Yoked Together

Chapter 4 Slight Evidence and ultimatums

Chapter 4

After talking to Brian over the phone, Arabella walked to the living room and found Abigail sitting, watching TV while having an apple. She went to sit down as well.

"I thought you left for work, but you're still here." She was relieved to see her.

"Yes babe. I stayed to take care of you." She grinned. "I called work and told them that I'll be a little late today." She added.

A knock emerged at the door while they were talking and Abi went to answer it. She came back carrying a medium box, giving it to Bella. She opened it and it was her wedding invitation cards.

"It's my wedding invitation cards. We were so happy when we started making preparations for our wedding. These invites were the highlight of our wedding preparations. Brian and I chose them together and he preferred them coming here because he was afraid that he'll misplace them at his apartment. Everything was perfect but now he left me... I'm all alone." she sadly stated.

"Bella you're not alone, I'm here. Brian is a jerk for believing the lies and not you." Abi said to her and she started sobbing again. She just hugged her so she can feel better.

"I don't know what I'd do without you Abi." She said to her once she calmed down.

"Look at this... while you were sleeping I went through the files and saw something useful. Check out the timeframes of where the money was withdrawn. Remember on this day I attended a charity event with you in California. The withdraw was made in Miami as business transaction. You were nowhere near Miami because we were in Cali the whole day." Abi said.

"Yes I remember because after the event, my dad's business partner took us out and he was telling us all about him and my dad. Abi you really helped me. I didn't even notice those things because this whole thing is upsetting as it is." Bella replied.

"Well this evidence is going to take us somewhere and we can clear your name." Abigail said giving her bestfriend hope. This evidence was a step in the right direction. "Look at this second withdrawal. It was made again in Miami but you were in New York closing a deal with the Asians about the construction tender. Remember I planned that movie date and you told me you couldn't make it because you were going to New York." Abi said giving her more evidence.

"So it has to be someone who has access to the company's financials or it could be just a hacker." She said to her best friend. She honestly felt a sense of relief because of the little evidence they gathered. "Thank you Abigail. Thank you so much." She hugged her tightly.

"Don't thank me yet Bells. I have an I.T friend. He's still out of town though, but when he's back I'll ask him to come over and he'll help us trace the person that did this." she assured Bella.

"I'm grateful for you. You know what? I feel like going out tonight. I want to do something that'll distract me from all of this." She said. She just wanted to forget her problems for a little while.

"I thought you'd never ask." Abi sent her a smirk. "I'll come fetch you after work. Let me go, I'll see you later." She said then left.

After Abigail left Bella didn't know what to do with herself so she read a book, once she finished a whole chapter she decided to sleep. When she woke up she took a long hot bath and just chilled until her fingers wrinkled up then went out wrapping a towel around herself. She washed the bath tub and went to brush her teeth. An hour later Abigail came. It was 6pm. They had sandwiches before they went out. They got dressed, getting dolled up. Bella borrowed her one of her dresses and they headed out to party.

Ethan

Radio news

Ethan Fitzgerald. Son of a billionaire was seen at a club last night. He was drunk and out of it. Guards had to come and drag him out of there with force. Apparently he was being resistant. The guards were probably sent by his?father Nathaniel Fitzgerald...

Radio turned off!

"Dad I can explain okay. I was just-" His father cut him off harshly.

"Shut up! Didn't you just hear the news on the radio Ethan? We both did, so there's no explanation for what you did. You're an embarrassment to this family and to the business. You're dragging my name down the drain. You're not fit to run this company if you go out clubbing every night and sleeping around with every woman out there." His father said lividly.

"Dad, I'm sorry okay? I just wanted to-" He cut him off again.

"Save it! There's only one thing left to do with you. Your mother and I will find someone for you to settle down with. Maybe then you'll act like you have some sense." his dad said.

This was unexpected.

Ethan thought that his father would deprive him of some money or take away some of his benefits from the company but making him get married was the least expected thing. Out of all the things he could've done to him, he suggested marriage, really? Would that even be enough for Ethan to act accordingly?

"Dad no! Please don't make me get married. I don't want to get married father. This is insane." he defended.

"I'm not asking you for your permission." He firmly said.

"Dad please. I'm begging you. At least give me another ultimatum." He literally begged him.

