"Did he just…." Chase, who was bewildered began to whisper to the empress but she promptly pinched his side to silence him.She cleared her throat before speaking in the deathly silence of the room."Hilda, prepare the contract," she said to one of her assistants with a very wide smile."Mr Vladimir, are you sure about this? You haven't even gone through the proposal," Jacob, who was shell-shocked, finally snapped out of his daze. He couldn't believe his ears. The biggest contract he had ever sealed on the spot all his life of working, which was a very long time, was a deal of 20 billion dollars. How was it possible that the men were ready to invest a whopping 100 billion dollars into a project that wasn't supervised by a professional."There's nothing to go through. The young man has said everything I need to hear," the man said, pointing to Theo who was still reeling from the shock.Theo knew that the presentation was good and was going to get him a contract but what he hadn't expec
The empress couldn't wait for the end of the promised two weeks to make the announcement. She already had the answer she needed. He had not only doubled the company's monthly revenue, he had raised it by three times and not only that, he had entered a life-long contract with Vladimir, the only person that competed with her in business in the whole world. Vladimir wasn't a man to be easily moved, so for him to give Theo a standing ovation, it was no small feat.Her announcement came with an uproar and surprised gasps. Everyone knew that the empress had lost her first child and his wife to a gruesome accident and that their little two-year old was nowhere to be found and was tagged dead, so it came as a shock to one and to all.Plus the fact that the position of vice president had remained unoccupied since Gerald's death and now, his son fit the shoe perfectly."I thought as much. It could only be Alcantra blood running through the veins of such an outstanding young man," Vladimir said
At the empress' voice, Kim rose to a crouched position on his knees, his eyes still focused on the ground like it was the most interesting thing in the world."Mother, I think Theo has it mixed up. I mean, why would Kim do anything to sabotage anyone? You've known him for a very long time," Jacob thought it wise to remind his mother because he was fully aware of the trouble he would be in himself if Kim breathed a word to the empress about his involvement."My question exactly," Theo said with a small smirk on his face which made Jacob shudder slightly. Theo looked very scary at that point and Jacob couldn't help but be afraid.The empress bent down a bit and placed a finger on Kim's chin, using to to raise his face to meet her eyes. "Kim, is what my grandson saying the truth?" The empress asked with narrowed eyes. "Ma'am, I'm sorry. I didn't know what came over me," he said in a very small, frightened voice."You're sorry?" The empress scoffed. "I really am, and ma'am it wasn't ent
The room was in a deathly silence and the only sound that broke that silence was the sound of Kim's body dropping to the ground with a loud thud. Jacob stood with a cold look on his face that mirrored Theo's. While Theo was scared of what just happened, he couldn't show it, instead, he reached for the box of paper towels that sat in the middle of the table, pulled out a few pieces and handed it to the empress, while he vaguely thought if that was the reason the box of paper towels were kept there."Thank you, son," the empress said as she collected the tissue from him and wiped her knife clean. "Guards," she raised her voice an octave higher and soon, three hefty men were barreling into the office.Theo stood there, his eyes transfixed on Kim's body that lay on the floor in a pool of his own blood. It still seemed like a dream to him. "Clean this mess," the empress said coldly as she turned to leave the room. She was almost at the door when she stopped again and turned on her heels.
