2024-08-07 17:52:38Kevin nodded once and took the card from Mia.
Mia moved towards the front door. She actually thought Kevin was going to refuse her order.
But then he could be dumb but not that dumb. He was supposed to know that she was very busy which was why she had to ask him to do it.
Besides, Kevin doesn't do anything else in the house. And she pays his bills, provides shelter and even feeds him. This was the least he could do for her.
Kevin pocketed the card and walked out of the villa as well without any word.
He flagged down a taxi. “Phoenix Plaza!”
The driver nodded once and Kevin got inside the car. He couldn't wait to see Alessia again.
A smile was on his face as the car pulled off in front of the plaza. He got down and handed over some wads of notes to the driver.
He hesitated briefly before he walked inside. He stopped almost immediately, in the lobby when he saw Alessia standing with some men and women in expensive suits.
He didn't expect to see Alessia amidst many people. He thought he would be able to see her alone.
He glanced at his clothes and concluded instantly that he would see Alessia some other time.
But before he could turn away, Alessia already saw him. Their gaze held and locked for a moment.
Alessia teared up. She couldn't believe her eyes. That she could finally be looking at Lord Phoenix after so long.
She unconsciously took a step closer, placed her hands together in front of her, and started to go down. She was going to kneel and chant for Kevin's name. After all, he owns Phoenix Plaza and he should be known by all and sundry that he was back!
Kevin saw what she was about to do. He rushed forward and stopped her before she would kneel. He pulled her into a hug immediately, shocking Alessia for a moment because she wasn't expecting it.
Everyone around stared at them, shocked. Then comments flew in from different directions.
The workers’ eyes widened in shock.
“This has never happened before.”
“Who is that man?”
“Why is she hugging him?”
“Whoever he is. He must be very important to her because Alessia barely feels anything. She's not at all emotional.”
“She doesn't even have a love interest.”
“B_boss,” Alessia stammered. She didn't know what to do at first. The boss was hugging her and that was so strange.
It was the first time it would happen and eventhough she wanted just that, she dared not propose it.
Kevin patted her back slightly, unconcerned. “I can't reveal my identity yet, Alessia. Not here, not now. I don't want anyone to know that Phoenix is still alive,” he whispered into her ears.
Alessia nodded once in understanding and Kevin pulled back.
Her face changed drastically. She knew that she had made a very big mistake. She would have spoilt the plan if Kevin hadn't hugged her sooner.
She turned to look at the faces of the people who were staring back at her with skeptical expressions. They were waiting for her to talk, to let them in on what was happening because Alessia had never been in that kind of position. She has always been strict and maybe harsh most of the time.
And it has never even been rumoured that she had a boyfriend.
Alessia cleared her throat meaningfully. “So, everyone, I want you to meet my boyfriend, Kevin,” she announced.
Everyone's expression went weird as they regarded Kevin for a moment. They were not expecting it at all. They were there for something else. They were the executives of Phoenix Group anyway.
“Really?” One of the men, Mr Jude said suddenly, with a wide smile on his face. “So nice to meet you, Mr Kevin,” he said happily.
“Yes! I must say I'm really shocked. I never expected to see the boyfriend of our pretty and hardworking CEO. It's nice meeting you,” Mr Oscar smiled.
Kevin smiled, flabbergasted but Alessia was shy. She couldn't imagine what she had just said. She just made everything more awkward and she hoped Kevin wasn't upset with her about it.
“Yes! I'm happy for you, Miss Alessia,” Mrs Cynthia congratulated her.
Alessia nodded once, with a wide smile on her face. “I need to attend to something. I will speak to you all later,” he excused herself and led Kevin inside the elevator.
The executives were still smiling and chatting happily before Alessia and Kevin were out of sight.
“I thought I was going to meet you alone,” Kevin said suddenly as the elevator ascended.
“I'm sorry Boss. I_” she started but the elevator opened. “Please, let's go to my office. We can talk better there,” she explained and stepped out.
Kevin nodded once and followed her. They entered the spacious office of Alessia.
She closed the door and knelt in front of Kevin. “I'm so sorry boss! I thought I should reveal your identity to everyone which was why I called the executives over but I'm so sorry. Because I almost put you in another disaster.”
