The Silent Heir

Chapter 5: The Bet

“BYC Company?”

Amelia clamored in shock, “It can’t be the same BYC company we all know right?”

“It’s the same influential and successful company” Venice answered, “and like I said, there is a big contract out there and we should get it. But only the one who can help get it will be the next heir to the company”

Seeing his wife being cornered in a position he knows very well she has been yearning for years.

Micheal moved close to her and whispered, “ Can we talk”

Amelia, whose attention was on her parents was now on her husband, “Yes”

“Amelia, are you listening to me?”Venice’s angry voice sounded on the phone.

“Y...Yes mother” Amelia answered absent-mindedly.

“Good..”

Micheal shook his head with a smile and walked away.

He knew it was just a matter of time before things got back in place for him.

***

The evening came very fast.

Micheal stared at the only person who had been nothing but good to him and smiled.

“Thank you for your trust all these years. It didn’t go to waste hunny”

He said as he affectionately held her hair.

“Micheal” the sleepy Amelia opened her sleepy eyes and stared at her husband.

“Yes, hunny. I’m here” Micheal whispered.

“Why are you not asleep?” she asked.

Looking at her eyes, Michael knew she wasn’t fully awake.

“You don’t have to worry about anything anymore. I know about our baby and everything that I’ll be alright now .”

“Yeah, our baby. How did you know about that? I wanted to surprise you with the news” Amelia’s sleepy voice asked.

Micheal said nothing and held her close to her.

“You sleep. We will talk about it in the morning okay” Micheal whispered.

With those words, it didn’t take long for Amelia to go back to sleep.

Micheal stood up and walked out of the room.

He tightly held his fists together while declaring into the night, “I have to help her secure this position. This position as the CEO can only be Amelias”

Morning came very quickly and it didn’t even take long for his in-laws to arrive at his house.

Looking at the once-familiar people who are now unfamiliar, Micheal did not say a word.

Pretending he knew nothing about why they were now in their house after so many years.

“Mother, Father you came. Please come in for a seat” Micheal’s enthusiastic voice said.

“How many times do you want me to remind you that I am not your mother? Do we look alike? Which part of our body is identical to make you think you have the right to call me mother.”

Venice said angrily as she looked at him.

“But…” Micheal wanted to explain.

“Don’t get too high of yourself. I’m not here because I want to see the kind of life you have devalued my daughter go. I’m here to get Amelia out of here”

“Get Anelia out of here?” Micheal asked in shock, “But I’m married to her and she is now my wife. Why..”

“A dump person like you will understand. The only thing you know how to do best is being useless. How will you get me?” Venice said without any hesitation.

“Mother, you are here to see me and bit to make matters worse for my husband” Amelia’s angry voice sounded as she entered the hall.

“Did I say anything wrong? He is…” Venice wanted to continue with his insult but before that, he was intrusted by Amelia.

“Just tell me why you are here”

Venice just angrily stared at Michael and brought her attention back to her daughter.

“It’s about what we talked about on the phone yesterday. I’m here to get your reply”

Micheal just stood there playing dump like he knew nothing about it.

“Mother I will think of something. Until then can you please not pressure me” Amelia said.

“Sure. But do not forget what we also said about the ‘other’ ways” Venice said and stood up with her supportive Aaron, “ staying in this space makes me so embarrassed and nauseous. We are out of here”

And before Amelia or Micheal could say anything, they had already left.

“I’m sorry about..” Amelia was about to say but was interrupted by the smiling Micheal.

“There is no need to apologize. And about the bid”

“The bid?” Amelia asked.

“I mean the contract” Michal answered.

“How did you know about the contract? I didn’t say a word to you yesterday” Amelia asked.

Micheal moved close and held her hand, “I overheard your conversation with your family yesterday.”

“And did you…” she wanted to ask in an anxious voice.

“I also wanted to tell you something yesterday. But because you were upset I could and decided to wait for today. Guess now is the best moment for that”

Amelia said nothing and just waited for him to finish with his words.

“I got a job yesterday,” Micheal said.

“Y… You did” Amelia asked with a shocked and excited look.

“And not only that. I also happen to work in BYC company. The same company you want to get the big contract”

“But how did you get the job? I thought everybody in the city didn’t want to hire you. What happened ?” Amelia asked

“It’s a long story and believe me. You don’t want to hear the full story” Michael said, “But the most important thing is I have inside information from the company and I inky need you to trust me”

“You only started work yesterday and you already have inside information?” she asked.

