“Fancy meeting you here, sister,” April said with a mocking look in her eyes. “I didn’t realise you still met up with your ex-mother-in-law.”
Beatrice recovered from her shock immediately. “What are you doing here?” She seethed. “I warned you against showing up here ever again. Are you trying to test me?”
“Oh shut it, Mother.” Clarence couldn’t hold back. “No one wants to be in your old rickety property. Why would I want to visit such a place when I can be in my husband’s home.”
Beatrice laughed in her face. “You have to be the biggest dreamer. I doubt you found a husband while pining after my son. You should get a life. It must be hard chasing after your late sister’s husband.”
June was set to leave but for some reason, she remained in her spot, watching their hostile exchange of words. Nothing prepared her for the words that left Clarence’s mouth.
“I already told you, Rafael is mine,” Clarence announced with a winning smile. “Guess who is carrying your little grandson, Beatrice?”
June felt her jaw drop open at her words. She refused to believe it, and so did Beatrice.
“No one,” Beatrice said with a confident outlook. “Don’t play games with me and leave before I throw you out.”
“You don’t believe it?” Clarence whipped out a paper from her bag. One glance and June could tell it was a pregnancy result. Her heart ground to pieces. “Your precious son spilled his seed inside me and now I carry his child.”
Beatrice shook her head, refusing to believe it. “You think you can pin that bastard on my son?” She scoffed. “I will have you know you have made a grave mistake.”
“He slept with her,” June said and Beatrice stiffened. “Rafael slept with her.” She said, shaking from the amount of tears that threatened to disgrace her. “This was a mistake. Excuse me.”
June turned around and left the property. Her cab waited outside and soon, she was back at the hotel, crying her eyes out and beating herself for even going to the darned place.
Like it or not, Rafael was moving on with his life and new family. It was about time she did so too. With that state of mind, she made a decision. She needed to find herself and get away from South City and its memories.
She immediately booked a flight to North City. She would take the job.
Meanwhile, at the Ambrose family house, Clarence and April spoke with Beatrice in front of the house. “My child will never be born as an illegitimate child,” Clarence said, cupping her non-existent bulge.
“As soon as Rafael is around, we will be holding the wedding.” She boasted, “I will become your daughter-in-law after all.”
“Lies…. Liar! I will never accept you as a daughter-in-law! Not until I have a DNA test done to ascertain the paternity of that thing in your womb. Do not think you can swindle my son into marrying you! I will never accept it!”
“Good thing she doesn’t need your permission to do it,” April said with a smile. “I was wondering how it would reflect on the prestigious Ambrose family when the public hears that your son impregnated a woman and denies taking responsibility for his actions.”
“Or the fact that the famous Matriarch of the Ambrose family connived with the sister of her dead daughter-in-law to destroy her son’s marriage,” Clarence added.
“Or the fact that the same woman paid a sum of twenty million naira to have her son’s wife set up with the minister to destroy the sweet marriage they enjoyed.” April smirked, “I could go on but you are a smart woman. This will only end with you taking the burn of things.”
Beatrice felt attacked but managed it properly. “You will not be left alone if you say a word. You must be stupid not to realise that. You both were involved in these crimes. If I go down, you do.”
“Good thing I don’t have anything to lose.” April chirped. “I already lost everything. I have no use of a good face. You should know that by now.”
“Your son raped me,” Clarence said and Beatrice’s heart nearly stopped. “You see that reaction, imagine the entire citizens of South City hearing those words from a soft crying pregnant woman.”
“Who are they likely to believe?” Clarence asked, smiling mischievously. “I’ll let you think about that. The doctor says I should avoid stressful situations so I will be on my way now.”
Beatrice watched Clarence leave the compound with the last words. However, April stayed back. “What do you want?” She asked April who didn’t leave.
“You know what I want. Unfortunately for you, my demands increased. But first, I think you need to see this.” April brought out her phone and played a video of Clarence at the hospital. Beatrice felt her air supply cut off.
“One button and this video will be live on every media platform. You name it,” April said with a smile. My demands are simple: four hundred million dollars and the South City Resort Project. I will communicate them to you in time.”
Beatrice ground her teeth as she spoke. “How on earth do you expect me to get the project? Last I heard you won the project for your company. Or should I say, your ex-company?”
“Good thing you are updated on the situation,” April sneered. “Unfortunately, I do not have control over Lontoc Constructions and since it was my hard work that got the project awarded to the company, it’s only right I take it to my new construction company.”
“I was thinking of naming it April Architectures.” She cooed, “My name on the wall would be beautiful to see.”
“And how am I supposed to get an already awarded contract given to you?” Beatrice quizzed, almost losing her mind. “It is a government project.”
April shrugged. “That’s for you to know and for me to find out. You have one week to set up the company, and I expect a transfer in thirty minutes. Do not test me.”
Before Beatrice could utter a word, April left the place with a bounce on her step. She reached the gate and turned back to a panic-ridden Beatrice. “One week.” She mouthed and gestured with a single finger.
With that, she left the compound, leaving a rattled Beatrice who stormed into the house and got to make some calls. Sure enough, April received a credit alert which marked the beginning of what she described as her landslide victory to the top.
She would milk the old woman until her final breath! She was a billionaire in the making! That day, April checked out her low-budget hospital and packed into a luxury penthouse.
She sipped wine on the balcony as she celebrated her new life. She likened her life to a Pheonix! Always rising from the ashes. While she enjoyed a massage and body rub, she decided to name her new company after a Pheonix.
Pheonix Constructions would make history. She would make sure of that. One week more and she would be back like she never left. If she played her cards right, she might land herself a suitable man.
Perhaps, Rafael Ambrose.
Her life was full of great possibilities and she could not wait to explore them. While of course ensuring that JL remained at the bottom of the food chain. She would make sure that stupid sister of hers ended her life in frustration.
She would never lose sight of her life’s vision.
The next day, June sat in her office, awaiting Liam Fernando. He had informed them of his visit and June battled with nerves as she awaited the important meeting.
After an excruciating thirty minutes, June received word that he was on his way to her office. She took the liberty to welcome him and waited outside her door, dressed in formal business attire.
Now she knew the profile of the man in her office, she sorely regretted the first impression and meeting and hoped she could rewrite the story with further meetings.
“June Ambrose.” Mr Fernando said when he arrived at the door, not discreet about his assessment of her. “You look beautiful.”
June was caught off guard by his casual remarks. “Thank you.” She cleared her throat. “Welcome to JL. Please come in.”
June ushered him into the office and led him to take a seat. She served him water and soon, they were back to business. “What will it be?” Liam asked when they settled in.
June heaved a deep breath. “I’d like to experience my gratitude for considering me on this project despite the wealth of other Construction Companies in-”
“I don’t care about others. Will you do it?” June found his interruption brash but she swallowed it.
“I’d love to come on board.” She said, “However, there are some areas of concern I’d like to speak about before signing the dotted lines.”
Liam got up from his seat. “Good. My assistant will reach you with the contract. You can discuss your concerns with him.”
June put up a strained smile, “Since you are here, don’t you think it’s best we-”
“I only came to get an answer. Not to discuss jargon.” Liam looked her over. “I look forward to hosting you in North City. Till then,”
Liam turned to leave and June watched him with words lodged in her throat. He pulled the door open and she blurted, “Wait!”
Liam stopped in his tracks, turned around and gave her his full attention, “Is there a problem?”
“It’s Rivera.” She stuttered, “June Rivera.”
He smirked and it was the most dazzling thing she’d ever seen. “I’ll keep that in mind, little Rivera.”