The Insurmountable Rise Of Ethan Watson

CHAPTER 8

After signing the papers, Ethan discussed with his family to keep his identity secret for now and that he had some business in Beryl City so he returned to Beryl City leaving Tony as the frontline of the business while he made the important decisions in the background.

Ethan decided to visit his friend from college, Jack Greene whom he hadn't seen since he got married, with plans of catching up on everything that had been going on in both their lives.

“Ethan! It's been a while, man. The last time I saw you was when you got married to that witch, Melissa. Seems you've not been able to take your share of their family money yet ”. Jack said with a chuckle as he shook hands with Ethan and led the way into his home. 

"You and Melissa never got along. You still haven't told me why though" Ethan chuckled as they walked into the house.

Jack's house was a decent modern bungalow with 5 rooms. Jack and Ethan walked into the living room and Jack offered Ethan a seat while he went in and brought out a bottle of scotch and poured some in a glass for him and Ethan. 

“So, what's going on, man? Are you good?” Jack asked as he sat on the couch adjacent to the one that Ethan sat on. 

“Where do I even start from, man? Everything's been crazy for real, I don't know where I'd start from if I were to explain” Ethan said, stroking his beard as he took a sip.

“From the top or anywhere, I'll get it. Just spill." Jack said, rubbing his hands for the juicy details.

“Let me summarize everything in a few sentences by saying, I'm divorced and I plan on getting back at Melissa and her family for everything they put me through,” Ethan said, rubbing his face in frustration.

Jack echoed, “Stop right there man, don't just breeze through with a straight face like you didn't just say you and that witch are divorced? Finally, you're free! What do you mean by ‘get back at her family’ though?” 

Before Ethan could reply, they heard a knock on the door and Jack stood up to get the door.

"Look who it is." Jason sounded delighted as he walked right back to the living room.

"Sarah!" Ethan broke into a smile and stood up to hug her as she joined them.

"Ethan, I'm so so sorry that I couldn't do anything at Melissa's engagement with the way they maltreated and embarrassed you. I tried coming over to you to check on you after they threw you out but I was refrained from doing that. You know the Grahams don't value what I think or do and treat me like an outcast that doesn't belong to their family, sometimes, they even send me away so I wouldn't get involved in family matters, so I've learned to stand alone. Once again, I'm so sorry." Sarah rambled as she tendered a genuine apology.

"It's okay, Sarah. I know that you tried your best that day. I'm not mad at you, turns out, you were my only friend during my stay in that madhouse." Ethan said, placing his hands on Sarah's hand before he removed it and turned back to Jack as Sarah settled into one of the seats.

"What were you saying about getting back at the Grahams though?" Jason asked Ethan as his curiosity peaked.

They both turned to look at Sarah to see if she was uncomfortable but she was indifferent and said, "They can go to h*ll for all I care, I'm not even recognized as one of the Grahams so if there's a plan to get back at them, COUNT ME IN."

"They humiliated me at every chance they got. Melissa's father orchestrated an accident that almost took my life and planned my divorce. As for Melissa, she didn't waste a second before jumping into the arms of another man and getting engaged to him in my face. I'm going to make them lose their respect, their dignity, and what they value so much, their wealth." Ethan finished with a cynical smile.

“Do you have a plan?” Jack and Sarah chorused, then turned to each other with a burst of hearty laughter.

*

The next day, 

Ethan put a call through to Tony.

"Put out an announcement from Emerald Estate, stating that we want to collaborate with a food brand that'll cater for our staff and our events and the contract will be valued at $ 2 million for each event, for a year."

"On it, Ethan. anything else, Sir?" Tony asked like a diligent servant to his master.

"No, Tony. Have a productive day." With that, Ethan disconnected the call.

After the announcement by Emerald Estate was made, members of the Graham family were so delighted as this could be their one-in-a-million chance to collaborate with Emerald Estate, an Estate where business owners would kill to establish their businesses.

"David, you've got to secure that contract for this family." Claire chipped with a proud smile on her face.

David, Sarah's stepbrother and Melissa's cousin, ran a business in the food line and some weeks back, he had thought of establishing another branch of his restaurant at the Emerald Estate and now was his golden opportunity to achieve that.

"Sure will. The contract is definitely coming to me and not some measly restaurant or even Tristan's Treats that just serves trash to their customers, calling it food. No other restaurant stands a chance against me."

David's father added, "You should be on your way to submit your documents and your proposition to Emerald Estate now, come on boy!"

"If it means paying your way in, to secure that contract, by all means, do it. You can't let this opportunity slip by your fingers." Eric said greedily while patting David on the shoulder.

"Alright, alright. I should be on my way now." David said as he gathered and arranged his documents.

"Wish you luck, David," Sarah added in.

"Oh, dear Sarah, luck is for losers. Trust me when I say I'm going to do everything in my power to secure that contract, no matter what. Bye, everyone." David said before leaving the house.

As soon as David left, Sarah walked to her room and locked the doors, then she entered her bathroom and locked the doors before calling Ethan.

Ethan picked on the first ring.

"Ethan, you wouldn't believe it," Sarah said, keeping Ethan in suspense.

"What happened, Sarah? You can talk to me." Ethan said with a soothing tone.

"David is on his way to submit his proposal for the Emerald Estate contract and he is prepared to do anything it takes to secure the contract, even if it means bribing the staff in charge of vetting the proposals before sending it to their manager. These people don't know when to stop." Sarah sounded annoyed and frustrated.

"I don't think you should let yourself get so worked up about it, Sarah. The staff of such a big establishment should and would have a smart team of employees who wouldn't be swayed by such antics. David is fighting a lost battle with such strategies. I think you should get some rest, Sarah. Everything will work out well." Ethan reassured Sarah.

"I hope the contract goes to someone that deserves it." Sarah heaved an exasperated sigh.

"I'm sure it will. Take care of yourself. We'll talk later, Sarah." Ethan said as Sarah disconnected the call when she heard a knock on her room door.

"Lunch is served, ma" A maid that was standing in front of Sarah's room informed her.

"I'll be down in a minute. Thank you." Sarah closed the door and heaved a sigh of relief before joining the Grahams for lunch.

Immediately after Sarah's call, Ethan called Tony and said with a smirk, "Be ready!"