Mrs. Lilian, who had earlier made up an excuse of being emotionally stressed, soon found herself growing restless. After spending a few minutes alone, she became bored. She had tried a couple of activities she usually found fun—reading a magazine, scrolling through her phone, even arranging her jewelry—but none of them held her interest. Nothing seemed to capture her attention or lift her mood. Her thoughts kept drifting back to the company, her son Wilson, and the unsettling news swirling around the Palma family.After pacing around for a while, she made up her mind. She would visit the company. It had been a while since she’d dropped by to see how things were going, and the thought of being around her son, despite their recent quarrels, brought her a sense of comfort.Mr. Palma, her husband, had bought her a new dress over the weekend. The move had been an attempt to woo her into talking to Wilson, but that hadn’t gone well. By the end of that day, she had ended up in an even bigger
Upon Mrs Lilian’s arrival at the company, she requested to be taken to see her husband but was notified of the meeting which was still being held. “Oh please, I'm the wife of the Chairman. I can attend any meeting of the company at any time of the day, so get out of my way” she commanded the securities at the door post. Out of fear of disrespecting the boss's wife, the security had no choice but to interrupt the meeting.“Come in” Mr Palma’s voice echoed from inside the office. This was Mrs Lilian's cue to make an entrance for herself. And so she came face to face with the executives of the company, and of course, her family. “Mom?” Wilson called out in disbelief.“What are you doing here Lilian?” Mr Palma asked his wife who replied to his question with a smile. “I'm so sorry to interrupt your meeting honey. I just felt like I should be present to know what's going on in the company. I promise, you won't know I'm here” Mrs Lilian assured her husband. “Well of course you can stay
Mr Thomas and Lucia got to their destination after a train ride which lasted for about three hours. Upon getting to Mr Benson's supposed house, they found the place desolate. Their only source of help was from a neighbor who had noticed the strangers standing for a while. “Who are you, and why are you trying to look into a person's house?” asked the middle aged lady. “We're sorry if we seem suspicious. I would like to know the whereabouts of Mr Benson, the lawyer who lives here” Mr Thomas pointed out. “Lawyer?” the middle aged lady asked in confusion. Her response made it known to Mr Thomas that there was something fishy going on. “Yes. Isn't this house owned by Mr Benson?” Mr Thomas asked. “I don't know about any lawyer. I moved into this neighborhood four years ago, and I know every occupant of each resident. I don't know of any Mr Benson” the lady uttered.“Okay then. I must confess I'm quite surprised. I know I haven't seen him in a long time, but I didn't expect him to relo
“Oh goodness! I can't believe my eyes. Am I seeing things now?” Mr Benson's facial expression was a mix of surprise and happiness all together. “Not at all. It's really me, my old friend” Mr Thomas answered with a broad smile. It wasn't long after that Mr Benson quickly opened up the car and quickly went to hug Mr Thomas. Lucia witnessed a reunion right before her, but still had to observe some things about Mr Benson. Judging from the way Mr Benson walked, he seemed to have a bad leg. His car was very old and at the point where he was to come out, his car door handle proved difficult to open. She however didn't speak up, as it would be disrespectful and uncalled for. The only person who was in the right position to ask such questions was Mr Thomas. “Where do I even start? Why and how are you even here? I have so many questions that need answers. How is Mrs Benita and your son?” Mr Benson asked, jumping from one question.“One at a time Ben. We have a lot of time to discuss and ca
At hearing Mr Benson words, Lucia felt her heart stop for a millisecond.“W…what do you mean by that? How could you say such a thing? You're the best man for the job” Mr Thomas said with a reassuring laugh and a tap to Benson's shoulders. Mr Benson was known for sometimes making silly jokes and Mr Thomas thought to himself that he still remained the same after all the past years. It was however confirmed that Benson was dead serious when he kept quiet without a smile on his face. He wasn't joking about what he said. With this realization, Mr Thomas force stopped his laugh and wore a blank expression on his face. “What happened Ben? Were you fired by your law firm? Tell me everything” Mr Thomas demanded with all seriousness. “Well…yes. Sir, It's a complicated situation all together, and I don't like recalling or talking about the story of my failure. It only opens up closed wounds and reminds me of how big of a fool I am” Ben puked from his cavity. “Now why would you say such thi
“She did call me names. For the first time since our marriage, she referred to me as a coward. She also threatened to leave me if I resign from the new firm. This was of course after I had told her of my intentions to drop the court case due to what was involved” Mr Benson explained. “Did she really do that? I knew Roselle to be a supportive wife, even when times were hard. What changed?” Mr Thomas pondered in an audible voice. “Money! You think you're content with the little you have until you climb to a position where there's every possibility of getting a lot of money. The client in particular offered to pay me 20 grand. When I blatantly refused the money, he raised it up till it was up to 200 grand, exactly multiplied by ten times. At the end of everything, he left me alone with a promise to make my life miserable. He assured me that my call to the bar certificate would be useless at the end of the day, and he stuck to his words” Mr Benson voiced out. “And that's why you're her
