Chapter 22

They had dropped the smoke gord, thinking that would let them escape but the mistake they made was that they underestimated Daniel.
The man standing behind immediately pressed a liquid stuff into the smoke filled room and the smoke dissipated right then!. Daniel fired four gun shots at the same time and four men dropped instantly.
" What... what..." Don stuttered as he pulled his trigger, ready to kill Jake but Daniel was faster and he shot him in his chest right then!. But another man shot Jake in the arm and he cried in pain.

"I told you they won't spare me..." Jake cried as he fell on his ass and Daniel smirked before bringing out his second gun and in no time, the beautifully decorated hideout turned into a grave yard as Daniel and his men killed more than 30 men with only two down on their side. Even the two were not dead.
And then... " Whoaaa! You are so impressive!" Jake shouted as he immediately saw Daniel in another light.

"Find him! "Daniel shouted at his guards... He really could not afford to lose him!. He later found out that one of the men had escaped.

"Sir what do we do with Jake?"Ray asked , looking at the unconscious man on the floor...
He had passed out after seeing the victory of the intense gun shot.
"You should tell some men to take him to the hospital. We can't afford to use known hospital.. You understand what i mean right?" He asked Ray who immediately nodded and smiled knowingly. The unknown men might come for him again if he was to be taken to just anyhow hospital.
" He might still be our only hope. You know what I think? I think we should send my men to protect his family for a while till we get somewhere safe for them to stay. Under no circumstances should any thing happen to them or else... I will really hate this. "Daniel said as he walked back to his office.

"Okay sir"Ray said and he ordered two guards to carry Jake to the hospital.

"Let's go"Daniel said has he walked towards the car with Ray following him.

"Okay sir"Ray opened the door for Daniel to enter the back seat while he drove but Daniel went to the driver's seat instead.

"I'm driving"Daniel said as he started the car's engine.

Ray immediately entered beside Daniel and Daniel drove off. He smiled when he saw the funny look on Daniel's face. Today was victorious.

Throughout the drive, Daniel was very quiet... he wasn't so happy after all!
"He's such a coward! why can't he await for me right there and face me head on? when I get him, I'll kill him for sure!" He said with determination and Ray nodded, agreeing with him.
Daniel was really speeding..

"Sir..."Ray stammered,he didn't want Daniel transferring aggression on him...

"What!"Daniel said with frustration.

"Well you have a board meeting today and we might manage to get there a few minutes after it started"Ray stated.

"I'm not in the mood to go anywhere"Daniel said coldly.

"But sir,you realize you have a worthy opponent now, you missing a board meeting will give her a point ahead of you sir."Ray said.

"Fine but if Sharon gets on my nerves I swear I'll...."Daniel left his sentence uncompleted..

"I'll go check on Jake at the hospital and give you feedback sir"Ray finally said.
Daniel arrived at the board meeting 30 minutes late and everyone turned to him with an angry look. It was the first time that happened.
The secretary stood up instantly and glared at Daniel.
"Mr Daniel,this is the second time you are coming late to the board meeting!" The secretary was not at all pleased.

"I was...." Daniel was about to explain himself but he was e was interrupted by Sharon who spoke up for him.

"Mr Daniel was late because he was making plans for the tightment of the sectors"
Sharon said calmly, not looking at Daniel's confused face.

"Yes I was out on some meetings for the benefit of the board"Daniel said in a confused voice still not understanding why Sharon had his back but he was quick to catch on and he added more to support her claim but he wasn't the only one that was shocked though, the board members were all as shocked.

Throughout the board meeting, Daniel was absent minded he kept on thinking about the incident that happened earlier and he wondered if Jake was alright.

Sharon noticed this and she never hesitated to answer questions the board asked Daniel saying it was his idea when it was hers.

The meeting finally ended leaving Sharon and Daniel alone in the office..
Sharon packed her filed and was about to walk out.

"I..guess I owe you a thank you"Daniel said as she was about to walk out..

"Don't flatter yourself, I'm only repaying the favor"she smiled and walked out.


"Maybe she wasn't that bad"Daniel muttered to himself before leaving the office.

He called Ray right after Sharon left...
"How's Jake?" he asked worriedly.

"Well he's still in a room, sir"Ray replied over the phone.

"Oh shit! this is all my fault., what about his family?"Daniel asked with a frown.

"They're safe, sir"Ray said.

"Give them anything they want and don't hesitate to tell me if there's an update."

"Okay sir"Ray said and the call ended.
Sharon's P. O .V

I was in my office when my new PA walked in.
"Good day ma'am"he said presenting a file to me

"Good day, what's this?" I asked, collecting the file from him.

"It's a project on what you can do when you get the position."he said with a smile.

"That's really thoughtful... thanks, I'll go through it later"I replied as i opened the first page of the file and closed it back before dropping it on the table.

"Okay, please tell me if you need anything ma'am" Lewis said and left the office.

He was way a better match to me compared to ken..

I couldn't stop thinking about Daniel's new attitude
"He was no longer the worthy opponent, he seem to be distracted,well someone was after his life how else was he meant to react..he won't get the position if he keeps up with this.

Isn't that what I wanted? to get the position,I should be happy because at this pace I have better chances of getting the position but why do I pity him?why did I defend him and have his back?was it really because of the favor or something else?."


I was still lost in my thought when my PA walked in again,
"Ma'am, a man Is here to see you,by the name ken" Lewis told me and I raised a brow.
" ken?" I wondered.

"Let him in" I said after some hesitation.
I wondered what ken was looking for ..

A minute later, ken walked in
"Good day, Sharon" ken greeted, sitting down opposite me.

"Good day"I replied, still uncertain of the reason for his visit.

"I came to say goodbye"he said in a sad voice.

"Goodbye? why were are you going"I said in a heavy voice".

"I'm traveling to Canada this night to have a different view of life and enjoy my remaining years exploring the world since my help is no longer needed" ken muttered bitterly and made to leave.

"That's not so." I replied almost instantly. ",I just felt you are old and needs rest. You are a father figure to me and the only family i have. You should know i can never ignore you or forsake you. " I said with tears in my eyes.

"Your actions justify it Sharon,I've always treated you like a daughter and I've always been there for you, every step of the way but I think it's time you make your decisions yourselves and live your life the way you want." ken replied angrily .

"But I...."I was cut off by ken.

"You don't need to say anything Sharon. I wish you good luck in getting the position, I believe in you"he said and made for the door.

I was choked by my tears that I couldn't utter a word... seeing him leave hurt me so badly that I felt miserable.

"By the way, your new PA seems responsible enough"he commented and walked away..

"ken is gone forever. he had always been with me all my life and I can't imagine my life without him"I said to myself as I broke out crying, even harder.

******
In a dark room, an injured man was painfully giving reports to a masked man.
"Jake led them to us and they killed all our men, including Don." He said bowing in front of the man while blood dripped from his injury.

"And what did you do to someone that betrayed me?"the masked man said, smoking from his pipe.

"I shot him sir. but I think he's still alive"he said fearfully because he knew his master would be angry.