"Extreme?" The empress chuckled.Chase gave her a blank look, waiting for her to explain further."You see," she started and dropped her pen. "It's just a circle. You let him go today and tomorrow, he comes back to pick off where he left, revenge, maybe?" The empress said. It wasn't the first time that something like that had happened to her, so since then, she had learned to be extra careful.Chase relaxed into his seat as he let her words sink in. He knew that she had a point. Kim wasn't someone to take a fall without retaliating."So, most times, it's best to finish it off," the empress said with no emotion in her voice."Hmm," Chase hummed.The empress saw the need to explain more because she thought that her grandson needed to understand her decision better."If he was bold enough to try something as funny as that while still under us, then only heavens know what he would do if we sack and take everything away from him. Don't forget, a scorned man is a dangerous man," the empress
"Fuck!" Jacob growled when he entered his office and in less than a second, he sent the laptop on his desk flying across the room.His chest heaved up and down rapidly as he tried to fathom what had just happened.He growled again and swiped his hand, sending all the papers and files on his desk filing everywhere.He went behind his table and sat down and buried his head in his hands."Dad," Damien rushed into the office. He was coming to ask his father about the outcome of the meeting but when his eyes landed on the whole mess in the office, his heart dropped to the pit of his stomach. "Dad….what happened?" He dared to ask as he inched closer, even though deep down, he already knew the answer to his question.Jacob was too defeated to say anything, instead he kept his head buried in his hands and Damien thought he hadn't heard his question."Dad, talk to me," he repeated and this time, he was already standing in front of his father.Jacob finally raised up his head and the first thin
"Have a lovely rest of your day, sir," Agatha waved Theo goodbye as he left the office for the day."And you too," he replied promptly with a smile. Chase had just finished his first day as vice president but it seemed like he had worked in that position for a very long time because of the ease with which he blended in, got used to his office and got work done.On his way to the lobby, staff members bowed their heads in greeting as he passed. It was not yet announced officially that he was the vice president but everyone already knew."Thank you," Chase thanked his driver who held the door of the car open for him to enter.The driver soon got in after him and revved the engine to life while Chase relaxed in the back seat, holding his jacket tightly because even though the heater was turned on in full blast, it was the middle of winter and everywhere was freezing."Let's make a quick stop here," Chase told the driver when they got in front of one shop and the driver pulled to the side
"Young master, did something happen in the shop?" The driver asked Theo once he was seated in the warmth of the car. His young master had taken longer than expected to return and he feared something might have happened and was just about to barge into the shop before he saw his tall figure stepping out with a bouquet of white roses."Er, I bumped into someone……interesting," Chase said as he thought back to the young lady, who looked nothing older than 22. The driver was about to say something else as he looked at Chase through the rearview mirror but decided against it, instead, he kept his eyes focused on the road till they were rolling into the large gates of the Alcantra mansion."Just stop at the main front," Chase told the driver because he noticed the driver trying to turn and take the path that led to his wing directly.The driver nodded once and soon, he was shutting off the engine in front of the empress' wing."Good night, young master," the driver said with a bow as he hel
"Quickly, place that there," the empress instructed a group of people with a bunch of flowers."Yes, Dame," they said and did as they were told."Mother, you'll only get yourself sick from all that walking around," Imelda said."My grandson is coming back today," the empress replied and continued walking around to make sure everything was in place. "Everything has to be perfect," she added."One would think we're preparing for a president's arrival," Imelda teased.The empress waved her off and continued checking the decorations."Why don't you rest?" She placed her hands on her mother's shoulders. "I'll take care of everything down here. Your grandson wouldn't be happy if he comes back and you're all stressed out," she told her."There's till a lot to be done and little time and…." The empress started."Mother….." Imelda drew out. "I'll take care of everything. Just take a nap," she told her."Are you sure?" The empress asked skeptically."Yes," Imelda assured her."Fine. Make sure t
"Mother, why aren't you saying anything?" Jacob requested angrily, his hands balled in fists on both sides.The empress, not even sparing him a glass continued sipping leisurely on her coffee.Jacob fumed angrily but his wife, Regina, placed a pacifying palm on his arm, subtly telling him to calm down."Mother, you can't just buy the whole Union consortium," he continued.The empress considered ignoring him again this time, but decided not to.She dropped her cup majestically and squared her shoulders before turning to him."I can and I have," she said in a bored tone.The union consortium belonged to Regina's family. Jacob had seen it as a plan B because he wasn't so sure about his place in Gab and Gabe's consortium with Theo in the picture, hence, he planned to get Regina to inherit the company after her father but much to his surprise, the empress had bought the company."Why?" He snapped."Jacob," the empress said sharply, narrowing her eyes in slits. "I think you forget whom you
