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
The rest of the dinner passed in a blur and soon, everyone retired to their various quarters. Chase stayed up all night studying and preparing for his press conference the next day till the break of dawn. He had only been able to get in a couple hours of sleep before it was time to prepare for breakfast and work.A quick rap on the door got him more awake and he stretched out on the bed."Yes?" He called in his deep morning voice.Denise cracked the door open and peeked inside and when she saw it was safe to enter, she opened it the rest of the way. It had been a habit for his since working in Damien's quarters because she had seen naked women sprawled out on his bed more times than she could count."Good morning, young master," she greeted."You look radiant this morning," Chase commented on her Rosy cheeks and bright eyes as compared to how dull and pale she used to look the first time he saw her.She bowed her head, letting her long hair fall and frame her face so he wouldn't see t