#THE_SACRIFICE_SEASON_2
EPISODE 14
©Sir Zach
What was must suspicious about the docu-mment, something he was sure his grandfather didn’t take note off, or maybe didn’t want to mention out loud was the fact that Kyle’s name was excluded from the will.
Jake was more than sure that his father would ever want to leave Kyle empty handed. He loved Kyle like his son so there was no way he’d do that to him.
He lolled back on his seat, his head facing the ceiling as he thought of how best he was going to handle all these problems. Atleast now he knew why Hillary had created such a problem for the company. She wasn’t just after the company but everything un-der the Beau name.
Even if he was able to fix the current problem facing the company, that wouldn’t stop Hillary, rather it would fuel her more to do more. He had to come up with something that would bring her down in one full swoop.
Jake was still lost in thought when his phone started ringing. His l-ips curled upward when he saw who was calling. He picked up the call and spoke up first before she did.
“Miss me already?” He tea-sed.
“No I didn’t” Came her response.
“Really? Well if you don’t, I do” He replied with a light smile curving his l-ips.
“Hmm i see. Happy missing then” She replied nonchalantly.
“You’re such a evil girl”
“I agree. Don’t forget I’m her evilness. I can give you cl@$$es for free if you want”
“I don’t want. If you’re evil, then I’ll be good so we can compliment each other. I like evil and dangerous Jade” He tea-sed, making her blus-h.
“Okay that’s enough. I didn’t call you for this”
“Then why?” Jake asked faking a frown even though she couldn’t see him right now.
“I wanted to ask if you have eaten dinner? And also to tell you to go to be-d on time. If you deprive yourself of sleep then you’ll break down” She told him. Sleep deprivation is more dangerous than going on for days without food. He was going to fall sick if he doesn’t sleep.
Jake scratched the back of his head when she asked if he had had dinner. He badly wanted to lie that he had eaten, where as he hasn’t. He didn’t have much appetite for food right now. But he couldn’t help but tell her the truth.
“No I haven’t had dinner yet” He had told himself that he didn’t have to lie to her and he should never lie to her, and he thinks that thought is growing de-ep into his subconscious so much that he can’t tell her one.
“But don’t worry I’ll definitely eat something even if it’s midnight” He said before she gets angry at him, for neglecting his health. She was behaving like a mother hen, fawning over everything he does.
“You shouldn’t eat too late, you might have indigestion” She told him.
“Yes ma, I’ll do as you say. Anything else?” He asked, while she shook her head as she said, “No”
“Then you should go to be-d”
“Okay” Jade nodded her head as she tried to stiffle a yawn. Though she had sle-pt for long hours at Jake’s office she still felt very sleepy.
“I’ll call you in the morning okay”
“Okay”
“Bye” He said.
“Bye?” She asked, a slight frown appearing on her face.
“Yes, why?” Jake asked confusedly.
“What happens to I love you?” She asked in a babyish tone.
“But I said that already”
“When?” Jade asked angrily.
“When I dropped you off” Jake explained.
“But now I’m about to sleep, you don’t want me to have good dreams? You haven’t said it to me for days, you have make up for it. Don’t you know this?” Jade asked faking a hurt tone. Her attitude made Jake chuckle amusedly.
“I’m sorry your majesty. I’ll reprimand myself for this oversight”
“You should do that” Jade hissed.
“I love you”
“I love you too” She replied with a smile.
“So can you sleep now?” He asked smilingly. This girl was giving him so much joy. Despite all the problems surrounding him she just had a was of making him smile.
“Gladly. Goodnight” She mumbled before ending the call. Jake looked at his phone and smiled sheepishly, before a certain someone came crashing his moment.
“Lover boy” Blake said from behind the door where he was eavesdropping on Jake’s call.
“Come here, and I promise not to kill you” Jake said as he picked up his sl-ippers to throw at him if he indeed foolishly opened the door.
“No way. I’m smarter than you, drop whatever is in your hand” Blake told him. He wasn’t going to be fooled by him again. He had suffered greatly at Jake’s hands in times past but he wasn’t going to make the same mistake again.
