Mr. President’s

Chapter 29

Waves of worry flung Mercedes and Nathan could see the sudden change in her demeanour. She kept wondering if Penelope had broken up with Griffin. If that happened, Griffin would be heartbroken because he loved Penelope so much.

Penelope was nervous but unlike Mercedes, she was a perfect actress. Seeing Mr Hayes, Nathan instantly felt he was the reason why Mercedes was acting strange. Fortunately, President Yates had come in person, which meant there was no need to have Mr Hayes around. Nathan was about to speak when the elderly man spoke,

“President Nathan Legend, please forgive me for taking the forte. Before you speak, I will like to apologize on behalf of my nephew, Mr Hayes. I received your message concerning his misconduct and do not mean to disrespect your authority.” He paused. Nathan’s expression was deadpanned, his powerful aura making everyone cautious.

Mr Hayes was uneasy, as his position in the company was dependent on Nathan’s final approval. It seemed the 30k compensation wasn’t enough. Even Penelope felt the tension but she was even more jealous, seeing Mercedes with Nathan, coupled with her designer dress. She has never seen Mercedes glitter so much that she caught the attention of everyone at the event.

When Griffin told her that Mercedes worked with Nathan, she never estimated it to be his personal assistant till she heard whispers about their relationship when she arrived. President Yates continued since Nathan hadn’t spoken a word.

“I also know that you are upset seeing him here but I didn’t want to call to explain on the phone when we had this event planned. He is still undergoing training to take over one of the companies, in which Miss Winters used to work. His behaviour, as has been told to me, was extremely unprofessional and I think he deserved every punishment you meted out to him. He paused again. Still, Nathan was deadpanned.

Penelope was surprised to hear that Mercedes used to work with Mr Hayes. Besides, something had happened between Mercedes and her fiance. What could that be and how could Mercedes be at that level with all the top–notch? She cursed her laziness.

She was only introduced to Mr Hayes two weeks ago by her father and didn’t know much about him. She accepted to marry him because he had promised to take good care of her. He started off buying her expensive gifts, which made her accept the proposal to marry him. After all Griffin was too broke to settle down anytime soon. But she knew she would still need him. Mr Hayes wasn’t as good in bed as Griffin. Griffin was the only one who made her scream with countless orgasms, which was why she endured his broke ass.

Today, he is here to learn from me and the lady beside him happens to be his fiance. They got engaged yesterday. President Yates ended. Mercedes‘ mouth opened in shock, then closed again. Penelope ensured to not make eye contact with her.

“For your sake, President Yates, your apology is duly noted. Congratulations to them. However, the person he offended is right here and I will give her the benefit of the doubt, to affirm as to whether or not Mr Hayes should be in this meeting” Nathan said to everyone’s shock. If Mercedes heard, she was too awed to respond but it wasn’t hard for her to jolt out of her shock with Nathan’s intense gaze on her

He had given her the authority to either kick out Mr Hayes or let him stay. A perfect opportunity for her to take revenge on Penelope but she knew beyond doubt that someone was begging on behalf of Mr Hayes. Someone dignified and worth her respect,

“I forgive him,” she said calmly, her gaze on Penelope who was dressed in a black tube dress. Mr Hayes breathed out relieved.

“Once again, President Legend, I would like to have a word with your assistant but of course, not in private, President Yates appealed to Nathan. For as long as it was in the open, Nathan responded,

“You may proceed, President yates.

Miss Winters, if I may ask, was your father Gerald Winters?”

“Yes, Mr President, Mercedes replied politely

“Oh, I see. At first, when I heard the name, I thought it was just by coincidence but seeing the resemblance, I couldn’t stop myself from asking. Your father is an honest man and he didn’t deserve what happened to him. How is his condition?” The elderly man asked with care lacing his voice. Mr Hayes felt sorry but he dared not utter a word for fear of offending Nathan. He had insulted Mercedes father the day Mercedes left his office. Right now, he was walking an eggshells.

