Joseph didn’t apologize for the words he said to Anita when they went to eat out and also refused to eat at home even though she didn’t stop making his food. She decided to call his attention on the third day as he was walking out of the house in the morning.
“I have set your food on the table, are you not going to eat again today?” she asked with her hands in front of her apron and he scoffed before turning to approach her. “Are you just dense or you want to keep pretending? I don’t like you! You are just someone after my father’s money and you want your son to take over the company that he doesn’t even have right to. I know all what you are planning, do you want to poison me? To die? Or get bedridden for the rest of my life? I am sorry but I will never fall for such tricks so don’t bother to use it on me” he lashed out on her while she stood there looking at him talk down on her with a speechless expression.
He marched to the door before stopping to add “Don’t ever cook my food in this house, I will talk to father to hire a new cook, you don’t even make delicious foods anymore” he added and walked off.
Anita staggered from the sudden loss of strength and she quickly held unto the closest chair to her to support herself. She could not believe the words coming from Joseph to her. She had been with him for sixteen years and tried her best to raise him with the same love she raised Tom with. She was surprised at his sudden outburst of behavior that she couldn’t even say anything in return. She managed to get herself back to her feet and went to clear the food off the table and clean up but she kept coughing at certain intervals with uncomfortable pain around her face but she ignored it as a flu mixed with fatigue so she just took some drugs and went inside to rest.
***
Phoebe and Elaine began the preparations towards the exhibitions, they were busy collecting the works of the artists so they can start arranging them. The paintings Tom sent over arrived and they couldn’t stop gushing over how excellent, alluring and beautiful it was.
“This is so wonderful, I feel the camera didn’t even do justice to it” Elaine blushed as she fixed her gaze on the painted board. Phoebe murmured a low “I know right” as she joined the staring competition with her hand under her chin.
Lawrence came to the storage to check the progress and he was also mesmerized by the beauty of his works. “I think we have the right person this time, I can wait to exhibit this work” he declared and Phoebe clapped in agreement.
***
As the day approached faster, Amber made sure to learn many things about arts, she also learnt the basic of sketching a little painting. She was picking up faster with the intense practice she was going through at the secret house. Tom was assured that she would do well so he told her that he trusts her and will provide all the help she might need.
On the other hand, Joseph was managing his company while trying his best to bring as many executives he can to his side since his goal is not only the subsidiary but the company in general. He kept signing deals and projects with various companies to strengthen Holland Chemicals and extend his connections.
He and Charles went out for a drink one fateful evening as Charles’ wedding was coming up. They arrived at the bar and he ranted on about how he can’t wait to chase Tom out of both the house and the company.
“You were always tolerant of him and didn’t show your colors for the past sixteen years so why are you taking things fast now?” Charles questioned before gulping down his shot of alcohol and Joseph circled his hand around his cup and muttered “If I don’t act fast, it’s either my father starts to get fond of him for continuous success or he takes over the company with his own brain. I have to act on my own end and not just wait for my father to do all the work” as he explained to Charles.
Charles nodded his head in agreement to what he had said. “If you keep stalling, he might really become the chairman like you have said. Do you want to join hands with me? My father can help you out, you know” he proposed and Joseph grabbed the opportunity immediately.
“What do you need me to do? If I can have you on my side then I have an upper hand already” Joseph remarked and Charles laughed a little before touching his shoulder, “You are too tense my friend, and it is showing so much that you don’t need to tell people. You just have to keep calm and carry out your moves so that no one will figure out whatever you are thinking” he advised and Joseph took a deep breathe.
Charles poured the last batch of liquor in the bottle into his cup and gulped it before staring at one of the waitress. “Do I have to beg before you bring me another bottle?” he bellowed and she quickly rushed to bring a brand new bottle to their table.
They had taken a single VIP room for themselves and the waitress that was to serve them was sitting at the other side of the chair waiting for their order to either mix drinks or bring them extras. She rushed out to bring another bottle and placed it on the table but Charles raised his cup and told her to pour it for him instead.
The waitress who was on a short strapless white gown and red heels walked over to his side and gently raised the opened bottle to pour the drink in his cup but she felt a hand on her behind as she was pouring it, making her stop midway.
Charles looked up to her with a hardened expression, “What are you doing? Why are you stopping? You don’t want to pour me anymore?” he asked, still fondling her behind.
She closed her eyes and swallowed her saliva anxiously before looking at him to see an evil grin on his face. She wanted to protest about how he cannot touch her without her permission but before she could open her mouth, he had yanked her to sit on his thigh and dipped his hand inside her opened thighs.
She gasped and opened her mouth in surprise but a moan escaped through it as he grazed his hand in front of her panties making her clench her thighs together with his hand still between it. The more she struggled, the more he rubbed hard on her and she didn’t know when she held unto him for her dear life before she falls off his hold. She moaned loudly as she begged for his mercy but he was enjoying the torture of pleasure he was putting her through.
She trashed his hand with her orgasm and he laughed so hard that she became embarrassed. He removed his hand and wiped the juice off his hand with one of the towels of the table before tossing a bundle of cash to her. She picked the money with her face hung below her hair to hide her shame before rushing out of the room and he laughed out loud making Joseph raised his brow.
“Did you see that? You remain calm until they come closer and you capture them when they least expected. They will never be able to fight back and they just stay to endure the torture you take them through, till they give up” he said with a smirk and Joseph muttered a low “You are a real psycho” before gulping down his drink.
****
Tom was to meet with a designer that afternoon to present the designs they would like to have in the store for the coming season. He was already on the way without Amber whom he left to take care of other things when he realized that he didn’t take along the draft proposal file.
He called Amber to help him check for it in his office but she told him that nothing like that was there. He thought about where he would have kept it and remembered that he had taken it out of his bag at home the previous night to fix some things and forgot it on the desk.
Since he was already on the way, he asked her to help him get the file at home. He informed her that his mother would be at home so she can show her the direction. She got home and found his mother stocking the fridge with some foods she just prepared. They briefly catch up on their last meeting as she helped her find the file in the room after showing her the way.
Anita excused herself to check up on what she was cooking, leaving Amber alone in the room for her to finish up the finding. Amber finally saw the file and rushed out to deliver it to her boss when she noticed a figure on the floor behind the cabinet. She stopped and walked over to the side where she saw Anita collapsed on the floor with her nose covered in yellowish discharge.
“What is happening?” she muttered as she looked at the sight in front of her.