Chapter 3 "Harriet Avellino"

“I could not understand. Why should we wait for a mere secretary before we can start eating?” Madell asked while sitting in front of the dining table, together with the whole family.

She looked at her parents, to Mr. Finn and Mrs. Sherly Fabroa, who both have their face crumpled as they stared at their spoiled brat daughter.

“I don’t understand why do I need to wait for that b*tch,” rolling her eyes, Madell continued.

A little later, Madell felt someone kicked her feet under the table. And it was done from her brother, who’s sitting beside her.

“Ouch!” she winced as she looked at her left side.

Zion turned his head to his sister. Just like Madell who has a gorgeous face and smooth skin as if bathed from milk, Zion was also blessed with handsome features and nice built.

He has a crew cut and darting eyes, Hades-black eyebrows affixed to an aesthetic face, a hawky’s nose and a shapely face. No wonder why many entertainment companies asked him if he has a plan to enter the showbiz. But he doesn’t need to be a celebrity just to be famous.

With his handsomeness, academic background and wealth, no women in the active city who won’t recognize Zion, the grandson of the billionaire Sorren.

“Why did you kick me?!” Madell complained to her brother.

Forging a cough, “Ahem,” Zion simply pointed their grandfather.

Madell’s eyes went to her grandfather’s side, who’s sitting at the center of the long mahogany table.

The old man with milky watery eyes, gray hair and wrinkled skin is Sorren Fabroa, the owner of  Fantell Architecture Firms, and the old billionaire who adopted Harriet.

Sorren took a glance at his br*tty granddaughter, who does not know how respect towards the food in front of them and towards the older people in this place.

On the contrary of her will, Madell opened her lips and apologized in low tome.

“S-Sorry. I didn’t mean to call her that, grandpa.”

The old man took a deep breath.

He grabbed for a glass of water and wetted his dry lips.

Everyone in the dining room felt the pressure as they watch the chairman drinks his water.

It’s been months since the last day they ate together as family. Even if they are living inside the huge mansion together, it is rare for them to see each other, moreover, to eat breakfast with the whole member.

A few days ago, they heard the rumor that Chairman Sorren would like to step down from the position and give the company to the next heir.

The couple, Sherly and Finn, think that today must be the day they will hear the chairman’s decision about who will inherit the company.

Will Finn get it? Or it will be pass to Finn’s son, Zion?

To get Sorren’s favor, Finn and Sherly must do their best to please the old man today. They don’t want to eat together with Harriet Avellino, the adopted orphan, but they don’t have the choice to decline the invitation.

However, the plan to please Sorren went futile as soon as Madell opened her lips.

[“What are you doing?!”] Sherly mouthed to her daughter.

[“What? I apologized!”] Madell mouthed back.

‘Tingkkkk.’

Thin sounds of glass butt hitting the table resonated in air. Sorren once looked at his son, his daughter-in-law, and his grandchildren.

“It’s been so long since the last day we ate together. But I don’t see any changes to Madell. How did you discipline her so far? I am curious of that,” Sorren said in throaty voice.

Madell bowed her head and pouted her lips while receiving her mom’s piercing glare.

On the other side, Finn could not help but draw a sarcastic smile on his mouth. He could not believe that his father will take the side of the adopted orphan, rather than his own granddaughter!

Sorren did not only raise and let Harriet study. He even gave her a good work as his own secretary and bought land under Harriet’s name.

Thinking about this, Finn had a bad premonition.

‘Father won’t let Harriet inherit the company, will he?’ he anxiously asked inwardly.

This is the first time they will eat breakfast together with Harriet; at the same time after they heard the rumor about the chairman’s stepping down from the position.

While thinking about this, Finn stared at his son, Zion.

There’s a possibility that Zion could be the next owner of Fantell firm. However, Zion has no interest in power, which makes it impossible for him to accept the position.

Now, Finn only has one hurdle to conquer.

‘Harriet Avellino,’ Finn told to himself while gritting his teeth. Ever since before, he really hates that kid. Aside from she’s not a real part of his family and he sees her very lowly, Finn is so jealous how his father is so affectionate with an adopted orphan.

‘My father did not accept me even once. So if he will give the company to Harriet, I cannot swear I’ll stay still,’ Finn promised while thinking of the innocent Harriet.

“I am really sorry, father,” Sherly apologized to Sorren. “Madell is just stress because she has too many school activities. Right, Madell?”

Sherly gave a signal to her daughter for her to agree at the excuse she made.

Madell, then, answered without energy. “Yeah. Right.”

Sorren nodded his head. Then he responded, “She is so stress? Is that why she was called by the guidance after she got caught taking cigarette in school?”

Madell’s eyes wide opened.

As far as she can remember, the issue was already settled by her mom and dad. So no one should know this, and it should be keep away from her grandpa. If there’s one person who said this to Sorren, it could be her! The one Madell hates the most!

“Did that b*tch, Harriet, told this to you?!” Madell shouted.

“Madell!” Sherly warned her daughter.

“That wench is really getting on my nerves! How dare she butt in my business when she is just a mere secretary and…!”

BAM!

Everyone stopped when Sorren banged the table with his fist.

Sherly and Madell’s face turned pale as they looked back at the chairman. Meanwhile, Zion is secretly laughing from the side.

‘This is the main reason why I hate visiting home,’ Zion sighed to himself.

As much as possible, Zion avoids going back to the mansion. He preferred staying in his condo unit instead. If there’s only one reason to go back, it is to check his grandfather and to see his friend, Harriet.

Zion is well-aware that in this house, Harriet is the prey among predators. His father is jealous of her, his mother thinks lowly of her and his sister bullies Harriet.

To avoid those, Zion told Harriet to get out of the mansion. But his childhood friend could not do it, saying she’s worried about the chairman’s health.

‘What will I do to that stubborn lady?’ Zion wondered while thinking of Harriet.

“You dared get mad, Madell?” Sorren asked his granddaughter.

Madell’s face went pale. She will stay still for now. Soon, she will definitely take a revenge to Harriet at  the time no one is looking; she promised that.

Madell is used to this; hurting Harriet physically.

“My daughter is indeed wrong,” Finn butt into the conversation. “But father, do we really need to eat together with your secretary?”

All pair of eyes looked at the chairman of Fantell firm. Even the maids of around, who heard these, are curious to the answer and waited for it. Among the maids, there’s Reese, Harriet’s self-proclaimed best friend.

Sorren wiped his wet lips using a clean table napkin. He cleared his throat and then answered.

“I will tell something important to everyone,” Sorren shared.

Is this the announcement that Finn and Sherly have been waiting for? About the new owner of the Fantell Architecture Firm?

The old man opened his lips, about to drop the news. But he couldn’t finish his words because a woman entered the space.

She’s the lady whom they all been waiting for.

“I am really sorry for being late,” Harriet greeted everyone.

When they looked at the side where the voice came from, they saw a beautiful lady wearing a yellow dress and pink lipstick.

They all know that she is Harriet Avellino. But her appearance, smile and the way she stand up with confidence are so different from the Harriet they saw yesterday.