*********
*Jake’s Private Study*
“Why are you staring at me like that?” Blake asked Jake who has been giving him an awkward look for some very long minutes.
“How long do you intend on punishing yourself and just how long do you think you can shy away from doing what you have always loved to do?” Jake finally asked, his gaze on Blake was sharp and intense. He didn’t want to miss any of his expression as he answered his question.
Blake looked away from him but didn’t say anything. He didn’t want to say anything or rather he didn’t have the answer for his question.
“Blake I have told you over and over again that it wasn’t your fault. You can’t keep beating yourself over it, it’s all in the past. You have to come out of this”
“Easier for you to say because it wasn’t you who almost killed those people. I had –”
“I’m happy you said almost, because nobo-dy died” Jake cut in, before sighing.
“Look it’s been 8 years, I think that’s enough time to step out of the shadow of regret. You have made enough atonement, and I think that’s enough. Just because you made one mistake doesn’t mean you should kill yourself and hold keep your life on a standstill. You’re a programmer Blake, you and I know that’s what you are born to do. On the hack hub you still remain undefeated and that’s your real Identity, you should own it. What happened was unfortunate I agree but stop berating yourself over it for too long and move on” Jake paused, his eyes still fixed on him.
“The company is facing ha-rd times and this is the time when your expertise is really nee-ded. Remember it’s not just my company, it is ours. We must protect it together. Dad didn’t have a brother to help him and we both saw how it wore him out till he fell sick, but I have you and your support would be really appreciated. Not because I can’t do but because it’s our birthright. It’s high time you step on board and take a rightful seat at the company and stop counting numbers.” Jake said in calm and gentle tone like he was coaxing him. He knew it was ha-rd for Blake to move on after the mistake he made, but he didn’t think it was enough to punish himself for so long. He was only a teenager at the time of the incident and he wasn’t entirely at fault.
Yes he punched those keys that had affected the city’s traffic system, resulting to several accidents with many casualties but his friends were also to blame. If they hadn’t pushed him into proving himself with something as dangerous as that, then he’d wouldn’t have been this traumatized.
Blake tried not to look at Jake as he spoke. He knew his brother was right about what he had said, but it wasn’t something easy to get past. He had watched behind the screens how those cars and buses ran into each other. People were yelling and weeping from pain resulting from the inflicted injuries. It was only by the act of God that they weren’t any fatalities on that day.
He could still remember it like yesterday. Only if he had said no to his friends, and let them have whatever doubts they are wanted to have, then things would have happened differently. But then he was so lost and carried away by the fact that people liked and respected, and even spoke alot about him, not because he was a Beau but because he was a young and talented programmer, who people wanted to meet.
Being viewed like that had fed his ego and when some clique of his friends had dared him into hacking into the city’s traffic system, he didn’t read much into it until he lost control and that incident happened.
When he tou-ched those keys he always felt invincible and that’s why he had felt the urge to prove his friends wrong when they un-derestimated his ability, but little did he know the sad outcome of such foolishness.
His father had taken him to the proper authorities to admit his wrong doings and as a minor he was se-ntenced to 150 days community service. His family compensated every one of the victims but still that wasn’t enough to shake off the guilt he felt. And that was why he had kept to himself and refrained from friends except one would count the rich heirs among their circle who he bu-mps into sometimes. But he didn’t think they were friends either.
“I also want to forget and let go, but it’s ha-rd.” He hissed as he turned to look at Jake.
“Just try. I’m here to support you and so is grandfather. And above all you’re grown now and are no longer that naive kid you were years ago. I’m sure you can do it” Jake encouraged him. He nee-ded Blake to be on board while they resolved all these issues together. His words made Blake nod.
Blake looked at Jake as he tried to tell him something. He was yet to tell Jake about his attempt in trying to neutrslize the virus. Jake noticed the hesitant look in his eyes.
“Say it I’m listening” Jake told him.
