Ready

Chapter six

“If you take half now, I’ll be left with almost nothing.” I said finding my voice again. My bag had dropped from my hand but I made no move to pick it.

My father didn’t look by my plight in the slightest.

“You already gave half of the company shares to your wife," I continued, trying to keep my voice steady even if I felt I couldn't breathe at the moment. “If I give another half to Sheila, I’ll be left with barely ten percent.”

For a moment he simply stared at me as if I had just said something incredibly foolish.

Then he sighed, not with exhaustion but irritation

“Stop whining, and do as you are told.”

I could see he had made up his mind but I didn't want to give up yet. I couldn't give up all I had ever worked for.

“I’m not whining, I’m just asking you to think about what you’re asking me to do. Please father.”

His expression hardened immediately.

“What I’m asking?” he repeated.

“Yes, You’re asking me to give away everything I worked for.” I said playing with the hem of my shirt.

“You wouldn’t have anything if it wasn’t for me,” he snapped.

Those words I knew would join the rest that haunted my dreams.

I swallowed, forcing myself to stay calm.

“I know that, Father, but…..”

“Then do as you’re told.”

His voice cut me off like the sound of my voice irritated him.

“You should actually be grateful,” he continued coldly. “After the embarrassment you caused this family yesterday, I’m doing you a favor by keeping things quiet.”

A tremor shot down my spine. I held on to something to avoid falling.

“ I brought embarrassment?” I whispered.

“ Don't play dumb with me jade,” he replied flatly. “A broken engagement is already humiliating enough. People don't need to see you walking into my company after that. That's bad press”

My hands trembled slightly.

“ Father, Elio cheated on me with Sheila,” I said agitated.

“And?”

His response threw me off. I held onto the couch I'm in front of me tight.

“And?” I repeated weakly.

“Yes, and?” he said impatiently. “What exactly do you expect me to do about it?”

I stared at him in disbelief. How could this man be my father

“Sheila is your sister now,” he continued calmly. “And Elio has chosen her. The best thing for this family is to move forward.”

Move forward. As if my life had just been some small inconvenience. I obviously meant nothing to these people.

“Please,” I tried again, the word escaping before I could stop it. “Don’t take my shares. That division is the only thing I truly built myself in the company.”

My father's face was red with real annoyance.

“I’m not negotiating with you.”

“ Father plea….”

“Enough.”

The sharp command echoed across the room.

“You will transfer half of your shares to Sheila and that is final.” he said firmly. “That was the agreement.”

“Agreement?” I asked weakly.

Before he could answer, another voice entered the room.

“Well, this is interesting.”

My stomach dropped instantly.

Sheila walked into the living room like she owned it, dressed in an expensive cream coat that probably cost more than most people’s monthly salaries. Her heels clicked softly against the marble floor as she approached us.

Her eyes moved between my father and me, amusement dancing in them.

“Am I interrupting something?” she asked in that annoying sweet voice.

My father’s tone softened as he opened his arms for her to come to him. .

“No. We were just discussing the company.”

Sheila’s gaze landed on me again, she walked towards our father and sat with him. Folding into his embrace.

“Oh?” she said, smiling wickedly at me.

“Is this about the shares?” she asked, turning to him .

Heat rushed to my face.

She already knew.

Of course she did.

She laughed lightly.

“Don’t look so shocked, Jade. These things were bound to happen eventually.”

“You knew about this?” I asked.

“About the shares?” she said casually. “Of course.”

Her smile widened.

“About Elio too.”

My heart dropped.

“What do you mean?” I asked slowly.

Sheila folded her arms, clearly enjoying the moment.

“Elio never loved you,” she said bluntly.

I had expected those words but they hurt nevertheless.

“He was always going to choose me, I mean who wouldn't.” she continued with a small shrug. “You just made things easier by pretending not to notice.”

“That’s not true,” I said quietly.

“Oh please,” she scoffed. “You’ve always been too naive for your own good.”

My father didn't utter a single word in my defense.

“ Since you won’t be working at the company anymore, I’ll be taking over your position.” Sheila said with extreme glee

My head snapped up.

