Underestimated Retribution

Chapter 10: Remorseful, But Too Late

“Now, what do you think I should do to you”? Mr Gabriel asked, relaxing into his chair.

Bennet and Elena stared at him with fear evident on their faces. “Have mercy on us.” They both pleaded while still kneeling down.

Mark glared at them, “when both of you were talking trash, you didn't realize that this day would come, right?" He asked.

“We know we have offended you, but we are very sorry”. Elena said with a remorseful expression on her face.

“You were not sorry when you were attacking me and saying all those bad things while reducing my value in the presence of your friends”. Mark said.

“And to think this punk Bennet had the guts to go after your wife, despite knowing fully well that she was married to you nonetheless”. Mr Gabriel said with a shake of his head.

Crawling closer to him, Elena attempted to hold his feet only to be stopped by a guard. “Just give me one more chance to be with Mark and I promise to be a good wife to him and I will never do anything to upset him ever again”. She said, with a pleading look in her eyes.

“In as much as I do not want to see you near my son again, I believe the decision on whether he gets to take you back or not rests in the hands of Mark himself, so I suggest you direct your pleas to him”. Mr Gabriel said, gesturing to Mark, who glared at Elena as she turned to look at him.

“Mark…” she began hesitantly. “Will you…take…me back”? She asked.

Mark glared at her for quite a while, with Elena still looking at him with pleading eyes, and when it looked as though he had no plans to respond, he spoke up, “My father is right, I should not let you come anywhere near me”.

“But…I love you”. She said with tears in her eyes. “I have always loved you, and I am sure you know it”.

“I do not want to hear the word love from your mouth anymore”. Mark replied with a snarl. “The only thing you loved was the money I had, and I am sure that was why you used your money during the court proceedings, so that once I get my fortune back, you'll be able to live a lavish lifestyle. It was just an investment to you”.

“That is not true”! She exclaimed. “I did it because I loved you”.

“Please save your lies for someone much more gullible”. Mark said with a wave of his hand.

“But you are not being fair to me”. Elena replied.

“Look at my face”. Mark said, gesturing to his face with his hand. “Do I look like I found a fuck”? He asked, causing Elena to hang her head in silence.

“Father, I am done with them”. He said with a wave of his hand.

“You have made me proud, my son”. Mr Gabriel said with a proud smile.

“Thank you father”. Mark replied with a pleased smile.

“What about you, Bennet”? He asked. “Is there anything you would like to say in your defense”?

“Sir, I would like to state here that I have always looked up to you for a very long time”.

“Oh really?" Mister Gabriel said with an intrigued expression.

Hearing that, Bennet straightened up with a fawning smile on his face. “That is exactly the case sir”. He replied. “I have always admired your ingenuity in the business world and how you've been able to build an empire in the business world with almost no support”. He said.

“You've followed my story"? Mister Gabriel asked.

“Yes I have”! Bennet said excitedly. “It is an inspiring story for business owners like us, and I have taken a leaf out of your own success in order to grow my company, which I implemented, and has made me largely successful so far”.

“So what point are you trying to prove?" Mister Gabriel asked.

Bowing his head in submission, he replied. “I understand that I have no right to ask anything from you, especially after my enormous error, but permit me to beg you to please spare me and my company”. He said.

“I never said I would do anything for you or your company”. Mister Gabriel said with an amused smile.

“I am the CEO of a company and in this business I know what happens when someone offends a powerful person, so I beg you to have mercy on me”. He said.

Mister Gabriel stared at him a little before responding, “and what is in it for me”?

“Dad, you can't seriously be considering forgiving this conniving little shit”! Mark said with anger on his face.

“Be quiet, son, and let him speak”. Mr Gabriel replied with a raised hand.

“Thank you sir”. Bennet said, with Mark gazing at him in consternation.

“I could offer you shares in my company and, even though it might not mean much to you, I have the utmost belief that, with you being involved in my company, my company could rake in more profits, which will in turn increase the value of the shares, which will be in your hands, and I know you're really wealthy but no one can say no to having more money right”? He said, chuckling, but had to stop when he realized that no one had joined him.

“So let me get this straight,” Mr Gabriel began. “The reason you want me to let you off is, so you can add me to your board of directors and use my influence to grow your company”? He asked.

“Oh…no…that's not it sir”. Bennet said in panic. “I only feel that…”

“I've heard enough”. Mr Gabriel said. “Let me let you in on something punk”. He began, leaning towards him. “The amount of assets my company controls are around three trillion dollars and this isn't taking into consideration my own personal wealth, but on the other hand, your company, your own wealth and that of your company is around five hundred million, if I am not mistaken”.

“You are not sir”. Bennet said.

“So that means you and your company's assets make up around zero point zero one percent of my company's assets, so that makes everything about you insignificant in comparison”. Mr Gabriel said.

Bennet recoiled in response to his words.

“I could write a cheque and buy both you and your company and I will forget I made that purchase barely a minute later”. Mr Gabriel said nonchalantly. “You and this whore you're interested in should get out of my sight before I ask my guards to kick you out”. He added.

“Does that mean you'll let me off the hook”? Bennet asked with hope in his eyes.

“What do you think”? Mr Gabriel asked with a smirk, causing a feeling of depression to envelope Bennet again as he stood up and left with Elena walking silently behind him.

As they both arrived close to Bennet's car, Elena turned to him, “what do we do now”? She asked.

Gritting his teeth in frustration, Bennet picked up his phone. “I am making a call. That is exactly what I am going to do, "he replied.