“How did you know it’s Ralph Ross? Do you two know each other?” Diana inquired, intrigued by Fancy's recognition.“Is your name really Ralph Ross?” Fancy asked, her curiosity piqued. She wasn't as shy as Liam had portrayed her to be.“Have we crossed paths before, young lady?” Ralph inquired eagerly, hoping to gauge if Fancy recognized him despite his disguise.“No, but I met someone with that same name, a very decent man. He came to buy a luxurious house at my workplace,” Fancy explained.Ralph felt a wave of relief wash over him. He had feared his secret was about to be exposed. If Diana learned he had purchased such an expensive property, she might become suspicious.“Well, since this person was buying an expensive house, it must be someone else. Certainly not my husband,” Diana asserted confidently.“Why do you say that?” Fancy asked, intrigued by Diana's certainty.“It's clear. He doesn’t have that kind of money,” Diana affirmed, glancing at Ralph for confirmation. Ralph nodded i
Outside the hall, Ralph and Giant Gerald were met by a deliveryman holding a package.“Mr. Ross?” the deliveryman inquired.“Yes, that’s me,” Ralph confirmed.“Please sign here,” the deliveryman instructed, handing Ralph a clipboard and pen.Ralph quickly signed for the package, eager to unveil the surprise he had promised Diana. Gerald offered to carry the package back into the hall, where curious eyes followed their return.“What’s in the package, Ralph?” Diana asked eagerly as he approached the table. She appreciated the distraction from Dean and Felicia’s provocative display.“I don’t know. My friend didn’t tell me. I only know it’s an antique,” Ralph replied with a mysterious smile as Gerald carefully set the package down on the table.Dean and Felicia couldn’t hide their surprise. They had assumed Diana and Ralph had nothing to present. It seemed they were wrong.“Where did you get the money to buy this?” Dean asked, his tone skeptical.“Is yours missing?” Ralph retorted, raisin
Ralph raised an eyebrow at Andre's nonchalant response and repeated his question. "When are you going to lick my feet, Andre?"It was the day after the memorial—a Sunday morning. Ralph had just finished swimming and was drying himself off with a towel when Andre appeared, intending to use the pool himself.Andre looked bemused. "Lick your feet? What are you talking about?"Ralph reminded him with a smirk, "Don't tell me you've forgotten your bet already. You promised to lick my feet if we presented a gift worth more than five thousand dollars. And we did. So, it's time to follow through on your words."Meanwhile, the Regal Timepiece had become the centerpiece of conversation at the party, leaving everyone in awe and curiosity about how Diana and Ralph had acquired such a magnificent gift. Lady Margarita, in particular, couldn't conceal her surprise, realizing that her attempts to ridicule them had fallen short. Even West had been shocked to the marrow of her bones. In short, all membe
The big Summers Dining Hall was bustling with activity as the family gathered for their usual Sunday morning breakfast. On weekdays, they usually went their separate ways and ate whatever and whenever they liked, but weekends brought them together under one roof. Lady Margarita, seated at the head of the table, radiated authority and elegance, enjoying the company of her family although she still found it hard to do away with her favoritism.Dean and Felicia sat nearby, engaged in quiet conversation as they stole glances at Ralph and Diana. Breakfast options included pancakes, bacon, and fruit platters, tempting everyone to dig in."Let's start," Lady Margarita announced, signaling the beginning of the meal, and everyone began to eat.Ralph and Diana sat calmly, unfazed by the tension from the previous day. Fancy, the newcomer, cautiously picked at her food, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. Liam, sitting next to her, offered reassuring smiles to ease her nerves.Lionel and
The announcement of the newly released Rovers Luxuria sent shockwaves across the internet, with every media outlet featuring it as their top headline. The buzz surrounding the car was heightened by its limited edition status, making it even more desirable.Lady Margarita was unsettled, not by the news of the car itself, but by the revelation that only Souls Automobiles Dealers and Huffs Auto Distributors would be the exclusive distributors for the limited new brand. She couldn't understand why Summers Luxury Automobiles wasn't included. What had happened?Lady Margarita wasted no time and immediately sought answers. First, she reached out to Victor Sterling who reminded her he was no longer the director. She then attempted to contact Richard Anderson, but received no response. Frustrated and determined, she sought out Andre, catching him just as he was about to leave for work in his Rovers Classic."Andre, have you seen the news?" Lady Margarita inquired urgently."What news?" Andre r
When Diana offered to take Ralph to his destination, he politely declined.“I'll use public transport from here. You should go quickly before that anonymous man changes his mind. It’s getting late already,” Ralph admonished.“Okay then. Please retrieve your bicycle soon,” Diana advised.“I will,” Ralph promised, knowing full well the bicycle was not coming back, especially with Fancy being suspicious of him.“And do well with the interview,” Diana added.“I will try my best.”After Ralph exited the car, Diana drove off swiftly. He didn’t have to wait long before Giant Gerald pulled up in front of him, and Ralph hopped in. He had discreetly called Gerald with Diana’s phone before leaving and had instructed him to pick him up at that point.“Do you want to get a new phone, young boss?” Ralph had told Gerald about the situation with his phone when they talked earlier.“Not yet. It’s an excuse for them to not be able to reach me. I’ll just tell them Lionel sank my phone,” Ralph replied, u
