Ex-convict to Executive

Chapter 1

In the Xanros family mansion the family were exchanging pleasantries as they hugged and shook hands with each other.

There stood Dante Willow looking down at his second handed old wrist watch that he have owned since he could remember, he was standing all alone like a lone wolf. He exhaled deeply while he impatiently tapped his foot on the expensive marble floor of his in-laws house, he only had few minutes to spare before his break time from work would be over, he worked as a Janitor in an art gallery and the staffs were preparing for an upcoming art exhibition.

Dante was the son in-law of the wealthy business tycoon Uriel Xanros married to his second daughter Audrey.

Mr Uriel Xanros called the attention of everyone as he hit the glassware with a spoon to make a toast, suddenly the living room went dead quite as everyone turned to look at him, the main reason they were all gathered to celebrate in the first place.

“Today is my marriage anniversary with my beautiful wife” Mr Uriel turned to peck his wife on her cheek as everyone clapped excitedly including Dante who was trying to fit in, but no matter how hard he tried, he was a misfit to the class of his In-laws.

“Congratulations” they yelled out loud together taking the passing trays of wine cups from the mansion staffs.

In a cheerful toast, they clicked their glasses one after the other, Dante was about clicking his glass with Natty who stood near him and she ran her eyes from his head to toe then she hissed and moved away.

Dante took a sip of the wine in his cup nevertheless while he wished he could leave his in-laws mansion any sooner so he could get back to his work place in order to avoid trouble with his boss.

Immediately, it reached time to present their gifts to the Mr and Mrs Xanros

“Mother in-law I got you these sets of expensive plates, I know how much you love kitchen wares” Jaden and his wife Natty presented their gift with a smile

“Dad, I know how much you love Van Clef and Arples gold, so I got you this” Natty said presenting her own gift to her father

Mrs Uriel smiled at her son-In law Jaden as she accepted it, Mr and Mrs Xanros had five children, Natty, Audrey, Neon, Ellie and Samantha.

Their only son Neon was the next person with Samantha their youngest daughter, she as well presented her gift.

“Father and Mother, congratulations” Ellie the third daughter exclaimed as she presented her expensive gift too

When it was Dante and his wife turn, Audrey took out a diamond necklace “Happy Marriage Anniversary mom” to her father she presented designer perfumes all packaged in a shopping bag and one could tell the gift were expensive.

“Thank you Audrey, and what does your husband have to offer?” her mother asked looking at the shopping bag Dante was holding

“The gift is from both of us” Audrey replied

“Don’t try to defend him” her father shouted “How would my son-In-law come to my party without any gift, such guts!”

“I bought wine for you father” Dante stretched the shopping bag to Mr Uriel as he bowed in respect to him, instead he got shouted on

“Bastard, I am not your father” as the old man shouted on top of his voice, he still took the bag and looked down to find what was inside and when he did his was angry immediately

“Audrey, I want you to divorce this your husband, right now!” Mr Uriel shouted

Audrey was surprised why her father was bringing up the topic again when they should be celebrating, It wasn’t the first time Mr Uriel was making such request to Audrey, all through her marriage with Dante her father never failed to remind her that she could have married someone better and wealthier than Dante Willow.

“Father?” Audrey said worriedly, she hadn’t expected him to bring it up since it was a party

“Look at the cheap wine your husband bought as a gift for me!” Audrey father announced, bringing out the wine from the bag, making the rest of the family to laugh at the wine brand.

Dante had decided to buy a gift along with him, even if he knew the others gift would beat his, but wasn’t gifting the matter of the heart?

“I dare you to divorce him right now and I would give you my land property in the county” Mr Uriel ordered as he dropped the wine bottle on the floor, making the liquid content to spill, creating a mess on the expensive marble floor. Dante had actually spent enough of his money to buy that particular wine, it was cheap for Mr Uriel, but it wasn’t cheap for him at all, so he sobbed silently at the broken bottle “Divorce him now and get the hectare of land you always wanted”

“If I were you sis, I won’t give it a second thought” Ellie spoke out loud as Audrey swallowed the lump in her throat wishing she could escape the situation at hand. She have continuously begged her father to lease his land to her at any price, as a real estate agent she needed it, knowing the land would yield profit until he was ready to use the land, but he refused, right now he was offering the land for free and not only that he was making her to choose between her husband and her career.

The two couple standing side by side with every eyes on them in the silent room, Dante brushed his hand on Audrey hand, trying to signal something to her and she immediately moved it away.

“We don’t have all the time in the world, make your decision now!” her mother shouted “He doesn’t match your status, you have a promising career as a realtor and he-” Mrs Xanros didn’t fail to show the disgust with her facial expression “Is a poor art gallery worker”

Dante Willow feeling like he couldn’t breath any longer, with everybody’s eye on him, he wanted to leave the mansion, Audrey cleared her throat to speak

“Father…I” Audrey looked at Dante, ready to choose between her marriage or her career.

Mr Uriel Xanros eyes bored on Audrey his daughter, as he waited for her to make her decision, by this time he was already angry.

Audrey was still stuttering and searching for words to say when he interrupted her “Are you not tired of being married to someone whose salary can not even fend for you and your daughters!?”

“Father please can we not start this now?” Audrey replied calmly, trying to escape from the situation.

“I am giving you an opportunity to set things right, divorce him right now and and get the land property!” her father demanded waiting for her response.