2025-01-25 00:19:53
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Dominance Commander Son-in-law 188
Amy couldn't stop her heart from slamming so hard against her chest as she stared at Vivian. It hurts. The rate at which her heart beat against her chest. It had been so sudden. She was unprepared. “The CEO eased everyone out of their jobs?” She mouthed slowly, processing Vivian's words.“Yes," Vivian frowned. “So you really weren't aware," she said incredulously as she eased herself into her seat.Amy shook her head dumbly. "No, I wasn't…" but I was aware that I was going to get promoted.She felt like a monster. She wasn't sure what she should feel. Fear or guilt?Her fellow employees must be crying their eyes out because they just lost their jobs, and there she was, celebrating her new role. She briefly wondered how Vivian would feel if she told that to her then.Or perhaps Amy wondered if she should be scared. Maybe there was no position in Landary province waiting for her. Maybe she had been rendered jobless just like the others. There was only one way to find out.Her hands tr
Dominance Commander Son-in-law 189
Kevin raised his head as soon as he heard a knock on the door. He paused. He briefly wondered if it was his manager again.When the knock came the second time, he concluded that it wouldn't be his manager. She was too gentle for that. It was most likely the secretary. Besides the fact that she always seemed to be the one to want to rebel, she had more to lose. At least, that was what she had been made to believe.On the third knock, Kevin leaned back in his seat. “Come in." Jake stepped in, and Kevin sat up. "What's the update?”"I've reached out to him, boss. He said you should see him at the Yupu bar unfailingly by 9.”Kevin nodded. He wanted to ask if Anthony mentioned anything about Mia, but he decided against it. He was certain that if he had, Jake would have mentioned it to him. He nodded instead. He leaned back in his seat. “Now we only have to wait." "Yes, boss,” Jake replied. Kevin gestured for him to leave. With a nod, he stepped out.Just as Kevin returned to his work,
Dominance Commander Son-in-law 190
The usually bubbly premises of the Print Odd company that were always filled with laughter and chatter were eerily silent, devoid of any humans. Except for two more employees, there were no more employees in the company. Their eyes were sad as they took their time to pack up their things.One of the two employees, Vivian, dabbed her eyes with her hanky and looked around the office space for the umpteenth time. Her palm was flattened on the box that contained the few things that belonged to her as she took in the now-empty cubicles. This version of empty was different from the one she always saw whenever she chose to work late. At least, she knew it was temporary. But this one was forever. It was more of the things that made the silence so loud. Discarded papers and cords were everywhere, a telltale sign of the recent sorrowful and bitter abandonment.She sighed for the last time. Her gaze cut to Amy, who had been lingering beside her as she waited for her. Amy cut Vivian a tight smil
Dominance Commander Son-in-law 191
Kevin regarded Anthony for a while. The corner of Anthony's lips was tipped up in a smirk. His arms were outstretched as he rested them on the top of the chair he was seated on.Kevin didn't know what irked him more: the infuriating smirk or the sickening confidence.Once again, Kevin considered the option he had toyed with since he found out about Mia's disappearance: to take matters into his own hands and show Anthony that he was not one to be messed with before he'd warn him to stay away from anyone related to him. But he knew that would cause an uproar. And he didn't want that yet. The only other option left was to go with his dumb, cynical plan.“Did you just say you always keep to your words?”Anthony nodded. Then he grinned. “All the time.”Kevin exchanged a glance with Jake. "What time tomorrow will you let her go?” He asked, deciding against pointing out that he hadn't come at the time he had asked for them to meet.“I am not obliged to give you time. You will see your wife t
Dominance Commander Son-in-law 192
“How dare I sleep when my granddaughter is missing?" Mrs. Perry mouthed to herself as she sat on the chair and stared ahead at the wall in the living room.Morris sighed. “There's nothing wrong if you sleep, Grandmother. I assure you, my cousin is well and alive.”Mrs. Perry sighed. She said nothing. She just stared ahead at the wall. At first, she had been certain that Mia was lost. Maybe she was stranded somewhere with bad network coverage and got overlaid by bad men, but she has begun to doubt it. That was just what she had chosen to believe so she wouldn't have to think of why exactly she might have refused to come home.Now she had finally admitted it to herself. With the way she had treated her granddaughter over the years, especially since she took over as the CEO of the family's business, she hadn't been particularly lenient with her. Though she had needed to be strict with her, she guessed she had gone too far.Mrs. Perry shook her head. If she knew, she would never have trea
Dominance Commander Son-in-law 193
Anthony sat before his screen as he surfed the internet. He had been sitting before his laptop for hours since he returned from the meeting with Kevin.The documents looked real enough. But it was possible that he merely handed over a paper while the company was still running. When he had brushed the surface before he met with him, he had seen the post, but he felt the need to go deeper. To ensure that he was now the rightful and only owner of the company.So far, everything looked as they'd said. The website has been closed. All the stupid posts and videos have been taken down. And even the physical location he had asked his men to check has also been deserted by everyone.The company was finally his.It was only then he was able to move on with his normal daily life. He rang up the kitchen to bring him the breakfast he had rejected. Then he undressed and went to take a long, relaxing bath to calm all the stress that the stupid boy had made him go through.Anthony had just stepped ou
