The Last Heir Of The Bastien Empire

Chapter 7.

That morning, the day of the bidding announcement came and Emily's mother had announced that they would be coming over to their home. She also said something about mocking her and her husband, Brad.

This actually made Emily panicked a bit. Yes there was no doubt that she trusted her husband, but still.. Fairy Tales were only after all tales for a reason!

She took another glare at her husband who had been sitting calm on the sofa, munching on his chips. "Honey," she called, and Brad turned to face her. They'd been seated opposite to one another. "Do you actually think we can pull this off?"

He smiled, only for a bit. Truth be told, Brad was new to all of the political issues, and so he couldn't give his wife a certain reply. "Honestly Emily," he said calmly, "no. I don't think we can pull this off."

His response brought a heavy sigh from Emily.

"But I can assure you that for now, and you know, since I got a job offer at the same firm hosting the bidding contest, there hasn't been another name that is as important as yours. Once your name is being announced, boom! You're the new CEO of the Wilson's household." He said cheerfully, causing Emily to chuckle. "You won't have to marry this dreadful old man. And, I have a secret for you," he said, stretching forth his arms for her to come into his hug.

Carefully wrapping her around his shoulders, he whispered softly into her ears. "I won't let that man take you or our child away from me. I promise. I will fight with all I have, and claim you right back into my arms again."

Bang!

There was a knock on the door, but it was past an ordinary knock. A heavy fist had jammed its huge hands on the wooden door, banging like a lunatic.

They both sighed and said at the same time, "Conor,"

On getting there, there was Conor, Noah and Ava waiting impatiently outside. "Hello fam," Emily teased, then let them in. 

Ava stared coldly into her daughter's eyes, then said slowly, "it's not too late to divorce him first before he shames you," then she strode in majestically. 

Such an intimidating woman! 

"Yo, Brad," called Conor. Brad turned his gaze towards him and gave a reply. "I never used to like you, but I always respected you." He said, then noticed the hint of frown on his brother in law's face and he smirked. "But this is just out of it! How do you expect that Emily would win the bid? Does she even qualify for the necessary recommendations for a big firm like that? Now I'm started to rethink the whole concept of respect." 

Ava leaned forward on her seat. "I have always told you times without numbers, my dear, you do not give your respect to the slum." She said and this brought a roar of laughter starting with her husband, Noah, then Conor. She loved the effect she held on her boys. 

"You know, we should all visit that hotel after this celebration for another grand celebration!" Said Noah, grinning wildly. 

Ava's smirk slowly dissolved into a frown. "Are you nuts? With our family situation, do you actually think you can sponsor us to a hotel for a grand celebration?" 

Instantly, Noah coughed out a quick apology. "I really didn't mean to. Don't take my words for it, my love." 

Ava smiled again, but this time, it wasn't even because of her husband's rubbish apology, rather it was because the news was set to start in the next five minutes. Her timer had just alerted her. "It's due to start in the next four minutes and fifty six seconds more. Now would be the perfect time to apologize, dear son in law." Her face turned to Brad, but he gave no reply. 

Emily decided to speak in his shoes. "Mother, is this really necessary? Let's stop already." She said calmly, but the seriousness in her tone was strong enough to have been heard from all of them. "How about I get us a glass of wine? Or maybe I dunno--" 

"After the winner has been announced." 

Surprisedly, both Brad and Ava had spoken at the same time and that powerful combo between both enemies suddenly brought a pause to the vicinity. The air even stopped for a moment, succumbing to the great power the two had just unleashed. Conor on the other hand tried hard to suppress a laughter, and he tried good enough because nobody noticed he had been laughing on the inside. 

The pause lasted for the whole time left for the winner to be announced, and finally was broken by the sound of a young lady on the TV. 

"...everyone, good evening to you all. My name is Tia and I am the personal secretary representing our firm's CEO, Mr Bastien--" 

Brad had almost jumped out of his skin watching the news. Mr Bastien? That was him! He carefully studied the expression of them all, and noticed that neither of them had suspected that he was the one the young lady had been talking about, and it wasn't until that time that he could finally relax. 

The young woman was still saying, "...and so I would love to appreciate all of our present bidders, Mr Harris, Mr Kenny, Mr Jonathan,..." she mentioned a few other names that suddenly sounded foreign to Brad. 

He had confirmed that the list of bidders were no more than three, and it was a full proof guarantee that his wife would be announced winner. So what was Tia doing then? 

"...and lastly, Mrs Wilson from the high and mighty Wilson household." She paused with a slight chuckle. 

Ava frowned. "Is she trying to mock us??" 

Nobody had a reply to her question and perhaps after all, it had been a rhetorical one. 

"We will announce the winner soon, but know this, we are still accepting more bidders, so do well to check out the company's profile online at Stoneshell insurance firm dot limited dot com..."

"What is this?" Frowned Ava. "What is the meaning of this! No winner has been announced!" 

"Mother, let's try to calm down--" As Conor tried to calm his mother down, the reporter's news finally came to a halt, and then, a commercial was automatically tuned in once she was down. 

More waves of anger erupted from inside Ava as she felt humiliated more than she could even comprehend. Her dear siblings would definitely mock her now. There had been no escaping to that. 

Brad too was quite shocked. He needed to call Tia ASAP, but he didn't want to be in the presence of them all. Yet, for some reason, he was still certain. 

His wife stared at him with a worried glance, and he instantly knew what he had to do. 

Conor waited for the moment and anticipated who the actual winner of the bidder would be. He had definitely not been expecting that there wouldn't be any winner at all! 

Same with Noah. 

The air was growing more tense by the minute, and it was all because Ava had been extra dramatic lot. 

Brad rose up. "Please let us all listen. I have news. You see, I would like to raise the stakes of our dare." As he spoke, they all turned to exchange awkward glances, then back at him, eying him with the utmost surprise gaze. 

Then Ava spoke. "So, what are you trying to imply, Mr Brad? That you haven't embarrassed us enough! All of the money she placed for the bidding was our money too! And yet, no winner was even announced!" 

Brad replied to her with utmost calmness. "First of all, she used our money, mine and hers. Not that of the Wilsons, and secondly--" before he could continue, there was another uproar of disagreement, but he didn't care and went on with his words. "And secondly, you never even wanted her to win the bidding in the first place, so you can stop being dramatic now." 

There was another wave of silence from them all. Brad embraced it. "So now let's all listen." He said confidently, though his heart was slightly pounding hard already. "Emily will win the bid, and then, our unborn child will become the family CEO." 

He scoffed, realizing what he had done there. If his wife eventually wins, she won't only remain the CEO, she would as well make her unborn child the CEO. And the next child to come, and so forth. It would become hereditary. 

"And when she loses?" Ava asked with no hint of concern or affection. 

"What do you want?" Brad asked, even though he knew exactly what she wanted.