Playing Willow Duke’s game

Grace burst into a loud roar of laughter with her right hand placed comfortably on her chest, this all sounded funny to her, she couldn’t believe her ears “what did you just say Willow?”

“You heard me…” she quickly opened her handbag and got her smartphone out, quickly she dialed Riley’s number and asked her to come straight to the boardroom, she turned to Grace “you know very well that this company is at the verge of bankruptcy and would collapse totally if people like me withdraw their shares, I expect you to welcome this idea.”

Grace was stunned, she hit her hand on the desk and stood up “how dare you try to threaten me? Have you forgotten I am one of the reasons why you became a billionaire in the first place? I introduced you to Riley’s father.”

Willow shrugged “what about that? You did what you had to do, your son would marry my daughter, I want them to get engaged on his birthday which is obviously few days away.”

Grace's eyes widened, she looked super shocked, she couldn’t believe that Willow was the one saying this to her “it’s obvious that you have lost your mind, threaten me one more time and I would prove to you that you shares means absolutely nothing to the financial status of this company.”

Riley walked into the boardroom, she went straight to Willow who stood up “take a good look at my daughter, turn around Riley.”

Riley reluctantly obeyed even though she was totally unaware of what was going on.

“My daughter is beautiful even better than that thing your son is dating, so why are you hesitating to get them married?” She asked arching her brows.

Riley was shocked, she left mouth agape, she couldn’t process what she just heard.

“I am sure you weren’t deaf when I said it won’t happen, I would not force my son to do what he doesn’t want to” Grace walked out on them only to bump into us outside.

Both I and Finn noticed she was furious, I looked ahead and there was my mother in the boardroom with her daughter, they seemed to be arguing, I was curious and wished I could figure out what the problem was.

Grace was really so good at switching moods, that is one thing I noticed about her, she would make a great actress if she auditions, I watched her apologize for what had happened earlier and begged me not to sue Rita for assault.

I shrugged innocently “don’t worry ma’am, Mr Finn already spoke to me about it.”

“I like her already” Grace said laughing softly.

Finn nodded feeling super proud of his decision to employ me without hesitation, besides one quality of a personal assistance is patience and tolerance “I know you would, she would resume work tomorrow.”

Grace nodded.

“Who do we have here?” My mother asked stepping out of the boardroom with Riley, at that point I got nervous, my anger seemed to have built up massively and I was at the verge of an outburst but I held myself back shutting my eyes and taking a deep breath.

“Finn, you look good today, what was all that noise I was hearing earlier? Don’t tell me it’s your crazy girlfriend again, aren’t you tired of the same episode repeating itself over and over again?” my mother said, she giggled.

She was mocking Finn and I could feel it, I watched Grace glare at her, at that point I confirmed my suspicions, something odd was really going on, Riley on the other hand seemed very uncomfortable.

“Meet my daughter, Riley Duke” She introduced.

Finn totally unaware of whatever it is that was going on even though he felt insulted by Willow’s statement, exchanged handshakes with Riley who actually hesitated to shake hands with him but none of that bothered him at all.

“And who is she?” My mother asked turning to me, she took a quick glance at me from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet with disgust written all over her face.

I was furious, I wished I could scratch her eyes out but I rather forced a smile.

“Oh! This is Octavia Harris, my new personal assistant” Finn introduced me to her, what an irony, someone else is introducing her own daughter to her.

Willow nodded “too hot for a personal assistant I must say” she muttered taking a glance at my behind, well my ass was pretty massive.

I heard what she said even though her tone was low but those words rather made me feel very proud of myself, if I am hot that means I stand a chance in getting Finn’s attention someday, I took a glance at him and shook my head at once, not again, I need to focus if I really want to teach my mother a lesson.

“You’re welcome to Caddel group of companies Octavia Harris” my mother said smiling at me.

I smiled back even though I didn’t want to “thank you ma’am.”

I watched her hurry out with her daughter who looked very upset, Finn turned to his mother “what is going on?”

“Nothing son…” she answered walking away heading straight to her office.

Finn looked a little lost for a while, then he turned to me, thanked me for my patience and asked me to resume work the next day, I nodded and also thanked him for employing me.

I hurried out and met my mother standing with her Riley arguing nonstop, this was an opportunity for me to find out what the problem was so I tiptoe hiding behind a car while I eavesdropped on their conversation.

“Why do you keep forcing things on me? First you insisted that I can’t be a fashion designer, now you are trying to get me married to Finn Caddel without seeking my consent, what am I to you? Some sort of tool you can toy around with?” Riley cried out angrily.

“What do you know? All I am doing is for your own good and that of our family, I have seen more than enough in life to know that you getting married to Finn would secure your future but unfortunately it wouldn’t be easy to achieve that, I tried to threaten Grace, I told her that I would be withdrawing my shares from the company if she doesn’t have Finn marry you but then it dawned on me that I don’t really have enough shares to get her scared and make her do whatever I want” she looked worried.

Riley shrugged “so what do you want to do about that now?”

“Get more shares of course” Willow leaned on her car.

“And how do you intend to do that? No one in his sane mind would sell their shares to you” Riley said staring strangely at our mother.

Willow chortled “who said they have to be in their sane mind to sell their shares to me? All I have to do is get them to sell their shares to me and you would be getting engaged to Finn on his birthday which is just few days away.”

Riley’s gasped “what??? But mum I don’t want to, I don’t love him, he doesn’t love me either, this is a bad idea mum.”

“Just shut your mouth Riley and get in the car!” She yelled sounding pissed off.

They both got into the limousine and it zoomed off.

I walked out of my hiding place looking really shocked “and when I thought I have seen it all, these billionaires keep playing dirty games” I said and flagged down a cab, I asked him to follow the limo “let’s see what you’re up to today mum.”