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Kevin moved closer to her slowly.“I deserve to die, boss!” Alessia muttered, with her head bowed.Kevin ignored her words and gently pulled her up. “If I kill you, where do I get a new general Tiger, Little cat?” He teased.Alessia smiled softly and Kevin could remember the last time he had seen her smile. That was a year ago, just before the accident happened.He was on his way to Penia City in his private ship when he was ambushed. Kevin was asleep when he heard noises. When he walked out of his room, corpses were lying on the floor. Kevin was caught off guard. He rushed inside to grab his gun but even with that, he was suddenly feeling dizzy and his head hurt so much.Before he could say more, some men in black rushed out with guns in their hands.One of them fired a shot almost immediately but the ship moved to a side suddenly, making them miss their target.Kevin used the opportunity to shoot one of them and rush over to the ship’s Bridge. The helmsman was dead!He doesn't even
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Alessia thought for a moment and a smile evaded her face. “I think I might have a good gift.”“Really?”Alessia nodded slightly and moved away. She moved to her bar and retrieved a bottle of wine.“This is the best gift,” she announced with a wide smile.Kevin moved closer and took the bottle of wine from her.“This is Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tache. It's one of the most expensive wines in the world. It costs over 200k dollars. If you give this as a gift to anyone, they will surely be happy and grateful about it.”Kevin nodded several times “This is the best gift. Thank you so much, Alessia.”Alessia reciprocated his smile. “Anytime, boss. Though, I think we still have a lot to catch up to.”Kevin nodded in agreement. “Sure, and there is plenty of time to do that. But I better leave now.”“Alright.”Alessia watched him until he was out of the office. She was more than happy and she would like if not anything, to show Lionel that he was wrong and Phoenix was alive but they were g
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Mia’s face turned pale, she didn’t expect Kevin would screw up. She saw the look on Mrs Perry's face and knew instantly that she was enraged. That was the last thing she wanted.She got up and hurried to stand in front of Mrs Perry. “Grandmother, please. Don't be offended!” She apologized with a trembling voice.It looked like everyone was against her already. If her grandmother get disappointed at her, it would be disastrous. Mendy laughed. At first, he thought it was true. He recognized Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tache immediately. His eyes went wide with shock when Kevin revealed it. It was the most expensive wine in the world but there was no way someone like Kevin would have it. It's just not possible unless it's truly fake like Mrs Perry has said.No, he was certain. Kevin was poor! Mrs Perry has a dark frown on her face. She was still fuming. “How dare you! How could you think so low of me!” She growled. She couldn't believe that her son-in-law would disgrace her like tha
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The response got Mrs Perry super furious. She couldn't quite contain the anger building up inside her. She looked at Kevin with hatred emanating from her eyes. “You are so shameless! How dare you make the whole Perry family awkward! How dare you as the son-in-law of this family!”Mia was so awkward. She couldn't confidently look at her cousins. She felt embarrassed. Yet, she turned to Kevin, brimming fire.“What do you think you are doing, Kevin?” She yelled at him instead. “When will you stop making trouble here? What is wrong with you!” She scolded him.Mendy laughed, feeling pleased with himself. He was so happy that Kevin was helping him with his plan.He decided to further make use of the opportunity.“In fact,” Mendy said suddenly, turning attention back to him. “I know the senior manager of Phoenix Group and well, he can also help the Perry family to cooperate with them. But then, that wouldn't work if they knew the son-in-law of the Perry family had offended the owner of the P
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How did Phoenix Group hear of Mrs Perry's birthday party?Everyone was shocked.The man cleared his throat meaningfully when no one replied to him. “Sorry, may I know who Mrs Perry is?” He asked again as everyone was too shocked to say a word.Phoenix Group is one of the most important and influential groups in Falcone state. Sending gifts to someone like Perry's family was considered a high honour.“She's our grandmother!” Morris said quickly.Mrs Perry moved forward, with a wide smile on her face. “I am. Did you say you are from Miss Alessia Anderson?”The man nodded once. “Yes ma’am. And here is what she has for you_”Just as he said this, four men walked inside carrying one or two things. They walked to Mrs Perry and started presenting the gifts to her.Mrs Perry took the first gift with a sudden gasp. “Is this Chinese Famille-Rose Baluster Vase?”The man nodded with a smile. “Very well, ma’am.”Mrs Perry couldn't believe it. She ran her fingers around the vase. She had seen a pic
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Henry moved closer to be able to see the wine very well.He made a nod of his head. “There's no way I will be mistaken.”“Are you sure?” Mrs Perry probed further.Henry nodded again. “I mean this wine is definitely from the CEO. There's no way it will be a fake. She got it at the auction,” He explained further.Mrs Perry was confused for a moment. She looked at Kevin. Could that be right? If the wine was really real, then Kevin got such an expensive wine for her birthday. And that's all that matters!“How hard did you work to have been able to afford this wine?” She asked because she didn't believe that Kevin was truly Alessia's friend. The thought of it made her laugh.Mia looked at Kevin, shocked. “Is that true? The wine is real and you are really a friend of the CEO?”Even though she found it hard to believe, little facts were staring right at them.Kevin felt it was ridiculous and couldn't answer. Mia chose to believe everything she heard from people and not him. There was no poin
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Amidst the jubilation, Morris and Mendy couldn't discuss. But Morris was constantly looking at him.Morris could see that Mendy was angry and he knew what that would be for him. He needed to pacify him.“Grandmother! Don't you think Mr Mendy should be invited to the party as well?” Morris said suddenly.“That's right!” One of Mia's cousins, Rosaline added quickly. “Mr Mendy should really be invited,” she said teasingly.“Yes, he's not like some useless son-in-law!” Another supported.“Yes, mother. I also think he should be invited,” Morris' father, Philip said eventually. He had been quiet since the party started.Mia groaned inwardly. She could not talk. She felt even more embarrassed. Mrs Perry nodded once. “That's right. Mr Mendy Karim is invited to the business party that will come up in two days,” she announced.Morris nodded happily and looked at Mendy.“Thank you so much, Mrs Perry,” Mendy responded, with a sly smile. He couldn't stop thinking of how Kevin could have gotten
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Kevin woke up earlier and walked back to the room. He knocked several times and when Mia didn't respond, he pushed the door open.“What do you think you are doing here?” Mia's cold voice boomed suddenly.She was at the dressing table, applying makeup on her face.“Good morning, i_”“You didn't answer my question,” she cut in harshly. Her voice was not only cold but brutal. Kevin could hear the hatred emanating from it.Kevin released a sigh. “I want to use the bathroom. You didn't let me sleep here last night. Should I not wash this morning?”Mia scoffed. “Why should I be concerned if you wash or not? You don't even have a job you resume every morning,” she turned to look at Kevin. “Your only job was to be the best husband.”Kevin released a sigh of frustration. Not again! He had no strength to pursue it.“You should be ready to apologize to my grandmother.”“And why should I do that? Mr Henry confirmed that the wine was indeed authentic. What should I be apologizing for?”Mia scoffed
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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
