03: You Will Regret It

Once we had taken seats in his study, Stefan Ford started.

"I heard you have been wanting to buy a piece of land and preparing for it for a year or two."

I raised a brow. I thought my movement was subtle. Or maybe someone was bought off by him behind my back. 

"Yes, it's going to be in the auction next week."

"I can help you."

"You can?" I looked at him.

"S.A Ford Inc. is sponsoring that event this time. With my one call, the land would not be shown to others and you can keep it for yourself," Stefan Ford said.

I am confident he is not this nice.

He would never help me for nothing.

"Yes, but I have a condition that you have to fulfil first." Of course, a condition. I sneered. I did not want his help, but I wanted to see for myself how could my dear father help me.

"You have to merge S.A Ford Inc. with the Empire Group of Industries and make me have 40% authority in the company."

40%?

Stefan Ford was surely playing smart. He wanted to be merged with the company my grandfather and mother left behind for me and was also after 40% authority in the company which meant he wanted to be the next in command after me, the CEO.

Grandfather was right.

Before his death, my maternal grandfather made a will that all his business would be taken over by his daughter and after her– his maternal granddaughter, Victoria Ford.

That day when I was given the business, he called me out on his deathbed and said, "Don't get involved with your father when you officially become the CEO. That sly fox is keeping his eyes on Empire for years and now that I will no longer be here, he will try to snatch the company from you by any means, so always be 4 steps ahead of him."

"You can rest assured, Grandpa. I will never let him have the business you have made with your blood, sweat, and tears. I will forever follow what I have been taught by you."

"I believe you." My grandfather smiled and closed his eyes peacefully. After that day, he never woke up.

"You already have 7% stakes in Empire.  Why do you want to be merged with it?"

7% was already a huge benefit to anyone who had something to do with the Empire. Even a 1% share would be traded for hundreds of millions.

"Because that way," Stefan Ford tried to find words, "the father-daughter bond between us will strengthen. Whenever you get stuck in a deal, I will provide you assistance as I'm much more experienced in the business world."

When I did nothing, Stefan Ford took this chance to continue coaxing me with a soft tone.

"I'm afraid people won't take my words seriously, thus this 40% authority. Relying on a senior will certainly pave the way for a young one like you. My daughter, don't you agree?"

I inhaled. I would not fall for his manipulation. He never considered me his daughter and left me to die that day. If it were not for my grandfather finding me, I would have been dead.

"If your intention is purely just to strengthen our bond, why do we need to involve our businesses, Father?" My lips curled up and I smiled, though my eyes were anything but smiling. The only reason he was being kind to me was that I had Empire in my hands. 

Stefan Ford was at a loss for words. That sight made me laugh and I shook my head, getting up.

"Did you assume I don't know what is happening inside your company?"

"I don't understand, Victoria..." Father tried to laugh it out to hide his nervousness, standing up too. "Whosoever has given you the news, it is all false information."

"You thought you have everything covered up, Father, but everyone in the business world knows about your company. It's just an empty shell with no investors around anymore. Anyone who will invest in S.A Ford. will face nothing but loss."

"Did you investigate me?" My father questioned furiously. "Wait..." 

He became more livid when a realisation dawned on him, "You have your men placed in my company to spy on me." 

"Didn't you do the same?" I crossed my arms, a mocking glint passed my eyes. "After all, we share the same blood."

"You're being too much!"

"You only wanted the name of Empire Group of Industries to attract investors this is why you approached me." I continued saying. "It wasn't difficult to guess it." 

"You will regret it, Victoria. Look what happened to your Mom. She was the same as you. You will have no one to rely on or support you. You'll be alone." Father glared at me sharply, his gentle facade no more.

Sigh, I knew it. Stefan Ford could never be the true father of mine.

"Father, I stopped relying on people the moment I was forced to grow up," I smirked and picked up my phone from the table, going out of the room.

Outside the room, I saw Kristina with a scowl on her face, arms crossed. The kind, concerned face she was showing at the dinner table was not visible anymore. Truly, birds of a feather flock together.

Not wanting to spoil my mood any longer, I moved past her.

"You don't want to help your father, someone who has brought you up? If we had known you would turn out to be like this, then–"

"He brought me up?" Stopping, I tilted my face, my voice strong and sharp. "Mind you, he was too occupied with his other family to even attend one parents-teacher meeting of mine— his legitimate eldest daughter." Mom's miserable, agony-filled face appeared before my eyes and I took a sharp breath, calming myself. 

She would wait for Stefan Ford to come home for days, only to be disappointed in the end. After her death, only then I got to know the reason behind his disappearance. 

"How dare you!"

Kristina's nostrils flared as she raised her hand at me, intending to slap me.

As soon as she attempted, I blocked her hand and pushed her away.

She would have attacked me again if it were not for my father. It was absolutely unbelievable how this woman changed her face right on the spot.

"Stefan, I... I'm sure Victoria didn't mean it." Kristina's voice turned soft. "I am sure you must have said something to infuriate her."

"Staying out of the home has made you mannerless that you've even forgotten how to respect your elders." Father spat.

I did not look in his direction but rather focused my attention on the woman who seemed pleased when she saw Stefan Ford angry at me.

"Drop your act already. I'm not a child who will go along with it." I made sure my voice came out as blank as possible.

***

"Non-alcoholic," I instructed and did not look up.

I started tapping on my phone rapidly. Setting up planners for future events in the company.

"Ma'am, we offer only–"

This time I darted my eyes at the bartender who seemed to be around eighteen or nineteen with boyish facial features.

I have not seen him before.

Where is the previous guy who knew my preference?

"She's special, Brody." A voice came behind me.