Two years of dating. Two years of carrying a man who used to dream, then stopped. James, her James. Merci had come from little—her parents had scraped and sacrificed to send her to university. She had studied hard, walked to lectures barefoot when they couldn't afford transport, sold bread on weekends to buy books. She had inherited her gift and talent in business from her grandfather Andrew who was an icon that built one of the first successful e-commerce companies in the country. But everything changed after Andrew's sudden, suspicious death.
Unknown to Merci who was not born when her grandfather died, her grandfather hadn't died naturally. He had been killed through food poisoning by Kenneth, the very man who once worked under him. Kenneth had bribed the family lawyer Bryant with a sum of 20 million dollars to forge a will that claimed Andrew left all the properties and business to him.The properties were worth over 3.7 billion dollars.These Included estates, houses, restaurants, leisure parks and many other places.Merci's father, Alex who is Andrew's only son never knew the truth. Believing his father had simply changed his mind, Alex walked away from the company broken and betrayed. He never knew it had been stolen.
Merci never knew anything about the story because she was not born then and her father Alex and her mother Valentina never told her.They refused to tell her because they don't want to share their pain of being betrayed, hurt and robbed with their daughter merci.They wanted merci to be free from the pain of betrayal and bitterness they went through for years.
Years later, fate twisted cruelly. James who is Kenneth's only son met Merci during her final year at university. Neither of them knew the truth of their families' bloody history. This is because both of them were not born when it all happened.They fell in love, Hard and fast when they met each other.James had once looked at her like she hung the stars. She was the fire that fueled him, the light that guided him when he was lost.
But Kenneth had recognized Merci the day she first stepped into their home.when James brought merci to his parents house to introduced her to his parents for marriage there was something wrong.
As they walked into the sitting room James said "Dad,this is the girl I want to marry".James held merci in her hand as he takes her to his parents.He was putting on a white T shirt which was showing his muscular chest and a blue jean.His dark short hair and fair skin brightens the environment.
Kenneth who is James father looked at her like a hungry owl,he tried to pretend that everything was okay by forcing a smile on his wrinkled face"Alright".
merci was putting on a blue top and a black skirt.Her fair face and her dark long hair made her look beautiful.She had a slightly plain cheek and blue charming eyes.Her breast and her back curves were well placed with an average size.
Juliet looked at her from her to toe like someone who is trying to scan a thief "mtchewww"she hissed so loudly.
"Where is this dirty thing coming from?"
"Mom,why did you hiss,and why are you talking like this,is any thing the problem?"
"What is your name?"Kenneth asked merci.
" My name is Andres merci".Her smile was noticeable but not natural because she felt rejected already by James parents.
Immediately there was a silent panick in the hearts of Kenneth and his wife Juliet. As they both looked at each other.Their heart beat increased,their was panick inside of them but they tried to control themselves to pretend as if nothing was happening.
Kenneth forced a smile on his face as he asked "sorry what is the name of your father?"
"His name is Andres Alex"she replied with confidence.
The mind of both Kenneth and Juliet raced heavily.Their faces were looking worried with confusion but they tried to force smile on their face.Trouble was already coming to the family.
"What is wrong dad,is anything the problem"James could read the worries that are hidden In their faces.
"We need to talk in private" Kenneth replied.
Immediately james parents left the sitting room.
"James tell me what is the problem,is anything wrong,why are your parents looking somehow worried"
"I don't know darling,I will find out"
James went to meet his parents in the room where they were waiting for him.As he entered the room he saw confusion,anger and deep sadness on the face of Kenneth while his mother Juliet was almost in tears.
"James I don't want you to have anything to do with that girl again.She is from a poor home and she does not belong here". Kenneth's hands were shaking because of fear and panick as he was speaking.
"But she is the woman I loved,she have been with me when I was blind and I was about to go for an eye surgery,she has been my motivator and my backbone.I can't leave merci just because she is from a poor home.I don't love Sharon because we are two different people".
"Shut up your mouth,how dare you challenge your father,so after telling you that you will marry Sharon who still went ahead and brought another woman to this house"Juliet's eyes was full of anger
His father's brow furrowed.His face became more filled with sadness and anger."Listen to me you fool,you know nothing about love.If you love yourself and the family then you dismiss that girl now and forever or I will disown you and deny you of all the family inheritances"His voice like a thick thunder.
"Dad I am going to marry merci,do anything you want,merci is the love of my life".
"James my only son,me and your father knows what is best you.Just dismiss her so that can go.Sharon is the best person for you"Juliet spoke as she tries to convince him.Her voice sounded soft and with a pampering nature.
