Chapter Two (Dark clouds two)

The News

"Famous business tycoon Mr. Steven Black, chairman of Black empire has been alleged with the embezzlement of five hundred million dollars from the company's finances.

With this, Mr. George Thomas, a board member and relative of Mr. Black has given a statement of promise to serve justice to the company and all it members, to strictly hold an investigation into the matter. And if Mr. Black is anyway found guilty towards the allegations, he promised to forsake all bonds and hold him responsible for his crimes with discipline actions against him.

He also added that he won't rest till the matter is resolved.

So far we wait on the further investigations and till then, I've been your news reporter Maria Coal."

It can't be true, my dad is not a cheat nor a fraud. He's an honorable and decent man, there was no way I could consumed the thoughts of him being a criminal. He had build the company from zero, worked days and nights to structure the company to where it was .

The man who couldn't accept gift from others because he felt it was a form of bribery, how could he cheat? that too his own company.

The alerts buzz rapidly sprint on the screen, taking a clear view to see a notice from the company. The board was having a meeting in discreet, I'd to be there my dad's image and reputation were at stake ,no way I was letting his long built reputation be demolished.

If there was one thing I was certain of, I wasn't going to let his enemies succeed.

Black Diamond, the company name came about from our ancestral root. My great fathers were diamond diggers, as such ages their home land wasn't run on democratic system. On their usual workhours, they found a black diamond and was gifted to them by their master as it was seen as worthless at the time. My father heard the story from his father and his father from his father. The skill of crafting of craft was in the family.

From the story came to life the Black Diamond empire emphasized in the line of jewelries, know and recognized by it fine and distinguished designs and authentic works.

From a side road seller, he grew to a company owner. Today the company shines top in the mist of it competitors.

I entered the room of twenty-five audiences that stared at me, with every step took to my position which was next to my dad's.

I stab my eyes at the butt that feared no itch to stick on my dad's chair. "My dad haven't gone and his seat has already been taken?" I said glaring at my so called uncle.

Mr George Thomas cousin to my father. The grudge between the brothers was no secret, he felt dad was unfit for the position he held and should step down for others capable to take charge, by others he meant himself. Fact be told, I wouldn't be surprised if he was the brain behind the conspiracy but again he didn't possess such ability. He only knew how to run his wild mouth.

"Your father isn't here" the euros came out in display of his new set of teeth. He had spent fortunes in granting himself the tooth, the first, second and third batches weren't to his likes. Clearly he was unaware of the taunt name the employees had gave him 'Mr. Tooth'. No doubt the teeth were so many that they begged for mercy to be set free from the mouth, the suffocation of closeness was killing them.

"He might not be here but he still owns the seat and position, so get up from his seat" I demanded exchanging glares with him ,with no fear or remorse. A grin set on my lips as I watched him reluctantly moved his stuffy legs to another, laying rest yo his actual seat.

"That seat won't be his for long" he taunted with a cherry smirk.

"That's fine but till then, he owns the seat and no overweight butt will mess it for him, not on my watch" I revoked back at his comment. My eyes sparkled in sight of his knuckles hardened and fysted, his jaw puffed out for a minute I thought it was gonna explode.

Most children grew up having that one uncle that they adored, sadly my case was at odd. My uncle unlike others, staged hard bricks in my heart. Honestly it was different at first, he was the jolly type, always at aid to others and was in one with the family. His daughter and I were playmates, I remember mom baking us cookies, grab us snacks as lunch fur school. I still don't know where it went wrong.

First it was the division of the company shares then the division of roofs, next he forbiden his family from interacting with us. With years the gap grew wilder and no one talked-about it out. Perhaps both families were at fault nevertheless we were trapped in the walls we built.

"The meeting is called to discuss about Steven Black embezzlement of the company's funds" lady Marv detailed out, her dark hair stood out. Her a woman in her late fifties yet have not a spring if her own, nor a family to go home to. Stories told she was abused as a child which led to her despise in men, another narrate she was betrayed in her youth by the man she adored ,which resulted to her hate in commitment and trust issues, or said the heaviness of her bank statement made her arrogant and refusal to stay subdued to any man..so far only her knew of her real story others were just speculations if the curious minds.

"My father is loyal to this company ,he has served fur many years in diligence, not once did he failed to meet all your requirements not only that he has contributed in the growth of the company. Today this empire is here because of him, because of his hard efforts"

"That doesn't defend his cheat of the company's funds, his years of services won't bail him off his crimes" another in blue suit Said, it was probably best he hid his eyes behind those dark shades.

"Do you have a evidence to proof your father's innocence or he's being conspired against?" My eyes faced the young eyes at the mid seats, se had exchanged conversations twice or most. He was the young heir to the Cummings family. If it were to him he would be anywhere but in the cozy room of thirty seats and stiff windows with little natural air to breathe, the fancy flowers set at each corners of the room disturbed his eyes. He once said to find peace in simplicity, guess it the price of being born with a sliver spoon.

"You claim your father was conspired against, do tell by who?. Could it be that you're suspecting a member of the board?". Thomas George, he just wouldn't shut his gigantic mouth.

" I never said I was suspecting any board member, except you're expressing your guilty mind, then..."

He huffed and shrugged his broad shoulders, sending heavy nasty looks at my way but I gave him no spotlight.

"Child be careful with your words, you aren't just insulating but accusing the board as a whole of conspiring against your father". Before I could defend against his words, the members exchanged eyes and grouped whispered in concern to the statement, granting me little to say in my defense.

"True, I can't prove he was conspired against but that doesn't make my claims void either. Nor did I accused any member. Only the guilty mind would take my word to be offensive '' I threw my gaze at my uncle ,his hands were hooked on the chair with tight fist, his brows furrowed to his face.

"Alice sweet heart, I know you want to save your dad at all cost, so for we. That's why the board is investigating the depth of it ,all in hopes of proving him innocence " the familiar voice spoke in calm. I titled my head in direction to the last seat, it found it way to miss glamorous Lisa.

No doubt she had an outstanding beauty with graceful personality. Seven years ago she lost her family in a tragic accident, her father was fleeing from the cops on the crime of fraud and counter attack when they countered the accident. Her inheritance was denied by her uncles but dad helped her claimed her rights. She was given what was hers ,during the years she tried not to associate herself to her late father's name.

The lips spread apart in attempts of voicing when the steps of feet alerted my ears. In approached were three giant men in dark suits, in the hand of one of them was an envelope. The continuous raise of my heart throb in my ears in echoes, I fenced my hands on my lap as I stared straight at the brown envelope ,wishing I'd an eye vision to see through it contents.

"Great the investigation results are here!".