The Magnificent Cat - Nadia Ramadan (little red riding hood read aloud TXT) 📗

are you going to sing?” 

“Well it’s more than an audition” Lisa said happily “it’s a concert, Bevin’s first concert…I am so excited about that”

 

  “     You are more than a love, an amazing treasure with an angel smile, take me by surprise but I mean nothing when you’re around…you think that I’m a fool, nothing more but an innocent fool, take me by surprise or wonder why…    ”

 

It was the most amazing voice Lisa has ever heard when Wade sang that line.

“Waw” Lisa said surprisingly “you know I can never sing like that!” 

“Sure you can, the song’s names is {crystal dove} you just have to practice it that’s all”

 “No” Lisa said as she laughs “that’s too hard, I think I am just going to sing {Bright star} the song my mom thought me when I was a little girl”

“Alright” Wade said happily “at least you have something to sing, something meaningful and worth singing for, I mean just remember that the song you will be singing on that concert must mean the world to you”

“It will” Lisa said as she imagined herself singing on a big stage in front of all the people of Bevin.

 

Patricia reads through Bevin's Daily news paper. 

“I am not relaxed with all of this! This problem must be solved!” Patricia said to herself as she dropped the newspaper.

Patricia walked to the table, picked up the phone and dialed.

 “Hello” Ruddick answered at the first ring

“It’s me Patricia” 

“Oh my God Patricia..!” Ruddick replied happily “it’s amazing to hear your voice again”

“Yes but I can’t talk much sweetheart” Patricia said nicely “I think we should meet up really soon”

“That’s what I always dreamt about honeybunch, I really want to see you!”

“I want to see you too” Patricia replied “I will set a meeting with you, Alden and my father…don’t you worry, we have a very serious issue to talk about”

“Alright” Ruddick replied “looking forward to see you”

 

James walked to the building still thinking about the Magnificent Cat, it was hunting him the entire time and he was not having a good day at all.

“Should I go in?” James asked himself “what should I do? I can’t go in!”

James stood there in front of the building wondering what to do, especially knowing the fact that the Magnificent Cat belongs to him.

“I have to go in” James said loudly to himself “I can never tear myself apart from the Magnificent Cat…it’s my grandfather’s wishes that the Magnificent Cat stays with me for good…as a matter of fact I am the Magnificent Cat” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 16 - Rightful Share

The night passed fast and the morning came delightfully the next day in Bevin. The sun was warm and the air was breezy. It was a morning that gave everyone the best mood to wake up and start a fresh new day. 

Armand woke up happily from his luxurious room at the top floor; he was also in a good mood and had lots of ideas on his head.

 

Picklock woke up early as well and sat in front of the building, he was not surprised when he didn’t see James at the verandah pretending this place was a shop. Instead Picklock just stood there and does the job himself.

“Good morning Mr. Picklock” Wade said as he come from upstairs 

“Good morning Wade” Picklock replied ‘you seem happy”

“I am happy” Wade replied laughingly “and I also heard that the boss has some good news for everyone here”

“Is that so?” Picklock said “what is it?” 

Suddenly everyone saw Armand coming from the secret elevator with a smile on his face.

“Good morning boss” Nick said as he saw Armand coming.

“Good morning boss” everyone else said as they saw Armand 

“Good morning everyone” Armand replied happily “how are you all doing today?”

“We are doing great” Picklock replied “are you planning to tell us something?”

“Yes I am” Armand said happily “I am in fact planning to give all of you a raise!” 

“A Raise..!” Joe shouted from the back of the room happily

“A Raise..! A Raise..!” Everyone else in the building started shouting and hugging each other happily.

“And it’s not just a raise” Armand continued “it’s a 100% raise! How about that..!”

Everyone in the room began to cheer even more and the place became as noisy as a free market. All the staff were happy and celebrating it with joy.

“To get your 100% raise you can just go to Wade Carter over there…he will get your entire money ready” Armand said as he looked at Wade and smiled. 

Wade smiled back and said “you can all come one by one at noon; I will be waiting for you”

“That’s awesome” an employee said happily 

 

“What is going on here?” an angry voice said as everyone turned and saw James standing at the back of the room.

“We are celebrating” Joe replied as he looked at James “don’t worry its good news”

“What are you all celebrating about?” James asked with an evil smirk 

“It’s nothing James…” Picklock said to calm things down “it’s just…”

“I am offering everyone 100% more on their normal income” Armand interrupted “isn’t that great?”

James paused for a moment and looked at Armand straight in the eye.

“Isn’t what great?” James said at a much angrier tone.

“James, listen to me carefully” Armand continued “I am giving everyone a raise including you James!”

“Including me?” James said it with a very odd sarcastic smile “what the hell is that suppose to mean?”

