Being a billionaire

He crawls to the corner, it was dark and everything was blurring, the rain wasn't stopping, Charles thought it was an advantage but with the results coming out, he was one foot away from death. His mouth was wide open, he couldn't breath properly, not when he had large cut in his stomach region.

"Look for him, check the corners" the commander of the gang's barks.

Charles wished he was deaf, hearing this made his head drummed.

"it's not safe here" he told himself, but he couldn't tell his legs. Standing up was death awaiting, hiding here was a sure death. Hot tears drop to his jaws, life has been cruel to him, his life has never been stable ever since that day, he cursed himself the day he borrowed from these monsters but looking back at everything, he will do same thing over and over.

Charles rest his head, he was tired of running, he tired of having a pounding heart when somebody calls his name, Charles bites lips hard, "how did my life turn this way" more tears drops.

"I should just-"

"I see blood!!" somebody shouted, water slashes as they approach the voice, Charles was five foot away from that voice, Charles opens his Right palm, his memories flashes, he wanted to die remembering the goods that happened in his life.

"christa-" the drop of water touched the middle of his palm, her mouth was close to his ears.

"Take care of the kids" Charles look up pursing his lips.

"He should be around" the light points to Charles.

"He is here!!" the man shouted.

Charles stands up running to an unknown direction, his legs stumps the floor slashing water on his shirts.

"he is running away" they run after him.

Charles runs to the roadside, he spots a woman opening her door, she stops when she saw him.

Charles runs to her,

"help me" he holds her hands tight. She tries to remove his hands, but his grips were tight.

"Get him" their voice was loud and clear.

"Please" Charles falls on the ground.

With the movement, she could tell they were closed. She covers Charles with a rag on the floor.

The men rush out, their light brings daytime. Everywhere was bright and the traces of blood could be seen.

"he went over there" she pointed.

They didn't respond to her, they were busying tracking the blood, and it was going to the woman direction.

She quickly moves to them, her goal was to hide the last blood drop that was close to her door.

They surround the last blood drop. Their leader squats in their middle. He looks at the woman smiling bright, his eyes moved to her legs, they were shaking. He stood up, approaching her.

"Move away" he said, his eyes were raging fire, with his fist vibrating, she could tell he was holding himself and also won't hesitate to smack her if she waste his time.

She step back, there is no wisdom risking your life for a strange, and he could be a thief even if he wasn't such, he must've done something wrong.

She wasn't a savior nor wonder woman, she is a woman struggling for her kids, this isn't her business.

The man squats looking at the floor, there was no blood drops, his face harden as he examines the wet ground. He looks at the rag on the floor. It was big enough to cover two grown men.

He step to it, she was already out of the way.

"let your luck fight for you" she muttered.

The man stretched his hands to remove the rags.

"I told you he went that way" she holds his hands. He looks at her, her body shivered with his stares, she let go of his hands.

"Carry on" she indicated with her heads.

"Don't touch me again" he said. Some of his men move forward. Her body vibrates as she spots the daggers they have been hiding.

She walks backwards, her back against the door. She was going to run inside immediately they removed the rag. The man moves his hands.

Her hands went to the door handle, ready to open without mistakes.

"Wait!!!" she shouted.

"I told you he went there!!" she walks standing in front of the man.

"He is over there" she shouted.

"God please" she kept reciting in her mind.

The man swings his fist to her face. He stops inches away when he heard movement in the direction the woman pointed.

"Over here" one of them shouted.

He stares at the woman before turning backwards.

She follows them from behind. "He was over there" she said.

"Hey, looks" she points the moving truck, somebody was at the back. He covers himself with clothes.

"Get him, don't let him escape" their leader barks, following the leads.

She turns back heading home. Her heart was pounding, she kept looking back In case They were coming.

She wasn't settled, the thought of they will come back hang in her throat. She finds reasons to not blame herself, any mistake could to lead to death.

She increases her pace has mind kept popping out tension movement.

She was about to remove the rags when someone taps her shoulder. Her heart jumped. it was the gang boss. He pretend to be chasing, but his eyes were on her.

His cheeks bounce up as their stares meet.

