June felt like she was close to combustion.
At that moment, she wished the earth could swallow her whole and her face burned with shame. “I wouldn’t say harassed.” She muttered and received a raised brow from the man.
“I was drunk alright! I was hurt and went on a drinking spree which resulted in my less-than-elegant character the previous night.” She squared her shoulders. “Everyone has a bit of those experiences in their lives these days.”
“I don’t.” He pointed out, much to her frustration.
“Okay. Fine! I was drunk and I objectified you. Please forgive me. It won’t happen again.” Her apology was backhanded but the man wasn’t phased. He thought the embarrassed young woman before him interesting.
“And sexually harassing me.” He added and June sported a confused look.
“What?”
“You didn’t apologise for sexually harassing me.” He said it so casually, that one would think he spoke about simple topics like the weather.
June’s tongue fell to the pit of her stomach. “W-What? S-Sexual-”
“Do I need to jog up your memory?” He asked with his head tilted to the side. “You said and I quote, I will give you a memorable night. I have all the experience you need-”
June slapped her hands over his mouth before he could continue.
“Shush! Darn it, I’m never drinking again.”
The man who felt her hands over his mouth stared at June who looked over to the door, hoping no one was eavesdropping. Much more than ever, she regretted visiting her office so little and failing to place soundproof on her windows.
“I’m sorry okay! I accept! I was wrong so please don’t speak of that anymore.”
The man placed his hand over hers and removed her palm from his mouth. “What do I get in return?” He asked with a dead serious look.
June struggled to comprehend his words.
“If you don’t want me to speak of the night events, I should get something in return.” He explained. “I don’t give freebies.”
June was shocked at the man before her. What a cheapskate! She thought. Did he enjoy embarrassing women or was she just unlucky? “What do you want?” She asked after a little thought.
The man smiled and she thought him pretty.
Before the thought could fully form in her head, she slapped it away. He was a client! She had enough on her plate to think he was beautiful and she was sworn off men. They were all scum! Dirt of the earth!
She would live her life as one above them. Starting with the one seated in her office. June headed to her office seat, desperate to change the power dynamics and remind each other who was in charge in the office.
“How can I help you?” She said from her office chair.
“Come to North City for three months.”
June felt her jaw drop to the floor. “W-what?”
“You heard me. I hate to repeat myself.” The man took a look at his watch. “Speak quickly, I am a busy man.”
“You can’t be serious,” June stated. “I can’t possibly leave my City and business here just because you can’t take an apology and hold your tongue.” She said, picking offence at the man before her. “Besides, I don’t even know you. Why would I want to travel with you.” She scoffed and rolled her eyes.
The audacity! She thought angrily.
“Liam Fernando.” The man said without breaking eye contact. June felt anxiety expand in her stomach.
“What?” She asked, unable to understand the enigmatic man before her.
“You claim not to know me.” He stated. “My name is Liam Fernando.” A deathly beautiful smirk. “Rings a bell?”
June pursed her lips. “I’m afraid not.” She folded her arm as she thought about the possibility of having a stalker-mentally unstable man in her office. “I think you need to leave.”
“We are yet to discuss business.”
June raised her hands in frustration. “You know what? Fine! You caught me on a terrible day. Do you want money?” She passed the paper along. “There you go! Write the account number and let’s call it a day.”
A smirk grew on his face. “Are you richer than I am?”
Her patience was wearing thin. “If you do not write your account number or have anything else to say, Mr-”
“Fernando.” He supplied, much to her anger.
“Whatever! If you do not state your direct mission, I will be forced to call the security.” She threatened.
Liam Fernando stood from his seat and walked briskly to her table.
“I have a proposal for you.” He picked up a pen and wrote the sum of a hundred million dollars. “Come work for me in North City. Build me a state-of-the-art resort and I will compensate you three times the sum written.”
June felt her heart jump out of her chest. “W-What?” She stuttered, unable to believe or understand the intensity of the man before her.
“I already told you. I hate to repeat myself.” Liam Fernando scribbled some numbers on the paper, just under the sum. “Call me with a response.” He stared her in the eye. “You have three days.”
Before June could mumble or mutter coherent words, he left the office and disappeared like he was never there. June stared at the words scribbled on the paper, unable to believe it.
Who exactly was this man and what had she gotten herself into?
Meanwhile, April lodged in a low-budget hotel with a grotesque look as she thought about her next point of action. She had been thrown out of the life she spent years of her life building. Now, she returned to square one.
She needed to think of a plan soon as she could not stand living a sub-standard life. The night events showed her how vulnerable she was to harm without the power and security money and wealth offered her.
She’d been stripped of her power overnight. She refused to remain miserable. It was only a matter of time before her enemies discovered her deplorable state and decided to take their pound of flesh.
She needed a solution and she needed one quickly!
While she pondered on the situation, she watched the small TV screen with an absent mind. An advertisement for Ambrose Corporation industry product rolled on air and an idea popped into her mind.
Why was she suffering when she could hug the big thighs of the biggest conglomerate group in the City? A wicked smirk drew on her lips and she Jumped off the low-quality bed that served her and threw on a black jacket. She needed to do some research and plot out the best way to carry out her plans.
Later in the day, Mrs Beatrice sat in the Ambrose family garden, having dinner when she received news of a guest. “Let them in.” She ordered, enjoying the sweet fragrance of the roses that bloomed in the garden.
“Mrs Beatrice Ambrose,” April said with a crooked smile. “How have you been?”
Beatrice turned around with a mild frown. “April Rivera. I don’t remember having a conversation with you, talk less of scheduling an appointment.”
“Lontoc,” April said with a smile. “April Lontoc. Married, remember?”
“I don’t care.” Beatrice stomped her feet. “To what do I owe this unpleasant visit?”
April tsked. “That’s no way to speak to a business partner, is it?”
“It seems you have lost your way. The security will lead you out of here.” Beatrice turned to call the security but she was stopped by April’s words.
“I heard that the plan to drive my silly sister worked out.” She clapped her hands. “I did a perfect job, didn’t I?” April rounded Beatrice with a smile. “Don’t you think I deserve more incentives for my job?”
“I mean, she was only caught up in that scandal with the minister because you wanted me to destroy her without involving your precious son. All that hard work and for what? A measly twenty-five million?” She tsked,
“What are you getting at? Stop the wordplay and speak clearly!” Beatrice said, shaking with anger.
“I’m glad you asked.” April stopped at a bed of roses and sniffed deliciously. “I want more. I want to start my own Construction company. I need a capital of at least 300 million dollars, a mansion in my name, exotic cars, workers and recommendations to top clients.” She listed without batting an eyelid.
Beatrice felt her blood pressure increase. “Have you lost your mind?”
“I am perfectly fine, Beatrice.” April said, “We both know that.”
“Get out of my house. Get out this instant!”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Beatrice.” April seethed, “Because the second I leave this place, I will go straight to your son’s house and tell him everything you did to ruin his marriage.”
“That’s not all. I would turn myself in and confess to everything you asked me to do. That way, your name would be sullied and that of your precious son.”
“You dare not,” Beatrice said in anger. “I will rip you into shreds and make you regret coming into this world. Do not test me.”
April laughed in her face. “You don’t know me. If you did, You’d know I was and will always be the better villain.” She pulled out a complimentary card and dropped it on the flower bed. “You have twenty-four hours. Tick-tock.”