Lady Margarita had been getting flooded with calls from eager customers inquiring about the availability of the new Rovers Luxuria at Summers Luxury Automobiles."We will have it soon. Just give us until the end of the day," she assured one caller."But I saw that you are not listed as a distributor in the news?" another caller questioned."That was a serious oversight. You know Summers Luxury Automobiles. We are always at the forefront of luxury cars," Lady Margarita replied confidently, masking her concern."Great. I will call you back at the end of the day then. Please reserve one for me," the caller requested eagerly, reassured by Lady Margarita's response.Lady Margarita was left feeling frustrated as Andre continued to ignore her calls, leaving her uncertain about how to handle inquiries regarding the availability of the luxury car. Despite her uncertainty, she reassured callers that Summers Luxury Automobiles would have the car by the end of the day.Puzzled by her company's re
Ralph had finished updating Giant Gerald on the story of his life, from his departure from the slums of Vernice to the present, yet Gerald still couldn't grasp why Ralph was concealing his newfound status—a status many would willingly flaunt."I need to prepare myself for public life. It’s not a lifestyle I'm accustomed to. Besides, I want to address my in-laws for treating me like trash all these years. It hasn't been easy living under their roof with my poor condition," Ralph explained, addressing Gerald's lingering question."I see. You have a supportive wife," Gerald remarked."Yes, but sometimes, she's torn between loyalty to her family and her love for me. I want to provide her with everything, but gradually. Let’s see how well she'll do with her new contract.""She's beautiful. She'd make a good model," Giant Gerald commended Diana's beauty."I know, right. Now, let’s talk about you. Have you been able to come up with any business ideas?" Ralph redirected the conversation to Ge
Victor was on his second bottle of wine when Gerald arrived. He waved at him, and Gerald made his way to the table. The pub was bustling, with music blaring loudly.“Why would you choose this place for the kind of meeting we have?” Gerald asked as he took his seat.“At least, greet first!” Victor said.“Am I here to greet? If you called me here to greet, then I can start greeting everyone as long as you pay me,” Gerald replied in an unfriendly tone.“You like money too much!” Victor observed.“Don’t you? Why do you work if not for money?” Gerald retorted.“Okay, fine. I was just trying to lighten the mood, but you’re obviously not in the mood,” Victor said, pushing the wine bottle aside.“I’m glad you finally see that. Why am I here?” Gerald asked.“To abduct someone,” Victor said.Gerald looked around to ensure no one was listening.“No cause for alarm. I chose this location because of its privacy,” Victor assured him.“Who do you want me to abduct?” Gerald finally asked.“Attorney S
Andre heard the knock a second time. He wasn’t expecting anyone. Victor was at work, and he had just spoken with him, who mentioned his phone conversation with Giant Gerald. Andre wondered who could be at the door.“Sabrina?” he muttered to himself, but then realized she would also be at work, possibly in Victor’s office. He walked to the door and peeped through the security hole, seeing what appeared to be a delivery man. He hadn’t ordered anything. Maybe Victor did. Cautiously, he opened the door.“I didn’t order anything. Wrong address…”“There’s nothing wrong about the address,” Bridget said, emerging from the corner where she had been hiding.“Mom!” Andre couldn’t hide the shock on his face.“Son! Inconsiderate son! How could you be this mean!” Bridget handed some cash to the supposed delivery man, who then left.“You went as far as hiring a delivery guy just to lure me out?” Andre asked, still stunned.“Because I knew you wouldn’t respond if you found out it was me,” Bridget rep
“Bright Moore, sir,” he introduced himself to the man in front of him, still standing. He was the last candidate for the day, applying for the role of a security supervisor at Giant Security Services.“When are you concluding your suspension?” Ralph asked from behind his glasses. He could see the shock on Bright Moore’s face.“Suspension? What do you mean, sir?” Bright asked innocently, wondering how the man knew about his suspension. He tried to figure out if he knew his interviewer, but he couldn't see his face clearly.“You know what I’m talking about, so stop wasting my time and answer the question,” Ralph said with a stern voice and expression.Bright could no longer lie. He concluded the man knew about his suspension from Rovers Royale after that ‘poor couple’ visit to the hotel.“I will round off the suspension in about four months’ time, but I have not been paid ever since then, and I need money,” Bright explained.“You deserve it, don’t you think?” Ralph asked.“I didn't do a
Asphalt Thompson was the next interviewee at Cabbage Master Laundry, so he went into the interview room where a man sat behind the table. The man had dark glasses on, so Asphalt could not see his eyes. Asphalt had thought there would be more than one interviewer but he could see that only one person was handling the interview.When the interviewer said nothing, Asphalt greeted, expecting further instructions."Asphalt Thompson?""Yes, sir. I’m the next candidate, Mr...""Ross," Ralph said, removing his glasses slowly.Soon, Asphalt could see him clearly, and recognition dawned on him as he fidgeted."Do you remember this face?" Ralph asked. He had the same disguise as the one he used at Lowell Real Estate that day.Asphalt thought about denying it but decided to be truthful since the man knew he was the same person. He stammered his response, "Ye... yes... yes... sir...""How do you feel standing before me for an interview that will get you the position of a production manager at CML?