“I think I might be able to neutralize the virus” Blake announced nervously. Jake looked at him and nodded his head. He was already knew that if anyone was capable of fixing the problem with the software, then it was Blake.
Blake was quite surprised when his brother didn’t give the reaction he was expecting. He didn’t expect to be overly excited or something, but he was expecting series of questions from him but none came. Rather his nodded acknowledging the fact that he heard him before saying, “Don’t do anything about it.” His answer surprised Blake.
“Why? Don’t you want to save the company?” Blake asked in confusion.
“Of course, but not like this. I want to take everything she has as punishment for Dad’s death.. She’s living too comfortable and I hate it” He said.
__________
*Cale’s room*
“Cale would you open this door this instant!” Helen yelled as she kept knocking on the door of his room frantically. “If you don’t open the door this minute I’ll get someone to pull it down” She threatened lividly. She was tired of him staying locked up in his room for days. But no matter how ha-rd she yelled there was no sound to indicating that the person inside was yielding to her pleas or threats…. which ever works.
“Come son, you know I’m worried about you come on, open up” She decided to change her approach.
After continuous round of intense knocking, she finally heard the door unlock. She was about to say something but her words got stucked in her mouth, when Cale walked out dresses to go out.
“You’re going out?” She asked, but he ignored her and walked past her with no care.
“Cale Stuart I’m talking to you” She spoke angrily making the brooding man to finally halt on his strides. He turned to look at her, his gaze was cold and scary but Helen wasn’t bothered about that. He was son and he couldn’t do anything stupid, he was only angry.
She walked up to him, and she gave him a fll and concerned look. She sighed when she noticed his dishelleved hair, she stretched her hand to smoothen it for him, but he moved away. “Say what you want to say” He spoke coldly, his attitude hurt Helen but she didn’t say anything.
“Where are you going to?” She asked.
“Out” He replied bluntly.
“Cale what is wrong with you? Why are you acting this way? Is it because of the job? You can get something better. Unfortunate things happen in life every now and then but that doesn’t mean we kill ourselves over it?” She asked, but she continued without waiting for his response. “No! you just nee-d to get up, dust the dirt off and work ha-rder. So why are you sulking and doing this to yourself? You’ve ba-rely left the room since that day and the few times you did, you stayed out all night and you came back drunk. Cale this isn’t how I raised you–”
“Then I guess you didn’t do a proper job at raising me then” He looked at her and spoke, staring de-ep into her eyes. Helen lost control of herself and stro-ke him on his cheek.
“Cale Stuart has something come over you?” She asked in anger.
Cale chuckled dryly as he tou-ched his cheek which his mother had slapped. Helen didn’t know what to say or do anymore. She wasn’t happy that she had stro-ke her son for the first time but she had lost her temper for a moment.
“Cale-” She tried to tou-chhim, but he brushed her hand away.
“You keep asking what is wrong with me, I’ll tell you. I’m angry, I’m fu-cking angry” He paused and laughed mirthlessly.
“As a matter of fact I’m more than angry, I’m enraged, and you want to know why I’m enraged?” He paused, the lifeless and humourless smile not leaving his face.
“Because I was betrayed by the people I love. By the people I cared about, by you, by that bi-tch called Jade who I managed to date for four years and by that useless who-re with a slutty name, by my stupid boss is probably slee-ping with the both of them and by the fu-cking universe” He blurted out as he kicked the door in front of him, startling Helen who jumped out of fear.
“Now you have my answer, that’s what’s wrong with me, now can you leave me the hell alone?” He roared angrily while Helen nodded her head and stepped aside. She was scared out of her mind. She hasn’t seen Cale like this before, and right now he was acting crazy.
Cale glared at her before sighing as he walked away. He paused after taking a few steps, he turned and looked at Helen who was staring at him too.
“And tell that Jade, that I’m coming for her. If I can’t have her, then no one will” He snarled before walking away with heavy steps. A tear rolled down Helen’s eyes as she watched him leave.
‘What in Christ name has happened to her son?’
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 15