Mr. President’s

Chapter 48

Mercedes‘ mending of her affair with Nathan seemed like a breakthrough to him. He needed to take care of a few things in NL Towers but with his father and Luke being around, he couldn’t leave things in the hands of either of them.

He couldn’t also represent both companies. Whereas, e could leave Mercedes to be his eyes and ears in Legend Incorporated but how could he leave her with a ravenous wolf like Luke?

His move during the dinner told Nathan that his warning didn’t sit well with him, which left him with the hard choice of making Mercedes travel alone to NL. Towers. He trusted her enough to handle his company anyway. Besides, she was soon going to be co–owner so she had to handle it like it’s hers.

The last time they were there together, her suggestions were great. Mercedes agreed wholeheartedly on the condition that she was allowed to spend two days with her mum and brother which Nathan agreed to.

Well, the greatest fear for Nathan sending her away for a week was to excuse her from the pending meeting between his family and that of Jane. He knew that Jane would pick on Mercedes if she was there.

Janes‘ mother Betty has been pressuring Nathan to marry her daughter therefore, a final meeting was being held and since Nathan refused to step his foot in the Legend family villa, the meeting was held in his office. Alexander Legend came with his wife, Sarah Legend, Nathan’s stepmother. Jane was also with her mom. It seemed that Nathan was only meeting his opponents because none of the parties involved was in his favour. But sometimes, one could be a majority.

Snr Mr Legends‘ reason was simple. “Nathan, my grandson will not live with a stepmother when his biological mother is still alive. It’s good everything between you and Mercedes has ended, so let’s set a date for the wedding.”

They sat in the conference room in Nathan’s office, which could house at most ten people. Jane’s excitement knew no bounds. She predicted so well that Mercedes couldn’t handle the humiliation. She went numb when Nathan revealed what was trending in his life. “You are wrong about one thing dad, things haven’t ended between Merce and me. It just got better. I gave her a week to attend to some issues. Now, if the child is mine as Jane here says, then what stops you from letting me get my DNA done?”

Nathan’s dad smiled at his son and pulled out a neat paper, presumed to be the DNA test carried two years ago. “I saved you that stress. This is the DNA test result.”

“Dad, I don’t need you to save me any stress where it concerns my son and for your information, I don’t trust this report. Bring my son, let’s go to my doctor, we all sit and witness the test done,” Nathan’s proposal was reasonable but it didn’t go down well with Jane and her mum.

“Bring him so you can take him from her? No way. If you don’t marry my daughter, you can’t see him,” Betty authoritatively said. Sarah, Nathan’s mum stared at her quizzically, as she exchanged glances with Nathan’s dad.

Nathan was a gentleman and his decision was straightforward. “I guess there won’t be any marriage then, and this whole meeting is useless.”

“You must be forgetting one more thing, Nathan, I still own this company and before you drag the Legend family name in the mud by getting married to a woman when another one has a child for you, you have to hand over every company document to Luke,” Nathan’s dad pulled the last straw, Betty smiling and nodding her head in satisfaction.

Nathan’s expression was unreadable and his response amazed them. “Well said dad, I wash my hands off any matters concerning your company. Prepare Luke Zion to take over tomorrow.” He didn’t care any longer, what happened to Legend incorporated. He had done his best, which seemed to not be enough for his father.

“You are giving up the company for your mistress?” Alexander Legend wasn’t expecting it, and neither did he mean it. He was just trying to scare his son into submission. Betty wasn’t expecting it either, and neither was Jane. Nathan’s actions spoke a million words. He wasn’t going to leave Mercedes.

“She is the woman I love and if not for Jane, we would be married. Can you please, not refer to her by the name mistress? And yes, you can have your company,” Nathan calmly said, pushing the documents and DNA test report back to his father. He was about to stand up to leave the meeting when the sound of a strong feminine voice took him aback.

“No. That won’t happen,” Sarah spoke for the first time and Nathan couldn’t comprehend it. All along, he saw Sarah as his enemy because he thought she supported her husband. “I won’t allow you to take the company from our son, to give to a stranger because he doesn’t want to marry Jane, Sarah spoke with motherly love, despite not having a child of her own. She was satisfied that she had Nathan, even though the latter never gave her a chance to be the mother he needed. But the sound of our son on her tongue tickled something in Nathan.

Alexander Legend loves his wife and her opinion mattered to him. So he asked, “what would you have us do then?”

Sarah didn’t answer his question directly but rather addressed her stepson. “Nathan, this woman Mercedes, I’ve never seen her but do you love her that much?” She sounded genuinely concerned and Nathan was moved.

“I don’t think anyone could understand but somehow Sarah, you do. I will die for her,” Nathan said Jane Cola

but Sarah’s last words caused another uproar.

“Then marry her, she said sweetly, Not even Nathan could believe that Sarah took his side. But it didn’t mean his father had accepted Sarah’s

request.

“I forbid you Sarah, and you Nathan.” Alexander was furious. He thought his wife would stand by him but rather, she took a stand with her stepson. It didn’t sit well with hìm and the understanding refused to sink in. Well, he was in for a surprise because Sarah wasn’t done,

“Why Alex? Would you marry a woman when your heart belongs to another? Will you sacrifice your lifetime happiness because of one mistake of being drunk? Nathan has a point. It isn’t fair for you to keep his son from him. Whether he accepts the child or not, he has the right to see him and if he doesn’t trust your test result, let him do his,” she addressed her husband squarely. For the first time since the meeting started, Nathan’s lips stretched into a genuine smile.

