Chapter 7

Ava knew whatever profits they'd make would never get to her. That's if they're lucky enough to get through the first stage. 

“Who is confident enough to get us a mega project with Emerald Group?” Kate asked.

James laughed, “Hahaha, mum this is a very funny question” 

“Are you dumb? This is very important to us and you're laughing about it”. Susie replied with anger evident in her voice.

“Enough!” Kate shouted furiously, her face flushed with anger, “none of you is confident about getting a mega deal with Emerald Group. I want it as my 50th birthday gift”.

They exchanged nervous glances, waiting for her next announcement.

“Listen to me, whoever is able to get a deal with Emerald Group will get 20% of the profit as investment for his/her little business”.

Everyone's jaw dropped to the floor, they never expected such an offer. The offer was juicy but no one was confident about getting a deal with Emerald Group.

Kate had always told them to source for investments from other places. According to her, the family company would go bankrupt if she gave them any money as investment. That was her way of refusing them money whenever they came to her.

It was certain that she was eager for the project. The reward was very attractive but the task wasn't attractive, it was an impossible task to accomplish. 

She didn't state the contract's quotation yet, but she was confident a contract with Emerald Group would be worth millions of dollars. Her main concern was being on the list of Emerald Group contractors.

The last time their grandmother had tried to get a mega deal with them, she didn't even see the least paid head of department. Her quest stopped at the general receptionist office.

The sitting room was very quiet, if you dropped a pin on the floor, you would hear the sound of the pin hitting the ground.

Kate glared at them, “Can't any of you do this for the family?”

When she got to where Ethan sat, she slammed the table before her and shouted, “ Even you Ethan,an opportunity to prove you're not a loser. Will you continue to be a coward?”

Kate had told her friends that her family would climb up the social pyramid before her 50th birthday. 

This was her only chance to avoid further insults from other families. Her dream must come to pass and she will never give up on this.

Even if it meant promising them the villa to get the deal, she was ready to make the promise, anything to entice them to work hard towards getting the deal 

Ethan went close to Ava and whispered, “ Babe this is your mission, accept it”.

Ava's face looked like she had been punched in the gut, her breath escaping in a 'whoa’ as she struggled to wrap her head around what she had just heard.

“Are you crazy?” She screamed, “do you know how impossible it is to even get an audience with the executives?”.

Ethan smiled lightly and said, “ you worry too much, I know you'll get the deal. I'm confident you can do this”.

Ava looked at him in surprise, he spoke with so much confidence. He had confidence in her, “ are you sure about this?”

He held her hands, “darling, of course. I trust you, you have everything it takes to get this deal. You're smart, seize the opportunity”.

“Mum, I'll do it”. Ava couldn't understand why she agreed to do this. She was shocked at her own words.

The room fell silent as Ava dropped the bombshell, everyone's face was frozen in utter disbelief.

“She must be out of her mind”. Susie muttered under her breath.

Still in shock, James couldn't help but mock sarcastically “Ava, heroine of the Steve family. Do you really think you can even give them something worth a deal?”

“Ava, do you think this is the best time to seek limelight? You will end up humiliating this family” Susie said.

Ava bent her head in shame, what was she thinking? Why did she allow Ethan's sugar-coated words to move her into saying something so reckless?

She's in her current status since she married Ethan. Ignoring and ridiculing her and her husband wasn't enough for members of her family, they had sent her out of the family mansion to the boy's quarter, she lost her job as the director of Sterling Fashion.

She just wanted to withdraw herself from this ridiculous idea, but getting this deal could help her get the required investment  needed to build her own fashion brand.

“Ava, what if you fail? Our family will be ridiculed in Nova City, are you willing to take the risk?” James asked mockingly.

Ava glared at Ethan, her eyes were a slow-burning ember, blazing with unspoken resentment for him. She regrets allowing his words to get into her head.

Kate was surprised that Ava had dared to accept the task. How daring of her? She was angry that her own children decided to be cowards and allow Ava to take the limelight spot. 

Kate decided to give Ava the needed support despite how she disliked Ava. She was disappointed in her own children.

“Stop your nonsense, you decided to sit here as cowards, someone else rose up to take the impossible task and all you can do is mock her. You amaze me”. Kate said.

“I was hopeful my own children will gladly take this opportunity and give me my desired birthday gift, I'm highly disappointed” She added.

She walked towards Ava, took a deep breath and said quickly, “Ava, you have my full support in everything”.

James was stunned,” but mum”

“Don't worry mum, I'll try my best. I'll not disappoint you. Thank you for believing in me. “Ava whispered.

Susie sneered coldly, “we shouldn't be worried? You've really decided to embarrass this family. Fail woefully and you'll leave the villa with that useless husband of yours forever”.

James asked in a mocking tone, “ can we plan a trip to leave this city immediately? I don't think I'll be able to go out again. I'll be a laughing-stock”.

“Really? We're already a laughing-stock because of you”. Ethan said.

Everyone turned to Ethan. He hadn't said anything since the meeting started.

“ How dare you speak up during our family meeting?” James asked.

“James Steve, why do you think Ava has a low IQ like you? Do you think teasing her would make her feel worthless like you?” Ethan said mockingly.

“But then what if she succeeds?” He added as he laughed.

“Hahaha” James laughed out loud, “succeed? You're being delusional. I bet on my life that Ava would not succeed”.

Ethan nodded with satisfaction, this was something he was waiting for, a bet.

“What about a bet to that, what do you think?” Ethan asked in amusement.

James jumped on the idea, “sounds nice, what's the bet, loser?”

Ethan laughed at his foolishness, if only he knew what the bet would be.

“Okay, if Ava succeeds, you'll go to Emerald Group and seek employment as a janitor, if you're rejected, you'll do community service for fourteen days. If she fails, I'll go to Emerald Group to seek employment as a janitor, if I'm rejected I'll do community service for fourteen days. Anyone who fails to do so, the person you love dearly will die”.