The Magnificent Cat by Nadia Ramadan (early reader chapter books .TXT) 📕

have to have plans first” Ruddick continued “we cannot take action without any further strategy” 

“Ruddick is right” Ray said happily “I have heard about your past failures with snatching the Magnificent Cat”

“Let’s not talk about the past now” Ruddick interrupted angrily “there will be no use to that”

“I am just reminding you about the past just to show you that I won’t fail you” Ray continued.

“We hope so” Alden said as he looked at the empty table “we just hope so Ray, because otherwise you will be six feet under just like the rest of our informants”

“That’s not funny” Ray said angrily “you are lucky to have me from the first place”

“No Ray…” Ruddick said annoyingly “you are lucky to have us! We were the one who took you and Patricia out of your poverty 5 years ago, did you forgot that?”

“No I did not forget that” Ray said as he stood up from his seat “but right now Armand is paying me quite a lot of money, I mean if you call hundreds of thousands a lot!”

“But I will pay you twice as much!” Ruddick shouted as he hits the table “don’t you enjoy the dimes Armand is paying you! Try to focus on getting the Magnificent Cat here to us! We will all be rich!”

“Of course” Ray replied “I want more money…of course I will get the Magnificent Cat here as soon as possible”

“Alright” Ruddick said as he clams down “I mean so far so good, you got me the information I needed about Wade Carter, you are being more helpful than the other spies I’ve sent”

“Well then I have to go now” Ray said as he opened the door “someone could be back at the building now”

“Ok, see you next time with more news” Ruddick said as he walked “and I really want to see Patricia next time”

“Fine, I will see what I can do” Ray said as he closed the door behind him.

 

The party was ending at the ghouls’ bar; many people took their coats and went home. There was a slow song playing where most of the couples at the bar danced romantically.

“Do you want to dance” Wade asked Lisa nicely

“Ah…I guess I should” Lisa said dryly  

“No you don’t have to” Wade said seriously “I mean if you don’t want to, then you don’t have to”

“Ok…in this case I will want to dance with you” Lisa said laughingly

“Thank you” Wade said as he held her hand and walked to the dance floor.

 

They are now dancing in the center of the dance floor beside James and Patricia and many other couples.

 

“Listen James” Patricia said as she looked at him “whatever happens, it is never my fault, I mean my father have put me through a lot”

“What do you mean?” James asked “I don’t understand”

“Well I will always be with you no matter what” Patricia said nicely “my dad can never come between us”

“I hope your dad doesn’t come between anything” James said as he looked down

“What’s that suppose to mean?” 

“It’s nothing” James replied sharply “never mind what I just said” 

“It’s nothing” Patricia said as she continued to dance "I just hope everything will be fine”

 

“You are a good dancer” Wade said as he danced with Lisa

“Thank you, I think I dance as well as I sing”

“Is that so?” Wade said as he laughs “A true performer I see…”

“I would love to entertain the people here in Bevin, it will be my pleasure”

“Well, you are already entertaining me to a great extent” 

“I am glad to hear that” Lisa said as she laughs “I have to say likewise here”

“You just made my day” Wade said as they both laughed and continued dancing.

 

During their dance Lisa turned and saw James walking with Patricia to a seat where they both started kissing.

“I have to go” Lisa said as she stopped dancing with Wade.

“What’s going on?” Wade asked “are you ok?”

“Yes I am fine” Lisa said angrily “I just have to go"

Wade watched as Lisa grabbed her coat and walked out of the bar.

 

“Do you want to take a walk to the garden I loved” Patricia asked James

“Alright” James replied “but I need to get back to the building on time, I don’t want to look bad towards my job”

“You will be there, now come on let’s go” Patricia said as she pulled him out of his seat.

 

It was a late night almost dawn when almost everyone arrived at the building

“The party was great” an employee said to the other

“I met a pretty girl too” the other replied as they walked to the building.

 

Picklock stepped from the building and watched as everyone arrived 

“Wade!” Picklock greeted

“Hello Mr. Picklock” Wade replied

“How was the Party? Did you enjoy it?”

“It was ok” Wade said to avoid the subject “I just hope everything is ok around here”

“Yeah everything seems ok, do you think Ray did the meeting alone?”

“I have no idea” Wade replied “I think he told me…he didn’t…or…where is he anyway?” 

 

Suddenly they both hear footsteps coming from the stairs.

“oh…Welcome back” Ray said annoyingly “did you all enjoy your free times, while I stay here alone working…I hope you did because I think you should all get some sleep before Armand comes tomorrow in the morning and sees you dizzy!, remember…your secrets are safe with me!”

 

 

Chapter 12 - An odd welcoming

It was an early morning, and the sun was shining brightly on top of the building. Everyone woke up early that day, knowing that the boss is coming very soon.

James woke up first, but it wasn’t because Armand was coming, it was because he had a great time last night, he totally forgot about the Magnificent Cat and Ray being left alone.