The sound of confused chattering immediately filled the room after Wilson's unexpected statement. Mrs Lilian smiled inwardly and thought to herself, ‘what a smart son I have’.“Why did you say such a thing, son? You don't judge a book by its cover you know” Mr Palma brought to Wilson's remembrance. “And who said I was judging a book by its cover when I've actually flipped through its pages? I've had a good number of times I tried to talk to her and make peace, but the arrogant missy won't just give me a chance would she? Count me off anything that has to do with her. The only thing I owe her at this moment is my presence in court” Wilson puked from his cavity. “I wasn't aware of this son. You never said such a thing to me. What was your experience with talking to her?” Mr Palma asked. “I wouldn't like to waste everyone's precious time, so I'll give you proper information back in the office. For now, I say we go on with the meeting and if possible plan the press conference” Wilson
All over the hall were cameras flashing, videographers on stand, and most importantly the press who had their wireless microphones at standby to fire on questions. The hall had become noisy at a point from arguments and the likes of it. Mr Palma stole this opportunity to make an entrance. At the sight of Mr Palma, the noise suddenly died down as people comported themselves in their most professional way. Mr Palma of course had his right hand man Wilson follow him to the podium due to a high chance of some questions being directed to him. Their protocol members were on standby to prevent violence, a good sign that everything was ready to be kick-started. “Good day ladies and gentlemen. Standing before you is Mr Palma, the founder of the Palma's Fabric Company. Accompanied by me is the CEO of the company, the person of Wilson Palma. We apologize for the emergency meeting which was brought up, but something had to be done fast to prevent the downfall of the Palma's company. I promise
The ‘feast’ mood in Lucia and Mr. Thomas seemed to have vanished into thin air after the unsettling encounter with Wilson. While Lucia wrestled with thoughts about what she had done to deserve such an experience, Mr. Thomas, on the other hand, couldn’t stop thinking about the court case. Although the legal matter didn’t really concern him, he had grown attached to Lucia, considering her like a third daughter, even though they had only known each other for a short time.They were both so absorbed in their thoughts that they didn’t realize when they had arrived at their destination. It wasn’t until the taxi driver’s persistent voice brought them back to reality.“Hello? Can you hear me?” the driver called out, slightly annoyed. “Huh?” they both muttered in unison, snapping out of their trance as they turned to face the driver who had been waiting for them to acknowledge him.“We’re here. Isn’t this where you wanted to go?” the driver asked, gesturing to the building in front of them.
As Wilson and Jimmy drove through the streets and back to the Palma mansion, the weight of their mission loomed over them. Wilson, with his mind racing through the next steps, broke the silence after it was observed for some minutes. “Tomorrow is a workday, but I'll have my dad and Sandra handle everything while I’m away. You and I will be visiting Miss Lucia. I need you to find her workplace and get back to me as soon as possible. It’s crucial that you gather all the information you can, and if necessary, use any means to get it. I expect a report before midnight.” Wilson uttered, calculating the magnitude of his every word before saying it out.Jimmy, though used to Wilson’s demanding nature, was surprised by the urgency. He glanced at the clock on the dashboard to be sure of the time, and sure enough, it was late. “Tonight? But it’s already late, Sir. People might not be willing to talk at this hour as they may be packing up their shops or finding their way home” Jimmy explained
Lucia's fury surged as she picked up the empty bag, her hands trembling with anger."What is the meaning of this?" she demanded, her voice cutting through the noise of the market like a sharp blade. She had reached her breaking point."Get out of my sight, asshole! Just leave me alone. My life was going just fine until you interfered," Lucia spat, her words filled with venom as she swung the empty bag at Wilson. The bag, light and harmless, did little to physically hurt him, but it was the gesture that carried the weight of her frustration and pain.Wilson, caught off guard by the sudden attack, instinctively raised his arms to protect his face, which was his number one priority.Jimmy, who had been standing nearby, sprang into action. "Woah, woah, woah, take it easy, ma'am. You're hurting my boss," he shouted as he rushed over to Wilson's side, quickly grabbing the bag from Lucia's grasp. His loyalty to Wilson was unwavering, but even he could see the intensity in Lucia's eyes.Mr.
