Mr. President’s

Chapter 53

A week later

Nathan and Mercedes returned to working with Legend Incorporated amidst preparations for the wedding. Today was supposed to be their last day in the office because the wedding would be in two days. Mercedes was now the President’s fiance slash assistant. Those who looked down on her after the dancefloor issue feared to look her in the eyes. They were just too ashamed. An invitation had been sent across all staff concerning their wedding and everyone waited in anticipation.

Alexander had left Nathan to do as he pleased. His only reason for being in New York was for the wedding. He now treated Mercedes as his daughter. Nathan began digging into Luke’s case, bringing out more evidence but he pretended as if nothing was happening, as Luke continued to work as the vice president. Investigations were still ongoing. Nathan needed every evidence he could lay hands on to nail him very hard.

Mercedes had been shopping a lot lately, sneaking out of the office to get things done but only after she had completed the task assigned to her. Nathan wasn’t too soft when they got to the office. They still maintained the President assistant relationship and since it was now official, Mercedes kicked against any form of office romance but Nathan, as cunning as he was, would steal a few moments

He had enrolled Oliver back in school and also got him a private tutor at home. Mercedes hatched an excuse to leave the office to get a present for Nathan. It was the last item on her shopping list since she had to hide it from him. Now, she needed to make the excuse reasonable.

“What are you going to buy this timer Nathan quizzed. They had finished buying everything they needed therefore, he was suspicious. Mercedes. who always kicked against office romance since they became official, was the one breaking the rule as she pecked Nathan on the cheek, sitting on his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck.

“You really want to know!” She spoke seductively, her lips meeting his lightly

“mmm,” Nathan hummed since his mouth was full. Mercedes pulled away and giggled,

“Candies, balloons, sex toys,”

“I see you don’t want me to know, Nathan cut in. He knew she was hiding something but he was also enjoying the sweet moment

“This is my last shopping plea….se?” She kissed his neck softly and stressed.

Nathan frowned jokingly, “are you seducing your boss! And what happened to the no office romance rule?” He teased her.

“Rules are meant to be broken. Come on. I’ll be back before you know it,” she said, trying to lift herself from his lap when his strong hands pulled

her down.

“I will let you go on one condition, his breath was heavy, as he slipped his hand inside her skirt. Mercedes clamped her legs together, pushing him

away.

time was strictly

“No, no, no, not now,” she giggled, running towards the door. She knew that if she gave in, Angie was going to kill her because her ti monitored. She felt Nathan was upset but she was going to make it up to him during the honeymoon.

“Come back on time, please. I don’t want to stay long over here! Nathan yelled after her. They came together in the same car so Nathan would just have to wait till she returned.

“I promise to be back in an hour,” she blew him a kiss before closing the door. Nathan didn’t know when his life got this good. He was smiling as watched her leave.

he

When she reached the car park, she was about to open the door when she felt a presence around her. Before she realized it pain, similar to that of an injection, penetrated her shoulder. Her eyes blurred and she fell unconscious.

Nathan was bored after Mercedes left. She promised to return in an hour and it was just thirty minutes so he randomly browsed the internet. Seeing some sexy undies online, he sent them to Mercedes on WhatsApp to tease her. Surprisingly, he heard the sound of her beeping phone in his office, which meant she had left it during their lovey–dovey moment. He was about to drop the phone when it began ringing. Seeing the caller ID was Angic, he answered it.

“Merce, where are you? I got here five minutes ago and I only have fifteen left. You promised not to be late. Somehow, Nathan felt uncomfortable. Mercedes should have arrived by now. It was just a ten–minute drive.

“Angie, this is Nathan, she left her phone in my office but do you mean she still isn’t there?”

“Yes, she hasn’t arrived yet, Angie confirmed. Nathan was nervous, nishing to the car park. His car was still parked there, which meant that Mercedes hadn’t left. The car key was on the floor together with her handbag “Angie, you can go back to work. I think something happened to her bur 1 will take care of it,” he said and hang up. Angie was so disturbed, she rushed to the office to inform Griffin.

11.30 AM

Nathair

was very nervous and began to check the cameras with the help of his security team when he got back to his office, especially those at the car park. He also got in touch with a private investigator, while they continued with the internal checks.

Luckily, the camera caught Mercedes ambling to the car. It also caught her dazed and losing consciousness but whoever kidnapped her was very smart and avoided the cameras. There was no movement of a car, which meant the person must have carried her out.

