“Hi!” August waved cheerfully as the petite lady walked sluggishly down the almost empty street. The girl looked up from the ground she was staring at to find August standing in front of her gate, his legs crossed and both of his hands dipped in his pocket in that stylish way that made girls fall for him back in their college days.“August Sullivan?!” Lila shrieked in surprise as she rushed to meet him even though there was a restriction because of the hills she wore.“Long time no see, Lila. You look as beautiful as ever.” August teased as he uncrossed his legs and walked up to meet her, saving her the trouble of walking up to him.“Oh…don’t you start with your teasing August. You haven’t changed one bit.” Lila said, a smile still on her face. Though that was a sharp contrast to what she had earlier.“Yeah. You too. You look as smart as always. How have you been, Lila?” August asked with a more serious tone as the expression Lila now had spoke volumes, but August needed to hear her
August walked into the room, a sheepish smile on his face, looking effortlessly cool in a tee shirt and gray slacks, with his usual diamond watch—whose origin he still hasn't disclosed to anyone. It was just him being August."Hi, Bill," he walked past Dave and Mr. Zach, their gazes fixed on him, straight to stand in front of Bill, hands tucked into his pocket. "Sorry I'm late," he feigned a tired grin. "I was stuck in traffic," he added as Bill stared at him in disbelief."How did you find me?" irritation tinged Bill's tone as August raised a brow, as if he were the one lost."Hmm…," he tilted his head to the side. "You don't recognize me? I offered you a job at my company, remember?" He waved his hands dramatically in front of Bill's face as he sighed."What? A job?" Greta chimed in, drawing closer, looking from Bill to August."I told you to stay away from me, didn't I? I…""You asked me if I had a company…," August cut in smoothly, now wearing a serious expression as Bill closed hi
“How dare….”“Guys…,” August turned around to face Bill and his team, cutting Dave short rudely as if what he was about to say was irrelevant. Now, Dave's pride was severely wounded.“Make a decision.” He placed his hand on his waist while looking from one member to another. “This time, Bill won’t make the decision on his own. It would be an unbiased vote among each member.” August shifted his gaze to Greta, as if to get some kind of credit for seeing things from her view, but she still had an expressionless look on her face.When he didn’t get any resistance from the members, he continued. “Now, anyone who is interested in selling the game to Arizona Group should put their hands up.” August said the words one by one, as if scared he might lose. But then, he made sure no one noticed it. He has learned something recently. If he was going to win, he should never show his enemies any sign of weakness, ever.The whole room fell into silence as no one made a move, even Greta, which was new.
"Ta-da! Welcome to Trillion dollar coming!" August announced happily as she opened the door to the apartment he had leased.Bill, Great, Ralph, and Scot, with Lila at their back, walked one by one into the room, all wearing unsure gazes."Hi everyone," Dan greeted. He had waited back to get the place ready on August's orders. The team had followed August immediately after they left their previous office down here."Is this your company?" Scot, the youngest of the gaming team, asked with a disappointed tone."I guess," Ralph let out a sigh. "I immediately had a bad feeling when I saw the chicken restaurant downstairs and the tacky company tag 'Trillion dollar Company.'" He pointed to the door they had passed through. "Right at that door," he completed."I can’t believe this," Greta sighed, but August didn’t budge as he stared at Bill, waiting for everyone to voice out their opinions."Don’t be dispirited, guys!" Bill turned to his team as August watched him, as if they had practiced th
"Y’all chose to work for him, and now you want to back out?" Greta retorted, cutting through the silence, mainly directing the question to Bill as if he had made the decision for the whole team once again. "I didn’t force anyone to come with me. So don’t give me that look, Greta," Bill returned.August still has his back turned to them. For some reason, he felt he should let them talk. Just for a while… Before he played his card. "Oh, really now? Is that how you defend yourself, Bill?" She asked, but Bill didn’t reply. "As the leader, you have never made a decision that benefited the team, and it drives me crazy whenever I think about!""Guys, can we not…." Lila tried to butt in, but Bill and Greta fired at her simultaneously. "Stay out of this!" Lila could see the frustrated look on their faces as she took a step backward, obviously not expecting that as August finally turned around.Bill and Greta faced each other again. "And who are you to think the game we painstakingly created is
"Tell me you only have Goodnews." Dave walked into his office on a fine Thursday morning, took off his suit jacket, and placed it on a stand as he moved to settle down in his seat. He raised his head to meet the gaze of his secretary, who had a forced smile on his face."No?" Dave figured something was amiss. "I am afraid so." Brooks gave him an apologetic look. "I looked into it and realized it won't be possible to get August Sullivan to evacuate the building.""Why?" Dave asked with an impatient stare. "If it takes you to buy the whole building to throw him and his damn team on the streets, do it!""Well, sir..." Brooks hesitated. "The owner of the building can't really sell.""Then why is he the owner then?" Dave asked with an irritated look."Because he is just the owner in name. It is said that his grandfather had shared the ownership of that building among the people who live there. The ground floor is occupied by a chicken restaurant owned by a middle-aged woman, the middle flo
