Chapter 24: Chapter Twenty-three - I'm sorry, Cherry
I didn't expect grandpa would open up to me, I never even dreamed of it. It was like a shock to me. So, he wasn't really mad or angry at Andrei.
He only did those things because he wanted to build him up. He didn't support his VIDA because he wanted him to achieve it himself and not because he didn't believe in him.
My Andrei was really emotional but I was there for him, grandpa too.
And Brandon, I had to find out what other things he did to Andrei ad his family.
Grandpa had asked me to work with him in bringing them down and getting VIDA back. He said that we could only achieve it by winning both Brandon's and Stephanie's trust.
Grandpa asked me to play along with Brandon, I was shocked grandpa knew Brandon and I were acquainted with each other.
Another thing was Stephanie, why did grandpa want us to gain Stephanie's trust?
What was her role in all this?
I closed my laptop, took my jacket and car keys and walked out of my office heading home.
Daisy was already in the car waiting. Since Andrei had been away, I had to go with Daisy unlike before when Andrei and I went together while Daisy used my car.
I really missed Andrei, it has been days.
Some kilometers away from the company, I felt a car trailing me, grandpa had predicted it.
I drove to a shopping mall and asked Daisy to get some groceries just to keep her away.
While she got out, I continued the journey and the car continued trailing. I dialed grandpa's number
"Grandpa, I'm being trailed,"
"Act according to plan, don't worry, I've got you covered," he said before hanging up.
I drove down a closed alley and blocked the trailing car in front.
I took out the gun grandpa gave me and moved towards the car.
But then, the car door opened and Brandon stepped out.
"Cherry, it's me."
"You? Why are you following me?" I said before keeping the gun in my back pocket.
"I'm sorry I scared you, I just wanted to talk to you and I knew this is the only way."
"You still want to talk to me after what happened at the party the other day?"
"I'm sorry Cherry for that day. I know Andrei must have told you about me, he must have said horrible things about me but Cherry, I'm not who you think I am."
"Who are you then? Andrei's uncle?"
"Cherry I'm Andrei's elder brother. I made some mistakes in the past, I did some wrong things out of frustration but trust me, I'm really sorry. I regret my actions every single day, I want to apologize, I want to beg for forgiveness, I want back I and Andrei's once strong bond but no one believes me, no one wants to hear me out," he said, then sobbed afterwards.
He was such a good pretender.
"And why would I believe you? If you're sorry, the why did you steal VIDA?"
"Cherry, you have to believe me, I didn't know DIVA was just like VIDA, I just invested in the project because it seemed profitable. I didn't know it had a link with Andrei's VIDA until I had launched it and saw the detailed draft. And besides, PGC's VIDA might be able exactly Andrei's VIDA but it wasn't stolen, we designed it."
"So now, what is your plan? Do you think Andrei would believe you didn't steal VIDA?"
"That's why I came to you because I want you to intercede for me. I would do anything just to gain Andrei's forgiveness even if it means giving up our DIVA. I know you
believe me, I know you understand my situation, please help me. I want my brother back," he said, then shed a tear.
"I'm sorry Brandon but I can't help you, I don't want to get involved with you," I said.
I had to say it, so it would look real, I didn't want my acting to be suspected. He would have to beg some more before I agreed.
"Cherry, I want my brother back, I want my family back, I family back, I feel lonely without Andrei, aunty and Alex, I'm really sorry," he cried this time.
"It's okay, I understand you. I understand how it feels after making a mistake, that's why I'ld help you," I said and then he hugged me in tears.
"Thank you."
I returned to the shopping mall to meet the nagging Daisy.
"What took you so long and where did you go?" Was her complain throughout the ride home.
Brandon's POV
I laughed as I rode back home. Women are all the same, soft hearted. Cherry actually believed what I told her, my plan worked. I knew this was the only way to gain her trust and eventually her love, Cherry must be mine. And that Andrei, that thief, always stealing everything from me.
First, he stole my happy family and I had to live with them as dad's brother. I watched them live happily while they broke mine.
And then, he stole my happiness, my mum. Mum became this way only because of them.
He stole my first chance of becoming rich, he exposed my plans to Stephanie about her sister's wealth and now, he stole Cherry too. Cherry, my childhood crush.
I have always admired Cherry, I had known her for the longest time and secretly wanted her but I never had the chance to her. Andrei got her first and now, it's difficult to make her mine all thanks to him.