"Why my daughter?" Evelyn's mother asked.Chase stared at her as he tried to make sense of the question.Silver caught on his confusion and proceeded to clarify her question."Out of every other person, why did you choose to help my daughter?" She asked.Chase sighed softly before answering."Your daughter helped me first," he said loud and clear. "So the question should rightly be directed to your daughter," he said.Malcolm, who had been leaning against the pillar scoffed and walked away."There's something I've been wanting to ask but I guess now that we've met, I should just ask you," silver said."Ask away," he said with a welcoming smile."How did you and my daughter meet?" She asked.The question about how her daughter had met someone so high and mighty had been on her mind ever since but she hadn't had the right opportunity to ask.Chase smiled and rubbed his hands together."Well, we..""Mom," Evelyn's voice from the staircase cut him off.Chase stood up and rushed towards he
Chase was already half asleep when the text message from Evelyn had come in.He rubbed his sleepy eyes, picked up the phone and read through the message.A soft sigh escaped his lips when he read the words."Evelyn…." He muttered under his breath and shook his head before tossing the phone to the side and going back to sleep.He was woken up by the blaring of his alarm clock the next morning and he sat up groggily on the bed.His long-term "mini vacation" had finally come to an end and it was time to return home.He picked up his phone again and skimmed through the many unread messages but frowned when none of them was from Evelyn.He dialed her number but got the automated feedback before it went straight to voicemail."I guess this is it," he muttered to himself.He got up and walked straight to the bathroom to get ready and when he was done with his quick shower, walked into the closet.All of his things were already packed and ready and he got dressed quickly.There was a soft kno
"I know…it's far and…." She started to say."Heck it is," Malcom interrupted her immediately and she sighed softly.Their mother quickly put her hand over Malcolm's hand to calm him down."Let's hear her first," their mother's soft voice echoed.The glare on Malcolm's face didn't lessen but he was quiet now.Evelyn took a deep breath. Even before she started talking, she already knew how difficult the conversation was going to be, given that her mother was still recovering and Malcolm was yet to get a good job. At some point, she even considered going selfish, but she just had to put it out there. "As I was saying, I got a scholarship in NYU," she repeated but her voice was no longer as firm as the first time."Scholarships at NYU aren't easy to come by, sweetie," her mother said softly, goading her to tell them more.Evelyn looked down at her intertwined fingers because that part was going to be a little difficult but it couldn't be avoided. She wasn't going to lie to her family."I
Quietly, she followed him into the car which was already held open for them.She smiled inwardly at all the respect he was getting because she believed he deserved nothing less, given all that he had gone through."Do you want to get ice cream?" Chase broke the silence between them after contemplating for a while.Getting ice cream after lunch or dinner had always been their thing.Evelyn was still overwhelmed from everything that had happened and had barely been able to get food past her throat."Maybe next time," she said with a polite smile.Her words made Chase happier than she knew. It meant that she was actually considering a next time with him, which only meant that that day wasn't going to be the last time they met."How did you do it?" She asked out of the blue, turning in her seat so she could face him.The partition of the car was up, so they were separated from the driver and could have any conversation without fear of being eavesdropped on."Do what?" Chase asked and arch
Evelyn's eyes skimmed through the words on her screen again and again as she tried to understand what she was seeing.She looked up at Theo who had a small smile on his face as he watched her because he had a good idea what had her like that."Wha….what's this?" She asked with shaky hands. "Do you know about this?" She showed him the screen of her phone.He read through the email and leaned back in his seat."You know about this," she said softly. "I can't accept this," she shook her head and started to type on her phone but he gently took it away from her."Eve…" he started but she interrupted him."No, this is too much, I can't accept it," she said hurriedly."You've always wanted this," he pointed out.She reached for her phone but he kept it out of her reach."It was a dream. A dream I had no hope of fulfilling," she argued."And an opportunity has come for you to fulfill it," he countered."I can't accept this," she shook her head. Chase studied her for a few seconds without say
"I know it was you who paid my mom's bills and helped my brother out of jail," she said softly. "I…" Chase didn't know what to say. He had tried as much as possible to hide it from her because he knew how difficult it was for her to accept help. She had done life on her own for a long time and she felt that any help rendered to her was a set up."I just want to let you know how grateful I am and I'll work as hard as I can to pay back every cent," she said and swallowed a lump that had formed in her throat.She hadn't expected her little speech to get that emotional and she wished with everything in her that he knew how grateful she was."I don't need anything back from you," he shook his head. "I didn't do any of that to get anything in return. I did it because I know how much your family means to you and you're my friend. Friends help each other in need," he told her."But I've never helped you," she said and choked on a sob."You have," he replied without missing a beat and leaned
With a small smile and a shake of his head, Chase tucked the phone back into his pocket but not before sending a quick email to someone."Take me to Hovers," he told the driver, who nodded once and turned on the engine.The ride to Hovers was smooth in contrast to Chase's bumpy thoughts on what to say when he gets there.He hadn't expected her to reply but she did and he was going to see her.He tapped his long fingers on his knees impatiently as each second of the ride felt like a lifetime but soon, the driver was pulling outside of hovers.Hovers was a small café downtown. It was far from the whole bustle of the busy city and Chase could really pin that kind of place to Evelyn.The fresh greenery on the outside and the minimal but cozy decor on the inside was definitely her scene.He pushed the door to the welcoming space that smelled of coffee beans open and he looked around for a couple of seconds before his eyes caught her honey brown hair in a corner.He cleared his throat and r