“What are you trying to say?” Lila finally broke the silence.“The letter from yesterday…” August started to explain. “It was from our dear Brooks, Dave’s secretary. He clearly stated his boss’ interest in acquiring this building as a way to make us lose our company.”“What the hell?!” Dan asked with an alarmed look.“How much more shrewd can he be!” Lila let out in frustration.“Is there a problem?” The door opened to reveal a nervous smile on Greta’s face, as if she was hesitant to walk in on them.“What? No… I mean, what could possibly be the problem?” Dan asked, his body tense as tension filled him. He stared at Greta, wondering how much she heard.“Oh… yeah. I and the team are going out for lunch break. I don’t know if you would like to join us?”“We…” Dan wanted to tell her off, but August immediately cut in. “Sure! Why not?!” A cool smile appeared on his face again, as if they weren’t just talking about a grave matter that would determine their fate.“What are you doing?” Dan a
Dave had the worst day ever following his last talk with Brooks. Throughout the day, he couldn’t help but think about how the meeting with the tenants would go. It was 5 pm, and all Dave wanted was to go home and put everything that had happened behind him.He turned off the computer, took his jacket off the stand, and started making his way out of the room to the only elevator that could be used by him. When he reached the car park where his driver was waiting, he saw Brooks standing by the car with the driver.“Brooks?” he called as the secretary immediately bowed in greeting. “Good evening, boss,” he said as Dave eyed him calmly.“Why are you out here? Why didn’t you come up to the office? How did the meeting go with the tenants? Did they agree to sell?” Although Dave found it strange for his secretary to stand here waiting for him, instead of coming up, he was more interested in the building issue.“Sir, I…” Dave raised his hand to cut him short. “I’m tired. Let’s talk while I dri
“I think you’re mistaken, Miss. I hope you can check through again in case you missed something….”“Are you trying to teach me my job?” The receptionist snapped, shocking Aliya with her abrupt outburst.A mere receptionist was talking to her rudely, and there was nothing she could do. They weren't in the same league, but if she caused a scene with this secretary here, what would the trillion-dollar company think of her?She pressed her lips together for a while, trying to suppress the growing anger within her.“I am not trying to teach you anything, Miss. I only want a chance to meet the chairman,” Aliya managed to muster in a calm tone.“And I am telling you right now that there is no room for you, Miss. Please leave, or I will have security drag you out,” she hissed impatiently and shifted her attention to the system in front of her.Aliya wasn’t sure how to behave afterward. Even from the beginning, this whole thing had worn her out. Pushing through was something she was barely cop
“I can’t believe you agreed to it just like that, Grandfather.” Simon walked into Pa West’s study room later that evening to vent. Even though he had looked calm when everything was concluded earlier, deep down he was pissed.“Don’t be such a fool. Didn’t you realize the stunt that loser was trying to pull? He is trying to delay the vote to take down his wife.” Pa West took a gulp of his liquor while seated on the luxurious leather seat in the room. He relaxed backward and gave a satisfied groan as the liquid went down his throat.“If we had dismissed his suggestion like that, the shareholders might start to think we only want to remove Aliya due to personal reasons. These people don’t give a fuck about sentiments. All they care about is profits. And Allen, that weird pauper, knew that and played his card well.” He placed his hand on his chin, a thoughtful look on his face. “I wonder how he got the idea to bring in the trillion-dollar company into this. He talks about the company like
“The both of you could compete for who could bag the contract with the trillion-dollar company,” August suggested with a confident look. “I am sure the owners won’t mind if they see that the West Corporation is enthusiastic to work with them.”“Don’t be ridiculous,” Simon chuckled as he tried to wave off the suggestion. “They would think the company is divided if my sister and I submit different proposals to them for the same company.”“And who said you would be the next chairman if it isn’t Aliya? What do you take me for?” Landon immediately cut in as Simon shifted his gaze slowly to meet his enraged brother.“Shut up and stop embarrassing yourself, Landon.” Pa West seemed to be pissed too as a deep frown formed on his face.Landon gritted his teeth as he tried to hold himself from speaking again. But he knew better. His grandfather, who was his only backer, was solidly behind Simon. It felt like all he had been working hard for was a waste. He had been fighting Aliya all this while