He quickly grips her hands tight. She was like a statue with big eyes. He removed the rags.

His eyes widen, he let go of her, shaking the rags.

"Dammit" he slams his fist on the air.

He tossed the rag away. There was no blood stain or anything.

he looks at her before walking away. Her heart slowly came down, she touched it, ensuring it safety.

she opened the door. Stains of blood awaken her heart again. She shut the door immediately.

He was lying flat besides Elizabeth, her senior daughter.

"Sweetie, what happened" she squats in front of her daughter.

"I saw him outside" she gazed down forming her pity face.

"It's alright" she touched her jaws.

"Mom, I think he is dead" Zoe said pointing to Charles.

"Oh" she turns him over, he was bleeding at the corner of his stomach.

"Get me the first aid, the larger one" she said.

Zoe dash to the room. She came back minutes later, she was surprised that Zoe was quick to actions, she is usually the slowly bunny, but today she is super girl.

She works on Charles, his eyebrows moved closer, feeling the pain of her medicines.

"Mom, save him" Zoe tap her shoulder, her fingers were shaking. She looks at her younger daughter, she used to be the poker type, where is all this emotions coming from.

"I will" she continues, she was trying to do a nest job even though she wasn't an expert.

she successfully stops the bleeding. She wasn't an expert, but it was a superb job to her.

Charles squeeze his face, shaking his head.

"Mom is he alive" Zoe asked.

"Of course he is alive" she smiled. She stares at Charles, she was happy she save him, there was this joy ringing in her heart making her cheeks dances.

"Thank you" Charles voice out.

She nods,

"don't say anything" she stops his moving mouths.

"Get some rest" she said standing up.

"Mom, is he staying with us" Elizabeth asked. She brought her two daughters closer.

"I don't know"

His normal life was scattered in less than a month, everything crumbles before him like a building, everything he owned, every dream he had disappeared, he never saw it coming.

Charles opens his eyes, he was lying on the bed, he jumps up remembering yesterday. he still felt the pain from the wound, it was like a burning flame.

His shirt was on the floor soaked and dirty, Charles put it on, he had no clothes anyway, looking at the room he could tell it was her room, Charles escape to the door without catching eyes. He put on his shoes, they were at the door, he was lucky everything he wanted was orderly arranged.

Charles finished putting on the shoe, he gazed front. Zoe was standing facing him, with the look in her face, she has been watching his escape.

"Mom, he is running away" she points to Charles.

'Gosh' Charles stands by the door waiting for the woman who saved him, he wanted to be thankful before leaving but for some reasons staying here will be dangerous.

"Go inside, Zoe" Lora comes outside. Charles nods showing appreciation.

"Thank you for saving me" he said.

"You... are leaving" Lora asked, she wanted to hear it from his mouth.

"I have to go.... staying here will be dangerous" Charles looks at Lora. His eyes pause, she looks like a woman in her twenties, fair and dark hair reaching her back with a blue hazel eyes that are penetrating.

"We will protect you" Lora said. She blinks, repeating her words in her mind.

"No... I... I...mean they might be around" Lora rephrase her statement, she was only doing this because of her daughters, they plead with her all night with Zoe taking the lead.

She kept sounding it in their ears. "He is a stranger"

"he is harmless" that what little Zoe said.

Charles was confused, she doesn't know him, but she saved him, now she is trying to accommodate him.

"I need extra hands in my restaurant" Lora moves to actions, since he was quiet, this is an advantage to her.

"I will pay you, weekly" Lora added.

Charles was standing like a statue listening to her words, it was surprised and painful.

"You can stay-"

"I have kids" Charles cuts her off, he was expecting her to be blown away, but she blinks and said.

"Kids first, we can't ignore them" she step backwards to her door.

"Thank you" Charles said again before heading his way. He scans every corner, before he continues, last night he was running for his life, he didn't know how he end up here, it was a countryside.

Charles step became heavily, Lora words kept pounding like a hammer, his direction was unknown, he has nowhere to go, he had no money with him, the reek smell coming from his shirt could kill any infants nearby, he wonders how Lora talked to him without looking away.

He was immune to the smell, this was the only thing he own, his shirt and trouser.