“Why can’t you just be happy for once?” Wade said as he looked at James seriously.  James turned to look at Wade and said “I will just pretend I didn’t hear that”

“What’s wrong with you?” Armand said still looking at James curiously and at the same time scared for what is really happening.

James turned back to Armand and looked at him straight in the eye “how does it feel for you, using other people’s money and pretending that you are the one who is being the generous one! How sick is this?”

“Those are not other people’s money!” an employee shouted from the back “those are clients”

 

Armand knew exactly what James was talking about it was crystal clear. He was just starring at James’s eye for quite a long time.

Armand turned and looked at Picklock for a few seconds and then turned back to James.

“Can I see you at my office?” Armand said as he looked at James seriously.

“Your office..?” James said laughingly “you are actually letting me see your office after all these years hallelujah…!”    

“Now..!” Armand shouted as he walked and pressed the bottom to the secret elevator.

 

Armand and James both walked straight to the elevator that leads to the secretive room. While they were walking everyone can’t help starring at them with curiosity.

“What’s going on?” Wade asked as he looked at Picklock “is everything alright?”

“I hope so” Picklock replied “I hope so”

 

Both Armand and James stood in the elevator silently without saying a word to each other, it was the most awkward 15 seconds both of them have ever experienced.

Finally the elevator stopped at the last floor and the door opened. James saw the iron door once again. James was so fond of the place he remembered it as if it was yesterday even though it was more than three years ago when Armand decided that James deserves to see the Magnificent Cat.

Armand took the key from his pocket and opened the second, thicker iron door after the first one. The scent alone that came from the room gave James so many memories, not just memories about the day Armand brought him to this room, but also memories about the time of his father’s death and his grandfather’s wishes, James thought that seeing this room again will make him a step closer to becoming someone, but instead it was just an ordinary haunting experience.

“Come in” Armand said as he looked at James 

James walked in slowly staring at the place carefully inch by inch, the room was pretty much the same as it was three years ago when he first came in.

James walked into the room deeper and deeper until his eye caught something he was longing to see, The Magnificent Cat.

 James stood there silently starring at it, the way it glows behind its protective glass surrounding it. 

“Nothing can tear James apart from the Magnificent Cat” his grandfather’s voice echoed in his ears.

“Alright” Armand said nervously as he watched the way James stared at the object.

“What do you want” James said as he continued starring at the Magnificent Cat.

“I assume you had a talk with Mr. Picklock” Armand said seriously “what did you and Mr. Picklock talked about?” 

James turned his head from the Magnificent Cat and looked at Armand straight in the eye “leave him out of this”

“What?” Armand asked angrily 

“I don’t think it will be necessary to blame him for your theft” James said annoyingly as he sat on one of the chairs.

“You have no idea what you are talking about!” Armand shouted “the Magnificent Cat is in my hand right now because it is meant to be in my hands!”

“It’s that what my grandfather told you?” James shouted back angrily “or it’s just a deal you made with Bacilli!”

“It doesn’t matter” Armand continued 

“Are you saying it doesn’t matter?” James asked angrily “but it sure matter to you, Wade and the idiot Ray?” 

“Where is Mr. Bacilli?” Armand interrupted to change the topic “I haven’t seen him around lately”

“I think he quits” James said as he lights himself a cigarette “or maybe he is dead”

Armand looked at James for a few second and said “What?”

“You heard me” James said as he smokes 

“I will look for him myself” Armand said “but for the mean time I would need someone else to do his job”

“I hope you mean a different job” James said as he looked at Armand 

“What?” Armand said even more nervously wishing that James does not know that part of the story.

“I can take care of myself Armand!” James said it with harshness “you don’t have to hire someone to follow me around just to make sure I am ok, oh sorry I meant just to make sure the Magnificent Cat is ok…this way you can pump up more money…, am I right?”

Armand was shocked and full of range from the words that James has just spoken.

“I need to be alone for now” Armand said as he sits down on the main office chair

“Are you sure?” James asked as he laughs 

“I really need to be alone now, if you don’t mind-”

“Alright, alright…” James interrupted “I think you do need sometime alone to think, but just make sure you think twice about my tiny, tiny raise!”

James went to the table and grabbed a handful of Cuban cigars, he then looked at Armand, gave him a smile and walked out the door to the secret elevator.

Armand throws a big vase of flower just as the door closed.

“Damn Him!!” Armand shouted loudly “Damn Him!!” 

Armand picked up the phone and dialed a number fast.

 

“Hello Armand?” Wade replied wondering why Armand is calling him.

“Is Picklock next to you?” Armand asked angrily “I want him at my office now! Privately”

“Sure” Wade replied “is everything ok?”

“Just get me