A Fall From Grace

Image generated by meta Ai
David stones had everything a man could dream of. A luxurious mansion, nice cars, a solid business firm and a happy home. Unfortunately, he had one addiction which was beginning to cause problems in his life- Gambling.

It all began innocently like all addictions do, from visiting poker tables regularly and risking some thousand dollars until it became an obsession and soon he began risking millions, loosing some in the process.

On a sunny afternoon, David sat in his office sipping a cup of coffee when his secretary walked in.

“Boss, Mr Donald called, requesting you pay back the two million dollars you borrowed from him.”

“Tell him he will get his money soon, I’m expecting some money from a deal I just made.” David replied without looking up, still engrossed with his cup of coffee.

The secretary stood and hesitated for a while before speaking out. “But Boss , you said the same thing last month when he called.”

“Are you my boss now? Leave this place at once!” David raised his voice at his secretary in anger.

As soon as he dismissed his secretary, he turned to his computer and logged into a gambling site. He staked $500,000 and he lost, staked a million dollars next with hopes of regaining his loss but he lost again.

His heart began racing with fear and his hands trembling as he checked his bank account balance, all his savings gone, he was now living in debt. He had lost $1.5 million in one night.

Time passed and David’s losses became alarming, his once stable business began crumbling as it’s finances went into funding his addiction. Major stakeholders pulled out and his business suffered great loss.

One evening as David sat in his study, lost in thoughts, his wife-Julia, barged in. “David we need to talk”

“Not now please” David pleaded.

“It must be now, it’s an urgent matter we need to discuss”

“Okay what’s the matter?”

“I just spoke with our accounts manager, we are bankrupt! You spent all our savings and everything is gone now. Our kids school fees are unpaid for, what are you doing?” She spoke, with a voice filled with pains.

“I’m just going through a rough time now but I promise I will make everything right."

"Really? For how long now? Look I can’t do this anymore, i’m done." She said as she walked out angrily.

That evening she packed her belongings and took her two children with her.

Upon everything happening in his life, David still didn’t stop, he borrowed money from dangerous money lenders and banks, promising returns he couldn’t provide. His house was seized as well as his cars and now he was totally bankrupt.

One night, David found himself in a dimly lit room full of big time gamblers and beside him, sat Victor a notorious money lender. "This is your last chance brother, double this money or loose everything. It’s a risk you must take." He whispered in David’s ears.

David just sat there looking at the last one hundred thousand dollars in his trembling hands. He had the lost the first and second round now he was about staking his last card, he took a deep breath as he put down his card’s. Victor smiled as he put his card’s down as well.

"No this isn’t possible! How come?" David exclaimed in disbelief.

"Well dude, you just saw it happen before your very own eyes. So now you owe me three million dollars and you better pay up real quick before I take actions into my own hands." Victor said with a smirk on his face.

David angrily walked out of the casino, lost in thought, he was now left with nothing-no family, no money, no home.

Few days later, David sat on a bench in a park, ruminating about his life. His once expensive good looking clothes were now tattered and his shoes, covered in dust. People passing by looked at him with pity in their eyes while some didn’t even notice him. His former secretary found him sitting there and he approached him.

“David! Is this you? I didn’t know your condition will get this bad. What the hell happened?”

“It all happened so fast within the twinkling of an eye, it was my fault though I should have listened to the advice of Julia.” David said as he began explaining his ordeal to his former secretary.

“That reminds me, Julia asked about you few days ago, she wanted to know how you are faring.”

“Tell her I’m doing okay, I’m bearing the consequences of my actions now.” David said, with a voice full of regret.

“It’s not too late, you can start all over again with your life.” His former secretary said, as he handed him over a hundred dollar note.

David collected the money with gratitude, few weeks ago a hundred dollar meant nothing to him but now it could do alot for him.