"B- But young master Hughes, why have you decided to cut all business collaborations and contracts with us all of a sudden? You are our biggest investor. This will cripple our business!", Mr Willow cried.
Gerrard answered the scum.
"I'm sorry, but the Hughes Group has decided to invest in Prime Business instead. You have simply fallen out of favour with us."
The Willows were devastated and confused.
"B-but Prime Business is our biggest rival and competitor. You will be completely crushing us. All our clients and partners will leave the moment they hear that we have lost your support. They will move to wherever you go, sir. Please have mercy... Or at least let us know what has caused this change of heart and what we can do to fix it.", Mr Willow begged.
"You tampered with my most precious treasure", Leo answered with a deadly glint in his eye.
...
The Willows broke out in a cold sweat.
'What precious treasure could Leonard Hughes be referring to?... Only 3 days ago, he was willing to sign our proposal to double supply to Hughes Group. He was going to increase his investment in the Willow Group, but now... The worst part is no one has any idea what offended him! Cutting us off will sink Willow Group financially, we just can't let this happen.' Mr Willow thought. He desperately searched for a solution in his brain.
"Uhh... Sir. We're truly sorry about your precious treasure. We have no idea about this, but sir, Could you please tell us how to compensate you for this offence? We are willing to give anything. Anything you want to repair our relationship.", he pleaded.
'I worked too hard to build this company to let it sink now. I'll give him anything! Principal shareholding, even half the company! I could even entertain him with the female employees in the company!', he thought.
"Anything?", Leonard asked, looking down at the Willows with his fiery eyes. His monstrous aura loomed dangerously over the room.
"Y-yes Sir. Anything you demand to fix this problem.", Mr Willow re-emphasized, shakily.
Leonard Hughes smirked devilishly.
"Then I'll take one of your lives. You get to pick which one of you two dies tonight to save the Willow Group.", he said.
Mr and Mrs Willow exchanged horrified looks at each other.
'What!? Our lives?! He's joking right?... But Leonard Hughes never jokes!', they thought simultaneously.
Mrs Willow broke down further. She wept bitterly, hoping a woman's tears would make Leo more merciful.
"Please! Please have mercy. I cannot bear to lose my husband! I beg you!", she cried.
At the same time, Mr Willow cried.
"The loss of my wife will be too painful to bear, but you have forced my hand. As CEO, It is my duty to do what is best for the company. I can't die here. I have to keep the company going so I regrettably hand over my wife..."
Mrs Willow was stunned.
"What!? How dare you?! You want to kill me!?", she screamed at her husband.
"Shut up woman! We have no choice. If I die, the company is over. Be quiet and die for the company. You will be honoured with a great burial and your family will be well compensated.", he said.
"What!? You fiend! That's a lie. James can run the company. You are not indispensable. Mr Hughes, please feel free to take my husband instead.", Mrs Willow barked.
The selfish couple argued amongst themselves.
Leo pinched his forehead.
'I will have a headache if I don't stop them.', he thought.
"Hmm... How disappointing. You immediately threw each other under the bus. Your selfishness is greater than your love. I may have given a lighter sentence if you had both offered your lives for the other...
...My decision is final! The Hughes Group has no business with you henceforth. Get out of my house!", Leo ordered.
"What?! Nooo!!"
"Please, sir. Wait! We were just joking! Of course, we would die for each other!", Mr Willow lied.
"Shut up! Get out! Both of you!" The Willows were roughly dragged out by security.
Finally, peace reigned in Leo's living room.
...
Riiiiiiiiing! Riiiiiiiiing!! Riiiiiiiiiing!!!
Gerrard's phone rang loud, disrupting the peace.
The loud noise stabbed Leo's aching head!
Leo glared at Gerrard.
"I- I'm sorry, young master." He muted the phone immediately.
"I- It's your grandpa, sir...", he added.
Leo sighed weakly.
"Answer it.", he said.
Gerrard answered the call on loudspeaker.
"H-hello, President... Good evening."
