The Last Heir Of The Bastien Empire

Chapter 8.

That same evening, Ava was hosting a very annoying but important guest. Her sister, Ivy. 

She was the twin to her other brother, Lex, and they were both older than Ava by a year but they made it seem like it was ten! Ivy was an influential woman and was acquainted with a lot of powerful politicians in New York and even outside, and so, she always treated everyone around her low, and deemed herself high above them all. 

Ava disliked her for this. 

She came in with a glass of red wine, handing it over to her sister. "Here you go," 

Ivy eyed her carefully like she and the glass had been contaminated with some sort of heavy germs. Ivy had her father's traits; slender and tall with bright blue eyes and brown full hair. She was beautiful, and then, she was rich. Every month was always a schedule for some sort of important beauty treatment. 

She sighed, then collected the glass of wine at last. "Too bad we're not celebrating." 

Ava knew she would tease her in the end. That silly secretary named Tia had purposely mentioned the name of their family to embarrass them on purpose. 

"So tell me, what was your intention? That your daughter would easily win the bidding for such an important company?" She sniffed in the content of what was in the glass, then her nose crunched in detest for whatever reason only she could explain, and Ava had been watching through the whole scene. 

"Oh come on, it's an expensive wine!" Frowned Ava. 

"Hmm," grunted Ivy. 

"And yes, you see this was the idea of my silly son in law." Ava began to explain. 

Ivy recalled. "Brad?" She asked, her neatly shaped brows arching up. Ava nodded. "And why did you agree to it? Have you grown so completely daft?" 

"Watch how you talk to me, sister." Ava warned.

Ivy sighed. "Whatever. I'm taking my time, and so would Lex. You should have known him by now. I just can't believe you would be so stupid to rush things like that. You do know it takes months to really identify who wins the bidding for important firms like that?" She said, choosing her words carefully.

Ava partly reasoned with her, and a plan began to form in her head. She had a phone call to make that night, and as soon as her silly sister could leave, she would begin to strategize.

✩★✩

"Congratulations to you, Tony." Jed Griffith said to seventy five years old Tony amongst the crowd, congratulating him on his success. They had been in a gathering that Monday morning, where they wanted to celebrate Tony for his resignation. Jed was a staff at a local law firm, and Tony had worked for him and his family for fifty years now. 

The rest of the members all shook hands with him, congratulating him on his success. 

A young lady, Ari, a personal assistant Jed had hired was beside him now. They both stood near a corner and maliciously eyed the innocent man. "Get him to me, now." He ordered, and Ari knew exactly what she was supposed to do. 

Few minutes later the man was outside with old Tony. "Congratulations? Hmph! You still owe me, you foolish man! After everything I told you, you still went on and retired. Now who's going to pay me all the money huh? Tell me!" 

The old man could only whimper and cry for a short time. "Please sir, give me time. I will repay you. I have just been tired and my doctor suggested that it was time I retire," the old man begged and pleaded, but Jed was still stubborn as ever. 

Ari whispered to his ears, "sir, you might want to keep your voice low. People are watching," 

Jed was a pretender. To the eyes of the public he was a sweet and kind gentleman, but in the corners, he was an insanely selfish and inconsiderable man. 

"Whatever old man, I don't have your time now. Get out of my sight." He hissed, then faced his young secretary. "When are we leaving for Stoneshell?" 

Minutes later and they had already arrived at the company, unknowingly to them that it was owned and now managed by Brad. 

Jed strode in with his dark suit and Italian shoes, along with his petite secretary with blue hair. She had dyed it blue, and she did so often. Today it was red, then tomorrow it would be white, and the day after it would be purple.

Surprised to Jed, his eyes caught a glimpse of someone would have never expected to be around. Brad Jones Bastien.

He walked forward to meet him, only to tease him of course! He was the one who had always wanted to marry Emily, even since she was a teenager. It was creepy, but he didn't care even though he was twice her age. And out of the blue, some low class guy with no money, fame or status, suddenly proposed to her, and silly Emily said yes and now they're married!

It angered him every time he set his eyes on Brad.

"You," he called as Brad hadn't even realized his presence.

Brad tried to be nice, and so he advanced forward to meet old Jed. He was on his way to his office when he saw him.

Brad was still confused on a few things, and so, he had decided to resume work there at his firm, but as a disguised worker. He would only become the CEO via the eyes and body of his secretary, Tia.

"What a surprise to see you here," he said as Brad made his way over to him.

"Good morning," Brad said calmly.

"What is good about the morning, huh? You piece of shit! You know, every time I see you, I get pissed off. Because you're a trash I should be stepping on."

Brad listened for a few seconds of the insults that the old man said to him, then he got furious and grew impatient. "If you'll excuse me, I have work to do," and with that, he walked away.

This infuriated Jed, but he remained calm. He had been there for a purpose. Ava had called and said he had to win the bid by all means necessary, and that was what he was doing then.

He would meet the CEO himself and bribe his way to the top. Easy peasy!

✩★✩

Brad grew angry at the sight of Jed, and instantly, he knew why he had been around. It was most certainly Ava's doing. Immediately he got to his office, he made an urgent order. Just one thing and one thing alone.

"Throw that scumbag out of the company at once!"