It was a stormy afternoon when a sleek black Lamborghini Aventador pulled up before the steps of the entrance of the Imperial Hotel.
Moses ran towards the automobile with an umbrella carried above his head. He opened the front door while he held the umbrella over. With a stiff bow, he greeted. “Welcome to the Imperial Hotel, Master Dave.” Dave stepped out of the car, a big sunglasses resting on his head. “Well, well, well, if it isn't my worthless brother-in-law," he said as he removed his glasses. Moses hung his head. “How may I be of service to you, Master Dave?” “Lucky for you, I don't have any luggage, but I'm here with my girlfriend,” Dave replied. “If you let one drop of rain touch her, I'll kill you.” “I won't let her get wet, Master Dave,” Moses said. “Baby, who is that?” A female voice asked from the passenger's seat. “Oh, this shithead is Moses,” Dave answered. “He's the pathetic live-in-son-in-law that's married to my cousin.” The girl wrinkled her nose when Moses came over to her, holding the umbrella over her. He bowed as he handed out his hand to her. “Excuse me, miss, if you will come with me.” Dave's girlfriend gave Moses one hard look as she slapped his face. “How dare you offer to touch me, you pig! Know your place.” Moses apologized. “Forgive me, Miss. I just don't want you to get wet. Please, I'll keep my distance. Just stay under this umbrella.” Moses led Dave's girlfriend to the entrance of the hotel, where a bellhop was waiting. Dave tossed the key to him. “Put the Lamborghini away, Moses. Be mindful of how you drive it. I just bought it new. If you so much as scratch the paint, I'll kill you.” Moses bowed again. “I'll take care of it, Master Dave.” Dave's girlfriend locked her hand in Dave's as they walked into the hotel. “What a loser," she said grossly over her shoulder at Moses. Moses watched them go, then he let out a sigh of relief. Dave was the last member of the MOMO family to arrive today. Moses uniform was drenched with rain from driving the MOMO family cars to the hotel's parking lot. After he was done putting Dave's car away, Moses returned to the hotel to meet his wife waiting for him. Valeria, the most beautiful woman in the Twelve Cities. Valeria had the skin of a porcelain doll, the face of a fallen angel and an alluring body that rivals that of a strip model. She possesses sky-blue siren eyes, a rare eye color nowadays. Her round pink lips were full and inviting. Her honey-blond hair was worn in a bob cut She was just perfect. “Where the hell have you been?” She demanded, her arms crossed, her tone hard. “I just parked Dave's car in the parking area. Sorry I took so long, my beloved. I was cautious not to scratch the car's paint.” “Whatever,” Valeria waved her fingers. “You look a mess. See how wet your valet uniform is. Go get a change of clothes and join the meeting.” This surprised Moses. He was never summoned for a family meeting before. This must be serious. “I'll do that right away, my beloved,” he responded, smiling at her. “Don't call me your beloved,” Valeria cringed, her voice sharp. “It's disgusting coming from you.” And she turned around and left him. Moses watched her leave, his heart heavy. She still hasn't accepted him. Valeria and Moses have been married for three years, and yet, she couldn't stand the sight of him. Their marriage had been arranged from the time they were born. He loved her from the day he first met her, that was three years ago. Sadly, Valeria didn't find him attractive, and that was because Moses was a nobody. With no job nor qualifications, Moses was hired by the MOMO family to serve as a valet attendant without pay at their hotel, the Imperial Hotel. The MOMO family exploited Moses, turning him into a jack of many trades. Not only does he serve as a valet attendant, he also does room services and cleaning, he works as a waiter and a security guard at night. All this, he does for a woman who despises him. But Moses didn't mind. He believed with time, Valeria would grow to love him. Although it seemed to be taking more time than he imagined. * * * * The MOMO family were all gathered in the large conference suite of the Imperial Hotel. Each representative of the family were seated according to their ranks of importance in the family. Moses was seated in the back seats at the far corner of the room on a low stool. He was the least important member of the house. Just then, Madame Aurora entered the suite, donning on a luxurious deep purple robe embroidered with golden patterns. Her