The Revenge of The Worthless son in law

17. Jason, A Winner.

Every year at the Deluxe Dance, they choose a winner who would get varieties of prizes and gain even more popularity. It is known as the highlight of the ceremony.

People are still unsure of the way the winners are chosen. Some say it's based on their company's yearly performance. Some believed it was judged based on their level of popularity among the masses. Some even speculated that a vote was usually held. While others believed it was given randomly to anyone, as long as you could bribe the right people.

"All right, everyone. Can I have your attention? It's time for the highlight of the night." The MC announced and everyone turned to him.

According to Jordan, Phil had never won and neither had Lauren's father, even though they had tried bribing their way through on several occasions.

If they awarded the winners based on their performance then Lauren's father had a chance, since Jordan had told him that he was one of their best staff, but it didn't mean Jason wouldn't still have his revenge on him.

Phil on the other hand had slimer chances due to his current situation.

"Firstly," the MC started. "I would like to call Miss Roselyn Sandler to come up to the stage." James's young mistress stood up proudly and catwalked up the stage.

"She's the one who announces the winner." Jordan whispered to him and he nodded. "Her father is the head of the Board." She added.

No wonder Lauren's father was seeing such a young lady. She could be his ticket to finally getting a seat on the Board.

The Board was a group of twelve men and women. CEOs, politicians and really rich people who want more power. Together they're known as the Board and they basically control the affairs of the city.

Mr David Sandler was like the king of the Board since he was the one who started the whole thing. Getting close to such a man would be an easy way for him to level up drastically. But something told him the man's deed would be dirty.

"Miss Sandler, would you do the honors?"

"Of course." She collected the golden envelope the MC held. Then slowly, she removed the paper that was folded inside. "First of all, I would like to thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to be here today.

Then to the next agenda, listing this year's wins. I'm sure you all are familiar with the Banners Royal Suites, well this year's winner gets fifty percent ownership of the hotel. Then he or she gets a donation of twenty million dollars. And finally, the Board has agreed to fund their company's next project."

'Damn that was a lot' Jason thought. If their company won it, it would be a great achievement to him and to his company.

The Banners Royal Suites was one of the biggest hotels in New York. People from all over the country flew in just to experience the first class treatments they offered at the hotel. With luxurious pools, fancy restaurants, comfortable beds in each rooms and even, waterbeds. Then recently, Jason heard that they had installed panasonic TVs in all the rooms.

"Without further ado, I would like to call on Mr Daniel Banner to come up to the stage to hand over the copy of the deed to our winner."

A young man rose to his feet and Jason was stunned for a moment. He never expected someone so young to be the owner of such a great establishment.

Then thinking about the name she called, Daniel, Daniel Banner. It sounded like someone he knew.

"Then I would like to call on Mr Jason Paul Decker to come up to the stage and accept this award on behalf of the CEO of the Decker Industries."

Jason wasn't sure he heard her right. He won. Well, the company won but still, he wasn't expecting it. "Did you know?" He leaned closer to Jordan and asked but she mouthed 'no' still clapping.

Adjusting his outfit, Jason stood up, a stunned smile still on his face as he walked up to the stage.

"Mr Decker, good to see you're doing good." Daniel Banner said as he shook hands with Jason. He seemed to recognize him as well because he smiled warmly.

"Here is your cheque of twenty million US dollars, which is usually divided into two, with the company getting seventy five percent, and you getting the other twenty five. But in this case, your boss said the cheque should be written in your name, making you the sole owner of the prize money."

That must have been Matthew's doing, that man was something else. When he was announced as the winner, his father in law's face contorted into a deep scowl and Jason's smile widened.

He noticed that Phil was on his feet, his glare was so cold that Jason felt like it would burn a hole through his chest. He couldn't believe that someone like him would win, and on his first attendance also.

When he learnt that Jason was part of the VIP guests, he was enraged, because the only way to get VIP seats was to be a very important personnel or pay a huge amount of money for it.

As if that wasn't outrageous enough, he was given the cheque of twenty million dollars, for his personal use and not for the company. What could he have done to deserve such treatment?!

Jason accepted the cheque and the copy of the hotel deed and as he was about to leave, an idea popped into his head. Smiling, he turned back to Rose who was busy taking pictures. "Uh, excuse me."

She put her phone away and turned to him. "Yes?"

He moved closer to her and took her hand in his, earning a few questioning glances from the audience, including Jordan, Phil and Lauren. The main person he wanted to attract was busy with a phone call, he had to get his attention…somehow.

"You wanted to tell me something?" She asked when he didn't say anything.

"Uh yes, but I don't know how to start."

"Oh, you can start however you feel comfortable with."

"Okay." He took a step closer, leaving his face just a few inches away from hers. "Miss Sandler, since the moment I saw you, I haven't been able to take my mind off you. I think you're very beautiful and if it's not too forward of me to ask, I would like to take you out for lunch." He finished with a smile and hoped it work.

Either he was a bad man or not, getting to know the head of the Board would be a great opportunity, and the fastest way to get closer to him would be through his only daughter.

