" Brandon! What are we going to do?" Miranda asked in tears.
"We'd find a way, Miranda, nothing would happen to Janice," he said.
Ivy scoffed in disbelief, they didn't even consider her, all they cared about was Janice. She slowly walked away to her phone, leaving them to sort their mess out.
"Mom! Mom!!" Janice cried out as she looked at her mom. "I don't want to go with the boss, please," she cried.
"Have faith in me, child, nothing would happen to you" Miranda assured her daughter.
Ivy picked up her phone, she had dropped it while rushing to pack. She decided to text her best friend, Flynn. She narrated the day's ordeal before she drifted into sleep.
**Bando hotel
" I want the whole place sparkling, do you understand?" Emma Gomez said. She was a popular social media influencer who was planning her 25th year birthday.
"Emma, who would you be inviting?" Julie, one of Emma's friends asked.
"Who else would she invite? If not Adrian Wintershall," Claire, another friend of Emma, said.
"Gosh, you're such a lucky girl! Throughout college days, you were the only girl Adrian spoke to" Julie said.
"That's because he could relate to me, " Emma said with pride.
Adrian Wintershall was the heir to the Wintershalls; the richest family in the states. He was young, handsome, and rich though he was cold and arrogant but all the girls wanted him for themselves.
"But would he come for your birthday celebration this year?" Claire asked.
"Well, let's see" Emma smirked as she texted Adrian.
"Hey Adrian, my birthday is in two days. I would love to see you there. Hugs and kisses".
"Sent, let's wait for his reply," she said.
"Beep, beep" Emma's phone sounded.
"It's from Adrian," she said as she read the reply out.
"Alright Emma, text me the time and place. I'd try to make up time"
"OMG! Girlfriend, you're super lucky," Claire and Julie said.
"I know right, let's get to work, my birthday has to be perfect, " Emma said.
"Yes, Mrs Adrian Wintershall, " her friends said while laughing.
** Wintershall Builders (WTS)
"It's late already, Adrian, let's go home," Xavier said.
"I'm coming, let me round up with this " Adrian replied smiling
"What are you smiling at?" He said as Adrian didn't answer him.
"Nothing, " Adrian said with a serious face. Xavier grabbed his phone and read the text.
"Now! Would you guys just date already?" Xavier said to Adrian.
Xavier was Adrian's best friend since college days, the duo were inseparable. Adrian was cold, rich, famous, and handsome while Xavier was lively, rich, and handsome. Other than Xavier, Emma was the only person Adrian spoke to, rumors had it that they were in a relationship but Xavier knew it wasn't true.
Though Emma was sent out from school for bad grades, she decided to re-enroll as Adrian's grandfather wanted a college graduate as a daughter-in-law. Xavier couldn't understand why Adrian hadn't asked her to be his girlfriend.
"Ask her out already" Xavier whispered to Adrian.
"Shut up already," Adrian said while chuckling.
"Would you be going for the birthday?" Xavier asked.
"Yes, I would," Adrian said.
"Then you should get her flowers and chocolate, jewelry and rings," Xavier suggested.
"Ring?" "What for?" Adrian asked.
"In case you need to propose " Xavier replied laughing.
Adrian:"..."
"You're hopeless, Xavier, " he said before getting into the elevator.
**Wintershall mansion.
Adrian drove into the mansion and packed his car at the garage before strolling into the giant building.
"Welcome sir Adrian" the maids at the door greeted.
"Adrian is back, you should tell him about his grandfather's call," Joanne Wintershall said.
"Mom, Dad," Adrian said as he walked over to the bar stand where his parents were drinking wine. He hugged his mother; Joanne and faced his father; Lucas.
"You're home late again, Adrian" Joanne complained.
"He has work to do, my love," Lucas said to bail Adrian out.
"But he isn't eating well and I don't get to see his handsome face often" she complained again.
"Don't worry Mom, I'll make sure I eat well and also return home on time, so you'll get to see my face before going to bed" Adrian promised. "I should refresh up now," he said as he turned to walk away.
"Wait! Adrian, we need to talk," Lucas said. Adrian sighed, he knew what his dad wanted to talk about. His family has been bugging him to get married for a while now.
"Dad, I know what you want to talk about, just give me a little more time to fix myself up" Adrian quickly said before Lucas could talk.
"Your grandfather wants to see you," Lucas said to him.
"Alright, I'll go see him by the weekend"
"Why not tomorrow?" Lucas asked.
"I have a business proposal to finish up and other commitments to handle, " Adrian said. "I'd see him by the weekend," he said again before climbing the stairs.
Adrian ran the shower over his head, he was scared of getting married but he couldn't admit it to anyone.
"This is so frustrating" he muttered as he forced himself to bed.
"Good morning everyone" Adrian greeted as he joined his family for breakfast.
"Good morning big brother," Ellie; Adrian's sister, said.
"Morning son" Lucas and Joanne replied.
"You're looking sick, Adrian," Ellie said.
"That's because he's overworking himself" Joanne frowned.
"Take the day off," Lucas suggested.
"This deal is important dad, I have to close it myself and I'm not sick, I didn't just get enough sleep last night, that's all," Adrian said.
"Whatever! Just learn to rest bro" Ellie said.
"I'd get going, " Adrian said after eating.
"Let's ride together son, I also have a deal with my French client at the vile restaurant," Lucas said.
"Take care " Joanne shouted after them as they left.
**Montes residence
Miranda stared into space as she thought of ways to help her daughter out of the clutches of the big boss. Ivy slammed the door making Miranda shiver in fear, thinking the big boss was back.
"What the hell was that, you stupid girl" Miranda cursed. "And where are you going?" She said,
"None of your business," Ivy said before walking out.
"Come back here, you rude bitch" Miranda yelled. Ivy walked a bit away from the house and stopped a taxi.
"Vile restaurant, please," she said as she got into the taxi. Ivy texted Flynn to inform her that she was already at the venue. She decided to order a drink while she waited for Flynn to get there.
She heard three men bargaining about a business proposal behind her. She noticed that two of the men spoke different languages, English and French while the third man was a translator. Her mother owns a fashion industry and she looked forward to taking over it, so Ivy learned French. But something was off with the men's conversation; the translator was inflating the price, making the two men argue constantly.
"He's lying," Ivy said as she walked to the businessmen. "Your translator isn't saying the right thing," she said to the men both in French and English.