Ethan quickly retracted his phone and placed it in his pocket just before Mr. Stratford could end his phone conversation with his secretary.
“What did she say, dad?” Ethan pretended.
“What else? The meeting will be held as soon as possible to announce you as the new acting CEO of your father’s company…your company.”
“But I do not know anything about managing the company, dad.” Ethan spoke with humility.
“That’s nothing my boy. I’ll make sure you’re trained and taught what to do. My secretary, Fredora, will be around you always, providing you with the necessary assistance you need.”
Ethan was so grateful. He wanted to kneel in front of his father, Mr. Stratford. In fact, he attempted to but Mr. Stratford stopped him.
Even before the arrival of Ethan Stratford, Mr. Stratford already needed a helping hand to help him run the company. He withheld for so long because he needed someone who he could fully trust to take very good care of his company, someone that had his blood flowing in their veins. There could be no better option than Ethan.
“Shall we run along now?” He asked Ethan.
“Of course.”
For three months, Vivian kept giving excuses to Ash whenever he asked her to come over for a visit.
She was now fully involved with Mr. Lincoln, now owned a house, car and a business.
“Vivian! Vivian!” Ash called out to her after spotting her in the shopping mall. Vivian pretended not to hear, but when she realized it would be impossible to say she didn’t hear Ash calling because of the closeness he had attained, she decided to turn and respond to him.
“Ash! What are you doing here?” She acted all surprised and excited.
Ash was not in for such games. She could no longer fool him.
“I suppose you have the perfect excuse for ignoring my calls for one full week!”
“I do! I told you I was busy. You of all people should be able to understand me, but you don’t.”
“I should understand you?! Are you being serious right now? We are in a relationship, Vivian. I’m supposed to be aware of everything that’s going on in your life!”
Vivian laughed. She laughed directly to Ash’s face. He was as perplexed as he was sure that there was nothing funny, none that he remembered saying.
“Is there anything wrong with what I said?” Ash asked, looking even more confused than he initially was fueled by the way in which she continually laughed.
She recounted to him how she’d always beg for his attention especially when Nelly was still around.
“You didn’t think that I deserved to know what was going on in your life back then?”
“I don’t know what’s going on, Vivian. But I can definitely say you’re not the person I knew before.”
Vivian went on to make the exact claim against Ash. She complained that he didn’t understand her nor did he care about her feelings. Vivian decided to create a little scene by acting dramatic with her tears. She did this just to wave away whatever suspicion of her that Ash might be having already.
“I’m so sorry,” Ash finally gave in. “I didn’t mean to misunderstand or get you upset. All I wanted was to…”
“Do not speak to me! I hate you!” Vivian screamed at him. She didn’t even wait for him to complete what he was saying. Vivian walked out on him, after successfully making him feel guilty. She made him feel he was the one at fault, made him feel as if he was uncaring and selfish.
Vivian dashed into her car and zoomed off. Ash was stunned even more.
“When did Vivian acquire a car for herself?” Ash knew the kind of job Vivian did. It was never going to be enough to get her a car, especially not one as fanciful and on the high taste side just as the one she drove out of the parking lot with.
He tried to run after the car a bit, to get her to stop so they could talk some more but Vivian refused. She acted as if she was crying on the steering as she drove away. It was already enough drama right there in the parking lot so he didn’t want to stir up more of it.
Mr. Easton Landers was in the comfort of his swimming pool during the late part of the afternoon and that was when he had a very unusual visitor –
Aria Dean.
“What on earth are you doing here?” Mr. Lincoln asked her.
“I bring you information from across.”
He was still furious. She was only lucky not to have met Katty or Daisy at home. Everyone would have known there was something going on between them, something dark, something treacherous that should be dreaded. Mr. Easton was just in his shorts, smoking his cigarette when Aria stunned into his mansion all of a sudden.
“What if someone saw you coming in? I’ve told you countless times that unless I invite you over, you should never on your own visit my house. Our meetings should be held only in our place of meeting alone.”
Aria had to quickly apologize after realizing how deeply she had offended Easton Landers. She knew he had a very significant grip on her – the life and wellbeing of her father.
“How’s my dad?” Aria mustered the courage to ask amidst Easton’s fuming anger.
“Of course, he’s fine and will continue to be as long as you behave like a good girl and do all my bidding.” Easton laughed.
“Haven’t I done enough for you already? Why do you have to keep using me to hurt people?!”
Aria was no longer enjoying the game she was playing. The truth was she had never enjoyed doing all she did but she had to because of her father.
“I’ll take revenge on whoever has done me wrong!”
“And what wrong did Nelly do?”
“Not Nelly, my love.” Easton smoked his cigarette –
“Stratford,” he continued.