Lucia had successfully poured out her heart to the citizens who were available to hear her. The open speech she made had captured the attention of many, spreading like wildfire across social media. Afterward, she went on with Mr. Thomas to pick up whatever they had planned to get at the market. Her emotions were still tingling from the confrontation, but she politely requested to be shown the full video of the press conference that had triggered her anger in the first place.As she watched the video, her fury reignited. "I can't believe this guy," Lucia muttered under her breath, her voice shaking with emotion. "He has all the money and fame, and he uses it to manipulate people, to turn them to his side. Meanwhile, people like me are left to suffer alone. He tried to bribe me with that money, but he sure has his way of sweet-talking out of trouble." Lucia’s voice cracked as she spoke, her anger mingling with the sadness she carried within her. The injustice of it all seemed unbearab
Wilson and his dad, Mr. Palma, were already halfway home when Wilson’s phone rang. The name “Sandra” flashed on the screen, and Wilson’s brow furrowed in confusion. Sandra rarely called outside of work hours unless something was truly urgent. They had already wrapped up the day’s work, so this unexpected call felt unsettling.He hesitated for a moment, his thumb hovering over the answer button before he finally picked up. He then remained silent, waiting for Sandra to speak first, a habit he had developed in dealing with unexpected situations.“Sir, I’m so sorry to disturb whatever you’re doing, but you need to see the news. Miss Lucia is at her worst, causing a lot of issues. Live videos of her are currently circulating online, and she’s talking about you,” Sandra’s voice was tinged with concern.Wilson felt a cold shiver run down his spine. Lucia, again? The memory of their last encounter still lingered in his mind, and now she was publicly speaking about him. His pulse quickened, b
Lucia and Mr. Thomas had decided to stop by one of the busiest and most popular sub-streets in Chicago, a place well-known to the city’s middle class and poorer citizens. They needed to pick up a few things for the family.Earlier on the train, they had excitedly planned a mini feast to celebrate a successful deal with Mr. Benson. The feast was only possible if they visited the market, so they had made a quick detour before heading home.Mr. Thomas, who was such a sweet gentleman, respected the “ladies first” rule and allowed Lucia to lead the way. She walked ahead, her thoughts clouded by the discussion with Mr Ben, while Mr. Thomas followed closely behind. As they entered the crowded market, the usual bustle and noise surrounded them. The scent of spices mixed with the smell of fresh produce was everywhere, while vendors called out to potential customers, their voices competing for attention. Lucia had always found this part of the city oddly charming, despite its chaos. But today
“What can I get you Sirs?” The young and pretty waitress asked with a warm smile as she approached the table where Mr. Palma and Wilson had settled in the elegant restaurant. The place was all polished wood, ambient lighting, and the kind of atmosphere that invited deep conversations.“Well, I'll be having the macaroni and brie with the crab. Top that with a sweet and tangy sauce which you think would be best to go with the meal. I'll also have the cauliflower steak with hazelnut and browned butter. I'll have two portions of that,” said Mr. Palma, taking the lead with his eyes scanning the menu one last time before handing it back to the waitress. His voice was calm and measured, as if he had all the time in the world.The waitress nodded, jotting down his order with swift, practiced movements. She then turned to Wilson with the same polite smile. “And for you, sir?” the waitress asked, in expectancy of a reply. Wilson glanced at the menu briefly before responding, “I'll go with th
“Wow, son! You did a better job handling that question than I had imagined. I thought that lady had you trapped in a tight spot, but you proved me wrong,” Mr. Palma said to his son when they both returned to Wilson's office. His eyes twinkled with pride, the kind of pride that only a father feels when his son rises above expectations. The echoes of the press conference still rang in their ears, but Mr. Palma was more focused on the fact that Wilson had displayed his critical thinking skills perfectly and at just the right moment.“Well, thank you, Mr. Palma,” Wilson responded, his voice carrying a mix of relief and pride. “That reporter had my weakness pegged and made sure everyone knew it. It really took a lot of brainwork to wriggle out of that one, but what can I say? I’m your true blood,” Wilson added, with a touch of humor.As they settled into the office, Wilson’s thoughts began to wander. It wasn’t long before he noticed something—or rather, someone—missing. His mother’s abse
“Really? But why? I’m sure Mr. Wilson would like to stay in his lane to protect his esteem, at least after what I did to him,” Lucia said confidently. She knew to an extent that Wilson wouldn't change his proud and arrogant ways, especially not for her. Calling her would be hurting his pride. Mr. Benson’s response surprised her. He chuckled softly, shaking his head in understanding. “You mean the little act of flinging cash in his face? You don’t understand what someone like Mr. Wilson might do to protect his reputation. People in his position can be incredibly ruthless. They might go as far as kidnapping you if things don’t go their way. The rich aren’t like they are portrayed on TV. They’re often a mix of crazy lunatics and ruthless individuals who use their wealth to maintain their facade. You only see their dark side when you become an enemy or a significant annoyance. I strongly advise you to stay cautious. Avoid going out at night and stick to well crowded places for your own