Nathan checked all the surveillance cameras but couldn’t see anything past that. Suddenly, Mercedes‘ phone rang. It was her mum and Nathan didn’t know what to tell her. She didn’t want her to be worried so he called his father, explaining everything to him. His father allowed Sarah to keep Mercedes‘ mum company and calm her. Alexander Legend made his way to the office. Nathan had spent hours, and it was late but Alexander had some questions for his son.

“Calm down and think smart. Since she fell unconscious, we won’t be able to locate her easily. Who do you think is capable of kidnapping her!” Why hadn’t Nathan thought about it this way before, he began mentioning names and instantly, his IT team, together with Alexander’s detective and his, began finding information on the person.

The suspects were Luke, Director Blake, Mr Hayes, Mercedes former employers and so on. Suddenly, Nathan remembered a name but felt uncomfortable at the thought of the name so he put a call through to Angie.

“Have you informed Griffin of Mercedes‘ disappearance?”

“He was in the office before I left but wasn’t when I returned. I’ve been trying to reach him to no avail.

“It’s alright. Go home. Everything will be fine.”

Instantly, he changed all the search directions. As he was authorizing the hacks and all, Angie called again. “Nathan, do you suspect Griff?”

“I don’t have a choice Angie, all the pointers are on him.”“

“Then you can relax. Griffin will never hurt Mercedes”

“But he can turn her heart against me to call off the wedding right? That was Nathan’s fear that whoever abducted Mercedes, didn’t want the wedding to hold.

“No one can change Mercedes‘ mind, not even Griffin. She loves you too much and they argued too many times about you. In all, Mercedes never Turned her back on you. I will also try everything I can.”

“Thank you, Angie.” Nathan was slightly consoled after speaking with Angle. She knew Griffin and Mercedes so if she said Mercedes won’t turn her back on him, he believed it. That was a great relief but it was midnight which meant he had barely thirty–six hours to find his bride.

Mercedes panicked immediately when she woke up. She recalled vividly, being at the car park so how did she get here! Her clothes were intact and there wasn’t any sign of abuse. She looked around, the room was large, luxurious and comfortable, most probably Nathan’s style but different from the one she shared with him in the mansion.

Was Nathan planning a surprise for her? She rushed for the door but it was locked. She searched the washrooms but there wasn’t anyone there. She didn’t know how long she had slept but she feared missing her wedding. She smelt food and instantly felt hungry because she hadn’t had her supper but refused to eat. She screamed, hit the door, did everything but no one came.

She sat back on the bed, tears streaming down her cheeks as she began to feel that it wasn’t Nathan. No, he won’t pull a Prank like this. She began to wonder how he was taking it. She had promised to return in an hour but now, she didn’t know how long she had been in this room and she didn’t have her phone to call anyone.

Suddenly, she heard a sound around the door and watched intently, as it pushed open. The shock was an understatement when she saw Grittin. He was still in his work clothes as well. “Your” Mercedes was forced to ask or perhaps, he came to rescue her. Griffin will never hurt her.

Griffin smiled, as he ambled close to her. “Merce, I’m just making it easier for you.

Mercedes grimaced, then it clicked. “How is that?” She asked, while she held his wrist and checked the time from his watch. 2 am. “Today is my wedding day,” she cried,

“I know and that’s why you are here, Griffin was indifferent. The wedding way

at least twelve hours away.

“Griff, please let me go and I will forget about everything. I won’t press charges.” Mercedes assured and begged him but was awed when he inched closer, his lips pressing hers. Mercedes pushed him away. It felt as if she was kissing her brother. “Marry me. Leave Nathan and let’s elope. You love me and I love you too.

Mercedes‘ anger soared and she wasn’t polite. “You are mad! I’m not leaving Nathan and I’m not eloping. Let me go she gritted her teeth and said. Griffin’s countenance sunk. He was saddened

“You said

you

love me before.”

he recalled.

“Not that kind of love.” Mercedes abruptly responded but Griffin didn’t believe her.

“Merce, you know that’s not true.”

“Griff, what I feel for you is love but not the romantic one, she clarified and continued. “I know how you feel about me but neither is it, romantic love. It can’t bind us together as husband and wife.

“How do you know how I feel” Griffin’s tone sounded raw,

“Because I felt the same way. Remember the day you introduced Penelope?”

