas Darwin would never tolerate such disrespect upon his family's name.” Her mother chipped in and let out a smirk.

“You're going down for real this time.” She assured.

Lisa was still conflicted. The announcement that Dave made still haunted her. Was Manuel really his son? Was Manuel really related to the Keith family? wasn't Reeves his surname?

Lisa shrugged it off hoping it was all a misunderstanding and by the following day it would have been cleared.

The monitor in Dave's hospital room beeped steadily while Manuel stood beside the bed, hands crossed on his chest. No matter what it took, Manuel wasn't ready to lose his father at least not yet.

“Staring at him won't make him heal any faster.” Christopher chimed.

Manuel turned to look at him. He was seated on a swivel chair with his legs crossed. Manuel wasn't sure what he disliked about Christopher– if it was his overly excited personality or the fact that he always got what he wanted.

“What do you want?” Manuel's voice was emotionless.

Christopher sprung up to his feet upon hearing this.

“Me?–”

“I said it before, I want a partnership deal with Nightingale.”

Manuel walked up to Christopher, closing the space between them and meeting his gaze.

“I'll only ask once.” Manuel was ready to play any of Christopher's games.

Christopher paused to look deeply into the hue of Manuel's eyes. Both men's aura had now flooded the whole room.

“All I want to do is save lives– as many lives as I can. I have the resources and the medical officials. Now I need your influence.” His tone wasn't playful anymore.

There was silence, one that stretched through the whole room. Manuel backed off first.

“And..” he wanted to hear more.

“I would render free services to Nightingale and their active staff. Starting with the ex chairman– Your father.”

Manuel flinched.

His countenance was now unreadable from Christopher's view. He was motionless and he said nothing. The only sound they could hear was the monitor’s steady beeping.

“What caused my father to collapse suddenly?” Manuel asked.

Christopher moved his gaze to Dave who was lying motionless on the bed.

“I don't know how he's been alive till now but your father still has remnants of a dangerous poison in his system and it's starting to take effect.”

Manuel's eyes widened. Poison? He must have known about this and didn't tell him.

“Scale eater! That's the name of the poison–.” Christopher continued, “I don't know how people came in possession of such a rare poison and I also don't know how long your father has left before the rest of the toxins take effect.”

“Can my father be cured?” Manuel asked.

Christopher laughed out really loud, causing manuel to feel irritated.

“Sorry! sorry!!” He apologized, still holding his stomach.

“Scale eater is an ancient poison, it is created from the blood of an ancient wyvern. If my information is up to date, then wyverns are out of existence. There's no known cure– yet.”

“What use do I have of you then?” Manuel's countenance dropped instantly and his killing intent increased.

“I won't save your father. You will.”