She smiled at him, obviously won over by his confession. "Yes, I would love to go out with you, Mr Decker."

"Oh please, call me Jason."

"Right, Jason."

He kissed her hand and from the corner of his eyes, he noticed that his father in law looked like he wanted to strangle him. Seeing him like that made Jason feel fulfilled. The night went better than he had expected it to go.

After the ceremony ended, Jason and Jordan went out to wait for their driver. "Thanks for bringing me tonight." Jordan said as they waited.

"You don't have to thank me, I should be the one saying thank you for your assistance."

"Oh it's nothing, it is my job after all."

"What nonsense were you doing in there?" Lauren's father demanded, as he marched towards them, with Rose by his side.

"Oh hi again Mr Kings, Miss Sandler." He smiled at Rose and she returned the gesture. Thankfully she already liked him. "What nonsense were you referring to Mr Kings?"

"How dare you touch her?!" He barked.

"Is she your wife? Or is she your daughter?" James opened his mouth to talk but Jason wasn't done. He turned to Rose. "Miss Sandler, are you married?"

"Oh heavens no. I'm still very single. Are you?" She replied casually.

"Also very single. Then our date still stands?"

"Unless you change your mind."

"I'm not stupid enough to do that."

"Do you have no decency at all? How dare you flirt with another man's date?"

"Have you no decency at all James?! How dare you go out with another woman when you have a wife at home?!" James was stunned to see Jason talk to him so boldly.

"Boys, please stop fighting over me." Rose said, smiling sheepishly. "Anyway, my driver's here. I gotta go. Jason, here's my card. Call me."

~•~><~•~

(How did it go?)

Erika's text entered his phone the moment he settled into the couch. Jason didn't do anything stressful but he was tired. His bones were weak and he felt like he could sleep for a while day.

(Hey, so sorry for not replying. I'm beat, can we talk tomorrow?)

He sent the text and waited for her reply but ten minutes later she still didn't say anything so he assumed she had fallen asleep.

He got up and decided to make himself a cup of tea to calm his nerves. He had barely made it to the kitchen when he heard a knock on the door. He glanced at his watch for the time, ten minutes past twelve. "Who could it be as such an ungodly hour?"

He opened the door and was shocked to find Erika smiling at him. "You said you were tired, so…so I came to uh…to give you a…a…massage." She added the last part quietly and turned her attention down to her feet.

"A massage?" Was she serious?

She came all the way to his house at midnight to give him a massage. Was that even possible?

"Are you going to let me in?" For some reason, she was looking shy.

"Uh sure. Come on in." She walked in and sat on the couch. "Uh, is there anything I can offer you? It's quite late so–"

"Do you like me?"

Her question threw him off guard for a minute. "w-what?"

"Do you like me?" She asked again, still refusing to meet his gaze. "Sometimes you act like you do, but there are times where I'm not sure. I like you, I like you a lot Jason. I've liked you since the first day you started working with me at the store, but you were married then and I didn't want to ruin your marriage.

I don't know if saying this makes me a bad friend but, I was glad when you got a divorce. And that day, when you kissed me, I thought…I thought that maybe that was a start of our story, a start for us but…I don't know.

Jason, I don't want to put my heart out there if you're not willing to meet me halfway. That's why I need to know. Should I bury my feelings or should I be patient?"

Jason couldn't believe what he was hearing. He suspected that Erika might have feelings for him, he just didn't know it was that deep or that it had been for so long. "Erika," he wasn't sure what to tell her.

He didn't want her to bury her feelings for him because he felt the same way. But he wasn't ready to venture into another relationship at the moment, but saying that would definitely hurt her feelings.

"I won't deny the fact that I'm attracted to you Erika, even before I got divorced, being around you always made me feel relaxed. I think you're an amazing woman and being with you would be a dream–"

"....but you're turning me down right?" Her voice was low and sad and it made him feel bad. He went to sit next to her on the couch and held her shoulder to comfort her.

"No. It's just…I don't know if I'm ready to fall in love again just yet. More than three years of my life ended painfully, like it was nothing. I don't know if–"

"I'm not her! You know that."

"You're right, you're not Lauren. The difference is as clear as day. But could you give me some time to think? Maybe like a day or two."

"Okay, but what about now? Do you want me to leave?"

"No." He replied honestly and she pressed her lips against his. He responded quickly to the kiss by pulling her close to him and the two melted in each other's arms, not wanting to be anywhere else in the world.

~•~><~•~

The violent knock on the door stirred the couple from their sleep. "Hmm, what time is it? Erika asked, still half asleep.

Jason sat up and checked the time. It was only eight AM, who would visit him so early? And on a weekend also. He went over to his wardrobe and got himself a short to wear.

He lazily marched to the door where his uninvited guest was still knocking loudly. "Who is it?" He inquired as he got to the door.

"Open up you loser!"

Mabel?

What the hell was she doing at his place? And how did the witch even know where he lived?

He opened the door and found the entire Kings family standing outside. "what the..?"

"I'm pregnant."