The battle is far from over, just as I took his happy family before and his identity as my father's son, I will take away his dreams, his wealth and Cherry from him until he loses everything and become miserable. And after I deal with him, I'ld deal with dad for betraying me and mum.
For now, I'ld just have to work with dad. I dialed his number.
"Hello," he said.
"Have the guns been successfully delivered to the buyers?"
"Yes, and we've gotten the money. We just have to supply the bombs to the other buyer."
"Go deliver them now," I shouted before hanging up.
Dad was like this, a loser, a weakling, a fool, like Andrei. All the wealth I acquired was thanks to this illegal business of mine. I wouldn't have been able to buy PGC and ruin Andrei's dream if not for this business, that's why it means everything to me.
"I'm coming for you, Andrei," I said as I drove faster.
Andrei's POV
The fact that Brandon won again by stealing VIDA broke me, I felt fooled again. And thinking that grandpa played a part in all this because has he helped me back then, Brandon wouldn't have won angered me more. I locked myself up and refused to see anyone even Cherry. But when I got informed by Kingsley that Brandon was seen talking to Cherry in an alley, I knew I had to man up. I could lose everything but not Cherry and I knew Brandon could go all lengths to get Cherry. I went out of my room and mum was delighted to see me. Then to Cherry's house that evening.
I knocked at her door and Daisy was the one to open.
"Good evening."
"Good evening, Andrei, where have you been? I'm mad at you for just abandoning Cherry. I know you're facing a lot but what you did really upset me," Daisy scolded.
"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry. Where's Cherry? I want to see her."
"Come in, she's in." She said, ushered me in and I took my seat.
"Cherry, Cherry, you have a guest," she said and I could feel Cherry approaching. Cherry looked around when she got to the living and ran towards me when she saw me.
"Andrei, you finally showed up," she said when she hugged me. I was surprised she wasn't mad.
"Cherry, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry, you came to see me and I rejected you. I'm sorry, I didn't want you to see me in that condition"
"Andrei, it's fine. I'm just very happy you're here, I missed you so much and you, you look pale, you've lost weight," she said while inspecting me.
"I'm fine, really fine, you don't have to worry."
She hugged me again, this time tighter.
"I really missed you, never leave me again."
"I won't, never."
"Join me for dinner, I'ld feed you, you have to gain weight." She almost ordered.
I smiled, held her waist, placed my head on her shoulder as I trailed behind.
"How's the company?" I asked when we were eating.
"It's okay, grandpa has been handling it."
"So what did you do today? did you meet anyone."
Cherry dropped her phone, turned to me and gave a smile.
"I know you asked people to watch me, to guard me all these days, one of them is called Kingsley, right?" She said and I was surprised.
"So you found out?" I spoke astounded.
"Of course, remember, I am Chery, the tough woman. If I was able to find out what you did back then, how you played mischievously, how could I not also find out that you hired people to watch me."
"I'm sorry."
"You don't have to be sorry. I know you want to protect me and if hiring them to watch me makes you feel at ease, then I'm fine with it. And as for the question you asked, I'ld tell you what you wanted to hear. I met with Brandon," she said, this was my Cherry, the most perfect person in the world, the most understanding person ever.
"Cherry, you give me reasons to love you, I'm so lucky to have you."
"If you talk so sweetly like this everyday, then I might have to change," she said and I smiled.
I pinched her face,
"I don't care if you change because I know you would never change for the worse but for the best."
"I certainly would change for the better. I have to be strong for this weak Andrei of mine." She teased.
"I'm not weak."
"You are. Weren't you the one who was locked up in the room for days?"
"I'm am but- see, Cherry, I'm not weak." I protested.
"So what did Brandon tell you?"
"He came to explain himself."
"You don't believe him, do you?"
"Never and don't worry, I'ld always be yours. I love only you. But Andrei, I'm pleading this time for you to tell me what Brandon did to you." She said calmly and this time, I didn't want to turn her down.
"I grew up thinking Brandon was my uncle when the fact was that he was my brother. I loved him, he was my best friend before Steve, he was more than a brother to me. When the truth was released, it shattered my family, mum got to know that dad never loved her, he was just there for the money. But my love for Brandon was the same, I even loved him more since he was my brother. Little did I know, he was a devil.
Brandon and dad was the reason mum ended up in a wheelchair. They almost killed both Alex and her but somehow they escaped death.
Both Alex and mum are terrified of that day till now, it still hunts them like a night mare. And as if that was not enough, they set me up to be arrested by the police for drug trafficking but somehow my name got cleared," I narrated and could see Cherry's saddened face.