“Let’s say I got lucky and found favor before my boss. I now work close to him and know about the decisions of the company” Micheal replied with confidence.

Amelia wasn’t so convinced but looking at her husband’s eager face, she knew he might be telling the ‘truth’.

“Amelia” Micheal said and held her hands, “All that indeed from you now is to not say anything to your parents for now. Let’s give them a big surprise when you later win the bid. Okay?”

Amelia nodded her head despite the doubt.

She still wasn’t too sure about Michaels’s words.

But…

Trusting her husband now is the only thing she can do.

Winning or losing?

None of them will make any difference now.

“Okay. Let’s do it” Amelia said with a smile.

And with that, she placed the bid for her family without their knowledge.

Micheal excused himself and went out to make a call.

“Boss ”

“I believe you might have seen my message by now. Have you done what I asked you to?” Micheal asked.

“Yes, boss. I will make sure I take only the bid of the company you sent me” his assistant answered.

Micheal ended the call and with a smile went back into the house.

If only Amelia knew.

***

A few days later…

“What’s wrong with you Amelia? Who asked you to place a bid for the company” Venice yelled over the phone.

“Mother I…” Amelia was about to answer but she was interrupted by her mother.

“Don’t you dare give me any silly excuse? I’ve always known you to be smart. But who would have thought that you would suddenly go silly after marrying that good for nothing? Now you are putting us in danger with your silly decisions.”

“But mother, you said I should find a way and help our family out of this crisis we are in now. And now that I am doing something about it, it becomes a problem? What exactly do you now want me to do?” Amelia asked with a hint of anger.

“You are now talking back at me? I asked you to leave that retard and get together with someone who can get us out of our upcoming bankruptcy, but no you decided to play the heroine card. And now this is going to make us a joke in this city if we lose this bid. What were you thinking” Venice questioned.

Amelia closed her eyes in anger and just when she was about to reply,

“I told her to make that decision”.

Michael’s voice rang behind her.

She stared at her hand and realized the phone was no longer in it.

Micheal ignored the surprised look on her face and placed it on loudspeaker.

“I knew it. There is no way my smart daughter will make a silly decision such as this. You can only be an influence for this” Venice scolded him.

Just then Darius also called and without any hesitation, Micheal added him to the call.

This is the best opportunity for him.

This is just what he needed.

“I don’t care about your careless attitude towards your life. But when it’s about my reputation I won’t let go”

Aaron said for the first time in a while.

Micheal was not bothered and just shrugged his shoulders.

“I knew you were good for nothing. But I never knew it was to this extent. What were you thinking Micheal? Are you enthusiastic about bringing this family down?” Darius said angrily.

Micheal did not bother with Daruis’s words and questioned, “Let’s make a deal if you dare. If the family wins this bid, you will make Amelia the CEO of the company and never mention any divorce ever again”

“And if we lose?” Darius asked.

Micheal answered without any hesitation, “I will leave Amelia and this family without any objection ”

The phone was silent after his words.

But in the next second, The whole family laughed at his words.

“You are a big joke, Micheal. I never knew you had this in you. Why don’t you take up a job as a clown? It will suit you “ Darius said.

After their laughter had died down, Venice declared, “It’s a deal. And don’t you dare chicken out when you lose”

Micheal smiled and said nothing but to Amelia, this was a very dangerous game Micheal was playing.

She wonders if he is sure about his decision this time.

***

The deciding day…

The Kincaid family had all arrived at Micheal’s small apartment.

“You invited us here after a few days. Are you that confident” Darius asked with a hint of laughter in his voice.

“Welcome. Please make yourself comfortable” Micheal said and ignored his words.

“You call this place a house? And you expect me to feel comfortable? Is this place even meant for humans? And you dare bring Amelia here.” Venice insulted.

She was treating the place like some garbage bin.

She wasn’t the only one, the rest of the family had the same expressions on their faces.

“What a loser,” Aaron said with a disgusted look.

Amelia just stared at her family and did not bother to say anything.

Her worry was on the bid.

What if they lose?

Will Micheal leave her?

Micheal looked at them and said nothing.

They can say whatever they want about him and his place.

For he knew, it would be their turn soon.

It’s just a matter of time.

With that, he held Amelia’s hands and looked into her worried face.