Chapter 20: Chapter 20

“Should I book flight tickets for both of us?” Dolly asked immediately as she entered. Henrietta was walking toward her closet to get dressed. She halted in front of the door, she turned around and lifted her brow perplexingly. Dolly sighed softly, she believed Henrietta never checked the email she sent.

“Tickets for what?” Henrietta eventually asked after a brief silence. She moved her hand to her hair to remove the towel she wrapped on her head.

Dolly hit her forehead as she grumbled with frustration. She rolled her eyes and took a pace close to her. “Didn't you receive my email yesterday?”

She frowned while drying her wet hair with the white towel. “Of course I did but I didn't have time to check it. Yesterday was really a terrible day, I'm still doing what I should be doing to get the contract. That manipulated bitch–” She seethed through gritted teeth.

Dolly sighed, she knew who she was referring to. If it wasn't Maggie then it was no one. “Maggie?”

“Who else? She's really a headache. I don't really know what else to do to get rid of her out of the industry. She's really a threat. As I see it now everyone is doing things in her favor.`` Henrietta paused for a while to catch her breath. She put a hand on her forehead and massaged it tenderly. “I don't know what to do. The director doesn't even care about me anymore.”

“Did you remember what you did to him?” Dolly reminded her of what she did to the director on her first date with him.

“But I've apologized for what I did. It was an accident and I lost control over my temper. Do you really expect me to sit back when he wasn't trying to hit on me? I don't care if he makes me a subordinate. I just want to be the model for Sullivan's company, I want to appear in the same magazines as Richard.”

“Your ex husband?”

“You're really annoying. Do you really have to spit that to my face? Yes, being the model for his company would earn the best model.” She strolled toward a chair, she sat down and adjusted the white bathrobe she was wearing.

“Why don't you discuss it with Richard? Both of you might have a past but the fact still remains that you were once his wife. I'm pretty sure he'll do it for your son's sake.”

Henrietta snapped her fingers in the air. She beamed when she remembered another strategy. “That's really a great idea. Guess what? I have the best idea. I have to dress up now, Richard and I need to talk.”

“How will you do that? The last time I checked he doesn't want to have anything to do with you.”

She rose and flipped her hair back pompously. “He doesn't have anything to do with me but I'll prove to him that I'm more than who he thinks I am. Miguel—Dolly, cancel our vacation plan. I changed my mind.”

“Why?”

“I'm going to get the contract. I don't need to go on a break anymore. I'm going to prove to everyone that I am Henrietta Sullivan. Dolly resisted the urge of rolling her eyes. She scoffed softly while staring at her. “Just a moment.” Henrietta strutted to the closet, she grabbed a black lace up dress, a pair of heels that match with the dress and a purse. She stepped out and went to her dressing table.

“Let me dry the hair.” Dolly took the hairdryer from her, she began to dry it with the hairdryer. She styled the hair by twirling it, she ran her fingers through it and lifted a brow. “How is this?”

“Beautiful.” She applied make-up on her face, she applied a bright red lipstick and moistened her lips. She rose and sauntered to the bed, she doffed the bathrobe and extended it to Dolly. “Do you think I should wear this?”

“It's easy to take off.”

Henrietta giggled, she understood what she meant after all. She shook her head while giggling. She dressed up and wore heels, she picked the purse on the bed, she walked up to the mirror, she stared at her reflection in the mirror and smiled brightly.

“I have to go now.” Dolly didn't respond. As Henrietta was about to exit the room Dolly mobilized courage.

“I think it's high time you bring your son home, don't you think? You should talk to him.”

“I don't want Miguel, I want Richard.” She replied with no remorse.

“But you gave birth to the child?”

“I never wanted to have that child. He's also the reason Richard divorced me. He hates me for choosing the contract over Miguel.” Henrietta noticed she was talking too much. She shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly and smiled brightly. “But I can't use Miguel to get my family back. Bye-bye.” Henrietta walked out.

Dolly was nearly speechless. She had talked to Henrietta to get Miguel back but it seemed like she didn't want the child after all. Sometimes Dolly thought Miguel meant nothing to his mother as the only thing she cared about was either Richard or her reputation. Being her childhood friend Henrietta never listened to her, she would always do the first thing that came to her mind.

Henrietta stepped out of the mansion, she sauntered toward the car, she pressed a button and the car bleeped. She opened the door, hopped in and drove out of the mansion. She didn't bother to call Richard since she knew he would pick and if he actually did he would definitely cut her off.

Within twenty minutes she reached the company, she headed to the entrance that led inside the skyscraper. She wore her sunglasses as she strutted pompously.

“Wow! Is that not Henrietta?”

“Oh. My gosh! Why is she here?”

“I'm sure she's here to meet the CEO.”

People kept murmuring while admiring her as she strutted toward the elevator. She pressed a button and it slid open, she walked in, before she could press a button a lady already did preventing it from closing. She couldn't walk in when she saw Henrietta, she stood in front of the elevator without making any attempt.

“Ma'am.” She stuttered astonishingly.