“Good morning Mr. Picklock” James said as he walks outside

“Oh, Good morning James” Picklock replied “how was last night?”

“It was great” James said happily

 “The boss will be here any minute” Bacilli said as he approached them

“Yes we know” James replied “what’s the big deal?”

“The big deal is that he is the boss, and he owns the Magnificent Cat” Bacilli said annoyingly

“Ok, whatever” Picklock said “all what we have to do is stand here and wait for him”

 

Wade just woke from the couch in the secretive room later than everyone else, he forgot about Armand’s return from his short leave, Wade was only thinking about Lisa, the way she reacted the night before, and why did she leave early.

Wade heard a hard knock on his door.

“Come in” Wade said

“Good morning” Ray said as he entered the room “Armand will be here any minute now, don’t you want to wait for him down stairs”

“Yeah I will be right there” Wade said

“Ok” Ray replied “I will be waiting for you down stairs”

 

Everyone at the building can hear the sound of Armand’s lavish car approaching from miles away, they were sure that it was him.

“He is here” Nick shouted

Ray came out of the building and stood with the crowd

“What a moron” James said lowly to Picklock “all what he wants is to show Armand that he has been taking care of this place”

“Well he did take care of this place when you all took your breaks last night” Picklock replied 

Armand’s car stopped in front of the building and Bacilli ran fast to open the door for him.

“Thanks Bacilli” Armand said “it’s nice to see you again”

“Nice to see you back too, sir” Bacilli said happily

“Oh, you are all here” Armand said surprisingly “how welcoming!”

“We can’t wait to have you back” Joe replied

“How are you all doing” Armand said as he looked at James and Picklock

“We are doing ok” Picklock said, but James did not give reply

“I see” Armand said as he looked at James and walked away

“How was your vacation” Ray said as Armand approached

“You were right” Armand replied “I actually needed it”

“I told you so” Ray said laughingly “you have to see your family”

“Yes it was great” Armand replied

Wade walked from the building and said “Armand you are back!”

“Hello Wade” Armand replied happily as he gave Wade a hug

“Sickening” James said as he looked at them.

“This is only because Wade is very important guy around here” Ray said as he looked at James annoyingly

“Was I even talking to you?” James said angrily at Ray “you are twice as worse as they are, and there will be no use complaining to you”

“There is no use complaining at all! James” Ray said nauseatingly “you are just being annoying and that makes you even more useless”

“Stop it right now” Picklock said as he looked at both of them

“Sure, I have some more important thing to do” Ray said as he walked to Armand and Wade.

“This is exactly what I hate to see” James said angrily

“It’s ok” Picklock said while James walked away.

 

Armand, Ray and Wade walked into the building and into the elevator to the secretive room.

The second iron door opened and they both walked in.

“Aren’t you beautiful” Armand said as he looked at the Magnificent Cat “how I miss you already”

“Ok” Ray interrupted “the meeting did not take place”

“What?” Armand asked “why not?”

“I already told you so… right?” Ray said as he looked at Wade

“Yes you did, but I see no reason why it happened” Wade replied

“I did not trust those people, so I canceled it…as simple as that” Ray said smilingly

“What do you mean you don’t trust them?” Wade said angrily

“That was a brilliant idea” Armand said as he looked at Ray.

“What do you mean brilliant” Wade repeated as he looked at Armand

“He did not trust them so he canceled the meeting that was amazing and smart”

“Well thank you Armand” Ray said happily 

“Wait a second” Wade continued “we might have just lost 8 million and you like the idea of canceling an important meeting”

“But he did not trust them Wade!” Armand shouted “and you should know that, we should not make a deal about the Magnificent Cat with everyone!”

“Alright” Wade said as he looked away

“I am sorry…I don’t mean to yell” Armand said as he looked at Wade

“Yes, he did not mean anything” Ray added 

“I know” Wade said “why is everyone treating me as if I were a child?”

“No…don’t get this the wrong way” Ray continued “you are just special to us”

“What? Special?” Wade said as he looked at Ray.

“Nothing…Ray is just being strange today” Armand said as he looked at Ray suspiciously.

“Never mind” Ray interrupted “can I be excused, I need to go see my daughter”

“Sure” Armand replied “it’s time for you to take a break right?”

 “Yes, thank you” Ray said as he closed the door behind him.

 

It was 11:00 A.M when Lisa found out that she was still sleeping. She got up fast from bed and ran downstairs straight to the Bar.

“Oh my God, why didn’t you call me” Lisa said angrily to Jessica as she wore her apron to start working.

“I thought you were tired from last night” Jessica replied “and plus you have a performance this evening, I want you to be ready”

“Ready?” Lisa said as she started making the coffee “you should have called me earlier”

“It’s ok” Jessica continued “the boss doesn’t know”

“I did a terrible thing last night” Lisa said as she stops working.

“What is it?” Jessica asked seriously “well apart from leaving the party