“What?”

“Well,” she said with mock sympathy, “someone has to run that department. And honestly, I’d rather not have your bad luck rubbing off on the place.”

I looked at my father to see if he would deny it or say something in my defense but he didn't. He didn't look surprised or uncomfortable.

That told me everything they didn't already say.

I picked up my bag slowly.

“Fine,” I said quietly. I took the papers from the table and signed them.

Neither of them stopped me as I turned and walked toward the door but I caught a glimpse of Shelia's satisfied look that was a replica of her mother's.

The moment I stepped outside, the cold air hit my face and I wrapped my coat around myself tighter.

I kept walking down the driveway, my mind spinning with everything that had just happened.

Everything felt like it was slipping through my fingers.

I had just reached the gate when I saw a familiar figure coming out of a sleek black car.

Elio.

My steps slowed.

He straightened when he saw me.

“Jade,” he said.

“What are you doing here?” I asked sharply.

He shoved his hands into his coat pockets.

“I tried to warn you that morning but you weren't picking up.” he said.

My anger flared instantly.

“Warn me?” I repeated. “You mean before or after you slept with my sister?”

He winced slightly.

“I told you things were complicated.”

“Get out,” I said coldly.

His brows furrowed.

“I’m not here for you.” he said, freezing for a second.

“I came to drop Sheila off,” he continued casually. “And I’m waiting to pick her up.It’s freezing outside,” he added. “I didn’t want her catching a cold.”

For a moment I couldn’t speak.

Everything about the situation felt surreal.Yesterday he had been my fiancé.

Today he was waiting outside my father’s house for my sister.

I let out a quiet laugh that sounded more broken than amused.

“Congratulations,” I said flatly.

Then I walked past him. Remembering all the times he never had time to pick me up knowing fully well I hated driving.

I didn’t look back.

I kept walking in the unforgiving cold. My mind replayed everything again and again.

My father’s words.

Sheila’s smile.

Elio’s indifference.

Somewhere along the way I stopped walking, I just stood in the middle of the cold staring at nothing, wondering how my life had collapsed in less than forty eight hours.

Even the shares I had worked so hard for were being handed to someone else like they meant nothing.

For a moment, I simply stood there, staring blankly at the road ahead.

Then I remember the mysterious man's offer at the hotel.

I immediately reached into my bag and searched for it hoping I hadn't thrown it out.

My fingers brushed against the smooth card and relief washed through me.

I pulled the card out absentmindedly.

I brought out my phone to dial the number on it, but then my eyes dropped to the name printed neatly across the thick black card.

Killian Montclair.

My breath stopped for a second.

I must have read that wrong.I blinked and looked again.

The same name stared back at me. I used my coat to clean my eyes instead and it was still the same.

Killian Montclair.

My father’s voice echoed in my head from just minutes ago.

“I’ve been trying to get that contract for years.”

“He’s still in this state.”

“killian Montclair"

A strange chill ran down my spine.

So the mysterious man in the hotel…

The one who had casually asked me to marry him…

That was Killian Montclair?

The powerful businessman my father had been desperately trying to secure a contract with for years.

I let out a slow breath, my mind spinning.

This suddenly felt far more strategized than I had thought.

Which meant he had already known exactly who I was.

My grip tightened around the card.

For a moment, I thought of throwing the card out. I didn't want to be a pawn in any game anymore.

But then I remembered my father’s cold expression.

Sheila’s mocking smile.

Elio standing outside like I had never mattered at all.

Something inside me hardened.

If they were so determined to take everything from me…

Then maybe it was time I stopped playing by their rules.

Slowly, I dialed the number on the card.

The phone rang once.

Twice.

On the third ring, the line connected.

“Hello?”

His voice was calm. Controlled.

Like he had been expecting this call.

I swallowed before speaking.

“This is Jade.”

There was a brief silence.

Then his voice came again, quieter this time.

“ I'm aware”

I tightened my grip on the phone.

The cold wind whipped around me, but I barely felt it anymore.

“I’ve thought about your offer,” I said slowly.

Another pause.

Then I said the words that would change everything.

“I’m ready.”