“It was my birthday and I thought you were going to propose to me because I loved you and I thought you loved me too but then I realized that you didn’t love me the way I wanted. I felt jealous of Penelope a few times and felt heartbroken but I realized that she made you happy and that made me happy too. Your happiness mattered to me. When I met Nat, I finally understood that what I felt for you was friendship love. It wasn’t the romantic kind. Look, you love someone but it’s not me,” Mercedes hinted something but Griffin hadn’t gotten it yet.

“What are you saying!”

to you b

Mercedes smiled, “there is someone you love. Search your heart deeply Griff, you think you love me because I was good to but everything I did was from my heart and I don’t want a repayment. I did it as any friend will. Please don’t do this. If Nathan finds you, he will hurt you and I don’t want that. If you leave now and let him know my location, I promise not to tell on you, I will pretend that nothing ever happened.” Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Griffin went into deep thought. He didn’t know who Mercedes was talking about but he understood that what she felt for him wasn’t what he thought it was. Regret washed him clean. “I’m so sorry,” he murmured.

“I forgive you,” Mercedes instantly responded. Yes, she loved Griffin but on a platonic basis.

“Nathan and his men are already on their way. This hotel belongs to the Legends. I chose it because no one would suspect you will be here but somehow, he managed to detect that I was the one who kidnapped you and tracked me instead.”

“So go now, go. I will handle Nathan, Mercedes assured him.

“Thanks, Merce, I’m so sorry,” he apologized again.

“It’s okay. I’ve been there” No one could understand Griffin better than Mercedes. It was easy to mistake love for lust or desire. She once thought that Griffin and her were meant to be but that wasn’t the case. When you meet the right people, things fall into place and the right things begin to happen.

As soon as Griffin stepped out, Mercedes went into the bed and covered herself with a blanket, from head to toe. The door banged open with a force that could only be Nathans. There were other footsteps after him that seemed to have halted.

“Merce“” Nathan was slightly sceptical and wanted to be sure it was his bride to be.

“Nat!” Mercedes screamed, slightly muffled by the blanket. She heard Nathans‘ footsteps drawing nearer.

“Don’t come closer Nat, it’s our wedding day, remember?” She was still under the blanket

“Oh yeah, no seeing the bride before the wedding tradition Fine. I will sit by the bed and turn my back. You sit and turn your back to me. Just let me hold your hand,” Nathan needed to be sure it wasn’t a trick. He knew the feel of her skin and won’t leave without a touch of it. Mercedes did as be requested, they sat back to back with their fingers intertwined

“What happened?” Nathan asked gently.

“I got to the car park and I felt a pain like a syringe. The next thing, I woke up here. I saw food and water when I woke up but no one appeared. Perhaps you beat them to it or it’s one of your surprises right?” Mercedes tried to sound casual.

Instantly, Nathan knew she was protecting someone. “So you aren’t hurt!” He was concerned.

“Noc

“Are you sure you saw no one?” Nathan asked again. His tone told Mercedes that he didn’t believe her but she had to make it believable. She saw how remorseful Griffin was and didnt want Nathan to hurt him.

“Yes, I uw no one, she tried–again te sound casual

Mercedes took a deep breath and feigned shock. “No, what happened to him?” She asked in a surprised tone.

“He disappeared yesterday, around the same time you did.

“So did you find him!”

“We will search for him, Nathan solemnly said. He knew that Mercedes was bent on protecting Griffin but for whatever reason, he couldn’t tell. Nathan couldn’t let it go. If he wasn’t going to get the truth from Mercedes, he would get it from Griffin. He also hoped that Griffin hadn’t turned Mercedes against him and asked.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Yes,”

“Will you marry me today!”

“I won’t miss it for the world,” she honestly responded.

Nathan smiled. Angle was right. Mercedes would never turn her back on him. “Angie is here to help you get dressed. This place isn’t far from the

venue.

“That’s great!” Mercedes exclaimed with excitement, turning around and hugging Nathan from the back. I love you, Nat, I knew you would find me and I knew you would rescue me!” She cooed

Nathan’s heart calmed, as he rubbed her hand, which tightened around his midsection “I love you too Merce, I will wait for you at the altar,” he stood up, beckoning the security men to follow him

Angie came with the designer and a group of girls. They began to dress up when a knock sounded on the door. One of the girls went to check and returned, “Angie, a man is waiting to see you.”