Dominance Commander Son-in-law 194
Nathan walked out of the big gate of the prison. He felt the fresh air on his face; the smell of sweaty bodies and disgusting food that had made him throw up several times was gone. He was now free… finally.He looked down at his skin, and his lips twisted unpleasantly at the bruises and scratch marks on his skin. Then memories of all the nights spent protecting himself from all of the insects and flies rushed back to him. All the times he would stay awake when that mentally unstable boy was brought to his cell. He remembered the eerie way he looked every night, and he quickened his pace away from the prison gate. He watched as everyone whose names had been called walked to their families or a waiting car.He wondered where she'd go. He was quite certain that no one would come for him. When he heard his name, he was so surprised because he had already accepted his fate, believing that his own parents had abandoned him.Which was why when he heard a familiar, “My son!" He came to an ab
Dominance Commander Son-in-law 195
The words resounded in Amy's ears.She had been slouching as she packed up her things, but now she perked up, her shoulders erect.Mr. Kevin sold his company to protect someone? Who could this be? She wondered. How important could this person be to him that he sold a whole company and shut it down in the blink of an eye?A girlfriend? Or perhaps one of his parents?She wanted to know all of these, but she dared not ask him directly. Well, she didn't think it was right. He must have just told her out of sheer politeness since he had been quite harsh on them.She slowly nodded. It now made sense why he had been so cranky when he told them the previous morning. If he had to sell the company to protect someone, then the person's life must be on the line in some way.She hoped the person was okay. “I hope the person is fine now?"There was a pause. Amy almost thought the call had ended. She was about to pull her phone from her ear to check when she heard his soft, “The person will be fine
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By the time Kevin reached home, he had already calmed himself down. The silence during the drive back to his apartment has made him think everything through.There was no reason to be upset over people who had disappointed him over and over again. It was just that he thought he and Mia had gone past that stage. He didn't have a problem standing up for himself, but when Mia had done so the first time, he had been pleased, until she switched to her grandmother's side just because he decided to speak up for himself.It was the fact that he had allowed himself to be pleased by that singular act that angered him even more. He should have known. After all, birds of the same feathers flock together and they are her family. It would be hard to be different even if she wanted to. So he couldn't entirely blame her.But even with all the conclusions he came to, he still stood his ground. They didn't need to know who he was, but he needed to show them that no one should be underrated, looked down
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Mia felt her heart tightened in her chest as she watched Kevin walk away. She could tell that he was upset. He hadn't even looked back at her with a nod like he always did. She remembered how it had felt like her heart was wrenched out of her chest when he snatched his hand away from her hold.But she had been helpless. He should understand. How was she supposed to support him when she had no idea if he was telling the truth. Heck, he wouldn't even open up to him about who he really was. Yet, she couldn't direct her anger at him.Her hands closed into fists. All of these began with one person.She turned to Morris, who was consoling Grandmother R, who still looked affected by Kevin's words.“You followed me, didn't you?"Morris cast her an irritated glance. “Who is that question for?"When she was leaving the Euphoric Bio building, she felt eyes on her, but she thought it was the other workers on the floors she passed through. She should have known. Most of all, she should have bee
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Mrs Perry couldn't resist the urge to bark out with laughter. She laughed so hard that some of the oldies in the restaurant chuckled along with her.Morris shook his head and chuckled lightly too. “How pathetic you are, Kevin."Mia, who had been staring at the back of Kevin's face as his words, stepped out from behind Kevin and glared at Morris.”Morris!"Morris rolled his eyes. "Why don't you tell him to stop lying so much and so stupidly.”Mia couldn't say anything as she felt embarrassed. She wanted to ask Kevin why he was lying but she didn't want to do so before her grandmother and Morris. So she just subtly shook her head at him.“I’m not lying,” he said cooly, disappointed that even Mia didn't believe him. Hadn't he proved himself enough?The laughter died in Mrs Perry's throat. Morris also stopped lying. They all regarded Kevin. There was no atom of humor on his face or in his words. “Are you serious?" Mia blurted.“What stupid question is that?" Mrs Perry said, her gaze still
