Pending

Mordecai's standpoint

I drummed my fingers on the large table, playing ignorant to the murderous glares Landon was shooting my way. I sat lazily on the chair, legs crossed with my suit jacket draping down the side of the black swivel chair. Chairman Shi Ye was smiling as he observed my proposition, it was already clear who would win the contract.

"Well, gentlemen," he finally spoke, adjusting his oversized glasses. I've always wondered what his love for oversized things is all about. "This has been one hell of a decision, you all brought great propositions and your presentations were flawless, but as you all know, there can be only one to take the contract…"

"Why not spit it out to us in a plain sentence that Mordecai here has won?" Landon growled. "It's obvious from the way you shine your dirty old almost fallen teeth while staring at his offers." Shi Ye's smile dropped into a stern look.

"Landon, I will remind you that I own the company, not you. And next time when you want to present something to someone higher than you, try making much more attractive and acceptable offers and add some manners to go with it." I smiled inwardly as he threw Landon's files back at him.

"Right, I've wasted my time here," Landon said through gritted teeth. He gathered his files into his hands and stood up while glaring at me to which I smiled innocently as he stomped out. It was so easy getting under his skin, I didn't even have to say anything other than just smile. If I knew it was that easy, I would have done that all my life.

"Some people just don't know how to act and accept loss, his pride has been the reason for his downfall," one of the contractors said.

"Well, now the rubbish is out in the trash, let's get back to this," Chairman Shi Ye slid mine across the large glass table, I stopped it with a finger. "Congratulations, Mr. Gabriel, the contract is yours."

"Thank you, chairman," I said with a charming smile.

"Mr. Cullen, I believe there is another contract I know you can handle perfectly if you want it…?" The man in question's eyes lit with excitement.

"Of course, why not?! I will gladly accept anything!"

After a quick signing, I passed the contract to my PA, bid Chairman Shi Ye and the other man goodbye, and walked out. My assistant trailed behind me, her heels clacking on the floor as she tried to keep up with my pace. Delaney is a great assistant, just terrible at walking speed. 

Once at the parking lot, I chuckled when I saw who I expected to see, Landon. As usual, he was angrily pacing at my car, muttering curses and swears. I smiled brighter, he was going to yell and scream like he always did.

"Hello, brother, here to see me off?" I taunted. He growled like the animal he is. "Whoa, have you been taking lessons from your dog?"

"Mordecai, you are starting to piss me off, you are starting to irritate me with your existence! Why do you always go for everything that I want?! We both know you don't even need this contract, you are bigger than it!"

I flung my jacket over my shoulder, grinning from ear to ear. "You finally admit that I'm bigger, huh, brother?"

"Stay out of my way, Mordecai, or…"

"Or what, Landon?" I snapped. "Report me to your father? Cry to your mommy? Or try to sabotage my reputation? Or your recent act of trying to take what belongs to me again…"

"You shouldn't be sitting on such money, you are a useless boy playing man. G-Steel Enterprise should be mine, not yours!" I narrowed my eyes.

"You are a golddigger, Landon, always have, always will be. Now, excuse me, I have somewhere to be."

"Mordecai…"

"Do I have to tell my guards to push you away like before?" I smirked.

"Enjoy it while it lasts, Mordecai, G-Steel will surely be mine."

I smiled widely and nodded in agreement, something that always pissed him off. "You are right, it is all yours." I slurred derisively. He growled again but stepped out of the way. One of my guards quickly opened the door for me. I walked to the car and before I slipped him, I blew him a kiss, laughing afterward at his furious reaction.

"Sir?" Delaney called shakily, she has always been the shy type, a very timid lady.

"Yes, Laney?"

"Don't you think you should take his threat seriously? Landon is not a very nice man, you know." I reached my hand to her hair and ruffled it.

"Don't worry, little sis, he can't do anything. Landon has lost all his game plans." This was true, he had tried different ways to eliminate me but none were effective. I looked out of the window and let my mind travel to the girl that made me who I was. It had been eleven years since I met her, eleven years of marking the days on my calendar. Her eyes still haunted my dreams, her voice remained the only music I wished to hear, and her scent still drove me crazy at night. That day she dropped her ring. The place I found it in the alleyway meant that it was accidental. I knew it was hers because it had her rich scent. I dug my hand into my half-buttoned shirt and pulled the ring out, my ring necklace.

I did as she said, I met up with the challenge. After that day, I got a small room to stay in, a room I shared with six guys. One helped me with a job, a hard one. At first, I couldn't handle it, but with time, I adjusted to my new life and worked hard. I worked for a whole year, doing one job to the other before I coincidentally saved my mother's father. I had no idea it was him, I didn't even know my mother had a family, she told me they died. The truth was that my mother was disowned after she married father against her family's wishes. He knew it was me, hell I looked exactly like him when he was my age and had his wife's beautiful eyes. My grandfather hired me, gave me a job to do, and observed me closely for a year before he let me know who he was. My grandfather was a billionaire with no heir, guess who everything went to.

Over the years he trained me to be as witty as he was, clever and a quick thinker. I also worked on it my own way, making sure no one—especially Landon—successfully got to me again. Well, a thief is always a thief. The moment it was revealed I was the new CEO, Landon's new quest became to take it for himself. It made me wonder what the man was thinking, he wasn't even related to my family by blood and yet he claimed that everything rightfully belonged to him. Whatever demon was feasting on his wisdom was doing a great job.