"Mom I have made up my mind already"James face was full of determination and convinction of marrying merci.
When James left the room he went to the sitting room to meet merci with a very worried face.And she said
"What was the problem?".
"Nothing,it's just a family issue"James tried to pretend as if nothing happened.
"Family issue?,James when did you start lieing to me?,I know you way back from college so if you are lieing I will know.Now tell me the truth ".She looked at him directly into his eyes.
"I promise to tell you,but not now.It has nothing to do with our love,trust me".Deep down in his mind he knows his parents does not want him to marry merci.
Merci looked deep into his eyes and said to James"baby,I know that your family does not want to accept me from what I noticed.You don't need to hide anything from me.But I want you to know that I do not only love you,I cherish you.Your weakness is my strength and your flaws are part of the reason why I love you.Together we can both make a decision to get married even without the choice of your parents".
James looked at her as his body became cold and he felt so loved despite his weakness"I love you too,I am so sorry for trying to hide what my parents feel about you.I was afraid you will leave me if you get to know that my parents don't want you "
James parents knew that the main reason why they don't want him to marry merci is because she is the granddaughter of the man Kenneth betrayed, the daughter of the man he robbed. They both spent decades burying the past. Now it was back in his living room looking at them and almost ready to marry their only son James.They could not tell James the real truth because James will be ashamed of their evil secret act.He will fight them for it because he loves merci.
When james wanted to marry merci,James parents tried to convince him to change his mind but james went ahead to marry merci even when his parents threatened not to attend the wedding.After the wedding,James and merci began to live with each other as married couples.
Days after the wedding,The stratCore ventures company which is e-commerce company where international goods like electronics,books,non perishable food are being sold as customers place their orders online continue to grow more and more.The growth began when James started dating merci.
Merci who had the business talent of her grandfather Andrew helped James to make the company grow by giving him ideas of a business genius.One day after their wedding James was talking to merci about how he will make the company grow.One day merci was cooking some delicious and she came to the sitting room and saw James looking depressed as he was reading what he saw on the laptop screen.
"Sweetheart,what is the problem"she walked towards him and she use her hand to gently rub his head.
"Baby the company is facing some challenges now, customers are complaining that things are too expensive on the website and there are some new products on the website that customers are unwilling to try out"
"My sweetheart,what you will do is to sell some of the goods on discount at first or on a low price.This will give customers an opportunity to try out the products.Then when you see that the customer reviews on that product is very positive,you can now increase the price to a reasonable rate.But let the customers have a first time experience on the products.If the quality of that product is good enough then they will want to have more of it no matter the price"She spoke with confidence.
"Wow,you have always being a Genius since I met you.How on earth were you able to come out with such a great idea?.Right now I feel good and hopeful.Thank you so much"His facial expression changed to a smiling one.
"You are welcome"She kissed him on his head as he was sitting down while she was standing.
The next day at work there was a meeting with the board of directors.James and his father was in attendance.The meeting was to discuss on how to improve sales in the company.
One of the board of directors named christian spoke "we called this meeting because we noticed that there have been a decline in sales of product in our company and we are here to discuss about the possible solutions to these problems,if you have any idea that we can use please you are allowed to speak".
James spoke "I think we can solve this problem by placing our new products on discount.When our customers begin to buy them we can now increase the price.When our customers start giving positive reviews then we increase the price according to the positive reviews".
Everyone was amazed at james idea especially his father Kenneth because he knows that James is not a very creative person.
"That was an excellent suggestion,you deserve to be promoted by the end of this month because you have been coming up with brilliant ideas"christian spoke as he was very happy with the idea.
When the meeting was over Kenneth spoke to James" I was very amazed with the kind of ideas you come up with these days,I believe with your intelligence you will be able to run our company"
"Thank you so much Dad,but Dad it was merci's idea,she is a genius.Merci has being the one who having been giving me ideas that have been making this company to keep growing for years now"James replied as he was testifying about merci.
"Shut up,I don't want to hear that girl's name from your mouth".His face was squeezed in anger.His heartbeat increased in fear as he heard of the name merci.He now knows how powerful that name is by her intelligence.
"It's alright Dad,but I have already spoken to the board of directors so that she can work here.Dad this woman have can take our company to the greatest heights of success.She studied accounting in the university"James face was full of smiles and excitement.
"You mean you already spoke to the board of directors about that?, James I don't want to see that girl in this company or else you will lose your job"Kenneth shouted in anger.
"Alright Dad,but I don't know why you hate this girl so much".James became angry as he walked out of the place to his office.
immediately some of the workers came out of their office to find
out what happened but James told them to go back to work.