Archer looked up when a knock came on his door.“Come in,”Madison walked in, “Hey,” He stood up and came round his desk to give her a hug. “Hi, what brings you by?” He asked.“I came by to have lunch with Lydia, thought I would check in on you. I haven’t seen you in a while.”“I am doing okay. I have a lot going on with work right now and I have to deal with…”“Your war with the four stooges?” She cut in.Archer burst into laughter, “I guess I would say we are at a standstill for now. Although, I am waiting till the end of today to decide that,”“Why is that?”“The details of the New York trip was supposed to be sent out today and I still haven’t gotten anything on my email. I don’t think they will send it though. They seemed determined to push my buttons no matter how hard I tell them that I am not going anywhere,”“That’s okay, let me call Alexa,”Madison took out her phone and called Alexa asking her if she got the email, she ended the call.“So?” Archer asked.“It was sent out

Archer stood on the land directing the engineer where to check and all.He looked out just as he heard the sounds of vehicles approaching. Archer sighed when he sensed the Deja vu hit him.Allen stepped out of the vehicle with a frown, “Archer, I have been calling you. We need to talk,”Archer nodded to the engineer and stepped away to meet Allen. They headed one side.“What is it? I don’t think you have ever visited here with good news,”“I am sorry about that.” Allen sighed and ran a hand through his hair, “You are ordered to stop doing any work on this land,”“What? Why?” Archer asked.“Because of this,” Allen said as he brought out a piece of paper.Archer snatched it from him and started reading it.“You are hereby mandated to stop work on this land because it is a property owned by the government, what the hell?” Archer demanded to know.Allen shrugged, but he was not having it.“No, you are going to tell me what this means? You cannot just show up here and deliver this bad news

Evelyn sat on the dining table with a glass of champagne in her hand.“Hey mom,” Alexa greeted her as she swiped the glass from her and downed it.“Hey honey, how is it going?” Evelyn asked her daughter.“Nothing much, dad has been showing me the ropes as promised and I am learning so much,”“I am happy for you,”“Thank you for standing up for me,” Alexa said in a more somber tone.“No, you don’t have to thank me. You are my child and because of the anger directed at your father, I forgot about you.”“It’s okay, mum. I know you are hurting,” Alexa said.“My talented daughter, you are so beautiful sometimes that it takes my breath away. I am only trying to do right by you instead of being selfish. You deserve this,”They smiled at each other.“Well, isn’t this nice? Mother and daughter bonding, what a wonderful bitchy time,” Alicia said as she clapped slowly.Alexa glared at her, “what are you doing here?”“Nothing, I just want an apology from your mother over the disrespect she showed

A month later… Archer smiled as he stepped into the grand ball. He had managed to hide all through the lecture and conference Damien had given. Trying to avoid Barrington and his people was easy, they were so eager to kiss Damien’s ass that they forgot that other people existed. It was time for the reception and they all flocked like flies to where the Valiente family was standing. Archer went straight to the bar to get a drink and enjoy himself. He had lost Madison somewhere alongside Alexa and Lydia who had been buzzing with excitement at being here. “So you are a scotch man,” a voice sounded beside him. Archer looked at the person that settled beside him and smiled, it was Damien’s second brother. They were yet to be introduced.“Yeah, I can’t be taking pina colada.” Archer teased.The man chuckled and ordered scotch for himself, “Daniel, my brother has said a lot about you.” He brought out his hand for Archer to shake.“Archer, he never shuts up about his family. It is amazi

Barrington's voice boomed through the phone, his anger so potent, it could shake the walls. "Charlene, where are you? Why were you not in New York?” He asked.“Was I supposed to be?” She asked with attitude.“Excuse me? Are you answering my questions with one of yours? That better be a joke, now why weren’t you present?”Charlene sighed, her voice laced with frustration. "I have better things to do than be your errand girl, Barrington. Besides, you told me Archer wasn't going to be there."“When was that?”“The other day when we met, you said he was denied the invitation. Forgive me, if I wasn’t available to be bored with your endless parties.” She explained.“That’s funny, he said you told him about my plans. Who is lying?”“He is lying, I haven’t spoken to him since,” she said quickly.“So, who should I believe? The guy who is always honest or the girl who can do anything for money?”“Don’t insult me, Barrington. Just because I am at your mercy doesn’t mean I have no pride,”“Reall