###Chapter 76

Chapter 76



They had dropped the smoke gord, thinking that would let them escape but the mistake they made was that they underestimated Rowan.
The man standing behind immediately pressed a liquid stuff into the smoke filled room and the smoke dissipated right then!. Rowan 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 Rowan 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 Rowan smirked before bringing out his second gun and in no time, the beautifully decorated hideout turned into a grave yard as Rowan 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 Rowan in another light.

"Find him! "Rowan 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. "Rowan 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"Rowan said has he walked towards the car with Ray following him.

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

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

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

Throughout the drive, Rowan 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.
Rowan was really speeding..

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

"What!"Rowan 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"Rowan 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 sapphire gets on my nerves I swear I'll...."Rowan left his sentence uncompleted..

"I'll go check on Jake at the hospital and give you feedback sir"Ray finally said.
Rowan 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 Rowan.
"Mr Rowan,this is the second time you are coming late to the board meeting!" The secretary was not at all pleased.

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

"Mr Rowan was late because he was making plans for the tightening of the sectors"
Sapphire said calmly, not looking at Rowan's confused face.

"Yes I was out on some meetings for the benefit of the board"Rowan said in a confused voice still not understanding why sapphire 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, Rowan was absent minded he kept on thinking about the incident that happened earlier and he wondered if Jake was alright.

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

The meeting finally ended leaving sapphire and Rowan alone in the office..
Sapphire packed her filed and was about to walk out.

"I..guess I owe you a thank you"Rowan 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"Rowan muttered to himself before leaving the office.

He called Ray right after Sapphire 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?"Rowan 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.
Sapphire'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 old lan..

I couldn't stop thinking about Rowan'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 old Lan" Lewis told me and I raised a brow.
" Old Lan?" I wondered.

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

A minute later, old Lan walked in
"Good day, Sapphire" Old Lan 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" old Lan 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 sapphire,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." Old Lan replied angrily .

"But I...."I was cut off by old Lan.

"You don't need to say anything sapphire. 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..

"Old Lan 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.


"Where did you shoot him?"the master asked with a raised tone!.

"On...his hand sir"he hesitated to reply because he knew his reply was stupid.

"You shot someone that betrayed me on the hand?Is that how I trained you?" The man questioned angrily.

"No sir,it was due to the smoke sir it won't happen again"he said pleading.

"So, Rowan came to my territory to kill me, maybe I had belittled our little CEO, what about his opponent?"he said with anger filled voice.

"She's good also.,her childhood care taker and her ex assistant is travelling to Canada this night and she seems pretty sad about it"he said.

"Perfect!take him" The masked man said as he slammed his leg on the injured man's fingers!.

"Okay sir" The injured man said and stood up to carry out the assignment his master sent him on.


"Rowan seems to be playing smart but little did he know who I am and what I can do to destroy him.". He mumbled.
*********

Rowan sat in his study as he continued pressing his phone. He was watching a business programme but he suddenly paused it and look up...
"It couldn't have been Jake so it's obviously one of us but that is not right either. How did he know I would be coming and escape before I arrived? "he asked himself with confusion in his eyes.

"Who do you suspect sir?"Ray asked, also feeling complicated.

"I don't really know. So, I'm giving you an assignment, find out who the imposter is and I want quick answers."he said thinking of who could have done such a thing .

"I'll find out sir" Ray replied and left to start the investigation.

"Who could have sold me out? I'll have to start keeping my movement a secret and only Ray will be aknowledged."

Rowan kept on thinking of what the next plan would be. He he had to do something, who knows what their next action will be.

"If I am able to trace the injured man, I'll be able to trace his cowardly actions.
But whoever this is will suffer my wrath..."

His mind roamed around and stopped at Sapphire's gentle gaze. He was thinking about sapphire!
"She really had my back today but why?we are enemies and she shouldn't be helping me...,I guess it wouldn't be that bad if she got the position.
She's very reliable and kind but I have my reasons for wanting the conglomerate and I can never ignore it!.."He thought out loud.

" but, I guess she's not that bad"he said with a smile.

"And I have to admit she was actually looking okay during the meeting at the restaurant,the red dress made her look more feminine and gentle"he added, still smiling but then he frowned and slapped himself...

"What the hell is wrong with me? why am I thinking about sapphire?!"he questioned, while massaging his temple.


Sapphire received a call from old lan.
"Hello sapphire meet me at Ben's gatadage I have something to tell you"old man said over the phone.

"Why do you want to meet there?"she didn't get an answer as the call ended.
"Why does old man want to meet me at a gatadage and I thought he was traveling. Well the only way I'll get answers to my numerous questions is if I go there.

She immediately got dressed and drove off to the location.
She got there in less than hour.

Knowing how dangerous it will be to go there at that time she still took the courage and went ahead because she truly trusted old lan and believed in him. She hoped he had called to change his mind about leaving him.
She couldn't deny the fact that she needed him around..