It didn't matter, I forego his plans and attempts over the years, even the ones aimed at my life. Landon wasn't going to give up until he was a complete wreck. Which is going to be soon because my wonderful stepbrother was ruining my father's company and everything he had worked for. That was their problem because I was no longer his son. My last name legally became my mother's maiden name and it remains that way.

"I can't wait to see my little sunshine, I just hope that the babysitter is doing her job properly." Delaney chirped. Delaney had a daughter, she was mute. Angela stopped talking after she witnessed her father get murdered with her four-year-old eyes. Laney's fiancé was one of the guys I stayed with, the good one. It was unfortunate he was killed in my place, for that I owe him a lot.

"Laney, Debby have been taking care of Angela for two years now and you still don't trust her. You seem to have forgotten that Debby is the only one other than you, me, and those buffoons she talks to, she's comfortable around her."

"I know, I know, no need to remind me, and it's Chelsea." I rolled my eyes back to the window with a smile, Laney and Angela were my family. I tucked the necklace back into my shirt and sighed deeply.

When will we meet again?

Chelsea's standpoint

I fumbled with my house key with one hand while I tried to balance the groceries in the other. Today was a hectic day for me, and it didn't help that I had to keep an eye on a kid. Angela wasn't a troublesome girl, she sat where she was told to and did not utter a word. The only thing she does is read, write, color, and sleep. Getting her to eat was a war, but aside from that, she was good. Angela tugged at my skirt, dancing from one foot to the other.

"Really sorry, baby, hold on," I finally inserted the right key and turned it. Immediately the door came open, she sprinted into the house like a gazelle to use the bathroom. Other problems. Once you tell her to sit, even if she wants to pee, she will hold it in until you give her the instruction to rise. This had caused her to wet herself a lot, she's like a dog.

"Remember to wash your hands, baby!" I shouted as I walked to the kitchen. It wasn't long before I heard her flush the toilet. I dropped the groceries on the counter, dropped my phone, and walked to my room to drop my purse and take a quick bath.

"Baby, strip before I get there!" I picked out her evening clothes, picked mine out, and headed to join her in the single bathroom. I knocked gently, she knocked the door back. I chuckled and opened the door, stuck my head in, and blew raspberries at her. She cupped her mouth and giggled.

"Come on, let's get you washed up, Mommy is returning today," she clapped her hands with excitement before lifting her little finger, "Yes, and Uncle Pinky Promise." I laughed. She excitedly hopped into the tub and sat down.

"Today, we are washing your hair," she nodded. I helped her lean on the tub and placed her head carefully. I gently and slowly washed her hair so it wouldn't frighten her, she is easily terrified. I sang as I washed her hair, it was the only way to calm her down.

Angela whimpered as I washed her hair, holding on to the tub as her life depended on it. Once her hair was fully washed, I tied a towel around her head, pulled her up to her feet, and bathed her. Once I was done, I took her to the room, cleaned and dressed her up.

"You can go now, bab…" She ran off, probably to catch up with her favorite cartoon show. I packed up her things into her pink ditty bag and arranged her clothes back into her small traveling box. Done with her stuff, I headed to the bathroom to get myself cleaned. As I walked into the bathroom, I could hear the movie she was watching.

After having a quick bath, I washed my hair and applied hair oil before rolling my light brown hair. I wore my normal loose shorts over my baggy t-shirt before rushing to the kitchen to prepare dinner. I first set the groceries where it belongs. I was humming and cutting the tomatoes when my phone rang, I looked at the caller, my mother. I dropped my knife, swiped the answer button, and placed it on loudspeaker.

"Hello, mother, good evening," I greeted, returning to my cutting.

"Chelsea," she sighed, "how was your day?"

"It was fine, my day was hectic but fine. How are the twins?"

"Themselves, as usual, your ward?"

"Angela is fine, still mute but we are making progress with her potty issue," I chirped.

"That's good. So were you able to talk to the money lender today?" My smile dropped.

"No, but I was given an appointment. What about you? How did the meeting with the bank go?"

"Terrible, very terrible, Chelsea. If we don't find a way to come up with the money we will lose the house in less than a week. I am so confused Chelsea, very confused," she burst into tears, "my restaurant has been put on sale, I saw it today. All hope to get it back is gone for good, buyers will arrive soon and my restaurant will be gone. After all the years of labor and sweat to realize my dreams, all went down the drain because of your stupid father! Jasmine and Jake got admission today, their letters came and now I realize I don't even have the money to put them through college and there's the issue with Carter, his health is deteriorating, and the doctor said we have to get him operated on or I will lose my baby. God will punish your father wherever he is!"

"Mom, please calm down, I know something good…"

"Don't you dare preach to me! Can't you see that all hope is lost?! No money is coming, it will be a miracle for any of these to clear up!"

"Mom, I have this idea to ask a favor from Angela's mother. You know I have been working for her for two years now, maybe she can lend me enough money to secure the house and Carter's operation fee. She might not have that much, but I am positive she can talk to her boss, he's like a brother to her and so…?"

"Right about now, anything is considerable. I don't care if I lose everything else, I just need the money for Carter. The worst that can happen is we will all come live with you, as long as Carter is alright."

"Don't cry, mo…"

"Mother, are you crying again?" I heard Jasmine ask.

"No, I'm fine, just lamenting to your sister. Where's Jake?"

"He's downstairs with his girlfriend and friends,"

"I'll call you back later, Mother, bye." I hung up by tapping the end button. I used my sleeve to dry my tears.