hair, stark white and thick, was styled in a bun atop her head and adorned with golden pins and combs. Her hands were small and bony but with long, pointy fingers, which were all beautified with precious gem rings. Despite her age, she moved with surprising agility, as if she were still in her youth. Everybody stood up and bowed to acknowledge and honour her presence. Madame Aurora sat down in the head chair, her deep wrinkled and pale face contorted with annoyance. “How annoying,” she hissed. “Take aside the chairs. No one must set down. On your knees, everybody.” Everybody exchanged glances. Madame Aurora was upset. Whenever she was agitated, she makes her household kneel as submission. The servants took away the recliners, leaving everybody kneeling on one knee except Madame Aurora. Moses swallowed. The tension in the silent room was very heavy. He was afraid of Madame Aurora. Everyone was. Madame Aurora was a shrewd and cunning woman. She has been the patriarch of the MOMO family for three generations. She was clever, with a brain for making money, but she was wicked and brazen. Furthermore, she was a woman who gives no damn about others unless it profits or benefits her. “Honestly, I don't know how you all could be so useless,” Madame Aurora ranted. “When I look at each one of you, I see nothing but bench warmers.” No one spoke anything. It was rude to talk to Madame Aurora without her permission. “Business has been bad lately,” Madame Aurora declared, her voice sharp. “The Imperial Hotel hasn't been drawing in foreigners in a while. I'm sure you all have noticed that.” Moses had noticed. As a valet attendant, he was very observant to notice that the number of foreigners who lodge at their hotel has been on a slow decline. The Imperial Hotel was the first place any foreigner would stop by when visiting the twelve cities. They make up 65% of the profits generated from the hotel. Without foreigners, the business was as good as dead. “I have decided to establish a new branch of our hotel in the South,” Madame Aurora went on. “They have great beaches, nice sea view and tropical climate. It would be a breath of fresh air for our guests who are growing bored here.” Everyone agreed. The South was the most frequented place by tourists. Now the big question was money. “I'm sure everybody is sharing the same thoughts as me,” she said, watching her family closely. “We need capital.” Dave raised his hand. “Madame Aurora, if I may, how much money are we talking about here?” “I'm glad you asked,” Madame Aurora responded. “$2 billion.”Dave's face went pale. “Y-You're kidding, right? $2 billion? That's a fortune. We don't have that kind of money.” “That is why I call you useless,” Madame Aurora fired. “Each one of you can't even boast of $100 million.” Glenn raised his hand. He was Madame Aurora's eldest offspring. “Mother, no matter how you stress it, it's impossible for us to raise $2 billion. Hell, not even the bank would loan us such an outrageous sum.” Madame Aurora wrinkled her nose at him. “Alas, you're just as useless as your son, Glenn. It's no surprise, like father like son. You two take after each other.” Dave and Glenn's veins stuck out in their forehead. Madame Aurora's insult hit them deep, but they kept their mouth shut. It wasn't worth it to talk back to Madame Aurora. The MOMO family depended on her for survival. All their financial holdings were penned under her name. This was what made her the most important member of the MOMO family. A maid brought in a tray of tea in beautiful chi
“I do not approve. You will not marry my wife,” Moses snapped. Moses' sudden appearance and declaration took everyone in the living room by surprise. “Moses, when did you get here?” Valeria demanded. “Long enough to hear this mad man's offer,” Moses retorted. “Don't listen to him, Valeria” “You sneaky bastard!” Juliet removed her shoe and hurled it at Moses. “Stop trying to ruin my life. This doesn't concern you. Get lost.” “But it does concern me, mother-in-law,” Moses countered as he dodged her shoe. “Valeria is my wife. I cannot let another man steal her away from me. She's mine.” “You foolish boy,” Jordan charged at him and slapped him across the face. “Always running your mouth. Do you want to ruin my family like how you ruined yours?” Moses stepped back, feeling the sting of the slap echoing in his ears. Madame Aurora, despite her richness and power, gave birth to five ugly women and two sons. In the Twelve Cities, beauty and class were a virtue attributed to a woman.