“How could we trust his? Betty asked.

“It’s my child, not yours, Nathan retorted.

“No!” Jane yelled. I’m keeping my son and you shall not see him.”

Sarah would never stop addressing her husband and all her attacks were directed to him. “If you kick Nathan out of the company, then I’m seeking divorce too.

Now Nathan was mystified. Why would Sarah go to that length for him? Alexander was going crazy and yelled, “Sarah, it hasn’t gotten to that.”

Sarah had reached her limit and decided to spit it out. “Stop pretending Alex, twenty–two years of marriage and all you did was cheat.”

The atmosphere pulled taut with havoc. Nathan was now curious. Perhaps, he would understand Sarah’s reason for supporting him all this while. Alexander was a smart one. He wasn’t going to agree without the proof plastered on the wall. “Sarah, what are you talking about?” He asked innocently.

Sarah stood up before she spoke this time. “You and Betty, you think I don’t know about all your affairs? I’ve known for five years now, thinking you will change. I have all the proof but I just hoped that you will end it yet you didn’t. Now you are forcing my stepson to marry her daughter as compensation for not being able to divorce me to marry her.”

Some faces turned to chagrin but Nathan was too shocked to speak. Such a great man, manipulated but those he once loved dearly but Sarah wasn’t done. “So tell me how fair this is. I’ll make it easier for you. Marry her and leave our son out of it,” her last words were swallowed with tears, Nathan looked at her with pity, handing her a tissue. Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

He couldn’t believe that this woman had endured so much. When his father married her newly, she was so young and beautiful, Nathan felt she married his father because of his wealth and loathed her since then.

Betty didn’t know where to hide her shame. She played Sarah like a fool, thinking she didn’t know but it turned out that she was rather the fool because Sarah had known everything. But why did she keep quiet? Why didn’t she fight then? And why keep it in for so long? “Look Sarah it’s,” She was about to speak but the mere sound of her voice surged Sarah’s anger.

“Shut up Betty! You and your daughter stink. You have a hold on the father and you want your daughter to have a hold on his son. Just how shameless can you be? And now Alex, I’m leaving with Nathan and will send you the divorce papers,” she stood up and left the conference room. *Sarah!” Alex called after her but she was already gone. Nathan followed her as well and when they got to the car park, she realized she hadn’t taken the car key so she was walking out to get a cab when Nathan stopped her. “Where are you going?”

To get a cab to the hotel.”

Nathan stared at her carefully. She still had youthful vibrance. She could still get married and be happy but Nathan wanted to fulfil one wish. The wish of making her the mother she always wanted to be to him. “You can live with me. After all, you have proven to be my mum.”

Sarah knew that Nathan had never liked her from the onset. She didn’t do this to win his favour. She just wanted to do the right thing and didn’t think it was right to take up Nathan’s offer. “I can’t do that. It’s,”

“I insist, mum.” Nathan wasn’t going to accept no for an answer. The least he could do was to make her happy till she found someone to treat her better than his father did. “I think I like the sound of calling you mum,” he smiled, making Sarah return his smile. She combed her brunette hair with her hand and said,

“Thank you, son.”

On their way to the penthouse, Nathan received a call. Instantly, his mood darkened. “Don’t tell her, I will be there.” He said and ended the call.

“Are you alright son?” Sarah asked worriedly. Nathan pursed his lips, his hands tightening around the steering wheel as he said, “I’ll have to be away for a few days.”

Chapter 48

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“No please, you will be safe in the penthouse,” was all he said.

Mercedes completed her responsibilities just as Nathan had instructed. Things were better than she imagined. The trip was smooth. NL Towers was doing great, and so were the mining companies. It had been five days moving from one company to the other, gathering reports, giving guidance and relaying everything to Nathan through email. Now, it was time for her to cool off and she was headed for the house Nathan purchased for her parents.

She had travelled as if she was the President himself and was treated with respect, as they did Nathan. At the hangar in California, an SUV was waiting for her when she stepped out of the jet. There were SUVs with drivers everywhere she went but she was shocked when this driver did not step down to open the door for her.

Having people opening doors for her throughout her trip, she was quite used to it. Nevertheless, she didn’t complain and opened the door to the back when an order sounded in front of her. “To the front please.”

Mercedes thought the voice sounded familiar but the driver wouldn’t turn around and he hid his face from the rearview mirror. At first, she wanted to step down and call Nathan but Nathan had texted her the details of the car he sent to pick her and the number plate was the same. She just had to find out. She stepped out of the back and opened the door to the passenger seat in the front. As soon as she sat, the driver said, “buckle up.”

“Do you have a name?” she asked while she fastened her seat belt. The drivers usually introduced themselves politely as soon as she sat but this driver was too weird, she felt uneasy.

“What would you call me?” He turned to face her and asked.

“Nat!” She screamed, unbuckling her seat belt and hugging him tightly to her chest. “The next time you intend to disguise yourself, you need to work on your appearance and voice better,” she chastised.

“How are you?” Nathan forced a smile. He already knew she was exhausted but he also knew that rest was so far from her.

“Tired,” she said honestly but looking at him closely, his eyes were red. “Are you alright?” She asked, worry encamping her. Nathan took a deep breath, “Merce, you have to be strong for what I’m about to tell you.”