Chapter 26: Chapter 26

Kenneth Domanco

Today is going to be a long day for me. I just finished my business meeting with Mr. Jonathan and I must say, it was a pleasant one. I never imagined he would agree with the percentage we had discussed earlier. It shows how desperate he was.

"Mr. Ken, let's make it 50/50."  He beseeches me in a desperate tone.

"60/40 Mr. Jonathan or, we cancel the deal as you can see, even Mr. John would like to handle the project too." I told him.

"What?! Johnson has been in touch with you. He knows about the project too?."

"Very Mr. Jonathan. Now, it's up to you. The offer he gave was quite attractive but, I only agreed to have this meeting with you because you have a very good reputation when it comes to this. My decision though will base on the offer you two are trying to give." I said.

"Okay, fine." He finally gives in. I can't be happier than I'm right now.

I smirked.   "Nice doing business with you Mr. Jonathan." I said stretching out my hand to him for a handshake.

"Same here. My secretary will schedule everything and forward the whole file to your mail."

"I will look forward to that."

•

I was on my way back from the business meeting I just had with Mr. Jonathan when I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket. I brought it out and immediately my eyes came with the contact name on the screen, I can't help but roll my eyes.

I'm sure, whatever made her call me must be very important to her.

"Mom..." I trailed off.

"Yes, my handsome son. How are you doing and your darling wife?."

"Mom! She isn't my wife yet, stop being dramatic. We aren't married.. we're engaged and that's it for now." I said.

Engaged? Did you just say engaged Kenneth Domanco? I didn't recall you putting a ring on her finger though- I mentally thought.

"Ken!" I heard her yell out my name through the other line of the phone. I had to move my phone from my ear and stare at it annoyingly.

Must she always be this disturbing? I brought it back to my ear and sighed.  "Are you even listening to me at all?." she inquires in an irritated tone.

"Mom, we're not married yet. We aren't planning for that yet. Besides, you only saw her picture, you haven't met her yet."

"You're right. That's why I'm inviting you two for dinner tonight. You must... I repeat Ken, you must come home with your fiancee tonight."

"What?! Mom!!!" I exclaimed angrily. How could she think of something like this without consulting me first?

"Mom, I can't. " I stubbornly denied her. I've been giving in to her request, I think that's why she believes she can make any decision without me going against her. I'm not planning on taking Chloe to meet them soon. I'm not in a hurry.

"Yes, you will. Remember, you were the one who made the promise to bring home your fiancee on the exact day of this day. Besides, what are you so scared of? That, she's going to get closer to me and forget about you? It's your word son, not mine... You made the promise yourself. Plus, I told your father about this too. He can't wait to meet her."

"What?!! You involve dad in this too? And he agreed to it?."

"Yes, he did. Why won't he? We're both eager to meet our future daughter-in-law.  I know you're not at home right now. Just give her a call and tell her about this great news okay? Okay, I will see you in the evening. Take care of yourself and see you soon, okay."

"But mom, how could you do this to me?! I'm old enough to make decisions of my own. Bringing her home to meet you guys should be my idea and not yours. First, you and Dad made it mandatory to get married at all costs before I could take over his empire. I'm sure if I haven't, he would have given everything that belongs to me to those bastards, and now... Shit! Mom please, allow me to do this in my own way." I beseech her. My mom is so unbelievable sometimes.

"No can do to your request and yes can do to mine. So, do what I've asked you to do and be here before 8 pm. Don't be late... Take care of yourself and I love you."

"But mo-" before I could finish a complete statement, my mom hanged up the call on me.

Fuck! This isn't what I planned for today. How could a mom do this to me?

Chloe Montclair

"Finally, he's reaping what he sows already. So soon." I said in an exciting tonw and smirked at the same time.  Here in the paper or says; that his company sales dropped by 20%

"Isn't this a great news?." I asked Tiana with a wide grin on my face. I was never serious about my company when it was handed over to me by my father years back. I never wanted to work in a company, all I wanted to do was just to be a housewife for my man. I was ready to let go of everything for his sake, I never took anything serious even though, I have the capability to do that.

But now, it's time for me to make my father's dream come true and, all thanks to Seb, all of that dream is coming true now.

"But Raheenah, I'm scared." She complained I'm a worried tone.

"Scared? Scared of what?."

"Him, Sebastian. What if, he comes after you? His company is like that because of you. In just 2 months, you were able to do this much to him. He will be furious and would want to know who you're. He might hurt you again, he's going to come for you." She explained again in a worried tone.

"Exactly what I've been waiting for."

"What?!!!"