"where am I going" Charles stops walking, he couldn't think of any positive thing, he can't go to his children looking like this, they won't welcome him anyway.

Here, he had the opportunity to get a job and even accommodation,

"what am I thinking" Charles hits head. He turns heading to Lora house, lucky, he saw Lora, she was apologizing to Zoe.

"Mom look" Zoe points Charles direction.

"Hey" Lora stands up.

"hi" Charles gazed down, making up his mind to come back wasn't difficult, he even practiced the words to used, now that the actions is need, he felt like a fool and ashamed of himself.

"Will your kids be okay" she asked.

"They will, they are staying with their grandma" Charles quickly response, but his face died down immediately, His heart bleeds whenever he says those words, it was a lie that keeps him alive, something he was focused to turn a blind eye to, Charles looks away, his eyes were red and wet.

"He really miss his children" Lora thought.

"Okay, come in" she said.

"Thank you" Charles bows, he bows because he was trying to hide his tears from them, he couldn't hold it whenever he says those words.

"You will be staying with us before I find a spot for you" Lora step to the door, she was expecting Zoe to follow her, but she ran to the strange man.

"What your name" Lora asked, she just remembered she hasn't asked him that.

"Charles" he raised his head, he has successfully wiped the tears unnoticed.

"Okay, Charles, I am Lora" she enters her house.

**********

Five years later.

Charles has been staying with Lora for five years now, they feed him and also pay him, it was blessings he has been praying for, it was painful at first, a full-grown man with kids staying under the roof of a strange woman.

He was criticized in the town, later they took him has a madman, they advise Lora to kick him out even in his presence, but she was always smiling.

"He is too important to me" she usually say.

She wasn't the only one nice to him, her two daughters were spectacular, they jump on him whenever they arrive from school and shares secrets they won't tell their mom, he finds himself playing a father role to them while his kids, he visits them twice a year, every six months, this rules was lay down by his wife family, how bitter this was to Charles, but he couldn't do anything rather to says thank you. he had to obey, or they will hand over the kids to him.

They never support their daughter marriage to him,

"you can't marry that baboon, marry Kai" people tend to say things in his presence, there was nothing to gossip about him, lucky rat, the people in the countryside named him.

Lora had warned countless time, Charles beg her to stop wasting her time, he was used to it, his condition made him realized everything are words and at the end, it does nothing to him. Lora husband died leaving her with kids, she is a good parent unlike Charles.

"Mr Charles" Elizabeth called.

"Coming" Charles was arranging the plates, Lora was done preparing it, his job was to serve the customers.

Charles, arranges the plate on the desk.

"Madman" the woman among them said.

"Have a nice meal" Charles turns to leave.

"Hey, scum, the drinks" Roy stops Charles.

Roy was the principal son and Elizabeth former home tutor not after Charles took the job from him. Since then, he has been using anyway to get on Charles nerves.

"I will get it"

"Lucky rat" Roy uttered. Charles, arranges the drinks on the table.

"You should be thankful to Mrs. Lora, you are useless to this town, even to her" Louis smirked looking at Charles.

"Mr Charles" Lora called. Charles was about to leave when another voice stops him, this was getting irritating, but he knows this voice. Tony Fred, the richest man in the countryside and the town head.

"Lucky rat" he said.

Charles turns facing him,

"Tell Mrs. Lora, I am here" he said even though he has seen Lora. Tony was the enforcer of the lucky rat word, he treats Charles has a peasant every time they jammed parts, he is responsible for Charles identity been exposed, this guy has done many things to Charles like Banning him from the town meetings.

"What can a rat simply offer to the society"

"know your place, the town is the one feeding you"

he is the one-person Charles would've lose it on, but he was the reason Lora restaurant was moving fast, his words are feared in the town, he was invincible and at a height far greater than Charles.

Charles signal Lora, she was standing at the door anyway.

Lora arrange his dish, she has prepared it already.

"Lady Lora" tony smirked.

"Mr. tony, have a nice meal" Lora arrange the plates on the table, his table was different from the rest and nobody was allowed to seat there. Lora was set to go.

"Seat with me" tony said.