“This is why I keep talking about the importance of marrying people with brains. How could you just suggest something like that?” Landon spoke up, immediately seizing the opportunity to humiliate August again while August maintained his calm and composed look.He stared straight ahead without sparing Landon a look. He knew Landon was dying to see him crumble. Too bad he was done being a punching bag to them. This would be the beginning of their sorrows.“You always end up saying nonsense whenever you open that mouth of yours. What the hell do you know about business, huh?” Pa West asked.“Do you truly care about my sister? Do you actually want her to lose her position deep down?” Simon asked with a cocky grin. As always, he was the only one who made a point.Normally, they were supposed to just agree to it and watch Aliya fail because bagging a deal with a trillion-dollar company is like an ant trying to move a mountain. The West Corporation is a small company and not among the top th
Simon noticed how Aliya entwined her fingers together. He could already see how tense she was, and he would definitely use that to his advantage. He was always like this—watching with sharp eyes like an eagle and pouncing on his prey when they let their guard slightly down.“Are you tense, sister? If you’re uncomfortable about the whole arrangement and would prefer not to go through with it, you can just step down willingly. Everyone would understand that you’ve grown wary over the years and would like to focus on your family now,” Simon said with a cool gaze, making a face as if he was truly looking out for her.“Don’t be ridiculous, brother. Just because I am a married woman doesn’t make my career hopeless. Forget about stepping down—I dare you to say you are capable of handling West Corporation half as well as I have,” Aliya said in a cocky tone, causing Simon to clench his fist, which was placed on the table.It wasn’t always easy to get her brother to lose his composure, but when
“Did the beating affect your head? What the hell are you saying?” Aliya laughed, not taking his words seriously. He didn’t blame her. He is a pauper with nothing to his name. How could he possibly help her?“You will see how I will make everything easy for you.” August sat up, brushed away the hair covering her face, and placed a peck on her forehead. Aliya watched him, unsure how to react.She pressed her lips and watched him in silence as he lay back. “Could you get me an apple, please?” he asked politely.Aliya, who was deep in thought, shook her head as she came back to reality. She flashed him a smile and nodded. “Sure,” she said and started to walk out of the room.“Babe,” he called when she grabbed the doorknob and was about to open the door. “Make sure to take your time,” he said with a calm smile.Aliya gave him a half-suspicious look before nodding.Immediately after she left, August located his phone by the bed stand and dialed Lila.“That was quick,” she commented the mome
“I will do neither, and none of you has the right to make me do any of it if I don’t want to,” Aliya said stubbornly.“You are testing my patience, girl,” Pa West gritted his teeth. As Aliya made to say something, August held her hand. She turned to look at him, an almost helpless look on her face. August shook his head.“I don’t care,” Aliya still turned around to say. “You all should go to hell for all I care!” she blurted in annoyance and made to leave when Landon rushed after her and grabbed her other hand.Aliya swung around to find Landon staring deadly at her. He raised his hand to slap her. “How dare you speak to Grandfather like that!” he berated.August couldn’t believe what had just happened. He stared wide-eyed at his wife’s now reddened face. He grabbed Landon by the collar. “How dare you!” he fired at him.Landon had never seen August like this. August rarely spoke, but now he looked like an enraged lion about to pounce on its prey.“You crazy psycho. Get your hands off
“What! No!” Aliya blurted out almost immediately, glaring at anyone who dared to look at her.“Are you glaring at me right now because of this piece of trash?” Pa West asked, a disgusted look on his face as August's fist clenched. This wasn’t him. He wasn’t used to people treating him like trash. In the past, he would usually put whoever tried to cross him in their place. Dave's case was a perfect example. At that moment, he felt a sudden urge to reincarnate that part of him that he killed years ago.But he couldn’t do that. He had managed through all this while. Besides, he barely cared about insults as long as Aliya was still very much in love with him. But what he wouldn’t tolerate was anyone trying to take her away from him.“She is feeling like a big shot because Dad made her the CEO, Grandfather. Uncultured people like her, who are raised by nobodies, will always act like they want. It’s so disappointing,” Landon chipped in, indirectly insulting her mother.“How dare you insult
August walked into the room that seemed as quiet as a graveyard. It was the exotic living room of the Wests. They were among the wealthy people in the country, more like among the second tier when it comes to ranking from top to bottom. But theirs was the best of the second tier. They were not to be trifled with at all. With the kind of achievements Aliya had made for the company, it had grown significantly over the last five years. Besides that, August used his secret connections with influential people he had worked with in the past to help Aliya secretly.“Babe, you’re here,” Aliya said, walking toward him the moment she noticed August standing in the doorway.August was carried away by the sight of the familiar yet unfamiliar man sitting on the single-seat couch in the middle of the room. He suddenly realized why nobody bothered to use that particular seat in the room. It was reserved for someone.Pa West. The head of the West family who had been away from the family for the past