CHAPTER 3

Two years later…

Vincent and Arabella Cameron went out of the car and closed the doors quietly. They stared down at the modern, contemporary beach house that was built several hundred feet above the beach. The architect that was hired had made sure that the house will not only be enjoying the panoramic view but also the natural ventilation and lighting as well as the function of the spaces.

“I wouldn’t mind exiling myself here, if I may say. No wonder Sam won’t give this up,” Arabella commented as they walked towards the entrance and saw Sam’s personal car at the garage. She turned to her brother. “Are you sure that about the plan we, both talked?”

“Not really,” Vincent answered calmly. “But, as what we had promised her, we will tell her everything.”

“Did Damian say when he will be coming when he called you?”

Vincent shook his head.

“I didn’t bother asking him,” he replied seriously. “Who knows? He might be already here, checking out the property and probably investigating Sam’s background.”

“I still could not picture that young man before turning into a cold-hearted man,” she stated. She raised her hand when they reached the front door and pushed the doorbell. “Hopefully, Sam can be persuaded.”

Before one of them raised their hand again towards the doorbell, the gigantic, wooden door opened and their father’s long-time butler greeted them.

“It’s good to see the two of you checking on her,” Lucius Greenberg said to them softly but with a stern look. “But too long, if I may say from your last visit. Busyness at work is not an excuse.”

“You had always been partial to her, Lucius,” Ara answered with a smile. She walked towards the living room and was surprised at the clutter on the floor. “I take it that our stepmother has something on her mind again?”

“Madam just finished packing all the kits she’s giving out to the children for the sports clinic down at the beach,” the butler replied. “She sponsored the uniform and added some hygiene kits as well as sunblock.”

Ara only shook her head in amusement.

“I take it she’s got nothing to do and suddenly thought of it,” she mused.

“If you’re here to persuade Madam to get her back to work, I’ll be more than please,” Lucius answered honestly. “Talent and tenacity like hers should not be wasted and be used well.”

“That’s what we’re planning, Lucius,” Vincent said. “Provided that mind of hers won’t be stubborn, it’s going to be a piece of cake for us convincing her that we need her back at Cameron.”

“Whose mind is stubborn?”

The three turned towards one direction and saw Samantha, coming inside from the sliding door while removing the leash from her German Shepherd, Gunny.

“Definitely yours,” Vincent answered with a grin after Sam gave them a hug and led them towards the dining area where Hannah, her housekeeper immediately served them some refreshing drinks. “But we’re hoping that it won’t be present today since we need your cooperation.”

Sam looked at them curiously.

“What’s going on?” She asked.

Ara looked at her brother and waited for him to nod as his go-signal. She turned to Sam, the woman their father married and old enough either to be their daughter. “The family has decided to sell a portion of our shares on Cameron Elite,” she started and watched Sam’s expression carefully. “Vince and I talked about it before coming here and know that this is the best way for us. We’ve got too much on our hands with Capital.”

“How much percent will that leave you, two?” Samantha asked.

“Four each,” Ara replied. “The children except for Jess retained theirs. Jess decided to let go half of it. After working at Cameron Capital during school break, she decided to pursue her career there.”

Samantha remained silent for a while, digesting the information.

“Who from the board sold theirs?” She finally asked carefully.

“Most of them, leaving each one a percent or two,” Vincent replied slowly. He placed his glass down and looked at her. “So far, 31% has already been transferred to the new holder. When we talked to the board, they all agreed that it was best for the company to go with the times.”

Ara glanced at her brother when Sam remained silent again. She watched carefully, knowing her well enough that Samantha is now connecting the dots to the discussion that they are having.

“Let me guess,” Sam said slowly. “I’m next in line, right? Or should I say the last one? I take that the buyer will demand that I let go half of my shares to gain control?”

“Let’s put it that way,” Vincent answered. “You always know the end game of a situation, Sam.”

Sam gave them a smile as she stood up when she heard her mobile phone ringing. She picked it up and stared at the screen for a while. “Thank you for telling me and I really appreciate it,” she answered as she sat down again, not answering her phone. “But I promised your dad that I will not be selling them until it’s really needed. Don’t worry. I’m not upset and I’m sure your dad won’t also be. He built too much during his prime and then casually handed them off like it’s a piece of cake. He mentioned it just one time that he won’t mind if shares will be sold as long as not all of them.”

“Who’s the buyer anyway?”

Before one of them could answer, they turned when the phone on the kitchen counter rang loudly. “Still keeping a landline, Sam?” Vince asked teasingly.

“You bet,” Sam replied with a grin as she stood up to answer it. “Especially when it’s unlisted like my mobile. Just imagined savoring the peace I’m having ever since moving here.”

“Hello?”

“This is Mrs. Cameron,” Sam answered formally after a few seconds. She turned towards the two, her expression showing them about the person she is talking with. “To whom am I speaking to?”

Ara turned to Vincent with her eyebrows raised in alarm.

“This Monday?”

Sam was stuttering from the answer of the caller on the other line and then scowled, angrily returning the phone to its cradle.

“Insolent man,” she quipped.

“Who called?”

“Mr. Damian McLaren’s secretary,” Samantha huffed. “He asked if I’m available for a meeting this coming Monday. He says that it was important and urgent.”

“Well, you can come back with us tomorrow,” Ara answered. “Vince and I are planning to stay here for the night. We can talk over some things so you can be prepared for the meeting.”

“Who says I’m going?!” Sam asked them, bewildered.

“Didn’t you just confirm?”

Samantha shook her head with a sly grin. “I never said so nor confirmed. It was a question and that rude, arrogant and fool secretary thought that I did,” she answered dryly. “The beach volleyball tournament starts tomorrow. I’m going to rest on Monday. Anyway, I’ll go tell Hannah to fix your room and talk with the chef for our dinner.”

The two watched as Sam disappeared when she turned towards the right, calling Hannah’s name.

“Does she know who she’s going up against?!” Ara asked intently. “Why the f8ck are your smiling, Vince? We need to warn Sam of the man she’s going to be colliding with.”

Vincent shook his head.

“I don’t think so,” he answered as he leaned back on his chair and whistled for Gunny to come to him. “The ba$tard doesn’t also know the woman he’s going up against. All he knows are the things he reads online and from what his investigators give him.”

“The way I’m looking at you, you seemed to be planning something,” Ara commented. “Damian’s ruthless and I’m concerned on what he’s going to do with Sam. He might even bring up her marriage to dad.”

“He definitely will and I’m hoping he’s going to do that. Trust me, Ara. Sam can very well take care of herself,” Vincent chuckled. “Sam was first introduced by dad at the company, Damian was on his last few weeks, remember? They weren’t able to meet and interact personally.”

Ara nodded.

“I was there during that time and I managed to glanced at him,” Vincent continued with a grin. “I know that look well enough to realize that he’s got the hots for Sam as well as disgust at the same time.”

“No way,” Ara argued firmly. “Damian’s a playboy and the entire office knows that! Remember that I had to pry Lucilla away from him because she started flirting with him when she was working there during school break? He’s going to break her to get his way.”

“He will. Eventually,” Vincent replied patiently. “But Sam will be giving him chase, trust me. Let’s just watch over Sam, sis. If we see her cornered, then we will intervene.”