"Fine, but don't think I'm changing my mind about you getting married. I won't look for a woman for you to marry, you'll find her yourself. You'll settle down with her and stop partying and running after every little skirt you see out there. I'm giving you three months to find someone to settle down with and get your act together. If you don't do this, then you're on your own Ethan Fitzgerald. I'll take everything from you and give it to your brother when he reaches 18." his dad firmly said.

"Dad you can't be serious." Ethan was shocked

This was unbelievable.

"Watch how serious I am when I take everything from you and you go look for a job elsewhere. Now get out of my office and go do what I pay you to do please. I've wasted enough time on you." His dad said with anger and disappointment in his voice.

Ethan walked out of his fathers office heading to his and just sat there thinking about what he said. How can he give him this absurd ultimatum? Ethan, getting married? This sounded ridiculous to him. But fine! He was going to give him what he wants. He worked hard to lose everything now.

A knock emerged at the door.

"Come in." His PA appeared at the door.

"Sir, Mr. Ambrose is ready for you in the boardroom. He's actually been waiting for a few minutes now." she reminded him.

"Thank you Grace. I'll be right out. Did you organize the refreshments he wanted and water?" He asked because the last time she forgot.

"Yes sir, I did. Yesterday, I made copies of the paperwork you asked for the meeting. It's in the boardroom." she said.

"Well, what can I do without you Grace? You've helped me a lot. We can leave now and not have Ambrose wait any longer." he said and they walked to the boardroom together, as she was going to take the minutes of the meeting.

"Mr. Ambrose how are you today?" He approached him with a warm smile and handed him his hand for a handshake, once they arrived.

"I'm good thank you Mr. Fitzgerald and yourself?" He returned a firm handshake.

"I'm good thanks." he replied.

Once the formalities were out of the way he explained how they were going to supply them with all the resources they needed from here to Africa.

"You don't have to worry about coming here often, because I'm planning to open a small branch in Namibia, your hometown and you can handle business from that side." Ethan said to him.

Mr. Ambrose was surprised. "Are you serious? Won't it be any trouble for you, because it entails a lot of work building a new branch especially for my own convenience?" he asked.

"You've been our biggest client for all these years Mr. Ambrose. You've helped my father and I grow this business. This is the only thing I can do to thank you enough. Trust me, it's no trouble at all. I'll communicate with our construction department to start right away with building the branch building." Ethan assured him.

Ethan showed him the diagrams and spreadsheets that Grace printed out, of what will entail during the process of construction. He also showed him the plan of the building to see if he likes it and if he wants anything to be changed but he was satisfied with everything.

"Thank you so much Ethan. Tell your Father I appreciate what you're doing for me." He said really impressed and satisfied.

"Actually you can tell him yourself because he's still in the building, I'm positive that he'd be glad to see you. Grace will take you to him." he said.

They left afterwards and Ethan went back to his office.

The day was very busy today. He worked through lunch until the end of the day. Another call came through so he had to take it because it couldn't wait till tomorrow. He ended up working till late. Time went by so fast and he just realized that everyone was gone. It was just him and Grace, his assistant.

They packed their belongings and left the office building. Ethan gave Grace a lift home and he went home himself.

He wanted to go through the files for tomorrow's conference call but his mind shifted to his fathers ultimatum, to get married within three months. So he went to his bathroom, stripped off his clothes and took a quick shower. Once he was done he wore formal casual clothing and got ready to go out and seek for a potential wife. He wore a cap and sunglasses for a bit of a disguise because he wasnt in the mood for another scandal.

He had a plan in motion.

He was going to find himself a girl he can manipulate into marrying him. He had all the money in the world to do so. While he was in the shower, he had time to think about how he was going to implement that plan. He was going to pay the woman he finds to marry him, to convince his father that he was content and serious about his life. He went out of the house, taking his convertible heading to the club that everyone was buzzing about.

When he arrived he found the perfect booth and sat down ordering a single malt. He zoomed to see if he couldn't find his future wife. He was good at reading people because that was part of his job but he didn't see any potential girl or maybe because everyone was drunk and dancing around like strippers.

But Ethan was on a mission tonight. He was not going to give up. He was not willing to loose everything he worked so hard for.