Mrs Joseph sent word to JL and LT Constructions, inviting them for the 25th anniversary of her marriage to her husband in a few weeks.
She informed the contenders she would select the designs a few days before the event as the winning work would be showcased at the event.
June received the notice from Lucy and arrived at the company for a meeting. They were to rub heads together and come up with a theme and story for the new home of the Joseph family.
Inside the meeting room. June, Lucy, Joel and the company’s project manager were seated around a table as they aired their opinions on the subject matter.
“I think we should make it luxurious. Something that transcends generations and speaks to the status of the family.” Lucy said excitedly, happy to be a part of the brainstorming process.
Joel Patel gave his bit. “The Joseph family is a large one. If she intends to make it a family house, then we are looking at a mansion. One that could easily host the numbers and show off the family’s status.”
“I agree with them. We should make this a luxurious family home.” The project manager said, “We should give them a house so good, everything will pale beside it.”
June didn’t feel satisfied. “The LT Constructions would be thinking the same concept right now. I need something different. Something that would stand out and make our design the winner for this project.”
“We only have two weeks before we have to impress Mrs. Joseph and I don’t think this concept would do that. We need to give her a dream home. She has enough luxury houses.”
Joel nodded his head, seeing sense in her words. “If that’s the case, we need to do more research. See how we can blend the homey feeling into a house big enough to suit the standard and taste of the family, as well as make it a home for future generations.”
“That sounds like a lot of work.” The project manager said with a wince, that elicited some laughs from the others.
“Good thing we have some time.” June picked up her phone and sent some files to their shared group. “I already got some research done and drafted some musings. Take a look.”
The people brought out their phones and the next couple of hours were spent deliberating the nature of their designs. Meanwhile, on the other side, April met up with her team of architects.
“I don’t care how you do it. Make me a design that cannot be rejected. You have a week to come up with something presentable.” She rounded up the meeting, leaving her employees scared out of their wits.
April had become a terror in LT Constructions. After sending her husband to prison and assuming the throne, she mass-fired key members who she believed were loyal to the Lontoc family and hired new ones in their stead.
Giving her full authority to do as she pleased. No one, not even her mother could speak to her as she ruthlessly climbed to the top of things, taking charge as the new CEO.
Evelyn paid her daughter a visit for a monthly report of the Rivera stores. These days, their fights were frequent with April’s need to have her hands covered in every sector of the Rivera Stores management.
“I already told you to increase the prices of the items, Mother. This is barely enough to sustain the stores. You need to do better!” April said with a grotesque look on her face.
“Since when did you care about how I managed my company?”
April shook her head, “No, Mother. I’m going to have to correct you there. It’s My company. When Ethan signed the merger and I became the CEO, it became mine. You are just in there so the company doesn’t fold up or bug LT Constructions.”
Evelyn felt insulted but April didn’t care.
“If you cannot handle this business, maybe you need to resign so I hire more capable hands.” She flung the report papers on the floor. “You have been warned.”
Evelyn nodded and pursed her lips as she watched her daughter type angrily on her computer. For the first time, she wondered if she had made the wrong decision in taking her side.
Things were getting ugly pretty fast and though she loved her daughter dearly, her pride wouldn’t let her take any more disrespect. At this rate, they were treading on dangerous lines.
The atmosphere was tense for a while before April spoke. “I need to get to the prison.” She closed her laptop. “It’s about time I faced that twat.”
“You mean Ethan?”
April stood up. “Yes, mother.”
“You still love him,” Evelyn remarked with a smirk. “Don’t you?”
“How does a visit to the prison translate to having feelings for a failure?” April retorted. “I thought you were smarter than this, mother.”
“That failure is the father of your unborn child.” Evelyn gritted.
April picked up her bag and said in a sing-song voice, “Not for long.”
“You dare not.” Evelyn said, “That is my grandchild. You dare not do anything stupid.”
In a whiplash, April lashed out in anger. “No one tells me what I can or cannot do!”
Slap!
Evelyn dished a hard slap on her daughter’s face, shaking with anger as she growled. “How dare you?!”
“I picked you from the dustbin, polished and loved you as my child, and this is how you pay me? Have you lost your mind?!”
April’s eyes widened in shock as she held her palm on her face, unable to believe what just happened. “Did you… just slap me?”
“I will slap you again if you don’t come to your senses!” Evelyn roared, eyes ablaze.
April bit her lip and scoffed in disbelief. Her eyes fixated on her mother as she slowly laughed, trying to make sense of what just happened.
“You slapped me.” She said, more to herself than her mother. “You are going to regret that.” She added with a frost on her face. “You will regret laying your filthy hands on me, mother!”
“Do not bite the hand that feeds you.” Evelyn retorted with anger. “Do not forget. I can bring your reign to an end with a flick of my fingers. Do not test me, honey.”
“Is that a threat?” April shook her head in disbelief. “Are you threatening me, mother?”
“It’s just a warning.” Evelyn picked up her handbag. “Find me when you come to your senses, and don’t you dare hurt my grandchild.”
April watched her mother step out of her office, having the last word.
“Argh!” She yelled, taking down everything on her table as anger simmered. She wouldn’t let it slide. Not after she made her way to the top.
She would teach anyone who tried to question her a lesson – Including her mother. Her blood boiled as she thought of how to cut the wings of the woman who raised her.
Every thought of visiting the prison was banished to the hind side of her mind as she made her way back to the Lontoc family house. She needed to vent her anger and she knew just the right person.
Olivia screamed as she was dragged to the sitting room by the security officials at April’s order. “What have I done? Leave me alone!” She said as she struggled from their hold.
“Let her go,” April muttered, pouring herself a drink.
The men dropped the former Madame roughly on the floor, causing her to wince in pain. Olivia managed to get on her knees as she couldn’t bear getting up without assistance.
Her legs and general health were in terrible condition now.
“You are pregnant!” Olivia exclaimed, reaching over for the glass of alcohol. “You will hurt the baby.”
April dropped the glass on the table before she could reach her with a pissed look on her face. “What’s with everyone and my pregnancy today?” She murmured, facing her with a furious look on her face.
“I-I just-”
“Shut up!” Olivia stilled at the roar of her voice. April scoffed, “Come to think of it, the seventy-two hours I gave you elapsed long ago. Why are you still in my house?”
Olivia froze at her words. “I-I don’t have anywhere to go.”
“And how is that my business?”
“Please my daught-”
“Don’t you dare. Don’t you dare finish that sentence.”
Olivia swallowed her tongue.
“You live in my house, doing nothing but eating my food and growing uglier every day?” April tsked. “You have no shame.”
Olivia was tempted to inform her that she lived in a servant’s quarters where she barely got something to eat and was meted with harsh treatments but she kept her mouth sealed and blinked back tears.
April picked up the bottle and took a swing of the drink, much to Olivia’s horror. “Seeing I am not as evil as your son, I would give you an ultimatum.”
“Become a servant or get ready to be sent to a psychiatric hospital” April smiled. “I think you would look good as a mental patient, but the choice is yours. You have five seconds.”