Henrietta huffed softly, she rolled her eyes and pressed a button and the elevator closed. Henrietta took the elevator to the 90th floor. She stepped out when the elevator slid open. She made the way toward the officer. The workers greeted her but she ignored them totally. She stood in front of his office, she pressed a button on the door and it opened automatically. She entered.

“Richard.”

Unexpectedly Richard wasn't the one in his office, it was the chairman, Mr Sullivan. He looked up to look at the person. Henrietta halted on the track when their eyes met. Bryant stopped the coffee halfway to his mouth, he furrowed his brows before putting the coffee down.

“Dad,” Henrietta called out calmly. She gnawed on her lower lip regretting ever coming to his office. Bryant Sullivan was the last person she wanted to meet. The man never liked her unlike his wife who loved her even though they were divorced.

“What are you doing here?” Bryant asked stilly as he sat purposely on the couch.

“Um...Richard and I are supposed to meet today.” She replied nervously.

Bryant glanced at Richard's deck before returning his gaze on her. “As you can see, he's not here. He's in a conference meeting.”

“Oh.” She purred feebly. “I'll be on my way.” Bryant didn't bother to respond. Henrietta pivoted to leave when Richard entered with his secretary.

“They should set up an appointment beforehand. You can leave.” Richard said to his secretary, she nodded then turned around and walked out of his office.

Richard frowned when their eyes locked. “I'm sorry dad for having kept you waiting.” He strode toward him.

“No, it's fine. At least the coffee isn't bad.” He smiled a little as he rose. “Let's talk later.” Bryant glanced at Henrietta before walking out of his office.

When Richard saw Bryant was out he turned at her with a grimace. “What the heck are you doing here?” Richard demanded hostilely.

Henrietta inhaled and exhaled deeply while staring into his eyes intently. “I'm here to talk to you.”

“About what?” He asked sternly.

Henrietta shrugged off. She moistened her lower lips together and blinked slowly. “Why haven't you been picking my calls? Why did you choose to ignore my messages?”

“And why in hell should I pick your call? I thought I've made it clear to you that I don't ever want to see you again.”

“I need your help.”

“I know you're here because you need my assistance as you've never done anything for yourself. Well, you should leave.”

Henrietta moved closer, she took his hand and raised it to her lips before she could do anything Richard yanked her away from him. “Boundaries.” He snapped. “Are you trying to seduce me here?”

She ran her fingers through her hair and winked at him as she bit her lower lip alluringly. “Are you afraid that you may lose to me? Nay, I'm not here to seduce you. Help me this time, I have to get the contract or else...”

“Or else what? You're going to commit suicide. Frankly it would have been better if you died.” He crouched down and leaned over so close to her face. “You disgust me.”

Henrietta was completely devastated, she never thought Richard could be so harsh on her, she took a deep breath as she closed her eyes, she opened them and grinned mischievously. “It's something you have to do. Richard, I want my son back.” Henrietta forced tears out of her eyes. “I can't let another woman take care of my son. If anything happens to my son, I swear I won't forgive you.”

He furrowed his brows, he knew she was faking it. Miguel was the last person she cared for. “Why are you pretending like the child is important to you? Quit pretending. I will never allow you to take Miguel because you'll only hurt him.”

She grunted softly. “Let the court decide. I'm going to take my son from you forever.”

“How sure are you?”

“The judge will definitely grant me sole custody of my son. I'm the mother and Miguel is only fifteen month old, he only needs me.”

“I want to see you trying.”

“Whatever.” She pivoted and exited his office ferociously. She drove out of the company, grumbling while driving. “That son of a bitch!” She cursed as she hit her fist on the wheel.

She halted the car in the garage, she alighted and scurried inside. She swapped the heels with slippers, she ambled to a couch and dropped her phone on it. “Did he really think I'm going to stop this time? Oh. Richard, you're really driving crazy.” She ruffled her hair frustratingly as she slumped onto the couch heavily. She inhaled and exhaled slowly, facing up she stared at the ceiling.

Her phone rang, she looked over promptly before moving her hand on the couch to reach it. She grabbed the phone, without checking the call ID she picked the call.

“What the hell do you want?” She yelled.

“Are you back? I'm outside now.” Dolly said.

She rolled her eyes annoyingly before speaking. “I'm back.” She hung up and dropped the phone back on the couch. She closed her eyes contemplating what to do. Afterward, She heard footsteps approaching.

“Hey. I thought you won't return home today.”

She sneered as she flustered her eyes at her. “Of course I'm the last person Richard would spend time with.”

“Did it work?”

She shook her head. “No. He's not going to help. I'm pretty sure he has talked to the director. Oh, my goodness. What am I supposed to do? Maggie will definitely mock me in front of everyone.”

“What are you going to do? If he wants you he'll have informed the management.”

“Well. I have a plan. I'm taking our case to court, I'm going to fight for Miguel as a mother, I should be the one taking care of him.”

Puzzled, Dolly lifted a brow. “What do you mean?”

“Richard will try to prevent that from happening and that's what I want. He'll be left with no other choice than to do what I want.” She enunciated thoughtfully.

“Why will you use your son?”

“I have to do it. I don't care if you're going to say I'm desperate but I'll do whatever it takes just for the contract.” She said determinedly.