"Gerrard! It's great to hear your voice. How are you?", Grandpa sounded too cheerful.
'He's so hyperactive this late in the night', Gerrard thought with a huge sweatdrop forming on the side of his head.
"I'm fine. Th- thank you, President, Sir. Shouldn't you be asleep sir? It's pretty late, President."
"Ah. Thank you for caring Gerrard, unlike some robot who I know is listening in to this call now... Leo! You haven't visited me since that time at the hospital! I can't sleep because I am worried you'll mess up the plan!", Grandpa yelled through the phone.
Leo's face darkened.
'What kind of grandpa is this?', he wondered.
Grandpa continued.
"...Your sister is here Leo. She wants to see 'Theo' and that pretty girl you're fussing over... I personally think she's a beauty."
'What!? How does he know?', Gerrard panicked.
"Uhh... grandpa, there's no girl yet... We haven't-", Gerrard started to lie to save his boss.
Grandpa cut him off.
"Haha! Nice try Gerrard, but you should know that you can't hide anything from me! Now bring the girl over, Leo so she has something else to keep her in this family before you ruin it all! Your sister, Renae wants to be friends..."
Leo facepalmed.
Gerrard broke a sweat.
"Uhhh... President, sir... This request is impossible to fulfil... the young master and the miss are not yet..."
Theo took the phone.
"Never. Goodnight.", he said and switched off the call.
Gerrard cracked.
...
"I'm going to get some rest. Do not disturb me.", Leo said before heading off to bed.
'Wow. Master never sleeps until after midnight. What's this sudden change?', Gerrard wondered.
Leo looked at his chat with Lisa one more time as he went to his bedroom. He smiled again.
...
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...
********** TKE Q&A **********
...
Surrealish: Welcome back folks!
We're live right now on,
Crowd: TKE Q&A!!!!!!!! Wooo!!! (Applause)
Surrealish: Yeah! Haha... Thank you.
The Willow parents have just been put in their place! Give it up for Theo!!!
Crowd: Yaaaay!!! Wooo!! ( Thunderous Applause )
Surrealish: And now, let's quickly move on to our next question:
THE WILLOWS ARE BEING PUNISHED RIGHT NOW. BUT WHERE IS JAMES?
a) Partying and having maximum fun, banging his girlfriend, Amy.
b) Recording in the studio
c) Being responsible at a business meeting
d) Being beaten up by a gang.
Uhh... Lisa?
Lisa: Uhh Surrealish, before I answer this question, I'm a little curious and just want to know... I'm happy the Willow parents are being punished by Leonard Hughes right now, but I don't understand what any of that has to do with our story.
Ruby: Yeah, Me neither.
Crowd: Oooooohhh...
Surrealish: Uhh... hehe... Well, we just needed some filler scenes, that's all.
Ruby: (Flips hair) Well, if you want more scenes, you can film me anytime. (wink)
Crowd: Wooo!!! We love you, Lisa!! We love you, Ruby!! (Applause)
Surrealish: Haha! Of course Ruby. We'll be happy to have more scenes from you.
...So your answer, Lisa?
Lisa: Mmmm... It's definitely a), that sc**bag!
Crowd: Hahaha... (Applause!)
Surrealish: Nice guess! Ruby?
Ruby: Well I hope it's d). He deserves a good beating after pulling a stunt like that diss track!! (fuming)
Crowd: (more laughter)
Surrealish: Haha! Omg! Uhh... Vince?
Vince: Looking at option d), I think you come up with the best ideas, Surrealish!
Crowd: (roaring laughter)
Surrealish: Haha! Why, thank you, Vince (evil smile)
Mrs Hatton?
Mrs Hatton: (Smiling with a massive chainsaw in her hands) I'd like to give James a piece of my mind!
Crowd: Yeah!!! Wooo!! Go mom!!! (Applause)
Surrealish: (facepalm) Oh no... This is quickly turning into a scene from 'The Purge'. We gotta go!
Thanks for joining us tonight. Keep reading! And join us live on TKE Q&A!!! Ciao!!
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