Revenge on A Billionaire

ChapterFive

Ella wanted to go to Sophia's house but she couldn't. She realized that her father didn't want her anywhere near the country, so she took Pearce's phone and called Sophia's number.

"Hey, Sophia," Ella said in a tiny voice when the line picked up.

"Gawd, I have been so worried sick about you, Ella," Sophia said when she heard her best friend's voice. "Where are you now?"

"In a car," Ella replied.

"The same cab you were in?" Sophia asked. "What was that about in the phone earlier?"

"I'll tell you all about it when we meet," Ella promised. "I'm heading to Kare Hospital. Can you meet me there in an hour?"

"Hospital? Hope nothing happened to you?"

"No, I'm fine," Ella said.

"Gosh, it is late, but I'll be there in an hour, all right?"

"Right," Ella said, and ended the call. Then she handed the phone back to Pearce. "Thank you."

"Don't mention,"Pearce said. "You were behaving hysterical so I decided to take you to an hospital to get yourself checked up. Don't worry, I'll take care of the hospital bills."

"Thank you," Ella said. That was all she could say to him.

***

"He's a monster!" Sophia exclaimed. She had arrived at the hospital some thirty minutes after Ella was checked in for the night. Pearce was out, leaving Ella and her friend to talk. "How could he do such a thing to you after everything?"

"I kind of blame myself," Ella said and chuckled to herself. "It was all my fault. I let myself get carried away by some handsome rich man. Wasn't thinking with my head and didn't realize he would use me."

But Sophia shook her head from side to side to show that she disagreed with what her friend was saying. "Look, this is not your fault, all right? You fell for him and he didn't feel the same way. You can't blame your heart for wanting love."

"You are saying that just to make me feel better, aren't you?" Ella said. "Please don't try to pad this. I messed up, all right? He denied the pregnancy and my father doesn't want to see me again. Sounds like my fault to me, Sophia."

"So what are you going to do now, Ella?" Sophia asked.

Ella sighed. She stared at the white ceiling boards shocked at how her life had suddenly changed. The question became, was it for good or for the worse?

She would never have believed it if someone told her she was going to be humiliated so. Ella would have laughed at the prediction because she already saw a bright future ahead of her, unstained and unmarred.

"I am going to keep the baby, Sophia," Ella said, making up her mind. "I tried to end it but it seems that life has something else in store for me. All thanks to Pearce."

"You have to be careful with that one too," Sophia cautioned.

"I know," Ella said.

Sophia held her friend's hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. "Whatever you do, just know that I'll have your back."

Ella thought it felt so good to hear her friend say something like that to her. She had never for once doubted Sophia or her loyalty. And it wasn't because

Ella was more entitled, or that her father was a rich business tycoon. It went deeper than that.

Ella smiled and said, "I know you will. But if I ever get the chance to meet Andy again, I am going to make sure that I make his life miserable."

***

The next day, Derrick called for Andy Livermore to come to the house. When Derrick sounded hesitant on the phone, Derrick calmly told him that he had nothing to worry about.

"Ella is gone now," were Derrick's words to Andy. The latter wondered what that meant, but he would have to go to the Thompsons' house if he was ever going to find out.

The house was a sprawling white mansion that was covered with glass where there were no walls. There was no fountain in the middle but there was a side patio that looked as if it had been designed by Michelangelo himself.

A butler dressed in livery saw him into the house.

"Please be seated, sir, and I'll let Mr. Derrick know you're here," the butler said with a slight smile, and his tone showed that he was comfortable with his job.

Andy was expecting someone else to come out, apart from Derrick, but no one did. He had expected to see Ella come strolling out. Some part of him felt guilty but he couldn't take it all back. Some things were more important than others.

Derrick came out with a smile upon his face. The man was dressed in a perfect white long-sleeved shirt tucked into plain trousers. Loafers adorned his feet and the cologne in the air was familiar because his father used it.

Now, what was the act? Was Derrick trying to get into his head?

"Good to see you, Andy," Derrick said as he grabbed a bottle of wine from a wall cabinet and two glass cups. He poured a delicate amount for the both of them and handed one to Andy.

"I think we should toast," Derrick said.

Andy got to his feet wondering what the occasion was

"What are we toasting to, sir?" Andy had to ask.

"Well, for new beginnings," Derrick said, still unable to get that smile out of his face.

"That sounds vague to me, sir. Why don't you just tell me what the occasion is?"

"Let's sit down first, shall we?" Derrick said. "Well, the reason I called you here isn't farfetched, Andy. I am sorry about the way Ella spoke to you the other day. And just to clear things out, I do not doubt you one bit. I believe you, Andy. You wouldn't put Ella in a the family way. I'm sure it was one of those boys in her school that's responsible and she's trying to reap where she did not sow, right?"

Oh, if only you knew, sir, you'd hate me with all your being, Andy thought.

"Correct, sir," Andy said, because his thoughts were different from what he needed to say.

"And that is why I have disowned her and sent her away for her recklessness," Derrick stated.

Andy was shocked to the bone. "But, sir, isn't that too early? To disown your daughter?"

"She's my daughter so she knows very well not to misbehave," Derrick said. "But she went ahead and got pregnant and tried to blame you for it just because you stopped her from getting herself drunk. So it seems that she doesn't regard her father after all."

Andy had gotten very uncomfortable with the topic of discussion, but in as much as he tried not to show it, Derrick noticed.

"But let's forget about that for now and talk about business," Derrick said, his voice anxious. "I know that you are next in line to become Chief Executive Officer of your father's company but you still need all the support that you can get and I am willing to offer it to you," Derrick proposed.

Andy smiled. He had not been expecting that. "That's great to hear, sir. Thank you."

"Yeah, but you have to do something for me first, Andy."

Andy rubbed his palms, expecting the man to ask for a position in the company. "And what's that, sir?"

"Marry my other daughter, Julia," Derrick offered.