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After the shock, the first thing that came to Mia was relief. Relief that she had decided to choose a restaurant that was never crowded. Right now, she could count the number of people in the restaurant in one of her hands and there'd still be a remainder. Another bonus was that they were all old people. So there was no flashing camera in their faces yet. It was a relief that soothed the shock.But the shock still remained. The worry for the things her grandmother would say to Kevin. And the fear of her own anger.How did they find her? Why were they even there? Why did they even find her in the first place?She had already rushed to her feet when she saw them. Now, she stood before her grandmother. “What are you doing here?" She looked between her grandmother and cousin.She was certain that neither of them would have come to the restaurant to eat. Apart from the fact that it was quite a trip from the company, it was too local for them. They preferred the fancy and flashy restaurants
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As Mia walked out of the company's premises, she tucked her car keys in her bag, deciding not to go with her car.“Good morning, ma'am," the security greeted her as they opened the gate for her."How're we all doing?” She returned their smiles."Very well, boss.”Outside the gate, Mia walked down the road a few miles before she saw a taxi driving down the road.She flagged down the taxi and got in.“Where are you headed, ma'am?" The driver asked Mia. Mia told him the me. Of the restaurant where she had decided that she and Kevin would meet. Then afterward, she sent the name of the restaurant and the address to Kevin.Morris dragged his gaze away from the plate number of the taxi as his phone rang out.He briefly glanced at it before he picked it up and answered the call.“Hello.”He returned his eyes to the road.“Were you able to make it out in time?”“Yes, grandmother. I'm on her tail now. I was able to make it outside before she got a taxi.”“A taxi?” There was surprise in Mrs Per
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The signing process was swift. Mrs Perry had a smile on all through as she signed her part and watched the rest of them sign where they had to sign.“Okay, so we're done," Mrs Perry said as she flipped through the papers. She nodded. She handed Kevin a copy. “You can go with your copy. All the rules are clear, are they not?”Anthony nodded. "They are.”Mrs Perry pinned him with a half glare. "No one should go against those conditions, Anthony. Ensure you ram it into the ears of your family members. Mia and I would do the same. If we really want to live in peace, then we should live without any air of hostility.”Anthony smiled. "Yes, Mrs Perry. I'll talk to them. Thank you for agreeing to this.”She shook her head. “It's nothing. I just want peace." She stretched her hands out to Anthony.Anthony took Mrs Perry's hands and shook them. “I look forward to many collaborations and meetings with the Perrys.""Same here,” Mrs Perry smiled, gripping his hands firmly."Mia?” Anthony called.
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Mia regarded Anthony for a while, irritated by the smirk on his face. “You sound so sure,” she scowled at him.Anthony chuckled. He reclined in the seat and put his right leg over his left knee. Then he rested his hand on the back of the chair. "That's because I'm sure."Mia felt the insane urge to hurl him from the couch, but she needed to remain civil, especially now that grandmother had agreed to reconcile with his family. She crossed her arms over her chest. “So how did you know?"Anthony shook his head, a smile on his lips. “People really need to stop asking me that. I have my way of finding out stuff that I am determined to get answers to, and that's just it. Mia raised her brows. “I see. You have your ways and one of those ways is to kidnap people and intensely ask them questions like a maniac, right?”Anthony rolled his eyes. “That was just a test.”“A test!" Mia squeaked incredibly."Yes. You heard right.”“Right. That’s also why you still haven't been able to find out anyth
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Anthony shook his head. “We let trivial things get in between us.” He sighed regretfully. “We're better than that, Mrs Perry. We should be building empires together and not keeping malice like kids. We should be making a plan to succeed. A plant “How can we still work together after what happened, Anthony?" That was Mrs Perry's first words. "How can we build these empires together if we don't trust one another? The seed of distrust has been sown, it's been watered and given enough time to thrive and grow. It's not just going to wilt and vanish.”"We make it wilt then. Trust, once broken, can be gotten back, believe me. We once trusted one another because of our actions. These same actions were what brought the mistrust and knocked us apart. To regain the trust we lost, all we need to do is act… we just need to act right and sincerely. And we'll be fine.”Mrs Perry regarded Anthony, processing his words. Apart from the fact that he was making sense, she was going to accept it anyway.
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Anthony did the last button on his shirt and picked up his phone. He scrolled through his call logs as he walked to his shoe rack. Once he saw the phone number he needed, he dialed it. He placed the phone on speaker, chose the shoes he wanted from the shoe rack, and walked to his bed. By the time he lowered himself into his bed, the call ended without an answer, so he tried again.He once again put it on speaker and placed it on the bed beside him. As he waited for his call to be answered, he grabbed his shoes and began to put them on.“Hello?" Her smooth voice boomed through his phone's speaker and filled his room, loud and clear.“Good morning, Mia, I trust you slept well?" "I did. Why did you call so early?”"I'm on the way to your office now.”"Alright, then. I'll inform the security and receptionist so that they'll let you in without any hassle.”“Okay. See you in a few."Anthony chuckled slightly when Mia ended the call without a response.He picked up his phone and rose to hi