Madame Aurora summoned a second meeting by 10pm. Two meetings in one day were uncommon in the MOMO family, but Madame Aurora was in a mad frenzy. She had just watched the news and her bank manager was blowing up her phone lines. He was asking one question: “Why didn't you invest in Rockechilds Empire?” If she had purchased some excellent stocks, she would've been worth at least $500 million. Madame Aurora could feel her blood pressure rising. Only fifteen people in the world bought Rockechilds Empire stocks when the stocks were low. Everyone called them a bunch of mad men, but those guys were now worth billions of dollars. Madame Aurora needed to see her family or else she might lose her mind. She, in particular, wanted to see Moses. The MOMO family were once again gathered at the Imperial hotel in the conference room. Madame Aurora was pacing around, her face knotted in an impatient frown. “I was sure I summoned everyone. Where the hell are Valeria and Moses?” “W
Madame Aurora couldn't believe her ears. “You traded all your stocks and liquidated your account with Rockechilds? Why the hell would you do that?” Moses reared his head back in fear. The sudden change of expression on Madame Aurora's face was scary. “Well, after everyone ridiculed me for investing in Rockechilds, and my clan expelled me, I sold my stocks to redeem myself.” Madame Aurora opened her mouth to say something but no words came out. Moses went on, “You see, I was frustrated and depressed. Since it was a foolish investment, I figured it would be better if I sold all my stocks and count my losses.” Madame Aurora's face turned pink. She looked as if she were about to explode. A brief silence ensued in the room, tension charged in the atmosphere. “You IDIOT!” Madame Aurora screamed at Moses' face, grabbing his throat with both of her hands and rocking him. The rest of the Momo family rushed to restrain her. “Mother, Please calm down, you'll strangle him,” Glenn
The Doberman clan was a four hour train journey to the Western part of the Twelve cities. They controlled many lands and estates, which was how they generated their wealth. It was 12am when Moses arrived at the Doberman's clan. He rode a taxi through the imposing gates of the Doberman's residents. When the taxi pulled up before the giant mansion of the Doberman's chief, a crowd of fifty people gathered around to welcome Moses. Suddenly, the crowd fell to their hands and knees and bowed deeply as Moses stepped out of the taxi. “Welcome home, Young master.” They chanted in unison, their voice trembling. Moses said nothing. He stared at his clansmen, a cigarette burning at the end of his mouth. These were the same men who had beaten him up and kicked him out of the Doberman's clan. Just then, the double door to the mansion swung open, and a man came walking out, flanked by Albert. He was the Clan Chief, Robert Doberman. Robert Doberman locked gaze with Moses as he app
“Last night, an anonymous messenger sent me this video footage while I was out looking for Moses,” Valeria began. “I was horrified. Moses was not in his basement when I checked. The hotel staffs also haven't seen him." "When Moses returned this morning, I confronted him but he denied not cheating on me.” “My beloved, I swear that can't be me,” Moses said, his eyes growing wide. “It's probably someone impersonating me.” “Again with the excuse,” Juliet scoffed. “You are not someone of importance to be a victim of impersonation.” “But I am Valeria's husband,” Moses pointed out. “There's a good chance. One of Valeria's admirers tried to impersonate me so it would look as though I cheated.” Moses had never known another woman aside Valeria. He was sure in his bones that he was being set up. In the MOMO family tradition, adultery was a serious offense. Moses arranged marriage with Valeria could only be annuled if one party commits adultery. “Enough with your excuses,” Madame Auro
“This is the best thing that's ever happened to the MOMO family,” Madame Aurora celebrated as she popped open a champagne. “Let's celebrate.” she poured wine into Valeria's glass. “With the Gates Group backing us up, we'll be unstoppable.” Lucas laughed as he handed her his glass. “Take it easy, Madame Aurora. The Gate Group won't disappoint you. As we speak, Gate Group invested heavily in Rockechilds' shares. Money is never our problem.” Madame Aurora's eyes widened. “That's the Gate Group for you. I'm blown away by how wealthy your family is.” Valeria smiled, linking her arm in Lucas'. “Lucas was the perfect choice, grandmother. I never understood why you hooked me up with a loser like Moses from the very start,” Valeria pouted. “I couldn't stand him.” “Matching you and Moses was my greatest mistake,” Madame Aurora admitted. “I hadn't foreseen the Doberman's downfall. If I could turn back the hands of time, I would have paired you off with Lucas a long time ago.” “Can we sto
It has been three days since the Gates Group crisis began. Valeria had it tough as the other family members made mockery of her. News about Valeria's divorce from Moses and her failed engagement to Lucas spread quickly. Traditionally, in the twelve cities, a divorcee without a husband is a woman without honour, dignity or class. It was the most humiliating position to be in. The other granddaughters of the MOMO family whom had alway been envious of Valeria for her beauty, saw an opportunity to ridicule her. They openly insulted her in public, making her life miserable. The insults and disrespect ate deep inside Valeria that she suddenly became consumed with desperation. She vowed to regain her honour and reputation, whatever the cost. Moses had been watching her all these while. Seeing how desperate Valeria was, he finally decided to implement his next move. He dialed Genevieve's number. Genevieve answered on the first ring. “Good morning, Mr. Moses. What can I