"I have other things to do sir" Lora tries to escape even though she knew it was impossible.

"Seat with me" tony said again, this time he wasn't looking. Lora sat close to him.

"Are you hungry" he asked.

"I will definitely eat" she grins.

"That means you haven't eaten" tony used the fork to pick the chicken.

"Here" he lifts it up. Lora accepted.

"Yeah, good, good" tony smirked. Lora usually hesitates, this was a progress to him.

"I saw Mr. rat, he has turned into a rabbit" tony and others burst out.

Lora stops chewing, she turns to where Charles was before. He wasn't there again.

"Lora about what will discuss" his hands cross her shoulder.

Charles hides when he saw Lora eyes coming, he was burning inside.

"That brat" he muttered. He imagines himself going there to smacked his head, the drama wasn't over, sometimes he tries hug Lora, but he always leaves with a kiss on her hand.

"math time" Elizabeth shows him her textbook, Charles was their math tutor, Lora wanted to pay him but he refused, she tried helping acquiring a job in the town school, the principal kick him out.

"What can a worthless man teach the students"

Charles smirked stepping to her,

"No, no, dear, we are still open" he said.

"Mr. tony ordered everything" Elizabeth cheeks bounce up, she was having a difficult time in a particular topic and the teacher was misbehaving. She usually hypes Mr. Charles in school

"My teacher is the best"

Charles looks at tony again, he bites his lips.

"Okay" Charles smiles following Elizabeth.

Charles showed Elizabeth different method to approach her works, Zoe was there too, she has become an expert and will even rival some of her sisters classmate.

"thank you, Mr. Charles" Zoe holds his hands.

"Zoe" Charles looks at her. He touched her brown hair.

"I have to go help your mother" he stands walking to the restaurant hall.

Lora was standing at the door, tony and everybody has left.

Charles took the mop at the corner, he started wiping the uncleaned areas. The sound gave him away.

Lora gaze back seeing him, she brighten her pale face.

"Take a break" she said.

"That is time-wasting" Charles continues cleaning.

Lora steps the fridge, she brought two beers bottles.

"Drink with me" she drops it on the table seating down.

Charles sigh, Lora drinks once in a while and it's always after that psycho leaves.

Charles seats on the opposite chair, he opens the two bottles. He pours Lora own on a glass.

Lora sip a little looking at the other door inside the room.

"Tony is asking me out again" Lora looks at Charles. Charles tighten his fist under the table, he smiles at Lora.

"you should give him a chance" Charles drinks directly from the bottle.

Lora frowns,

"why don't you give Anna a chance"

Charles coughs touching his chest. Lora laughs looking at the table.

Anna is Charles crush, she is an old woman who lives ten blocks away.

"You can't say that" Charles covers his forehead. They looked at each without uttering anything.

"I am serious" Lora looks away. Charles stares at her before checking the bottle he was holding.

"it's a good thing, the kids will benefit too, he is rich, popular and feared" Charles wasn't at looking at Lora.

"He will make a good husband" Charles looks at Lora. Their eyes jammed, she looks away biting her fingers.

"You know-"

"I Heard you" Lora cuts Charles off, she drinks her bottle empty.

"I have a family meeting tomorrow" she touched her forehead leaving.

Charles stood up too, he wanted to hold her hands, but he stops halfway.

He has nothing to say anyway, it's not like he doesn't understand Lora, but there is nothing he can do, he feels dumb saying those words, it hurts a lot, but there was nothing else to say, tony is the richest man that can't be changed, he owns almost everybody who comes to the restaurant that can't be changed.

He only says those words because tony gets whatever he wants, and Lora has been rejecting, he fears he might do something worst one day.

Charles phone rings. He brought the phone out,

"it's just a notification" nobody calls anyway. He checked the notification.

"Tomorrow: children visiting"

Ernest walks on the hallway, everybody eyes on him, his hood covered his head and his eyes were down.

"his father is a shoe coupler" Ernest hears whisper from every corner, he continues walking without stopping his pace.

"That not his father, he works has servant there" Ernest face squeezed, even a newcomer knows everything about him, Ever since he fought with Jeremy, one of the big boys in the school, his life at school was thrown into a pit, every secret about his background was revealed, posted in the school chat app and even printed.

