Chapter 16 - Seventeen

DECLAN POV

I groaned as I stretched on my bed. Opening my eyes was a herculean task, the natural lighting in the room seemed too harsh for my eyes.

I squinted as I stood up from the bed and closed the curtain. In the darkness I could fully open my eyes.

I rubbed my forehead softly as I felt the full consequences of last night actions.

I had gone on a drinking spree last night trying to drown out my worries with alcohol.

It had worked briefly but come this morning, I was reaping the consequences of my actions.

I checked my phone for messages and there was one from Daisy. I ignored the way my heart jumped in excitement and opened the message.

'Good morning Declan, please meet me by 1pm at the court so we can finalise the divorce proceedings' the message read.

I frowned as I read the message. What was the hurry? she had been perfectly content leaving the divorce matter in my hands since. It was probably because of Stefan. He was probably pressuring her to finalise the divorce so he could marry her. I added a reminder to my calendar.

I dropped the phone on the bed and went to the bathroom to take a shower.

As I took my shower, I thought of Daisy. She had no idea what she was getting into with Stefan.

The Helios group was very mysterious and dangerous. I feared greatly for her life. Even though she had hurt me, I still cared for her and didn't want to see her suffer for something she had no idea about.

I finish my shower and came out of the bathroom. My phone was ringing, I picked it up, it was my assistant calling, I answered the phone call.

"Hello, Good morning sir" she said.

"Good morning, what is it?" I asked her.

"We have a problem sir, the stocks are dropping" she informed me.

"What do you mean by the stocks i at the same office sir" she said, I could hear the alarm in her voice.

"Okay, calm down, I will be there immediately" I told her.

"ok sir"

I ended the call and quickly dressed up. What could be the reason this was happening? I wondered.

I rushed down the stairs.

"Declan! Is that you son?" I heard my mom's voice from the dining room.

I groaned inwardly, I was in a hurry but I couldn't leave without answering her.

I went to meet her, she was with my sister Lily and Stella.

"Good morning mom" while attempting a warm smile.

"Don't I get a kiss?" she asked with a teasing smile.

I bent down and kissed her cheek.

"Good morning brother" Lily said.

"Good morning sister" I replied her.

"good morning Declan" Stella said.

"Oh good morning Stella! I didn't know you were around" I told Stella.

"It's her birthday today, we are going to spend the day together" Lily informed me.

"I see. Happy birthday Stella, I hope you girls have a wonderful day" I told them.

"Thank you Declan" Stella said shyly.

"Declan, you should take her out for dinner to celebrate her birthday" my mom told me.

I wasn't paying attention to her, my assistant had just messaged me again.

"okay, mom, I have to go." I told my mom.

"What about breakfast?" Lily asked.

"What about the dinner?" my mom asked, but I was already out of the room and their questions echoed in the empty air.

I went outside, got into my car and drove to the company at full speed, it was a wonder I didn't break any traffic laws with how fast I went.

I arrived at the company and rushed to my office. My assistant was already there waiting for me.

"Good morning sir" she greeted me as I entered.

"What is the situation? Tell me the details" I ask her, ignoring her greeting.

"This morning, our stocks suddenly started going down. Our investors started calling us, panicking and wanting to know what's going on? I asked the finance department to find out what caused this to happen...."

"And what did they say?" I asked impatiently.

"It's the Helios group sir, they dumped most of the stocks they had and at a low price." she reported.

I gritted my teeth, of course it was that damned Helios group.

"What do we do sir?" she asked.

"Tell the finance department to continue monitoring the situation. Tell the investors not to panic that we are working on it" I told her.

"Okay sir" she replied and left.

As soon as she left, I picked up the ceramic paper weight on the table and smashed it against the wall. As it shattered into little pieces, the anger in my heart eased a little.

It was that damn Stefan behind all this. He probably wanted to intimidate me because of Daisy. I scoffed, to think he would go for my company. That was a bold move for real, first he stole my wife and then he was going after my company. I had never seen such audacity in my life before.

I had to deal with this immediately. I couldn't afford to let our stocks drop even further.

I called Daisy. She picked up the call.

"Hello" she said in her soft voice.

"Hello Daisy" I answered her.

"Why are you calling? It isn't yet time for our meeting. Or are you trying to back out? That won't be possible, Declan" she told me.

Her words were even making me more angry.

"I am not calling you because of the meeting neither do I want to back out of the divorce, I initiated the divorce, remember?" I asked.

"Then why are you calling Declan?"

"Call your dogs off" I warned her, using up all my self control.

"Dogs? What are you talking about?"

"Ask Stefan, he should know better" I told her and hung up.