“Tick-tock, I don’t have all day, woman.” April hissed and Olivia shook in fear.
“I w-will work.” She said after what felt like an hour of silence.
“Do you think you have the strength to work?” She feigned concern. “You look shabby as is, the last thing I want is for people to misunderstand me and take me for a wicked daughter-in-law.” April’s tone mocked Olivia, who bit her tongue at the sheer disrespect she faced.
“I will work. I am stronger than I look.”
A smile bloomed on April’s face. “Good.” She turned to the man on her side. “I want her to be in charge of the toilets at the servant’s quarters. Ensure that she works out all the free food she has eaten in this house all these days.”
“Do you understand?”
“Yes, ma.” The man answered to Olivia’s horror.
“Good, but get to work cleaning this sitting room in the meantime.”
April watched her mother-in-law get up with difficulty, then proceeded to make her way to get the cleaning supplies. After which she returned, gritting as she painstakingly cleaned the house while April supervised.
Time and time again, she would pour some drink on the floor and point at a missed spot, making the old woman start all over until she cried. Only when she heard the silent sobs of the woman did her anger alleviate.
She just needed to find the best way to replicate these results in her mother’s life.
Time flew, and soon, it was time to present the concepts to Mrs Joseph.
June and April sat in a meeting room in the Joseph family house anticipating the woman’s arrival. Both women stood on their feet when the older women joined them in the room and they got to business.
With ten minutes each, they were asked to present their concept for the house and April took the bulls by the horns. “I will go first.” She stood up and headed towards the projector where a laptop was placed.
With refined speech, April sold the idea of a luxury home to Mrs Joseph, smiling as she explained why the house was a must-have and fit for the prestigious family. April held a proud smirk by the time she was done, believing she had crushed it and there was no way June could come up with something better.
After much deliberation and thought, she decided the best way to humiliate this sister of hers was to win her fair and square, then show her how inadequate she was in front of Mrs Joseph.
That would teach her never to stand in her way.
“Thank you so much for your beautiful presentation, April.” Mrs Joseph said with a smile.
“I promised to restore your faith in LT.” April smiled abashedly, believing she had the deal in the bag. “I have the docu-”
“You may proceed to give your presentation.” April’s words were cut short by Mrs Joseph who beckoned on June.
With a small smile, June made her way to the front, slotted in her flash drive and began her presentation. “This design was created by myself and some key team players at JL Constructions.” She started.
“While doing our research, the main focus of the concept was to create a home that stood the test of time, maintaining the family legacy as well as preserving values and memories for the next generation.”
“This home will have amenities that facilitate family time, bonding and a cosy familial environment as well as spaces which could be used for public functions. Balancing both at the same time.”
June displayed her slides as she spoke. “The new Joseph family house created by our firm would not be just a modern luxury home. It would be a house that cut across generations, bonding the Joseph offspring and creating room for a love-filled atmosphere in the home that maintains the prestige of the family.”
“The designs are structured in such a way that the family have their safe haven even when things get chaotic with the parties and external events. The halls, dining rooms, and everything else are construed in such a way that the family can enjoy both the private and public lives without chaos.”
“A luxurious state-of-the-art mansion that bears the soul of the Joseph family.”
By the time June finished her presentation, it was clear she had won the heart of the old woman who cried in joy. “This is beautiful,” Mrs Joseph said, “I was so scared that the new house would not do justice to the home I have created but listening and seeing the plans you have, I don’t feel so scared anymore.”
“Thank you,” June said, happy to see the positive reaction.
Meanwhile, April remained seated with a tense smile.
“Very well, thank you both for sharing your amazing ideas with me.” Mrs Joseph said with a smile, snapped her fingers and one of the security men came closer with some gift bags. “Here you go,” She handed them over to them and they thanked her.
“I hope you can make it to the event this weekend.” The woman said, glancing between them both. “The winning design would be announced on that day. I’ll be happy to recommend JL and LT Constructions to some of my friends for the wonderful work you do.”
“Sure.”
“I will be there.” Both women said respectfully.
“Lovely.” Mrs Joseph stood on her feet. “I will walk you out.”
Together, the duo headed out of the house with Mrs Joseph who couldn’t stop commenting on the many things she loved about the presentations. However, April was unhappy.
As soon as she got time alone with June, she lashed out.
“Do not have funny ideas, this deal is mine. Save yourself the embarrassment and don’t show up at the party.”
June saw through her insecurities. A shallow laugh escaped her throat, “If you are so confident I am not going to get the deal, then what’s your problem? Aren’t you the happiest to see me walk into a difficult situation?”
“You seem to have forgotten the taste of failure.” April straightened her form. “I won you at the court, and I would win again.”
“Remember how you felt then? The pain in your heart and the shock you felt? Don’t tell me you are addicted to losing out?”
June maintained a smile through her taunts, an act that April her to no end.
“Caring for my feelings? Don’t tell me you’ve gone soft.” June replied, taunting. “The party is in two days, what’s the worst that could happen?”
“You will lose to me.” April stepped in front of her, “And I will be there to rub it on your ugly face.”
“Now that’s the sister I know. Hateful, insecure and downright evil.” She smiled. “While you stand here and attempt to make me think you are worth my time, I will be taking my leave.”
“I have a party to attend anyway.”
June had the last word and walked right into her car, leaving an upset April behind to sort out her feelings. At that moment, April felt like she already lost out. A feeling that she hated.
After the presentations, one could tell the concept that caught the heart of Mrs Joseph. April knew she had lost the deal but hell would freeze over before she accepted defeat.
She had to do something and fast.
“Drive straight to the company!” April ordered her driver and soon, they arrived at LT Constructions.
April called her secretary and gave him a job.
“Find out everything there is about Mrs. Joseph.” She ordered, “What she loves, hates, I want a full report of her on my desk by tomorrow.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Find out every single architect at JL and do everything you can to have them with LT Constructions before the week runs out.” She added.
April was certain that June was not behind the presentations. Hadn’t she said it herself? There was no way she could have come up with such a concept on her own.
Which meant she had some quality help that should be poached over to LT. April found joy at the thought of how distressed her sister would be when she found that her architects were gone.
June had studied to be an architect but April who couldn’t see anything good in her sister found it hard to believe she was that good. Not to talk of being better than her.
In the meantime, she needed to make do with her words and make June experience the highest level of shame when she lost the contract. April planned on making do with her promises and nothing could stop her.
A few hours later, her secretary returned with disturbing news.
“The famous architect, Joel Patel is now an employee of JL firm.”
“What?” April dropped her pen, giving her full attention.
“According to my findings, he joined JL firm after he went bankrupt and took some trusted members of the fallen JP Architectures with him. They all work for JL Architectures at the moment.”
April felt a wave of anger consume her. That stupid husband of hers! He couldn’t do anything right! It was time he got the full dose of her anger.