"What other thing did he do?"
I didn't expect grandpa would open up to me, I never even dreamed of it. It was like a shock to me. So, he wasn't really mad or angry at Andrei.
He only did those things because he wanted to build him up. He didn't support his VIDA because he wanted him to achieve it himself and not because he didn't believe in him.
My Andrei was really emotional but I was there for him, grandpa too.
And Brandon, I had to find out what other things he did to Andrei ad his family.
Grandpa had asked me to work with him in bringing them down and getting VIDA back. He said that we could only achieve it by winning both Brandon's and Stephanie's trust.
Grandpa asked me to play along with Brandon, I was shocked grandpa knew Brandon and I were acquainted with each other.
Another thing was Stephanie, why did grandpa want us to gain Stephanie's trust?
What was her role in all this?
I closed my laptop, took my jacket and car keys and walked out of my office heading home.
Daisy was already in the car waiting. Since Andrei had been away, I had to go with Daisy unlike before when Andrei and I went together while Daisy used my car.
I really missed Andrei, it has been days.
Some kilometers away from the company, I felt a car trailing me, grandpa had predicted it.
I drove to a shopping mall and asked Daisy to get some groceries just to keep her away.
While she got out, I continued the journey and the car continued trailing. I dialed grandpa's number
"Grandpa, I'm being trailed,"
"Act according to plan, don't worry, I've got you covered," he said before hanging up.
I drove down a closed alley and blocked the trailing car in front.
I took out the gun grandpa gave me and moved towards the car.
But then, the car door opened and Brandon stepped out.
"Cherry, it's me."
"You? Why are you following me?" I said before keeping the gun in my back pocket.
"I'm sorry I scared you, I just wanted to talk to you and I knew this is the only way."
"You still want to talk to me after what happened at the party the other day?"
"I'm sorry Cherry for that day. I know Andrei must have told you about me, he must have said horrible things about me but Cherry, I'm not who you think I am."
"Who are you then? Andrei's uncle?"
"Cherry I'm Andrei's elder brother. I made some mistakes in the past, I did some wrong things out of frustration but trust me, I'm really sorry. I regret my actions every single day, I want to apologize, I want to beg for forgiveness, I want back I and Andrei's once strong bond but no one believes me, no one wants to hear me out," he said, then sobbed afterwards.
He was such a good pretender.
"And why would I believe you? If you're sorry, the why did you steal VIDA?"
"Cherry, you have to believe me, I didn't know DIVA was just like VIDA, I just invested in the project because it seemed profitable. I didn't know it had a link with Andrei's VIDA until I had launched it and saw the detailed draft. And besides, PGC's VIDA might be able exactly Andrei's VIDA but it wasn't stolen, we designed it."
"So now, what is your plan? Do you think Andrei would believe you didn't steal VIDA?"
"That's why I came to you because I want you to intercede for me. I would do anything just to gain Andrei's forgiveness even if it means giving up our DIVA. I know you
believe me, I know you understand my situation, please help me. I want my brother back," he said, then shed a tear.
"I'm sorry Brandon but I can't help you, I don't want to get involved with you," I said.
I had to say it, so it would look real, I didn't want my acting to be suspected. He would have to beg some more before I agreed.
"Cherry, I want my brother back, I want my family back, I family back, I feel lonely without Andrei, aunty and Alex, I'm really sorry," he cried this time.
"It's okay, I understand you. I understand how it feels after making a mistake, that's why I'ld help you," I said and then he hugged me in tears.
"Thank you."
I returned to the shopping mall to meet the nagging Daisy.
"What took you so long and where did you go?" Was her complain throughout the ride home.
Brandon's POV
I laughed as I rode back home. Women are all the same, soft hearted. Cherry actually believed what I told her, my plan worked. I knew this was the only way to gain her trust and eventually her love, Cherry must be mine. And that Andrei, that thief, always stealing everything from me.
First, he stole my happy family and I had to live with them as dad's brother. I watched them live happily while they broke mine.
And then, he stole my happiness, my mum. Mum became this way only because of them.
He stole my first chance of becoming rich, he exposed my plans to Stephanie about her sister's wealth and now, he stole Cherry too. Cherry, my childhood crush.
I have always admired Cherry, I had known her for the longest time and secretly wanted her but I never had the chance to her. Andrei got her first and now, it's difficult to make her mine all thanks to him.
The battle is far from over, just as I took his happy family before and his identity as my father's son, I will take away his dreams, his wealth and Cherry from him until he loses everything and become miserable. And after I deal with him, I'ld deal with dad for betraying me and mum.