Sabrina looked from Andre to Victor, seeking an explanation. They were now all seated in Victor’s living room, with Sabrina seated opposite them. When neither of them spoke, she asked the question again.“Why is Andre here when, I believe, his family is looking for him?”“I don’t think you should bother yourself with that. We are fine by ourselves and we need no intruder. You need to leave now. You shouldn’t have come here in the first place,” Victor said firmly, staring at Sabrina stoically.“I told you I am here to check up on you. Can you just be nice this time and let me breathe?” Sabrina displayed a boldness that surprised both Victor and Andre.“I can see you are high. Leave and never come here again. Our relationship is at work only, and if you don’t stop getting under my skin, I will have you fired.” Victor stood and pointed toward the exit.Sabrina stood and pretended to be leaving. “I should as well take this secret to the Summers mansion on my way home.”“Wait!” Andre stood
Dean Summers couldn't hide his tension as he presented his solution to the issues facing Summers Business. He was uncomfortable under the scrutinizing gaze of others, especially Lady Margarita. His father was seated to his right, giving him an encouraging smile. His wife, seated to his left, cheered him on despite Lady Margarita's disapproving look. Dean had always felt inadequate among the others.“Go, Dean. So brilliant,” Felicia cheered, while Bridget loudly hissed. Dean pressed on regardless.“This will help us partner with more businesses. If we hadn’t made Rovers Motors our major supplier, the impact would have been less severe. I'm confident there are other luxury brands from around the world we can source luxury cars from. Thank you.” Dean concluded, and only Felicia, Blake, West, and Fancy applauded him. Liam and his brother shot disapproving looks at Fancy.“You weren't supposed to applaud him,” Liam muttered to Fancy.“Why not? He presented well and I liked his solution,” F
Fancy arrived at the Summers’ Mansion just as Ralph was parking his bicycle. It was dusk, but the mansion was always well-lit, so she could see him clearly. She quickly exited her car and caught up with Ralph.“Hello, Mr. Ross,” she greeted as she matched his steps.“Just Ralph, please. Hello, Fancy,” Ralph replied, pausing to reciprocate the greeting.“Why? Does Mr. Ross strike a chord?” Fancy replied cryptically.“I'm not sure what you mean. Why would Mr. Ross strike a chord when it's also my name? I simply prefer Ralph.”“I understand. Congratulations on your new bicycle.”“Thank you,” Ralph said shortly, sensing where Fancy was leading the conversation.“You've already forgotten about the old one?”“There was nothing special about the old one.”“I know. I just wish I had seen it before it was taken away.”“And why are you interested in seeing it?” Ralph asked, though he knew the answer.“Nothing, really. Just to confirm something. So, how was work?” Fancy diverted.“Fine!” Ralph r
“Are there capable and reliable contractors anymore? The other time, that Giant Gerald took my money without providing that loser in his unconscious state. Now, just to abduct an attorney became a mountain for these ones too. I should have just gone myself…” Andre spoke with visible rage as he paced up and down Victor’s cozy living room.Victor watched the younger man with amusement as he spoke nonstop. He had called in sick to avoid going to work so they could strategize since their plan to abduct Attorney Smith and force the truth out of him had failed.When Andre noticed that Victor was just looking at him without saying anything, he stopped and looked at him questioningly. He had hoped to return home that day with the real identity of the anonymous successor to impress his grandmother and get back his position and relevance. Now, it was not possible as Attorney Smith had narrowly escaped their plan.“Is this a joke to you? What’s funny? Why are you laughing?” Andre said viciously.
"Pack your things and get out of these premises and never return," Emily commanded after processing Diana's denial, her skepticism still evident. If the news wasn't true, why would the Times Paper publish it? They were known for authentic reporting, so Diana could be lying."I am not pregnant. You can test me for pregnancy," Diana insisted firmly, wondering where the false news could have originated. She would investigate later, but for now, she needed to clear her name before it reached Mr. R.R. Part of her blamed Ralph for inadvertently giving the impression that she was pregnant."I understand it's difficult to leave all of this behind, especially the luxurious Rovers Luxuria, but you really have to leave this minute before I order the security men to throw you out," Emily declared with seriousness.Diana recognized the gravity of the situation but felt compelled to say one more thing before leaving, at least until she could clear her name.Emily's phone rang just as Diana was abou