Chapter Three
1127 Words
Diane entered her house, went straight to her bedroom and took off her attire. What was Edward thinking, daring James to do what he did? Was he up to something?
Her phone beeped with a text from James which read, ‘I think Edward suspects something about us, hence the dare.’
‘What do you think he’ll do?’ she asked him.
‘I have no idea at the moment until I am sure where his head is. Edward can be very
irrational when angry or hurt’
Diane sighed and was about to reply to James when a call came from Edward. She picked up,
“Hey Diane, how are you? I am sorry about earlier; I really do not know what I was thinking when I dared James to do that.” He said it in an unusually light tone.
“So, you’re not angry or anything of the sort?” Diane asked, confused.
“Why would I be? It was just a dare; I know that’s what it is and nothing more.” He concluded. They talked some more and he hung up.
Diane texted James and told him that, surprisingly, Edward called and he wasn’t angry. They texted for a while, then she heard Michael and Victoria.
Victoria got a job in Jonathan’s firm as one of the secretaries and she was grateful seeing she only had a high school certificate.
Michael, on the other hand, started the school section and was rounding up his senior year.
“Hey girly, I thought you said you wouldn’t be back till later in the evening.” Victoria said this and jumped on the bed with her corporate gown and shoes still on.
Diane sighed and said, “Tory, it’s been a lot, recently.” and hugged Michael when he came in and laid down beside her on the other side of the bed.
“I can imagine, with the Ford brothers after you, having an empire to run and the media to keep up with, it must be a lot.” Victoria replied and Diane sat up on the bed in shock.
“What?! What do you mean, Ford brothers Tory? It’s Edward I am betrothed to.”
Michael laughed and said, “Diane, anyone with eyes can see that you and the eldest Ford brother have the hots for each other. The lingering stares, the accidental touches and he always comes here to work on a document in your office with the door locked tightly.”
Diane groaned and said, “Oh my gosh! We’ve actually been careless, and Edward actually knows and is pretending not to. For what reason? I have no idea.”
“What do you mean, Diane? What happened?” Victoria and Michael asked simultaneously.
Diane explained what happened in George’s house to them and Victoria said, “Wow! You have to be careful, Diane or better yet, you and James should just tell everyone the truth about you two, to save you a lot of stress.”
Diane thought about it and said, “Yeah, we could actually try that.” ****
Edward Ford looked at the pictures of Diane and James that his personal assistant handed to him. He had been right all along and those two have been sleeping with each other behind his back.
He punched the wall in front of him numerous times in anger till he felt sharp pain to see that he had torn the skin covering his knuckles. He took a long drag of his cigar and said, "No, James, not this time; I won’t let you take even this one from me too.”
Edward hated James’ guts, even though he was his elder brother. He easily blamed James for any loss he experienced and had done so since they were young.
His mother loved Jamie more and it was obvious to anyone, James always got the best of what everyone wanted. Every girl he liked only had eyes for James, including the Barrett girl and now his own fiance, Diane.
A knock on his door interrupted him and he said, “Come in,” wondering who that was at this time; he should actually get his own place.
He saw the formidable figure of his father and sat up straight.
“What is this I hear, Edward? What is going on between James and the Richardson girl?” He asked with an irritated expression on his face.
“Uhmm, what do you mean? I don’t understand what you are going on about,” Edward asked, trying to play smart. His father would make this whole situation messy because there was obviously something he wanted from this whole arranged marriage.
He turned slightly while Edward was talking and saw the envelope containing pictures of James and Diane, with some pictures halfway out. He grabbed the envelope quickly and checked the content.
“You don’t understand what I am going on about, eyy? You are always the slow one.” He spat out in disgust.
“Do you know how long it took before I could convince the Barretts that James actually likes their daughter too, hence they should go ahead with the marriage engagement? I get the Barretts as inlaws then I have access to ports.” He explained it exasperatedly.
The Richardson girl was always meant to go to James, I know, but she disappeared and we all thought she was dead. We were already moving on with our lives when she showed up. I was very happy because that means I have hit the jackpot twice. Marriage to the Richardsons gives me access to the monarchs.”
“You mean you plan these marriages all to expand your wealth without even thinking about the others involved?” Edward asked in disbelief.
“What do you mean without thinking about others involved? When you get married to the Richardson girl, whose name will she bear? Whose empire will you run alongside your real estate business? Think, Edward, wake up and think!” He concluded with disgust.
“Listen to me, Edward, under different circumstances, I would have been very happy with James and the Richardson girl, but James is already engaged to the Barrett girl and you to the Richardson girl.”
“These marital connections will make us one of the most powerful families in Europe, and I won’t have you and James’ foolishness mess it up for me, so step up and take charge Edward or I will step, and you know it will not be pretty for you both if I do.”
He finalized and turned to go, then he said, “Get a hold of the Richardson girl, dammit,” and left Edward’s home office in anger.
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