10. Sucks

“Why did you look so lost earlier?” Charles asked his brother, as he put his laptop on his study table.

Daniel laid himself on the bed, looking at the ceiling, before he answered his brother. “I think I saw dad earlier.”

Charles glared at his brother and cussed. “You probably mistook someone from him,” he said.

“Probably,” Daniel replied and closed his eyes.

“Are you still mad at me?” Charles was hesitating to ask this to his brother. 

Daniel then opened his eyes and moved his attention to Charles. “Yes.” 

Charles sighed heavily, giving him a dejected expression. “What should I do for you not to be mad at me anymore?”

“Nothing,” Daniel shortly replied. “You don’t have to do something for me anymore. I want to work on my feet from now. I don’t want to ask for your help,” he paused. Charles was alarmed. It’s the first time he experienced this with his brother. “It’s for the best, Charles. We should, at least, work individually because we can’t always be together, especially in this kind of family setup,” he proceeded to leave the room after that.

Charles wasn’t able to say anything. He was puzzled and tormented as well. Nevertheless, his brother was right. Their family sucks. 

**

“No!” Mr. Shin was fuming like hell, throwing everything he saw in his office. “You can’t do this, Alejandro. You can’t take back your word.”

“I think you’ve mistaken, Mr. Shin,” Alejandro Fuentes calmly replied. Mr. Shin halted and stared at the old man. “We had a deal. I would allow you if and only if I could make numerous supports from the people in the governor election. However, the survey says otherwise. If we continued that redevelopment project of yours, I would truly lose in the election. In the end, I can’t protect your face anymore.”

The tension gradually went down. Mr. Shin sat on his chair and asked unnervingly, “What’s your proposal then, Alejandro?”

“Don’t make a move, Mr. Shin,” Alejandro answered. “Let the problem subside first. We can’t do anything for now,” he added and left the office. 

Mr. Shin cursed before speaking via the intercom. “You may now come in, Mr. Fortel.”

Jackson Fortel entered the office with his plain expression. He sat on the couch and bowed his head to Mr. Shin. “I failed. My apologies, Mr. Shin.”

“You know what I’m still wondering until now how have you recovered from that crisis two years ago,” Mr. Shin uttered and started to walk toward Jackson’s direction. “You clearly lost everything back then. You did not even make it to top 100 of the best companies in Asia. You had a lot of loans. You borrowed money from seven banks. You even sold ¾ of your properties. But now…” he paused and sat opposite to Jackson, who couldn’t look at his eyes. “…in just a snap, you’ve gotten back to the competition again. Your company has even made it 4th in our country and 10th in Asia. That’s a fast recovery, Jackson. Notwithstanding, I can’t understand the reason you have changed the name from Fort Company to Dale.” Mr. Shin sniggered and put his hands on Jackson’s shoulders, staring at him with his furious eyes. “I know you’re a puppet CEO, Jackson,” he uttered. Jackson didn’t know what to do, but trying to control the nervousness dominating in his body. “Who’s the real CEO of your company, huh?”

“What do you mean, Mr. Shin?” Jackson proudly asked. “Is that even an issue now?”

Mr. Shin smiled in disgust. “What are you saying?!”

“Whether what you’re claiming is right or not, it can’t change the fact that your company sales are declining by 1.2%. Without the redevelopment project, the figures will frighteningly decrease by additional 2%,” Jackson sarcastically smiled. Annoyance can be painted on Mr. Shin’s face. “Therefore, I suggest you focus on numbers you’re monitoring. You might regret that later,” he continued and sighed heavily, getting on his foot. “Till next time, Mr. Shin.”

**

“Not so hard, baby,” Alecia, Luke’s ex wife, told Marcus in her lustful voice. “Did you even—AHH! miss me? We had—AHHH! never met for a year,” she added, running out of breathe.

Marcus forcedly pulled Alecia’s hair, who’s on top now. “That’s not even a question,” he uttered in a manly voice. “You know how hard it is for me without you, baby. You can’t leave me now,” he said and torridly kissed her. 

They’re currently at a certain suite in a five-star hotel belongs to Mr. Shin. Alecia just arrived two hours earlier, and Marcus was the one who waited and picked her up at the airport. 

“By the way…” Alecia tried to catch Marcus’ attention who’s wearing his underpants after their loving moments ended for ten minutes. “...what happened to papa’s business nowadays? I have heard something does not go his way. Is that right?”

“Don’t worry about that, Alecia,” Marcus uttered. “Everything is merely going your way.”

Alecia then mysteriously smiled, thirstily looking at Marcus. Marcus smiled at her back, seducing her with his body and sparkling sexy eyes. Marcus grabbed her like a feather, who’s the latter even shrieked ecstatically.

“AHHH!”

**

Luke was seen holding his tablet, reading an article about his ex-wife.

‘CONGLOMERATE DAUGHTER OF MR. SHIN ARRIVES IN MANILA’

As he scrolled down the article, he almost choked, trying to hold his laugh, as if he saw something that attracted his utmost interest.

He swiveled his chair and started to dial someone using his phone. 

“Hello? Yes. Oh, yes, that’s right. See you then.”

(call ended)

He put his phone down on his table and then stared puzzlingly at their old family picture in his wallet. 

“Everything seems like going my way…”