Chapter 06

Wade

 

It didn't take long for me to know that Cynthia was going to be busy with the little present I had gotten for her. I tried to read the headlines again. It was said that her husband was only attracted to men. 

 

I wondered why their choices and priorities had to be so different, and the other person would fool you. I knew that Cynthia and the other one got married because of the inheritance that would be theirs. I haven't seen so many people fighting for one thing at once. It was too low for their father to divide his children because of their inheritance. 

 

I saw it as a selfish thing. While staring at the brutality of the press towards Cynthia, I read that she fought a paparazzi guy because they were trying to get a forced comment out of her.

 

I exhaled. Knowing that it was far from over. She was going to make a move, if not through her, her mother, and her foolish brother. It was sad that they had no say on their own, which makes it easy at times, just as it was easy to tip the journalist on one of them.

 

I went to the bar as quickly as I could because that's the appearance I was keeping. I needed to keep up with that face for as long as I could. That was how I met Marianna, and it was only fair that I had a daily job to attend to. Even when the bar was at its best at night.

 

Marianna

 

After the last incident, Wade was still going to his usual daily job, and something inside me didn't sit well with all of that. I wanted to help, but I knew that he wasn't going to let me, so it was best that I do this alone. My family had a habit of holding secret meetings in the library. I knew that I needed to muster the courage to find a place among them. The question was: were they ready to listen to me?

 

"What are you doing here?" My father asked if they glared at me, ready to speak, but they knew better than to speak in the presence of Grandpa.

 

"I came to speak to grandpa about something." My grandfather turned his head to me with a smug smile. This was something he liked—granting favour at the expense of your life. "I am married now, and I would like you to give my husband a position in the company."

 

"What?!!" Antonia exclaimed, but I didn't give her any kind of attention. It was bold of me to ask such a question, and I expected the reaction from them. While fiddling with my hands, my legs were weak in fear.

 

I was taking Wade's advice. If I needed to survive in this family, I needed to stand my ground.

 

"Why should I do that?" His eyes were no longer on me but on the Daily Post newspaper that was on his lap.

 

"Because it will be the best decision you will ever make. Wade has ideas and the will to excel in any field." 

 

"Grandpa! You can't possibly be considering that." Cynthia jumped on her feet, fighting against me. There was nothing I could do to shut her up, but it would be best if I didn't hear anything coming from her. Grandpa ignored her, just as he was to me, every brief second. 

 

"Why wouldn't he? If you are worried that his input to the company is going to be better than yours, then you have a lot to be worried about." I challenged Cynthia.

 

"Wade is not part of our family. You might consider me, but Wade, no. We don't leave our family's business in the hands of strangers."

 

"Yet, you can hire Cynthia's gay husband? How nice. You do not have to like it, but he is my husband. He has as much right as I have."

 

"Do you have any rights?" She scoffed. "From the way, you are pleading for your dear husband; it shows that you are not family."

 

"That's enough!" Grandpa beckoned to us. He shook his head with disbelief at Antonia.

 

I'm still staring at her. "As his wife, you are supposed to be a mother to all the children in this house. You antagonise Anna and play favouritism with your own children. You, the father, are not exempted from this. Anna is your daughter, and you play favouritism? Even with your judgement, you will run your family to the ground. Everything you built will be destroyed if you keep going like this." They all covered their heads in shame. Antonia kept glaring at me, and it wasn't the best look I have seen yet. 

 

I have come to realise that she was always going to be the enemy; there was no way she would change.

 

"Anna? I will give Wade the job. I am giving him the job based on your word. I trust you enough not to bring someone who would jeopardise the company or to think of marrying him. A lower position is always better than a job at the bar. I think he can pull it off."

 

"Thank you!" I smiled at him. He smiled back with reassurance in his eyes. "I won't let you down." 

 

"You better not."

 

"Father, this is unacceptable! We do not even know the guy well enough for us to do that. Cynthia mentioned that he leaked private matters of hers to the press. We can't let someone like in '' Dad quietly objected to his decision.

 

"Do you have proof that he was the one who leaked such information to the press?" Everyone lowered their heads in shame. "If there is no proof, then it means that you are looking for ways to punish Ana. Which I would not take from any of you."

 

They all dispersed to their destinations. I was about to leave, but Antonia stopped me halfway. "You do not like your husband alive."

 

She smirked and went ahead of me. I sigh when I hear the locks on the door clicking. 

 

"Antonia, why are you?" I hit the door. "Let me out! Please let me out."