From the office window, Matthew watched as Darrell and Ashley were kicked out of the building, a satisfactory smug formed in the corner of his lips. Elena cleared her throat. “If you don't mind my asking, what did Mr Darrell Ferguson do to you?”“Let's just say he likes to trample upon people and humiliate them. And I can't work with somebody who belittles others just because he's above them.”Elena nodded, appreciating his philosophy. She'spun around and grabbed a file from her table, retrieving the document that was inside it. “It would be criminal for me not to mention this, the company is currently planning on embarking on a new project, you can call it an investment if you will. It's supposed to be worth about 500 million dollars and we're planning to open a series of tenders so we could get the best competitive pricing.”He didn't know much about what she was talking about, but his rudimentary knowledge in business told him all that he needed to know. “That sounds great.” If
Ashley and Darrell were still in the reception waiting. Darrell was growing impatient and had started to pace back and forth, stealing occasional glances at his rolex. Ahsley was seated with her eyes glued on him. “Darrell, you’re making me dizzy with all your moving around.”He took that as a cue to stop. Just then, the secretary was seen by the corner walking up to them with several security guards behind her. Ashley was quickly alerted by this and rose to her feet but Darrell was so worried about his meeting that he was oblivious to the circumstances around them. “Hi please, we’ve been here for over thirty minutes, can you just tell her that Mr Darrell Feerguson is here? We have a meeting scheduled,” he explained. The receptionist averted his gaze and cleared her throat, “that’s exactly what I came here to tell you, the meeting has been canceled.”His eyes widened, “Why? We confirmed this with you weeks ago. FIne, when can we reschedule it to?”“Never.”He blinked twice. “What?”
As the elevator doors are closing, the shock on Darrell’s face is still evident. He turned to face his girlfriend. “Did you hear what that miscreant just said? Chief Edmund has been fired? How?”Ashley blinked a few times, she did not know what to tell him in response. She stepped forward and rubbed his back. “Baby, I don’t think you should pay attention to whatever nonsense he had to say, it’s just a bluff.”Darrell twisted his head, the crease on his forehead indicative of his deep thinking. “But when you think about it, how is he already out? I told them to lock him up there for at least a week, it’s just the next day and he’s already walking around like a free man, how is this even possible?”The question was perplexing for Ashley as well, how had he managed to get out? But she shrugged off her worries, Matthew might have been poor, but he was smart, perhaps he managed to get a free lawyer. “I don’t think it’s anything serious, maybe he got a lawyer.”This made Darrell even more w
Matthew was surprised to see them standing behind him, he looked at Darrell, anger bubbling within his chest and then at Ashley. He never thought the day would come where he would look her in the eyes and feel nothing but disgust. The look on Darrell’s face mirrored that of Ashley's, they were both wondering what a common car washer like Matthew would be doing in a fine establishment like this. Darrell quickly concluded that perhaps he was here to apply for a new job as a cleaner or maybe even a carwasher and so he stuck his hand in his pocket and scoffed, shaking his head lightly. Matthew stepped forward. “What are you two doing here?” he asked. Darrell scrunched his face in disgust as he glared at Matthew, looking him head to toe like he was a church rat. “I should be the one asking you, last I checked, they don’t hire low lives like you around here.”Ashley held on to Darrell tighter with a sense of pride and she adjusted. “If you must know, my boyfriend is so influential, he’s
“Mrs Houston, I can't… I can't accept this amount of money. It's too much,” Matthew stuttered, too dumbfounded to take the card.The old lady chuckled softly, but her face still held seriousness in it. “Listen to me, Matthew. It’s understandable to feel overwhelmed. But as the heir to the Houston Empire, you have taken over a burden of responsibility. It’s important that you learn to spend your wealth, but spend it wisely. Money is a tool—a powerful one—and as a Houson, it’s essential that you use it. Secure not only your future but also the future of our family and our Empire.”She gave him the card and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “This money represents the hard work and sacrifices of our family, even more than that, it represents the struggle we went through in our search for you. It’s your responsibility to honor that legacy, and with time, you’ll learn how to spend, invest, and grow this fortune. But for now, take it one step at a time. Accept this gift with peace of
Inside the Delacroix family’s corporate office, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Spencer Delacroix stood in front of his father in his office, heart pounding, knowing how strict his father was and how much he'd fucked up.Across the large mahogany desk, Edgar Delacroix was glaring at his son with disappointment and anger. A slim, shrewd man in a suit was standing beside him, he was John Lockhart, their family lawyer, and in his hand was a file.“Father, I’m so sorry,” Spencer begged. “I did not realize wh—”“Shut up, Spencer!” Edgar roared. “Shut up and listen to Mr. Lockhart and what he has to say. You must realize the consequences of what you have done. He will list all the names of the powerful families that have severed their ties with the Delacroix business — our business!”Spencer's heart dropped.“Go ahead, Mr. Lockhart.”The shrewd lawyer turned over a page on the file. “The Valences, the Turners, the Maronis, the Carters, the Davidsons, and the Wests,” the lawyer announ
The presence of the matriarch commanded the utmost respect. She hadn't even said a word, and yet an aura oozed out of her as she walked into the reception hall. She was dressed in an elegant but understated suit, and she walked royally as though she was twenty years younger. Her hair was silver and had been impeccably styled and packed behind her head.The bodyguards that had opened the door for her walked dauntlessly by her sides and scanned the room with their military eyes.Spencer Delacroix gulped. But realizing that this was the woman he needed to impress, he did not waste any time, he rushed forward eagerly, walking past Wellington and Matthew, desperate to make a good impression despite the earlier fiasco.“Mrs Houston!” he said with a big smile. “It’s an honor to see you! I am Spenc—”But the old lady didn’t so much as glance in his direction. It was almost like he wasn't even there, like his presence was meaningless compared to the grandness of the matriarch. Her sharp eyes
“So because you are the manager of some family business then you think you can mock me?” Matthew asked with a voice that even though was calm, carried his frustration of everything he had been through today.“Ah, so the hick can talk, hm?” Spencer Delacroix mocked, a shark-like grin on his face. “You should learn to watch your mouth. My family is very powerful. We even have deep ties with the Houston family, which is even why I'm here; to discuss business and cooperation. But instead, I have to endure the presence of a beggar like you, sullying this reception hall with your rags.”“You are the one who should learn to watch his mouth,” Wellington said with a stern voice. “The Delacroix family is a small enterprise, your family is barely worth half of the Houston family’s wealth. The matriarch of the family hasn’t even granted you an audience, and yet you dare to humiliate the young master of the Houston family?”Spencer's eyes widened with amusement and he glanced at Matthew, who was s
Matthew sat on the black, plush leather seat inside an expensive Jeep that was being driven by a stern chauffeur. In his mind, he was trying to put together the events that had just happened because none of it made sense to him.Maybe one of the men had hit his head so hard and he was imagining all of this. Beside him was Harold Wellington, the powerful lawyer who for some reason had come to his rescue. Although he felt too overwhelmed to ask them, Matthew needed his questions to be answered.“Why are you helping me?” Matthew finally asked Wellington. “I don’t even know who you are.”Wellington glanced at him briefly, an assuring look on his face. “I understand how confused and overwhelmed you might be after all of this. But I assure you it will be fine, Matthew. My name is Harold Wellington. I'm your family's lawyer—your true family, the Houston family.”Matthew blinked. “Houston family? I've heard that a lot today. I don't know who they are so I don't understand what you're talking