“Not encouraging but we are still hoping for the best outcome,” Mercedes gave her honest n

“I will stop by to pay him a visit sometime

“You shall be most welcome”

response. Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

After that, dishes were being served but Mercedes couldn’t get anything in, making Nathan worried. To end his frustration, he excused himself from the table, yanking Mercedes along. He requested a master key to one of the presidential suites and before reaching there, someone was waiting with the cand

fustantly, far swiped and entered into the room, rapidly turning on the light and requesting

1:13 PM ₫ ₫

“Will you speak now or do I have to force you?” He said as soon as he closed the door.

Mercedes wasn’t in her right mind at the moment and didn’t know how to go about it but she knew she couldn’t lie to him, Tm sorry Nat, but please lend me your phone. I need to make a very important call,” she didn’t hesitate to ask. She was worried about Griffin

“Not until you tell me what’s going on, Nathan demanded. He could sense that Mercedes‘ problem wasn’t Mr Hayes so who was it!

“I promise to tell you everything but it all depends on the response from the call,” Mercedes pleaded. Nathan paused for a while observing her depressing mood.

“Five minutes is all I can give Merce,” he gave her the phone and was about to leave to the bedroom when she asked,

“Password“”

He paused for a while and said. “It’s your date of birth: Mercedes felt her hands tremble.

“How”

“Five minutes. Nathan reminded her and left.

She quickly dialled Griffin’s number, which was answered almost instantly.

“Hello, who’s this?”

“Griff, it’s Merce.

“Merce, are you alright?” He sounded worried but there wasn’t a trace of sorrow which meant they hadn’t broken up so Penelope was cheating on him.

“Yes. Are you?” Mercedes responded and asked at the same time. They both appeared to be worried about each other.

Yes.

“Where’s Penelope!” She asked impatiently, knowing that she had just five minutes.

Griffin wondered why she immediately asked of Penelope but not Angle yet, he answered, “she has some family problems she’s taking care of but let’s talk about”

Mercedes didn’t wait for him to answer and outrightly said, “Penelope is cheating on y-” She didn’t finish when he cut in.

“Merce, I don’t expect there was a beeping sound of a call waiting, hold on” Without waiting for her response, he put her on hold and answered the next call when he saw that it was from Penelope.

“Are you alright?” He asked in a worried tone.

“Yes, but you

ou won’t believe who I saw at my uncle’s dinner party in California I told you al

“Who?” Griffin wasn’t interested but asked anyway.

“You didn’t explain Mercedes was Nathan’s personal assistant.” Her voice was flat

you abour

“Well, she is.” Griffin was slightly irritated. From everything going on between Mercedes and Nathan, he didn’t need a reminder of ir

“And you couldn’t advise her against following him as an escort? Griff, your best friend isn’t decent at all. She follows Nathan around like a whore Penelope knew that Mercedes would tell Griffin about her so she thought it wise to tum her against him. She also knew how much Griffin loved Mercedes because of her decency and her plan worked quite well because Griffin was even more upset with Mercedes. This was why he tried to discourage her from accepting Nathan’s help. Now, she lost her self respect.

Is there anything else Penelope? He didn’t want to hear it anymore and Penelope could tell from his tone. Secretly she was happy.

“No, I just hope she doesn’t tell you lies when she meets with you but I’m so disappointed with her trying to get Nathan’s attention when all he dors is shove her away like a fly. He doesn’t even respect her,” she added on.

“When are you coming back?” Griffin clunged the topic.

“Tunorrow I can’t wait to see you. I miss you so much.”

100 and Llove you.” Grittin responded but his mod was already destroyed.

“I love you more amiah” Penelope ended the call. Grittin returned to Mercedes when she was about to hang up because her time was

יון

She only had thirty seconds.

“Merce

“I have to go. I was given five minutes and my time is up” she hurriedly said but Griffin was even more upset. How could he time her calls?

