CHAPTER 7: DEFIANCE

The statement resounded in the ears of Sloane. She twitched her eyes a bit.

"What did you say?” She asked him.

Carlo cocked his head and replied, "I said I will do what you ask of me. I mean I will stay married to you.”

Sloane was happy to hear that. But she was not very expressive about that. She knew that the decision not to sever ties with Carlo and get married to Bradley was going to bring problems her way.

“Thank you for agreeing to this," Sloane said calmly. “We will discuss the terms for our agreement next. And uhm… I will find time so we can do a little modification to your wardrobe collections."

Carlo took a look at himself. "Do I look too bad?”

Sloane shook her head. "Not at all. Sorry if I have given you that impression. But somehow, you are now married to the first daughter of the Wentworths. I believe you should have a little idea of what that means.”

Carlo nodded his head.

"Okay. We are good.”

She reached down in her pocket and grabbed a few bucks.

"Please, have this,” she said. "I don't have a lot of cash on me at the moment.”

Carlo shook his head, rejecting the kind gesture.

Sloane frowned. "Is it too small? Do you need extra?”

Carlo smiled and said, "We can both come to terms with the fact that you have done a lot for me already. You spent a lot on the foods I ate already. It would not paint a good image of me if I should accept this from you. So, keep it.”

Sloane grinned broadly at that. In a way, she felt she didn't make a mistake by choosing to stay with Carlo. The man had some dignity in him. That was very necessary.

“It would not be nice to reject a kind gesture," she said. “Please, accept this. It's not much."

Carlo was still hesitant about it.

"Come on,” she pressed on. "We both know it's not good to keep a pretty lady waiting.”

She grabbed his hand and pressed the money into it.

"Now, that wasn't so difficult, right?” She asked with a smile. "And one more thing.”

Carlo watched as she opened the car and grabbed something.

"Here,” she said while handing her business card to him. "My contact is right there. You can call me if need be. Maybe when we have settled this, you will have my private contact.”

"Thank you, ma'am,” Carlo said and received the card.

"Hmm,” Sloane exhaled heavily. "There will also be no need to address me that way. My name is Sloane. And I guess I have to start going now. I have to settle some issues…at home, you know.”

Carlo understood. Everyone probably expected her to cut ties with him and mingle with whoever the dude called Bradley was. She was going against the family. And that could be a heavy blow to her.

"Take care of you,” he said and stepped aside to let her drive out.

He stood there and watched the car disappear out of sight. Then, he called his driver to come and pick him up.

Many moments later, Sloane drove into the premises of her home and parked. She took her time in the car to get her head ready for what was going to happen next.

Ms Barbara would definitely be expecting her to bring the news of how she divorced Carlo. But the shocker was incoming.

When she went into the house, the lady of the house was seated in one of the couches with her legs crossed and arms folded across her chest. Her eyes were fixed right on the entrance as Sloane walked in.

On seeing her in that position, Sloane's heart skipped for a moment.

“For a moment, I thought you were going to remain in your car," Ms Barbara said to her.

“Good day, mom," Sloane greeted her calmly.

There was no need trying to avoid the discussion. She went on to sit down.

“Judging by your decision to sit down, I guess you have something to say to me," Ms Barbara said. “And I'm hoping it's something I want to hear."

Sloane cleared her throat. “Unfortunately, it's not."

The woman's countenance changed a bit. She could tell that Sloane eventually did what was on her mind.

"I want to believe that you have not flaunted my orders this time.”

Sloane was mute for a while as if trying to get her words together. Then, she said, “Mom, let's get this right. I am never going to give myself to that arrogant man that has no regard for anyone."

Ms Barbara gnashed her teeth. Anger was already brewing inside her.

“You silly girl!" She growled angrily. “Are you still letting that bastard son of a bitch glue himself to you?"

Sloane smiled mildly. “That person you just spoke about happens to be my husband as it is.“

Ms Barbara got up from where she sat with anger in her eyes. She felt an irresistible urge to tear Sloane apart, limb by limb.

“You have really made up your mind to dent the image of this family. What would your late father think about this?!” She sighed heavily. “I can beat my chest and say that that man would be regretting having you as his daughter!"

Sloane remained calm. There was no need to lose cool. Besides, she was used to hearing such mean statements from her supposed family.

"Here's the thing, mom, if you knew your husband well enough, like you have claimed to, you would definitely know that he would be very proud of me. Did you say I would dent the family?” She scoffed. "No, mom. Letting Bradley have me as his property would be more disrespectful to this home.”

Ms Barbara could see that Sloane was not ready to back off from this. She needed a way to pin her down.

The perfect idea struck.

"Sloane, I will only give you breathing space on one condition.”

Sloane's curiosity was piqued. "What could that be?”

Ms Barbara cleared her throat and said, "Give up your position in the business.”

That was totally unexpected!