Ch 4: His Future Wife Will Meet Her Ex

Two men are hurriedly walking along the long corridor of the Hawkins’ mansion, looking very worried. They pass by the busy servants who are working to set up the decorations for the engagement party that night. There’s a line of part timers outside who are waiting to get their shifts but the men are not concerned with the party. 

They’re well dressed in suits and look extremely professional. One of them is a stoic man in his fifties with gray hair and a dignified look. The other man is in his late twenties with thick black hair and a freckled face which is very nervous.

“Mr. Palmer,” the younger man addresses his boss. “The CEO won’t be happy with this news. Shouldn’t we wait until tomorrow? He’s gonna be furious!”

“There’s no other option, Jim,” Palmer states in a curt manner. The older man is Jeremy Palmer, the senior secretary to Hector Hawkins while the young man is Jim Porter, Jeremy’s underling. 

Jeremy is a no-nonsense man with strict work ethics. He has been working for Hawkins group for almost twenty years and is one of the most trusted men in the company. As the senior most employee right after the President himself, Jeremy is one of the few people who can readily enter the mansion.

“Do you have the list of the part time workers for the party?” Jeremy asks.

“Yes,” Jim says, scanning through it. “Where are we going now, boss?”

“To the study room.”

They stop outside of Hector’s study and Jeremy knocks on the door.

“Come in!” Hector’s voice exclaims. The two men enter the room to find Hector there, studying two sets of suits.

“Tell me, Jeremy,” Hector says with a wide smile. “Which one will suit me tonight for the engagement? The blue one or the black one?”

Jim cowers in a corner while Jeremy simply says, “The black one. However, I am not here to discuss your suits, sir. We need to address the latest reports from the market.”

“You’re such a killjoy!” Hector murmurs. Jeremy puts a file on the desk.

“Rochester’s are taking over our trade,” he says. “They already own part of this property but they’re now taking over our illegal businesses as well. The gold mines are being handed to them and Ryder Rochester is-”

“I don’t wanna hear that name today!” Hector snaps. “I’ll deal with this tomorrow-”

“You don’t have time. He’s acting as we speak. Your lavish spendings are also putting a financial strain on our accounts. With the mines being sold off, we will not have any money left! Even the other families are turning away from us. We must target the gold mines up south-”

“We’re the Hawkins!” Hector snarls. “The Hawkins family owns all the mafia families out there! Their businesses are tied with ours. They won’t desert us. And as for the wedding…it’ll go as planned. I will not reduce the expenses for it. Elle and I have been waiting for this day!”

Jeremy’s lips thin at the mention of Elle. He dares not say anything in front of Hector but Jim knows that Jeremy loathes Elle. There’s something about that woman which makes people instantly like her but there are some people who also instantly dislike her.

“If Miss Elle wants to marry you then I’m sure she will agree for a private wedding,” Jeremy reasons, trying to keep his cool. “Just like former Mrs. Hawkins did-”

SMASH!

Hector throws a vase across the room, smashing it into tiny pieces. “HOW DARE YOU TAKE THAT W*HORE’S NAME?” He growls. “She f*cking tricked me into marrying her! I hate her from the bottom of my heart!”

His outburst scares Jim and the poor guy only whimpers. Jeremy, however, is unflinched.

“Mrs…Miss Scarlett had gone ahead with a private wedding to keep your finances in check,” Jeremy goes on. “She was considerate of our company’s state and worked hard for years to bring us to the top. Her contributions positively affected us and even the Rochesters couldn’t harm us. You may have divorced her but I’d suggest you bring her back as a consultant. This is the only way!”

“I will not tolerate that woman’s name under my roof!” Hector snarls.

Jeremy doesn’t say anything else. Hector Hawkins is and has always been a brat. It’s a miracle that someone like Scarlett D’arcy had married him. If only he had known what he lost.

“Very well,” Jeremy says. “I’ll be on my way.”

He turns on his heels and leaves with Jim in tow. Once outside, Jim speaks up.

“Ummm…who’s Scarlett?” He asks apprehensively. To his surprise, the stern old man’s expression softens.

“A completely headstrong woman who was the heart of this house,” he laments. “She is Miss Elle’s stepsister but more capable than her in every way. People may praise Miss Elle for many things but it was Scarlett who carried the business. Not even a day passed when she didn’t work hard to save it. Hector was busy with his mistress, leaving poor Miss Scarlett alone. To cope with her loneliness, she gave her heart and soul to the Hawkins Group, hoping that one day Hector will appreciate her.”

“What happened to her?” Jim asks.

“Hector threw her in jail for suspected murder and attempt to murder,” Jeremy reveals. “None of it was proven but Hector managed to lock her up in prison through his contacts. The trial was a farce but the judges could only give her three years for attempted murder of Miss Elle. I don’t believe all of it!”

Jeremy is disgusted by the whole ordeal. Ever since Scarlett went to prison, everything has gone to the dogs. Miss Amelia is still paralyzed from the accident, the company is sinking, and Hector is marrying the skank who’s up to no good.

Jim pities the old man.

“I’ll go to the office,” Jeremy says. “You stay here and look after the decorations. God knows how much all this is gonna cost!”

“Yes sir!”

Jim bids goodbye to Jeremy and waits until his boss is gone. Once Jeremy leaves, Jim hurries to find a secluded space. He comes across a supply closet and enters it, shutting the door behind him. Taking out his phone, he dials a number.

“I believe you have good news,” Ryder’s voice comes from the other end.

“Hector believes that the other families are still on his side,” Jim mutters, keeping an eye out for anyone who may enter the closet. “They have invested in the Hawkins Group but the internal strides are growing. There are unclaimed gold mines up south but I still need time to get the location.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Ryder yawns. “Katerina will find them. What else is there?”

“There’s an interesting name on the part timer’s list for the party tonight,” Jim replies. “Scarlett D’arcy.”

Ryder’s eyes twinkle at the name. This is indeed interesting.

“Ah!” He exclaims. “My future wife is gonna visit her ex-husband’s engagement? I’m jealous! I should make a visit.”

“Huh?” Jim scowls. “Ryder, you can’t-”

“I believe you can arrange the invitation card for me!” Ryder says cheerfully. “See ya tonight, pal!”

Jim grits his teeth. Ryder Rochester sure is a pain in the a*s! 

This guy must be planning something big, he frowns. And whatever he’s thinking is not gonna end well for anyone!

….

A stern looking woman in her thirties is studying the part time workers in front of her. She’s Mrs. Miller, the owner of an event management company. Her firm is in charge of Hector Hawkins’ engagement to Elle Swanson. 

Standing among the recruits is a dignified brunette. Mrs. Miller is a little skeptical to let this girl work as a part timer because she seems bold and overqualified for such a lowly job.

Scarlett is waiting for Mrs. Miller to address her.

“Are you sure you’re up to the job?” Mrs. Miller asks. “You don’t look like a person who’d be a maid!”

“I can do the hard work,” Scarlett coolly replies. She doesn’t say it out loud, but she worked in the prison’s kitchen. There are many things prison taught her and like an avid student, she learnt it all. Unlike others who suffered in jail, she didn’t let the harshness of the prison break her. 

It’s a feat she’s quite proud of.

“Okay, but it ain’t gonna be a walk in the park,” Mrs. Miller says. “Can you cater to the guests? There are gonna be quite a lot of drunkards at the party. Can you handle them?”

“I can,” Scarlett replies. This is exactly what she wants. She wants Hector and Elle to see her. They’ll probably taunt her state but it won’t faze her. She’s gonna make a statement that night at the party.

“I can handle them quite well,” Scarlett says with a sweet smile.