“Is that how he treats you? Less than a dog? He spat the words without polishing them.

Mercedes was greatly hurt, lacking meaning to Griffin’s words. He never spoke to her like that before, not even when they had misunderstandings. “What are you talking about! I called to tell you that Penelope is cheating on you and is engaged to another man,” she sounded sorrowful but for the first time, Gritin didn’t believe her because he was upset.

“Cut it Merce, I don’t expect this from you. I know that you don’t like Penelope but why such lies! It’s too low for level, and if it’s a ploy to cover up for the disgusting way Nathan is treating you, let’s end in now,” he said coldly.

must have argued before she

“Griff, what are you talking about?” Mercedes had even forgotten that her time was up. Her heart was too broken. They n left but it didn’t warrant this. She didn’t understand a thing he was saying to her.

“In simple terms, stay away from my relationship with Penelope and trust me, I don’t care what you do with your life anymore. After all, you are old enough to make your own decisions.”

“Griff did you just” she heard a beeping sound which only meant Griffin had hung up on her. She didn’t know when tears began sprawling on her cheeks. She didn’t even realize that Nathan was staring at her, his expression fiery

“Who made you cry?” His voice carried death, as his jaw clenched. Mercedes instantly realized her environment and wiped her face with the palm of her hand. Griffin must have hurt her but she didn’t want Nathan to harm him.

“Nobody. It’s nothing she forced a smile.

Nathan’s expression darkened even more, as he strode towards her. Mercedes‘ knees weakened and shook with every step she took backwards. Nathan’s expression was too fiery. “You will not lie to me, Merce, I bought one week from you because I wanted you whole. Now you give me tears and tell me no one?” His voice was icy as he took the phone from her, about to radial whatever number she called.

Mercedes quickly composed herself when her back touched the white wall and forced a smile, “the girl engaged to Mr Hayes is my best friend’s girlfriend.”

Nathan halted, just a few inches from her, his expression was unreadable. “Don’t tell me you called to tell him that his girlfriend was cheating on

him.”

“What’s wrong with that? Mercedes asked innocently

Nathan heaved, let me guess, he didn’t believe you”

“Yes” She lowered her head

“That makes him a sensible man” Mercedes was appalled by Nathan’s judgement.

What?

Nathan’s expression softened, as he dragged her to the sofa, sat and pulled her onto his lap. “Merce, I didn’t expect you to be so naive. You don’t say those things even if you have video proof Now let me tell you something. Promise you would keep it secret.

“I promise,” Mercedes mumbled. This was the first time she felt completely comfortable around Nathan because he comforted her as a friend and spoke warmly. Something she only got from Griffin. This made her admiration for him grow, Nathan could be anything if he wanted to. Right now, he is a caring friend.

“Good. My best friend Lanre’s wife came to pick him from my house one early morning and I saw a hickey on her neck. My best friend spent the night at my house so what does that tell your

Mercedes gasped, the understanding clear in her mind. “So you didn’t tell him?”

“No, and I didn’t intend to until he told me that his wife wanted a divorce and was demanding so many things. I still didn’t tell him but gave him a

clur”

“What’s thur Mercedes widened curiously as her hands naturally travelled around Nathan’s neck

“The should secretly install CCTV in the house

She smiled in admiration. “I see, I should have been smarter about it.

“Now, wipe those tears lifting her from his lap.

from wo

your eyes and touch up on your make–up. I hate to see you cry. You deserve the best in life,” he kissed her gently before

His words for some time kept stunning Mercedes but perhaps, it was just the one–week intimate thing clouding her mind. Mercedes walked to the dressing mirror and touched up on her make–up.

“How do I look!” She asked him cheerfully.

Nathan didn’t answer immediately. He stood up and strode towards her. “Much better.” He pulled her closer by the waist, kissing her hair softly before he parted the side of her neck and whispered in her ear, “prepare your mind for tonight Merce, I won’t hold back,” he said in deep breaths.