Fame of Shame - Part 2
They both exited the living room and were soon in the car heading towards the police station where Jason was being kept.
Upon arrival at the station, they run into Peter at the police station parking lot. They exchanged greetings and together they headed for the police station entrance. Just a couple of walks away from the entrance they saw lined up guards all in uniform. They look very formidable. Dr Andesh, Mirenda, Henry and Peter glanced briefly at each other and returned their gaze to the scene before them. The guards were standing in two files. In the middle, they saw Jason and Mr Wellington walking out of the police station at the same time James was being led into the station in handcuffs accompanied by three officers and the officer who was arrested with him was also following.
Jason, now free exiting the station, walked past James, who was in handcuff being led into the station. The swarm of reporters who had gathered at the police station compound captured the moment the two used-to-be brothers walked past each other. One is now free and the other is in handcuff. Jason looked at James briefly before focusing on where he was heading. James on the other hand kept staring at Jason's back as he walked away, walking side by side with Mr Wellington. Julia smiled seeing Jason freed and without a second thought ran towards the direction of the guards to meet Jason.
Jason saw the familiar figure running in his direction and he stopped in his steps turning his gaze to confirm whom he had seen. Realizing it was Julia he also walked towards her making the guards who were stopping the reporters from getting to him pave the way for Julia to meet him. Julia runs into the arms of Jason embracing him tightly. She tightened her grip so much around him as if, if she didn't she might lose him again. Jason wrapped his arms around her rubbing her back gently as he could already feel Julia's tears soaking his jacket.
"I am here now and it's all over," Jason whispered into her ears and she nodded still hugging her.
Henry, Mirenda, Peter and Dr Andesh walked towards the two after admiring the scene for a while. Upon reaching the couple with Mr Wellington standing by also admiring the emotional moment, Jason parted from the hug to greet them. It was at that moment he noticed the bruises around Julia's wrist and he knew immediately someone manhandled her.
"Who did this?" Jason asked holding Julia's hand in his making Mirenda smile.
Mirenda knew Jason better than anyone aside from Henry his therapist. She was very much aware of Jason's behaviour when it comes to women. He is truly in love with Julia to always acts differently around her.
"If you two are done being all lovey-dovey, can I get a hug?" Mirenda teased and Julia moved to the side making way for Mirenda to hug her brother.
"Thank you, my dear sis," Jason said when he hugged Mirenda.
"Thank you too," Mirenda said parting from the hug and Jason kissed her forehead.
"If I get the chance to choose a brother in another life I would always choose you," Mirenda commented and Jason smiled.
Henry placed his hand on Mirenda's shoulders and she held his hand. Jason acknowledges the presence of the others with one hand wrapped around Julia.
"Sir, would you like to address the reporters behind you?" Peter asked.
Jason and Mr Wellington turned to look at the reporters who were still taking pictures and requesting Jason to speak with them being stopped by the guards from getting close and they both smiled.
"No, they will write their own stories," Jason replied.
"In that case, let's head home, it's time to celebrate your victory," suggested Mr Wellington and they all agreed, moving towards their cars as the guards still kept the reporters at bay.
Before Mr Wellington could get into the ride which Julia was already sitting inside and Jason was about to sit too, his phone rang. He checked the called ID and smiled showing his screen to Jason who equally smiled.
"Hello," Mr Wellington said after answering the car and bringing the phone to his ears.
"Hello Mr Wellington, how are you doing?" asked Mrs Haward.
"I am good, how about you?" Mr Wellington replied calmly.
"I am doing very well. Thanks for asking," Mrs Haward acknowledges. "Can you spare me a few minutes of your time?" she requested.
"Sure," replied Mr Wellington.
"It has to do with Jason. I have a suggestion on how we can stop him from rising again," Mrs Haward said.
"Hmmm, what do you have in mind?" asked Mr Wellington realizing she was not aware of James's arrest.
"I was thinking we could freeze all his assets. If you are okay, I can schedule a meet-up so we discuss this further," Mrs Haward said.
"Sure, I will pass by the office later today," Mrs Wellington replied.
"Thank you. I will be expecting you," Mrs Haward said with a smile of achievement unaware her son had been arrested.
"Your step-mum wants my help to freeze all your assets," Mr Wellington said to Jason after the call had ended.
"Taking the Hotel was not enough?" said Jason and Mr Wellington laughed.
"No, I think next time she will be requesting I cage you and bring you to her as a pet," Mr Wellington teased making Julia laugh too.
"Alert the others we are moving," Mr Wellington instructed the driver who was sitting next to him.
In a few minutes, all the cars' engines came to life and they moved in a convoy towards Mr Wellington's apartment.
Meanwhile, Mrs Haward was moving from department to department in the Hotel making her position and authority known to everyone. The employees remained calm as everyone except her knew her position was temporary.
"Now I don't care how Jason or Mr Wellington treated you under their leadership. I am your boss now and you will do as I say," Mrs Haward addressed each departmental head in the Hotel meeting room after she was done with visiting the various departments.
"This Hotel will not provide services for people who are not rich and powerful. Ensure such customers do not even enter the Hotel compound. Security do you understand," Mrs Haward said.
"Yes ma'am," replied the head of security.
"What if they can afford the service?" asked the head of finance.
"How dare you speak without permission?" Mrs Haward questioned angrily. "Have you no respect for authority? I am not paying you this month as punishment," she said. "The instructions are simple I don't want such customers anywhere around the hotel, period," she repeated.
"I need a female receptionist, so terminate the appointment of the two male receptionists and keep the female. Recruit an additional receptionist, a female," Mrs Haward instructed the head of HR.
"Now, before I arrive I want breakfast sitting on my dining table at my office and lunch and supper should be equally sent to my office at the respective time. No delay," Mrs Haward said to the head of restaurant management.
"The rest of you if I come up with anything I will tell you," she said and moved her gaze across their faces.
"Any question," she asked and was met with silence.
"Finance deducted two weeks' salary from each head here," Mrs Haward instructed. "That includes you," she said surprising them all. "Now, any question," she asked again.
"No question," they replied in unison.
"Better, you are dismissed," Mrs Haward said and walked out of the meeting room.
"Thank God, she is just temporary, if not I will throw in my resignation now," said the restaurant management head angrily.
They all started getting up one after the other making their way to the meeting exit door. Mrs Haward returned to her office upstairs. She opened the door to enter but momentarily froze in place and she started feeling dizzy as the ground beneath her began to slip.
"What is happening here?" Mrs Haward asked placing her hand on the wall for support as she stared at the scene before her in shock.
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