“That’s it! She can’t get married to you! Over my dead body!” Olivia rampaged into the Lontoc family home.
Gary had summoned April and Ethan after Olivia returned with news of how she was walked out of the office by security at April’s words.
“This wench will never be my daughter-in-law! Not while I am alive!”
“Enough!” Gary Lontoc hit his walker on the floor with a frown on his face.
“This wench-”
“Sit down, Olivia!” Ethan’s father roared, barking into a fit of coughs afterwards.
April held a lasting bitch face as she watched their interaction, unbothered to a fault. When they all settled, Ethan’s father continued.
“What exactly is going on in this family?” He said to his son. “What is this I am hearing?”
“Father,” Ethan said with quivering lips. “It was all a misunderstanding. Mother came to the office and things escalated. It won’t happen again.”
“That does not answer my question, Ethan.” Gary took a seat on the chair and his eyes focused on April who was yet to say a word. “Why is this woman still the head of the project managers and why on earth did you hold a party without our approval?!”
“Father, I-”
“Let the woman speak!” He roared, eliciting a wry smile from April. “What is your mission in this family, woman?”
“Father-”
“Answer the darned question!” Olivia roared, unable to control herself.
“Olivia.”
“No! I won’t it still and watch this wrench insult me and go scott-free. She needs to be taught a lesson.”
An icy look replaced the smile on April’s face and Ethan looked like he wanted to cry. Before coming here, he had begged April to sit still while he handled things, but his mother was ruining his efforts.
“I think you need to be taught a lesson, Olivia,” April spoke without a shred of respect. “People like you need to be put in their place and you have met the right person for the job.”
“Henceforth, you will no longer have access to the company. All the allowances my husband provides you will be cut off until you turn a new leaf.” She turned to Ethan, “Let’s go.”
“How dare you?” Gary’s tone was grave. “How dare you utter such insolence in my presence?”
A scoff, “And who do you think you are? A washed up has-been who has lost hold of his company without realising it.”
That caught their attention. Ethan reached for her hand but she pulled away, snapping. “Do not touch me, Ethan.”
She faced them. “You don’t want me to be a project manager? Fine! I guess I would become CEO in place of my husband, that would make things a lot smoother around here.”
“That way, I can make better decisions for the company and move it to greater heights, don’t you think?”
Olivia’s blood boiled in anger. “It seems like you have lost your mind.”
However, Gary Lontoc watched the situation, and for the first time, he noticed his son was very quiet and defeated. Something had gone wrong. That bit was clear as day.
“What are you talking about?” He said in a hard tone, then turned to his son, “What is going on here?”
Ethan’s heart stopped beating at his father’s words. When April spoke, he knew he was done for. There was no way of hiding the mistake he had made. Things had managed to go sour.
“Will you tell them or should I?” April voiced, looking bored.
“April…”
“What is she talking about, son?” Olivia said, “Speak up!”
“Ethan.” His father said in a warning tone.
“Since you can’t speak, I’ll do the honours,” April spoke up.
“Baby, please…”
“I am the biggest shareholder of Lontoc Constructions. Which makes me by default, the CEO and head of the company. However, I have decided to let my husband remain in the position and lowered myself to being a mere project manager.”
“Since you have both expressed your discontent with having me on the board, I figured you wouldn’t have a problem having me as the CEO.” A smile, “After all, you have never been comfortable with Brother Ethan’s work.”
The Elderly couple froze at her words, both blinking in confusion and disbelief. When they saw that she had no intention of calling her words a bluff, their eyes reverted to Ethan who looked like the life had been sucked out of him.
Nevertheless, Gary refused to believe it until his son confirmed it. For the first time, he spoke softly to Ethan. “Son, tell me she is lying. Tell me there is been a misunderstanding somewhere.”
Ethan bowed his head in shame and fell to his knees. “Father, Mother, please forgive me!”
Gary and Olivia Lontoc, “!!!”
“I accidentally signed my shares to my wife and that made her the highest shareholder of the company. I know it sounds bad but- Father!”
Before he could finish his words, his father’s stick fell from his hand and he fell unconscious. The old man had fainted from the news of his company in the hands of a complete stranger. A company built from lifetimes of hard work by the Lontoc family ancestry.
Gone. Just like that.
Ethan rushed to his father in time before he hit the floor, while his mother fondled her phone as she called the family doctor to notify him of the incident. All the while, April was not moved. She didn’t care.
With the appearance of June, she knew she had to act fast and become powerful, more than she was. That was the only way she could defend herself from when her silly sister decided to try something foolish like suing her in court, she would be ready.
****
“The wedding will be happening next weekend.” April informed Ethan when they arrived at their penthouse, “My mother will handle the guest list and everything we need, so we just have to show up.”
Ethan felt like ripping her head off. “Are you crazy?!”
“Don’t you even dare, Ethan.” April warned, but he was done trying to please her.
“How could you even say that? How can you think of a wedding when you just placed my father in a stroke?! Have you no shame?!”
A scoff. “I didn’t place your father in a stroke, Ethan. I only spoke the truth.”
“There will be no wedding until my father recovers,” He said vehemently. “Why have you been so jumpy since June showed up? Why are you behaving in this manner?”
“That’s where you are wrong, Ethan.” She stepped into his space, “Have you forgotten? I run this show. Our wedding will be next weekend.”
“And for the part about my sister, do not think I didn’t see the way you looked at her and other women in the party. If I were you, I’d choose my words carefully.”
Ethan grew frustrated. “I never left your side! I even read the ridiculous speech and you still don’t trust me?”
She clicked her tongue, “What? Are you upset? If there is one thing you taught me, it is that men can’t be trusted. Especially one who cheated on his wife for three years with her sister.”
“My mother will be in charge of the guest lists and preparations, and you will work on arranging for the best wedding ever in South City!”