CHAPTER TWO
1303 Words
CHAPTER TWO
“He said all that to your face?!” Tanya screamed as Olivia told her how the interview went.
“I mean,” Olivia paused, then brushed her hair with her hands. “He didn’t have to embarrass me like that.”
“I don’t think he cares. Didn’t you say he was addressed as Mr. Denvort?” Tanya asked as she picked up her phone. Olivia nodded. “Well, let’s see which of the Denvorts he is,” Tanya said as she went on the internet.
She gave Olivia her phone after a few seconds.
“Which of them?” Olivia pointed to him and showed Tanya.
“Liam Denvort? You met Liam Denvort?!” Tanya exclaimed.
“Why are you screaming?”
“And you dressed like that?” Tanya asked.
“Please, don’t remind me.” Olivia sighed.
Tanya held Olivia's hands and squeezed them gently. They sat on the floor of the locker room at King’s Café, where Tanya worked as an attendant and Olivia as a barista. Tanya had sneaked in earlier when she noticed Olivia’s sad countenance after she entered the café. She was certain the interview didn’t go well, but she did not expect the way Olivia was treated.
“Hey, look,” Tanya started with an encouraging smile. A tear dropped down Olivia’s eyes. “It doesn’t matter what he said, okay? You are an amazing person and he doesn’t know you. Olivia, you’re a hero…”
Olivia withdrew her hands and stood immediately. She did not want to hear what Tanya wanted to say. Olivia knew where Tanya was heading, but she was not in the mood for that.
“Thanks,” Olivia said as she sniffed and wiped her face.
Tanya nodded and then stood to her feet.
“We should get back to work. I really can’t add Luca's drama to today’s feelings.” Olivia said with a forced smile.
“Should I go with you this weekend to visit…?”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll go alone.” Olivia interrupts Tanya. Tanya nods with a smile. “Thank you.”
Olivia had just finished attending to a customer when Luca sent for her. Lucas was the manager at Kings Café and he wasn’t the friendliest. Before she entered his office, Olivia inhaled deeply.
“Parker, sit” Luca, a middle-aged, plus-sized man said.
“Thank you,” Olivia said quietly as she sat.
Lucas rummaged through his drawer and brought out an envelope. He handed it to Olivia. She took the envelope and opened it in skepticism. Her heart hit a large bang upon reading through the content. It was her paycheck.
“This is not my paycheck,” Olivia said, dropping the envelope.
“Olivia, don’t be dramatic. It is better than nothing.” Lucas said in response.
“Why is there a 20% s***h off my salary? This money can do nothing for me,”
“Look, I understand you’re in distress right now, but the café is going through some difficult times. Every staff is going through a s***h on their salary.”
“But,”
“Olivia, please. Don’t drag it. Take it or leave it.” Lucas concluded with a dismissing tone.
Olivia fumed as she looked at him. He loathed her and she loathed him in return. She took the check and left his office. She couldn’t believe her income had been cut down. How in the world was she going to survive?
****
Liam Denvort was working on the annual stock price document when his assistant, Jake barged into his office in his grey suit.
“There’s a crisis,” Jake said as he stopped at Liam’s desk.
“What is it?”
Jake stretched his tablet to Liam, who collected it nonchalantly. He frowned as he saw the contents. It was a scandal news story of him and acclaimed baby mamas.
“The stock prices have been falling since the release of this news,” Jake revealed as Liam dropped the tablet.
“What? How” Liam roared.
Liam’s office door flung open, and his grandfather, the Chairman of Denvort Corporations came in angrily.
“William Cole Denvort!” The Chairman shouted.
William stood to his feet and left his desk. He knew his grandfather was extremely angry and his sugarcoated tongue may not see him out of this.
“Grandpa, it’s not what it looks like, they are lying,” Liam said quickly.
“Lying? Is that the best you can come up with right now?” The chairman questioned.
Liam looked at Jake to come to his rescue. Jake was like an adopted grandson of the chairman and in some ways, he took Jake’s words more seriously than Liam’s.
“Sir,” Jake said.
“Stay out of this. It is between this good-for-nothing, figurehead over here and I.” The chairman objected.
“I have no baby mamas, they are just after our money and affluence.” Liam defended.
“No baby mamas, aye? How about the scandals in the last three months? It is always Liam Denvort on scandal news about a woman, s*x, or drinking drama, what the hell is wrong with you?”
“I am sorry,” Liam apologized.
“The stock price is falling, that is on you,” The chairman pointed to Liam.
“I will fix it, Grandpa,” Liam assured.
“You will.” The chairman confirmed it with a grin.
The office door opens again and the Chairman’s secretary enters. He hands a file to the Chairman before he bows to Liam.
“Here,’ The chairman says as he hands the file over to Liam. “I have come up with a list of eligible, worthy young ladies for you to go on a date with. They are all daughters or relations of stockbrokers, shareholders, and wealthy men in the country. Pick your choice and let us settle for a wedding date.”
Liam looked at Jake, who shrugged. Then, he looked at the Chairman’s secretary and finally settled his gaze on the Chairman. They all had stern looks on.
“Blind date? Pick my choice for a wedding date? What is all that talk? This is a joke, right?” Liam questioned.
He laughed hysterically, then stopped when no one joined him.
“This is not a joke?”
“Liam, you have taken your solid stand for granted. Being the legitimate heir to the company was enough for you to take over from me, but the moment you started messing with the stock prices, the board had a serious rethinking to do.” The chairman explained.
“Grandpa,”
“This is the only way out for you. You have to get married to a lady, who can help you strengthen your stand in this company.”
“There has to be another way,” Liam said.
“Liam, no one wants to leave their financial future in the hands of a man who doesn’t take responsibility and you, my dear boy, do not take responsibility.” The Chairman replied.
“Getting married to a stranger is taking responsibility? Marriage is another ball game. I can’t even deal with that.”
“In time, you’ll understand, son. You have the rest of this week off. Go on those scheduled dates, and have fun. They are beautiful, classy ladies.” The Chairman chuckled. “I expect a feedback by next week.”
Liam tries to speak, but he has been rendered speechless.
“Son, this is no joke if you still want to inherit this company.” The chairman said gravely before he left the office with his secretary.
His grandfather must think this was a business contract. Liam exchanged worried looks with Jake, who was also confused.
- Writer
