Chapter 5 FROM CHECKMATE TO CHECKBOOKS

Dennis Blake, was in his private lounge, dimly lit with ambient jazz and a scent of cedar oil in the air. He was with his best friend Silas, playing chess.

He could barely concentrate; he kept daydreaming of the way he'd make an entrance to the stage with Andrea when she's announced as the winning artist at the concert.

"Dennis, have you told your father about your divorce." Silas asked, his voice bringing Dennis back to reality.

"Why tell him of a divorce when he's not aware a wedding happened in the first place?" Dennis said, his tone was sarcastic as he chuckled.

"Wait-your dad doesn't even know you got married? And I didn't know he didn't know? Damn, you're slick."

"I guess I'll take that as a compliment!" Dennis smirked.

"Wait, bro! how did you pull up a secret wedding with Cardi and she accepted all your conditions without worry?" Silas lifted a brow, totally stunned by the realization before him.

"The poor would always be a pawn in the hand of the king." Dennis explained, lifting a piece from the chess board to demonstrate his words.

"I don't think that's the case. She was either so in love with you or she probably also had a secret she tried to protect, that's why she could resonate to your meaningless secret schemes and respect them."

"Oh well! Too bad she was a fool.... And too bad you slipped up, Silas! Checkmate!" Dennis said excitedly as he stomped his knight to deliver a beautiful smothered checkmate on the chessboard.

But his happiness and victory were temporary. His reality parted into two when a call from his subordinate came through his phone-It was a call from Jackson, his company manager.

"Sir, there's bad news." Jackson said immediately Dennis had picked the call.

"Go straight to the point Jackson." Dennis urged his voice firm and unmoved by Jackson's announcement of sudden news.

"Sir, the anonymous major investor in our company has just retrieved his income flow. And without the income coming in, the company's worth would go down by 98% within the next 2weeks." Jackson explained, his voice a mix of fear and worry.

For what felt like eternity to Jackson, Dennis was speechless-he didn't utter a word.

Dennis felt like someone had pulled the floor from beneath him. His fingers, once steady on the chessboard, trembled as sweat crept from his brow. For a second, he wished the ground would open and swallow him in.

After a long wait without response, Jackson ended the call, knowing his boss needs time to process the news.

"Why would he retrieve the income flow all of a sudden?!" Dennis's voice was barely above a whisper, "I have to contact his manager really quickly... I can't afford to lose him-not yet, not yet!" He stuttered, his fingers scanning through his contact list.

"What's wrong Dennis?" Silas asked, his voice filled with worry.

Dennis ignored him and immediately began dialing the number of his investor's manager, his hands shaky as though they were stuck in a freezer. After several tries, he was so disappointed to realize he had been blocked.

Dennis could not believe his eyes; he had been blocked by the only means he had to communicate with his billionaire anonymous investor!

What the hell!

"I really thought this anonymous investor would be permanent-so I stopped building for the future." Dennis' heart dropped. He buried his face in his palms, grunting in regret, as he couldn't believe his own foolishness.

"I am so smart in playing my games, I even manipulate people to suit my will. Why then?!"

He grabbed his sleek hair aggressively, pulling it as anger soars through his veins. "Why the heck did I not see this coming!? Damn you Cardi!" He cursed as he ripped the golden chain on his neck and tossed it to the ground.

The chain was a present from Cardi on his last birthday. She had gotten it with his money, so it was classy and expensive as Dennis worth-but now he hates anything that reminds him of her.

"Cardi! She... she was in charge of securing the investment and implementing it in my company. I was too confident in her intellect; I trusted her to handle things perfectly. But she screwed things up for me. Argh!" Dennis' teeth clenched in anger as he stomped on the chain with his feet.

"Damn it, Cardi! Why didn't she lock it in? She was supposed to be smart-wasn't that her whole appeal?" He clutched his head, pacing. "No. No, this can't be happening..."

"Dennis, can you at least tell me what is going on?" Silas urged, confused.

Dennis ignored him, his mind was in complete chaos, where would he start explaining from?

"When rage takes over, wisdom takes a backseat. Take a moment to regain control." Silas recited, fiddling with the chess pieces. "That's a quote from Aristotle," he said.

"Don't start bugging me with your void quotes, Silas." Dennis snapped.

He paused facing a mirror hanging on the wall, stared at himself for a very long time, processing everything that's happening to him. And then breathed a sigh of relief-a creepy smirk escaped his lips.

"Why worry Dennis?" he asked himself, staring at his eyes in the mirror, "I've got a Barbie who's about to become a billionaire soon. I can never go broke." he immediately chuckled mirthlessly, running his fingers through his hair, then he paused again.

"It took me years to build my reputation to this level though. I can't dump everything and hide behind a woman." He said, biting his lips. "Since the company would unfailingly lose its value in two weeks, I have to sell it quickly, add some money from my savings and purchase the Brindani Club that's up for sale."

Dennis' face went pale.

His empire-his crown-now crumbling before his eyes. To sell it would be admitting defeat. But what other choice did he have?

Dennis sighed. He had been cornered.

"I'll have to put my company up for sale as soon as now, because every passing hour reduces its worth." Dennis said to himself as he turned around and walked up to Silas.

"Silas, I'd love to sell my company, can you help me find a buyer?" Dennis said, taking his seat. He had chosen to be logical, tossing emotions aside. Moreover he'll purchase the Brindani Club and continue his business career.

"All of a sudden Dennis? What the hell is going on!? I'm lost bro! What did Jack say?" Silas was absolutely confused and concerned.

"We'll talk about it later, Silas. For now, I need a buyer fast."

"Sigh! You always leave me in suspense." Silas furrowed his brows. "Anyways. I got you."

Silas's response left Dennis feeling a bit reassured.

He trusted his friend Silas, to find a buyer but one thing remained unchanged-If he doesn't get a buyer for his company within a week, he'll be so wrecked and his only means of survival in the world would be his wife-to-be.

While he sat down there in his dilemma, his phone rang again, but this time it was his lawyer.

"Mr. Blake, your divorce papers are ready. You two could meet at my office tomorrow to sign them" The Lawyer explained immediately Dennis picked his call.

"Of course! Thanks Duke, you always deliver. We'll be there." Dennis assured him confidently.

Dennis gave a long stretch of relief after ending the call, but when a thought struck him, his countenance fell,

"I hope Cardi doesn't demand half of my wealth after this divorce." He said to himself, furrowing his brows.

He stood up dialing Cardi's number but it didn't go through-she had blocked him.

A hollow ache echoed in his chest-not because she blocked him, but because for once, he wasn't in control.

"Dang! This greedy poor girl." Dennis snapped. "I'm sure she must be in an old apartment with her grandma-she'll definitely be in need of money now. But I can't risk any charity right now, I'd have to make sure Duke stands by me and Cardi doesn't get a penny from the asset we built together." Dennis lamented.

"You don't know where she lives, Dennis?" Silas asked, his expression puzzled.

"She never let me see her place. Probably figured out it wasn't good enough for my standards."

Silas sighed, shaking his head in disappointment. "You really don't know a thing about the woman who lived with you for two years, do you? And she was comfortable you knew nothing. Something's fishy, Dennis."

"Why are you saying all these now, Silas? Anyways! I don't give a fuck. All I care about now is Andrea-She's my trump card." Dennis said, picking up Silas's phone from the table. "I'll use this to send Cardi a voicemail. She's blocked me."

Silas sighed, rearranging the pieces on the chess board again.

"Don't be late. Duke's office. 10am. Let's get this over with." Dennis' voice was emotionless as he dropped the voicemail.