"His real father is a beggar, he begs to survive" this one wasn't a whisper, it was loud and from a familiar voice.

Ernest faces the direction, it was Jeremy and his gangs, they were up to seven.

"Hahaha"

the people around laughed. Ernest clench his fist, he turns away, he has learned his lessons, they were saying the truth anyway.

"I heard his father died some years back"

Ernest zoom pass them. He came out from the school, he has to trek ten kilometers before he reached his little brother school.

Sam was outside waiting for him, his shirt had cuts at every corner, his trouser was faded, this pains him a lot because Sam was living with his grandma, he should be treated properly.

"Those wicked people" Ernest bites his lips, they handed him to a shoe coupler just to get paid every month, it's not like they needed the money, she just wants to punish him for reasons Ernest don't know, his mom sister was married to wealthy man named Kai. She is the same has them or even worst.

Everything he had was act of struggling, his school expenses were paid by him.

"Let go home" he holds Sam hands. Grandpa house wasn't far from here.

Ernest stop when he spots Jessica coming, she is the hottest girl in school, every boy dream girl including Ernest.

"Wait here, don't move" Ernest told Sam.

He strides to where Jessica was, he reduced his pace when he was closer.

"Jessica Mason" Ernest covers his mouth giving a surprise look. Jessica looks at him, her lips moved, but she held her words, she spots a little boy running to Ernest, he was on trash uniform.

"I want to poo poo" Sam holds Ernest trouser.

Ernest didn't respond to him, he kept waiting for Jessica voice.

"Brother" Sam was swing's Ernest trouser.

"Your brother needs you" Jessica heads her away.

Ernest's heart slacked. He looks at Sam, His eyes were wet,

"do you ever listen to me" Ernest grip his hands tight walking to their former destination.

"You are hurting me" Sam cries. They reached their grandpa house.

Sam runs to grandma.

"Ernest broke my hands" he cries pointing Ernest.

she was elderly woman in her sixties, she looks at Sam hands, it was normal,

"come here, Ernest" she called him.

Ernest step closer to her.

"What is this" she points Sam hands. Ernest takes a look.

"Slam"

she slapped his face, she pretends to care for Sam and that is what hurts Ernest most.

She believes she is doing the right thing and everything she does is for their benefits.

"How could you hurt your brother, he just five" she shouted.

"You never listens, just like your mother" she covers her eyes with her palm.

"I warned her about that poor rat, she didn't listen, now see her children" she lets go of Sam hands.

"Your father he begs to eat" she looks at Ernest.

"Look at Juno, she is doing well with Kai" she continues her story.

Ernest palm was on his face, grandma hits harder than a boxer, his blood was boiling when she mentioned his father.

Even him hates him now, they were happy before, everything was perfect not still the whole family got sick, his father did everything to cater for them but mom own was serious, when she died they were left with nothing, his father lost his job even though his best friend owned the company, then he gave them away to this heartless people.

"Get dressed, your father is coming" grandpa clapped his hands.

Ernest enters the house, this is the only time they dressed properly and pretend everything is working fine.

Ernest sat on the couch in the living room, food was placed on the tables. Sam was busy filling his stomach. Ernest stares at him, who knows if they even feed me properly. There is nothing this heartless woman won't do.

Ernest looks at Mrs. Anita, her cheeks were up, she sat close to Sam, rubbing his back.

Mr. Charles enters the room. He spots his children, Sam was eating with both hands. Ernest looks away, seeing him.

"Pa" Sam runs to him.

"My boy!" Charles raise Sam up. He placed him on the shoulder.

"I see you are eating" Charles poke his stomach.

"Hehehe" Sam laughed.

Ernest hissed, standing up.

"Hey, young man" Charles holds his hands. He carefully drops Sam before facing Ernest.

"Don't touch me" Ernest freed his hands, his father wasn't holding tight.

"What is it" Charles said.

"is something the problem, tell me" Charles block his front view.

"You are the problem, I hate you" Ernest looks at his father face.

"Don't bother coming, I am fine, see!" he points himself.