For now, I'ld just have to work with dad. I dialed his number.
"Hello," he said.
"Have the guns been successfully delivered to the buyers?"
"Yes, and we've gotten the money. We just have to supply the bombs to the other buyer."
"Go deliver them now," I shouted before hanging up.
Dad was like this, a loser, a weakling, a fool, like Andrei. All the wealth I acquired was thanks to this illegal business of mine. I wouldn't have been able to buy PGC and ruin Andrei's dream if not for this business, that's why it means everything to me.
"I'm coming for you, Andrei," I said as I drove faster.
Andrei's POV
The fact that Brandon won again by stealing VIDA broke me, I felt fooled again. And thinking that grandpa played a part in all this because has he helped me back then, Brandon wouldn't have won angered me more. I locked myself up and refused to see anyone even Cherry. But when I got informed by Kingsley that Brandon was seen talking to Cherry in an alley, I knew I had to man up. I could lose everything but not Cherry and I knew Brandon could go all lengths to get Cherry. I went out of my room and mum was delighted to see me. Then to Cherry's house that evening.
I knocked at her door and Daisy was the one to open.
"Good evening."
"Good evening, Andrei, where have you been? I'm mad at you for just abandoning Cherry. I know you're facing a lot but what you did really upset me," Daisy scolded.
"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry. Where's Cherry? I want to see her."
"Come in, she's in." She said, ushered me in and I took my seat.
"Cherry, Cherry, you have a guest," she said and I could feel Cherry approaching. Cherry looked around when she got to the living and ran towards me when she saw me.
"Andrei, you finally showed up," she said when she hugged me. I was surprised she wasn't mad.
"Cherry, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry, you came to see me and I rejected you. I'm sorry, I didn't want you to see me in that condition"
"Andrei, it's fine. I'm just very happy you're here, I missed you so much and you, you look pale, you've lost weight," she said while inspecting me.
"I'm fine, really fine, you don't have to worry."
She hugged me again, this time tighter.
"I really missed you, never leave me again."
"I won't, never."
"Join me for dinner, I'ld feed you, you have to gain weight." She almost ordered.
I smiled, held her waist, placed my head on her shoulder as I trailed behind.
"How's the company?" I asked when we were eating.
"It's okay, grandpa has been handling it."
"So what did you do today? did you meet anyone."
Cherry dropped her phone, turned to me and gave a smile.
"I know you asked people to watch me, to guard me all these days, one of them is called Kingsley, right?" She said and I was surprised.
"So you found out?" I spoke astounded.
"Of course, remember, I am Chery, the tough woman. If I was able to find out what you did back then, how you played mischievously, how could I not also find out that you hired people to watch me."
"I'm sorry."
"You don't have to be sorry. I know you want to protect me and if hiring them to watch me makes you feel at ease, then I'm fine with it. And as for the question you asked, I'ld tell you what you wanted to hear. I met with Brandon," she said, this was my Cherry, the most perfect person in the world, the most understanding person ever.
"Cherry, you give me reasons to love you, I'm so lucky to have you."
"If you talk so sweetly like this everyday, then I might have to change," she said and I smiled.
I pinched her face,
"I don't care if you change because I know you would never change for the worse but for the best."
"I certainly would change for the better. I have to be strong for this weak Andrei of mine." She teased.
"I'm not weak."
"You are. Weren't you the one who was locked up in the room for days?"
"I'm am but- see, Cherry, I'm not weak." I protested.
"So what did Brandon tell you?"
"He came to explain himself."
"You don't believe him, do you?"
"Never and don't worry, I'ld always be yours. I love only you. But Andrei, I'm pleading this time for you to tell me what Brandon did to you." She said calmly and this time, I didn't want to turn her down.
"I grew up thinking Brandon was my uncle when the fact was that he was my brother. I loved him, he was my best friend before Steve, he was more than a brother to me. When the truth was released, it shattered my family, mum got to know that dad never loved her, he was just there for the money. But my love for Brandon was the same, I even loved him more since he was my brother. Little did I know, he was a devil.
Brandon and dad was the reason mum ended up in a wheelchair. They almost killed both Alex and her but somehow they escaped death.
Both Alex and mum are terrified of that day till now, it still hunts them like a night mare. And as if that was not enough, they set me up to be arrested by the police for drug trafficking but somehow my name got cleared," I narrated and could see Cherry's saddened face.
"What other thing did he do?"
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