Antonio De Isquierda: The Rise of Rich CEO

Chapter 7 Semi-Truth

The decision should be finalized, that’s what they wanted. But the sudden change of course can’t predict the finality; their shocked faces, wide eyes and the sweat running at the side of their faces is evident. The rich girl named Olivia held the arms of her father since she was embarrassed about her father’s behavior. She didn’t even glance at Antonio. 

“What’s wrong with you, father!?” Olivia said, quite annoyed. “That guy is the one who throw the punch to Dale,”

“I don’t care if he’s the one who punches Dale,” the rich girl’s father stated, as if he wanted to make Antonio the victim of the said ridiculous menagerie. 

Dale glared at Olivia. Olivia stomp his feet and gritted her teeth, “Father, in the first place you shouldn’t apologize,” 

“We should, my daughter,” the rich girl’s  father said with conviction. 

Mr. Smith vocalizes his concern on the situation, “That poor uneducated poor should be the one to  apologize. After all, Dale and Olivia had their reasons,”

Dale is behind his father while crossing his arms. Antonio on the other hand is looking intently at the back door in which the principal is standing. The other people in the crowd seem silent and only their eyes and their breaths are being seen and felt. 

“This must be a misunderstanding, Olivia. We shouldn’t look down on other people. I didn’t raise you being mean to your colleagues,” the rich girl’s father lectured Olivia while looking at him, facing his back to Antonio. 

“Father, he punched Dale due to a sudden outburst,” she said “He’s violent!’

“That’s not even true, I guess. Maybe, someone provoked him,” the rich girls father presumed

“Then, who could it be?” the principal suddenly spoke. 

The rich girl's father gazed at Dale back to her daughter. “Maybe, Dale? Olivia?” 

Dale’s eyebrows furrowed. Olivia yelled her sentiments about the sudden accusation of his dear father. 

“Why are you blaming me, father?” she said, “You weren’t there.”

“Then, you should explain what actually happened, Olivia. Not you, defending yourself and justifying the situation because of the boy’s status." The rich girl’s father tried his best to stay calm and collected. 

“I DIDN’T DEFEND MYSELF JUST TO MOCK THAT BOY, FATHER!!!” Olivia yelled. 

The rich girl's face is red like a tomato just by screaming at the top of her lungs and a glistened unshed tears on her eyes. Dale held the shoulders of Olivia just to calm her down. The rich boy’s father spoke and looked at the principal and Antonio’s calm demeanor. It was nothing to him, he guessed. 

“You did, Olivia! Now, you should respect me and let your apology be freed to your mouth,” the rich father requested Olivia to make amends to Antonio. 

The rich man is still standing in front of Antonio; Olivia’s father is still gazing at Antonio with anticipation as if he’s standing with a president of the country. Antonio doesn’t mind the gazing but Antonio hopes he doesn’t recognize him. 

“I don’t want to, father. He’s a notorious thief. He’s poor and he stole my phone,” Olivia explained her hatred to Antonio and the reason why she wouldn’t bow her head to Antonio, even her father told her to. 

“Olivia told me to spread the information since it was actually based on her experience.” Dale spoke, adding some sentences to Olivia’s story. By creating a perfect scheme story, you should have another person to tell other details to make it more appealing. 

“Also, it is an indication that him being poor is true because he landed me a punch right into my cheek,” Dale said, while unconsciously touching his left cheek when he noticed Antonio gazing at him, he smirked. 

Antonio tried his best not to flick his middle finger at Dale. The rich girl's father shaked his head in disapproval. Dale’s father has his chance to speak and to his litany, Olivia’s father’s eyebrow raises as if questioning Mr. Smith. 

“You should not stop that low, Mr. Fanelli,” Mr. Smith said, portraying an arrogant businessman who find a way to labeled Mr. Fanelli as a low class businessman. 

“Do you know exactly where you put your maps, Mr. Smith? I guess not since your spurring nonsense,” Mr. Fanelli uttered and Mr. Smith was offended. “I know if you found the map, you would exactly do the same; started kissing someone’s shoes,” 

“This wouldn’t hurt your pride if you make amends with this boy, Mr. Antonio,” Mr. Fanelli said, sincerely focused on Antonio’s existence, because after all it will be all about him.  “He’s more than what you think of him,”

Antonio started to feel uncomfortable. He knows exactly what he’s about to say and Antonio doesn’t want to risk that. Besides, the company decided to keep the news for so long; and publicly revealed it in a week or so. If it leaked, in a situation like this, it would be fatal. 

“He’s just that, Mr. Fanelli,” Mr. Smith uttered. “And nothing else,”

“He’s not a common person, Mr. Smith. He’s not poor as you labeled him to be,” Mr. Fanelli declared. 

Dale and Olivia don't expect a grand confession about it. They both sniffled a laugh and Antonio peeked at Olivia. He thought that she’s a hard case and spoiled irrelevant bitch. Dale caught Antonio looking at Olivia, and he whispered to her. She noticed that Antonio was watching her; annoyed, she just rolled her eyes. 

“He’s the heir of De Isqueirda–” the rich girl's father stated the facts but get intercepted by her daughter. 

“Why are you so kind to him, father? He’s just nothing,” Olivia said. 

“Do you think being an heir is nothing, Olivia?” Olivia’s father questioned her. “Speak your mind, young boy,”

“Ah, yes!” Antonio blurted out. “Mr. Fanelli showed me his consideration because I once helped him picking up fresh vegetables in a market,” 

Antonio thought he could get away with the situation since he praised Mr. Fanelli but he almost got slapped by Olivia, which she doesn’t like what she actually heard. 

“You’re just doing the bare minimum you pretentious boy,” Olivia said, standing a meter away with Antonio. But, the rich girl’s father called the guards and other school personnel to let her daughter into the car. 

Olivia is squirming and tries to get away with the grip of the guards on her wrist and shoulders. 

“What do you mean, he’s an heir, Mr. Fanelli?” Dale asked, curiosity killed him. He doesn’t even glance at Antonio and Olivia, who are being dragged away from the hall. 

“Everyone please leave,” Mr. Fanelli said. Right after her daughter got dragged away from the hall. The riches wanted them to be escorted away from the hall and Antonio received a reassuring nod from Mr. Fanelli. One of Mr. Fanelli’s assistants tapped Antonio’s shoulders, he relaxed a bit and sighed.