"I am fine without you" Ernest pass his father jamming his shoulders.

Charles didn't bother looking back, he thought everything will change, but it was getting worst, all the money Lora pays him, he gives them to Ernest, he doesn't keep a penny for himself, at least he was trying, Ernest should understand but instead his behavior getting loosen every day.

Charles massage his close eyes, he seats close to Sam.

"Papa" Sam pouts looking at him.

"Ernest is a bad boy" he said.

"Oh really" Charles pulls a smile.

"What did he do" Charles asked.

"He broke my hands" Sam displayed the hands Ernest was holding.

Charles guffawed, he tries to calm his laughter.

Ernest was busying pounding the wall with his fist. Hearing his father laughing vibrates his body, he jammed his teeth looking down.

then his grandparents never gave him the chance to speak with his father,

"if only he could could tell his father that they are pretending then everything will be solved" that was what Ernest was thinking before.

Ernest got that chance five years back, he told his father everything, he pretends he didn't hear anything.

"Stop lying, I know you are doing fine" that was what he said.

Ernest was shocked, this wasn't his father, he is a strange man putting on his face, the man he knew has his father will never abandon them.

"I am telling you the truth, pa, please don't leave us here, we are suffering, we...are.... suffering" Ernest holds his hands crying.

His next moved was unreal.

"You will be fine" he walked away and never came back until six months later.

When he disappeared, grandma gave him to that coupler and hardship was double. The money is father gave him was seized by grandma, she says it for Sam.

Ernest know it a lie but what can he possibly do, his money was coming from tutoring, he helps some big guys out in school, and he gets paid. This was how he pays his school expenses.

Everything was going to change this year though, after he fought with Jeremy, his business died, he so confused, and he regrets fighting with Jeremy because of something he could've turn a blind eye to.

Ernest wipes his face before he came back.

Charles spots his son coming, he stands embracing him.

"Get! off! me, what your problem" Ernest pushed him away.

"Ernest, I am your father" Charles wanted to hold his hands.

"Charles, see me" Mrs. Anita walks away.

Charles follows her.

"What is wrong-"

"I think you should stop coming" she cuts Charles off.

"What!" Charles looks at her.

"Yes, your presence is affecting them, can't you see" she gaze at the door.

"The neighbors are all hearing"

"They my children" Charles said.

"Then be meaningful to them, take care of them, you have to stop coming, or I will hand them over to you" she stares at Charles, she knew fully that he will never agree.

"I will think about it, please take care of them" Charles said.

"I will if you stop coming" she fires quickly.

"Please let me see my children" Charles cheeks were down.

"Is this what you promised my daughter, look at you, you can't even take care of yourself, I expected nothing" she pass Charles.

"I blamed my daughter, marry kai, No, she married his worker" Mrs. Anita hissed entering her house.

Charles' eyes were closed, his head was down wondering how is life will never change.

Charles walks to the unknown.

Mrs. Anita watched him leave and when everything was clear. She meets Ernest.

"Go home, Mr. Joe is calling" she said.

Ernest picks his bag, it was getting dark.

Ernest reached home late, Mr. Joe was waiting for him at the door.

"Why are you late" his eyes spark in the darkness.

"Family meeting" Ernest gazed down approaching.

"Slam" he slapped Ernest.

"Your stupid father doesn't know, I have paid for the next six months" his face squeezed.

"I paid for your service" he points to Ernest.

"Slam"

he slapped Ernest to the floor,

"get to work" he boots him, he continues until Ernest staggered inside.

"Stupid boy, stupid father, he thinks everybody is beggar, I work to survive" he shouted, so Ernest could hear and the neighbors too.

Ernest body was drumming, he saw himself fighting back. He could've pound joe Pot-bellied inside.

Ernest enters his room. the little space Mr. joe gave him, Mr. joe also does dry cleaning, he gets many clothes everyday, maybe because he was fast delivering it back.

Ernest was responsible for washing the clothes, then ironing it.

Ernest was tired, everything that happened today was boiling inside him.

He changed his clothes. There was something inside his pocket, he checked it, it was money. Ernest remembers he had no money, he stares at the money wondering where it came from.

His eyes widen.