"Yes. That was my intention all along. I want him to find me and then, we can continue from there." I said with a mischievous smile on my face.

"Chloe, what in the world are you planning this time around? Have you forgotten what he did to you? That bastard might hurt you and yet, you look this calm? What's it that you're not telling me about?."

"You worry too much. All I wanted was for him to find me. You'll know what I intend to do after then."

"Chloe you-" she probably wanted to scold me again but before she could do that, someone barged into my office like he owned it. We both fixed our gaze on the door and guess who it was.

The one and only arrogant, Ken. I wonder what he's doing here?

I missed his face though, it's been up to three weeks I last saw him. We've been communicating on phone and that's the highest we've done.

"Ken..." Tiana called his name softly. Lest I forget, these two are kinda now close to each other. Sometimes, I feel they've known each other before me. They're both free with each other and they're now casual towards each other.

"You heard about the news too? Are you here because of that?." She asked him.

"Can you excuse us for a while, Tiana? I need to talk to her." That's it. He always talks to her in a calm tone. While me on the other hand, he was never calm with me. Always rude and annoying.

"Sure." She said, looking at me for the last time before walking out of my office.

"We need to talk." He said before walking closer to me.

Rude much. It's been three weeks since we last saw each other. At least, a little courtesy of 'hi' before starting a conversation would have been good right?

"What's the problem? Is everything okay?." I don't know why I'm this worried all of a sudden. I feel something strange is going on with the look on his face.

He walk over to the sofa and take a seat comfortably like he owned their place. Okay Chloe, you're going crazy again. Of course, who else but him? He owned everything in this building.

I got up from my seat and walk closer to where he was sitting and took a sit opposite him. "You have to visit my parents tonight." He said like it's the most simplest thing to do in the whole world.

"What?!!! I burst out angrily as I jumped up from my seat. "You're joking right?."

"I'm damn serious, Chloe. My mom invites us over for dinner tonight."

"But how?!! How is that even possible? Isn't it too early to meet them? You told me the last time that we still have enough time. Why are we meeting her tonight and, why are you just saying this to me now?." I bombard him with questions.

"She called me just some minutes ago too. I had no idea about this at all."

"Then tell her you're busy. Find an excuse or something. I'm not ready to meet her yet." I complained in a paranoid tone. What if she found out who I am? What if she never likes me because of what I have done in the past? What if, she hate me and would never want me for her son?

A lot of 'what if' is going through my head right now. And, why are you getting worked up for nothing?- my inner thought said to me. "You're forgetting something Raheenah. I paid you for this job, we both agreed and signed a contract... You can't avoid it." I heard him say.

"I know but still-"

"That's enough. Just make sure you're ready before 7 pm. I will come over to your house and pick you up from there."

"But, I still have a lot of work to attend to. Why don't you just call your mom and told her the meeting won't be possible for today? We can always fix another day for that... Huh?."

"Ms. Samuel, kindly do as you've been asked to. This is my order and you have to follow it. You're being paid for your job, do not forget that. Plus, you're forgetting that this company belongs to me, I employed you here and now, I'm giving you that order to leave and do what's necessary. Don't keep me waiting Chloe... Be ready before 7 pm." He said and left my office before I could even utter a word.

I stared at the door in bewilderment. What just happen?- I thought.

"Hey! What's going on between you two again? Don't tell me... Don't tell me you two argued again?." My friend asked as she walked in and took a seat beside me.

I looked at her and started blabbering. "Yazzidah, arguing with him would have been better. I would have had a little smile on my face if that should be the issue."

"Then, what's the problem all about?."

"I'm meeting his parents this evening! TODAY!!!"

"What?!"

"Shocked too right? Ken is crazy! I don't know why he would do a thing like this to me?."

"Wait, I'm confused. He came here to tell you, you'll be meeting his parents. Shouldn't he have told you beforehand?." She questioned me confused.

"Apparently, his mom just called him some minutes ago and told him to bring me over to their house tonight. She wants to meet me. How.. what do I do now? I can't meet her!!"

"Are you crazy or something? Why can't you meet her? Have you forgotten you were paid by him for this job already? Have you forgotten that soon? You're to pretend to be his girlfriend and even get married if that comes up so... What's with you complaining now? You should know you were going to meet with his parents someday and that time, is now... Today."

"I know but still... I feel it's too early to meet them. I mean, I haven't even planned for it. Yes, I know, we agreed to do this but, I haven't planned for it yet... What do I do? Look Tiana, call up Ken now and tell him I'm sick or something... Find a lie and make him believe you. I can't meet with his parents now, not today. I'm going nowhere for today." I said with finality laced in my tone.