Chapter 17 - Rants

"Laurence!!!!!"

Charrisa yelled, and her personal assistant flinched in fear.

"What the hell did you just say?"

I-ummm- The stock prices for both the new and old products have begun to reduce drastically ma'am, Laurence replied in a small voice.

"Give me a better explanation on why the new product I just released is dropping uhm?" Charrisa demanded.

"Ma'am, when we wanted to launch the new skincare product, I wanted to tell you that we were not done with the testing but you didn't give me a chance to speak," Laurence explained the fear evident in her voice.

Seeing that she got no reply from her boss, Lurence spoke again.

"As a result of not completing the testing, there were complications in the first batch of the products we launched and it resulted in skin issues to those that used it. Customers were angry and they stopped buying our other products too."

"So…..?" Charissa asked as if she didn't hear the explanation her personal assistant just gave her.

Laurence gulped.

"Answer me," Charrisa yelled as she banged the table with great force. Sending some of the papers and pen on the table flying to the other side of her office.

"So-both-the ne-w-new and old products stocks are now reducing," Laurence said, her voice shaking.

"You know what? Get out of my office," Charrisa ordered in a low tone and Laurence scrambled out of the office.

"Ahhhh!!!!" Charrisa screamed and started destroying everything in the office out of anger.

She was so angry, all her plans had backfired. Her stock was going down and Dunice's were rising, Dunice had a daughter with Alex and how her own chances of being with Alex are now gone. Her company might go bankrupt at this pace if someone decided to sue her due to the substandard skincare product that was produced.

****

Alex sat in his office rolling the pen in his hands and staring at the laptop in his front, He kept thinking about the kiss he and Dunice shared a week ago. He could bet that it was a passionate one the way Dunice kissed him back.

He missed her so much already, it's been a week and they haven't seen each other yet.

He couldn't have felt happier, Dunice company's stock is now rising and people seemed to take the press conference well and most importantly she's decided to give him a second chance. Now it's time to deal with Charrisa.

His phone rang and he checked the caller ID only to see "Mr Maxwell"

"Fuck," he cussed.

Picking up the phone he put it in speaker mode so he doesn't have to place it on his ear

"Good morning," Alex greeted the man at the other end

"And what is good about this morning," Mr Maxwell snapped.

Alex pressed his temples.

"My daughter just told me that you told her you have no plans for marriage, is that true?"Mr Maxwell questioned angrily.

"Yes,and?" Alex Said nonchalantly.

"I want to see you in my house by noon, your dad would be waiting too," Mr Maxwell said in a firm tone and cut the call before Alex could think of replying.

"That bastard, he's got no manners and is so proud. I wonder why Charrisa started so hell-bent on marrying a loser like him," The Mr. Maxwell yelled angrily, scaring the workers around him.

****

Alex drove Into the Maxwell's Villa in his black SUV and highlighted. He was changed to a casual outfit while leaving the office because he told Dunice that he wanted to be the one who will pick Alix from school today.

Alex wore an outfit that perfectly encapsulated his nonchalant style. His cream-colored baggy jeans hung loosely on his lean frame, and the matching sweatshirt draped over his shoulders in a carefree manner. His long, dark hair was swept back into a messy ponytail, accentuating his angular features. And to top it all , he wore a pair of black Crocs - the perfect accessory for a relaxed, casual look. He exuded an air of confidence, comfortable in his own skin and in his own style.

He got into the sitting room downstairs, and leaned against the door only to find Mr and Mrs Maxwell, His father, Charrisa staring at him with a confused expression on their face. He looked at the person seated beside his father and saw that it was Douglas.

He clenched his fist.

"What the hell is he doing here?" He thought internally.

"Welcome Alexander, please have a seat," Mr Lopez, who was his Father, said.

"I'm not here to sit, get straight to what you want to say" Alex said in a bored tone and Mr Lopez sent him a glare.

"Alex," Charrisa called when she finally found her voice.

"Why are you dressed so....ummm…. casual?" "I've never seen you dress like this," She added.

"You are irrelevant please, you can't tell me what and what not to wear," Alex replied in a Curt tone without sparing her a glance.

"You have ten Minutes to rant however you like, I have to pick up my daughter from school," Alex spoke.

Hearing this Charrisa's blood boiled.

"Alex we came here to talk about the marriage between you and Charrisa, we know we have to form an alliance between ourselves and the Maxwell's don't you?" It was Mrs Lopez who spoke this time around.

"And since when did you start making decisions for me, Dianna?" Alex asked and everyone froze.

"Alexander, you don't speak to your mother like that," Mr Lopez scolded.

"Since when was she ever my mother?" Alex asked, raising an eyebrow at his Father.

"Look, let me just say this one thing Alex begun.

"I'm not interested in your business whatsoever, when I'm back I'll hand over all your properties back to you dad, you can share it among your wife and your stepson, I'm no longer interested," Alex said firmly.

Hearing this Charrisa's eyes widened.

"Alexander!" Mr Lopez called in an unbelievable tone.

"What?" Alex asked.

"Ever since I finished my education I've been carrying your business on my head, I even had to sign a contract marriage to save the business, I've gone through a lot both emotionally and physically because of your companies and you never appreciate any of my efforts, you can leave it in care of your other son let's see how he handels it. You gave birth to him after all," Alex voiced out his emotions and Mr Lopez didn't know what to say.

"You are doing this because of your ex wife right?" Alex heard Douglas say.

Alex scoffed.

"I'm doing it for myself, my own mental health," was all Alex said.

"Your ten minutes is up now so I'm off now," Alex said and opened the door he was leaning against and walked out.