The Billionaire Gardener

Chapter Thirteen

Bridget looked hurt as she sat up and stormed out of the room. At the door, she met Diana who had obviously been eavesdropping. She had come to check up on her grandmother like Ralph advised.

“And what are you doing here?” Bridget poured all her anger into the statement, and Diana cowered before regaining her composure.

“I…I…I have an urgent message for Granny.” She lied, quietly, not wanting her to know she was there for no cogent reason.

“What message could someone like you possibly have to tell the almighty Lady Margarita. We both know that the message is irrelevant, but you make it look like it’s something meaningful. Anyway, I’m not in the mood for this.” She hissed and walked away.

Diana thought it was a good time to gain her grandmother’s favour since she was angry with her favorite child and grandchild. She knocked gently and opened the door to Lady Margarita’s room. She just got the proof that Granny only loved Andre because he seemed to be running the family business well.

She understood the complex dynamics within the family, where success in the family business held greater value than personal relationships. It left her contemplating how she could significantly contribute to the business's success to gain favor in Lady Margarita's eyes and go up in rank. Her current role as the administrative assistant at Summers Holdings and Investments was not helping her much.

That meant if she could do more than Andre was doing for the family businesses, she would become the favored granddaughter and upgrade her status and those of her parents.

“Good morning, Granny.”

“And what is good about the morning? What do you have to tell me? Out with it already. I don’t have that luxury of time for unimportant discussions.”

“What would you want me to do for you before I go to work?” Diana asked, not knowing what exactly to say to her angry grandmother.

“Get me a proof that Rovers Group does not have a problem with us yet.” Lady Margarita said dismissively, knowing she wouldn’t be able to do that.

“Why do you think they do?” Diana asked cautiously.

“Are you so ignorant to not know what’s going on on the internet?” Lady Margarita didn’t want to be the one to mention the embarrassment Andre had brought to the family.

Of course, Diana knew, but she feigned ignorance. She took her phone and pretended to scroll through the news.

“Oh my! This does not look good! We need to act fast before further harm is caused.”

“What do you suggest we do?”

Diana loved that her grandmother was seeking her opinion. She was grateful that Ralph advised her to come. There was something about Ralph these days that made him look like a seer, but she would attend to that later. For now, she had to help her grandmother overcome her fears.

“How about you going to Rovers Group headquarters to physically tender your apology for his behavior? You might even be lucky to see the discreet CEO.”

“You think that is a good idea?”

“Yes, granny. It will help salvage the situation.” Diana knew her grandmother had only been running the Summers businesses from the comfort of her home for years now. She had never seen her attend business meetings, except dinners and banquets. It was either Andre or Bridget doing it on her behalf. Would she be humble enough to go tender an apology physically?

Lady Margarita was lost in thought. As much as that would be a ridiculous thing to do, it seemed to her like the best solution. The anonymous CEO would respect the fact that, she, a whole matriarch, had come in person to apologize for her son’s behavior. That would show her as a peaceful and humble person, one that could be granted more deals.

“I would be glad to go with you.” Diana offered.

Lady Margarita thought about it and concluded that it was not good for her to go alone. Diana would be the best person to go with her since Bridget just left in anger and Andre was not even home.

“Fine then. Let me get ready.”

“Please tell Lionel I wouldn’t be coming to work. It would be best he heard it from you.” Lionel Summers was the Director of Summers Holdings and Investments. He was Diana’s cousin and boss.

“Fine. Get him on the phone.”

Andre was displeased with his grandmother’s unprecedented outburst over the phone. She had never talked to him in that manner. He knew he had to make amends but his immediate concern was dealing with Ralph, the main cause of the incident. If Ralph had not been at Rovers Royale, he would have no reason to make a nuisance of himself there. The news was everywhere on the internet. Different headlines carried different negative narratives about him, and he did not like it at all.

Frustrated and angry, he decided to seek the assistance of a notorious figure in Rovers County – Giant Gerald.

Giant Gerald, like he was popularly called, was a tool for dealing with offenders. Just like his nickname, Giant, suggested, he was indeed huge! He was a formidable figure with a vast network of subordinates. ‘Dealing with offenders’ was his source of income. He was paid to do it. Andre approached him to address the grievances he had against Ralph, the perceived cause of his current troubles.

“What do you want us to do for you, rich kid?” Giant Gerald asked in his commanding baritone voice.

“I need you to deal with a nonentity who has offended me multiple times. I want him to understand that we are not on the same level,” Andre replied.

“Do you want to witness the proceedings when we deal with him?”

“Yes. I want to see him beg for his life.”

“Should we finish him off or leave him in a coma?”

“Well, that depends on how convincingly he begs. I'll decide his fate based on that.”

“When do you want this done?”

“Today! Tonight!”

“Your fee is 2 million dollars!”

“Can we settle for 1 million dollars?”

Giant Gerald, unyielding, responded, “Look at this rich kid trying to negotiate my service. No bargaining! If you can’t pay that, handle it yourself.”

“Okay. Fine. Deal.”

“Deal.”

“Just send his location, and leave the rest to us.”