The day grew and June stepped out of the house with Thomas.
She had been briefed on a meeting by Lucy, who was hell-bent on working despite the loss of her father. It was a difficult pill to swallow and June was stuck between ordering her to take some time off or honouring her request to work so she could take her mind off things.
Nevertheless, they were meeting an important guest today and Lucy refused to disclose the identity until they got on site. As they breezed through the city, June read the news of the fall of Joel Patel Constructions. ‘
One of the trending news in the building sector/industry. Apparently, the young man was a former worker at the LT Constructions group until they fell out and he branched out and launched a business five years ago.
The business had been successful, rising to the top and expanding its reach until recently, they were plunged into the fiery pits of debts. Forcing them to retreat from the limelight and tether at the corridors of bankruptcy.
According to the news, they were at the final stages of bankruptcy and were the target of investors, monitoring the situation and looking to grab the company and make monetary benefits of what would be left of it.
The car slowed to a stop and June placed her phone inside her limited-edition handbag. She sighted Lucy by the door of the eatery where they were to meet and could sense the tension on her shoulders.
“June! Ma’am, you are here!” Lucy greeted them as soon as they met. “The Client is here, he’s in a hurry so we don’t have time. I think this will be a good offer for JL Constructions.”
June nodded as Lucy updated her on the situation while leading her to one of the booths, situated at the hinder parts of the room. A good spot to discuss business. There, a middle-aged man sat with some security detail seated beside him.
“Mr Patel, please meet the CEO of JL Constructions, June Ambrose.” Lucy introduced and they shook hands.
“Please have a seat, Miss.” The man said and took off his shades.
Only then could June recognise the man in front of her. He was the same one that she’d been reading on her way here. Interesting.
“I heard that you have a proposal for me, Mr. Patel.” June started, set for business.
“Yes! Of course!” He cleared his throat. “I know you. You are the former daughter-in-law of the Lontoc Family.”
June felt apprehensive. She turned to Lucy, half expecting her to be surprised but that was old news. Although they hadn’t talked about it, Lucy had done her research after April’s visit and her father’s death.
She had been so busy catering for her father, and working at the party that she didn’t even realise the real identity of her boss! Now, she was armed with enough knowledge to function and serve her boss to the best of her ability.
To help her obtain revenge on behalf of her father.
“Is there a problem?” June was careful with her words.
“Not at all. In fact, I reached out to you on purpose,” The man adjusted on his seat. “I’d like to join hands with you in taking revenge on the Lontoc family.”
“What?”
“I watched the film of the party. I saw how you spoke to them and know everything about your relationship with the Lontoc and Rivera families.” He stared her in the eye. “If you have a plan then I want to be a part of it. I am willing to work for you, I can help you with JL Constructions. Anything at all.”
“So long as you provide me with the opportunity to vent my anger at the Lontoc family that ruined my life.” The look on his face was almost rabid, like one possessed by an angry spirit thirsty for vengeance.
“I think you have misunderstood me.” June started. “I have no plans of going on a warpath with the Lontoc or Rivera family. Even if I decide to go that route, I think it is a path preferred alone.”
Mr Patel shook his head in defiance, “Please, hear me out. I know this might sound a bit abrupt and foreign, but you are my last hope, I brought my son here to meet with you because tonight, I will be declaring bankruptcy. The house and the properties under Joel Patel Constructions will be taken by the bank.”
“The workers will be relieved and everything will come crashing down, and all because of that family. Please, just give us this opportunity, let me have my pound of flesh.”
The desperation and anger of the man seated in front of her both surprised and confused June. “What makes you think I am capable of that? I just got kicked out of my marriage without a cent. I am no match for the Lontoc family.”
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Joel Patel said with conviction. “When I saw you speak to them, I was convinced I needed to be on your side. That was why I got through the challenge of finding out who you are and how to reach you.”
“Thankfully, your assistant dropped a card with one of my employees who attended the event.” He took a deep breath, “Please consider my offer.”
June was perplexed at the man in front of her. If she didn’t know better, she would have called him a madman. “What did the Lontoc do to you? Why are you so angry at them?”
“I’m glad you asked.” June watched as the middle-aged man’s face marred with a frown as he narrated the story of his life. Detailing how he was kicked out of LT Constructions for no good reason and stripped of all his achievements and entitlements.
Alongside how he had painstakingly built a company from scratch and how it was razed down to hell by the Lontoc family, this he knew because Ethan boasted about it while trying to get him to sell the company a few days back, offering a pittance in compensation for his loss.
After he finished his story, June found herself with many more reasons to put a stop to the villainy of her ex-husband and his family. However, she didn’t make any commitments to him and left him with a note to call.
On their way to the next appointment, June inquired Lucy about her thoughts.
“What are your perceptions of Joel Patel?”
“I think he is a man scorned. Dished with the shorter end of the stick and beaten down by life so much that all he has left is the thirst for vengeance because that’s all that keeps his heart beating with all the trouble that has befallen him.”
June’s agreement was silent. Other than the fact he wanted to get revenge, she thought it would be more profitable to give him life again. To restore the will to live and not just fuel his boat for revenge.
“How many workers are in the Patel constructions?” She asked and sure enough, Lucy supplied her with the amount. “That means we have our work cut out for us. Put me on the phone with Joel Patel.”
There and then, June proposed a deal. To declare bankruptcy and be a project manager with JL Constructions. They would veto the workers that would be retained from his end and he shall receive autonomy, as well as a decent percentage of profits.
Joel Patel agreed to the deal and the paperwork was processed. That night, Joel Patel Constructions was brought to an end, and in Ethan’s office, he popped a bottle of wine, drinking to the downfall of an old foe.
Unknown to him, it was only the death of a phoenix.