Chaper 4 : Media at Home

Mr. Mondragon had called for the media at his house to at least make himself feel better after the humiliation he had felt.

As soon as Mondragon finished his statement, the media erupted with questions.

"Mr. Mondragon, is it true that Rafael Wood outbid you for the mansion deal? And does that make him richer than you?" one reporter asked.

Mr. Mondragon chuckled and shook his head. "Outbid me? Please..." He scoffed as he adjusted his cufflinks.

"That deal was never a priority for me. I have 24 mansions across the world. I could’ve taken that one if I wanted, but I decided to let someone else have their moment. Consider it an act of generosity."

Another reporter raised a hand. "So, you're saying you willingly stepped back?"

Mondragon smirked. "Exactly. It was nothing more than a joke play, a momentary amusement..Raf or whatever his name is he has nothing on me."

As he spoke, Thersa stood beside him, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. She shifted uncomfortably. The arrogance in his voice made her stomach twist.

"My wife here knows what I'm capable of doing... right?" he said as he shifted his gaze to her.

Thersa shook her head quickly, as if snapping out of a trance. "Of course," she said softly and forced a small smile.

Mondragon chuckled and placed a possessive hand on her waist. "See? Even my wife knows I never lose."

The cameras flashed to capture the moment, but Thersa felt suffocated under his grip. She lowered her gaze, hiding how uneasy it felt.

"Any more questions?" Mondragon asked with confidence.

Another reporter stepped forward. "Mr. Mondragon, does this mean you and Mr. Wood are on good terms?"

"Good terms? Let’s just say he should know his place," he answered.

After a brief pause, he glanced at his watch. "If you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting with my investors. I don’t want them waiting."

With that, he turned to Thersa and placed a quick kiss on her cheek... more for the cameras than for her. Without waiting for another question, he strode away, his guards moving swiftly to form a barrier between him and the press.

The media surged forward, cameras flashing as they called out more questions while he stepped into his already waiting car.

….…………

A man stepped out of a sleek black car with a sharp and deliberate walk. He didn’t wait, and there was no hesitation in his walk.

The type of car alone was a statement of wealth and power as it parked in the heart of a high class estate.

Without breaking his pace, he approached the massive golden gates standing tall before him. With one push, just one... he sent them swinging open.

"Uncle, you’re here!" a familiar voice called out with excitement.

The man shot a sharp gaze upward, his head slightly tilted as he found the source of the voice.

"What's up?" the voice said with a smile as he stood on the staircase. Without wasting much time, he walked down the steps... no, not walked....more like a rushed, eager stride.

But the moment he took one step down, the man’s sharp voice cut through the air.

"What am I hearing, Rafael? A million dollars wasted on some damn mansion?" his uncle snapped.

He held up his phone and shook it with frustration. "My phone has been frozen with calls and reporters asking whether it should go live or not!"

"Thousands of millions," Rafael corrected with a smirk. "That’s a business strategy."

"To hell with whatever strategy that was! That was some bullshit move!" His uncle stormed straight to the TV station setup, snatching the remote from the glass table. With a click.... the massive 115-inch QM8 series TV flickered to life.

Immediately, a news anchor appeared on the screen, her voice clear and dramatic.

"There is a new star boy in town or should I say a new rich mogul?"

And he's not just making waves... he’s creating a storm. Rafael William Wood, the only son of the late Henry William Wood III, has just shaken the foundations of the business world with a jaw dropping move at last night’s gala, leaving industry giants stunned. The question on everyone’s lips... who really holds the power now?"

"Explain this, Rafael..." his uncle said with frustration as he turned to face him. His sharp eyes bore into Rafael.

Rafael...however, remained perfectly calm, his hands in his pockets as he approached the TV area.

"What’s there to explain?" he said smoothly. "I made a move, and now the entire business world is talking about me."

His uncle scoffed and ran a hand through his graying hair. "You don’t just ‘make a move’ by throwing millions into a deal just to spite Mondragon! Do you have any idea what you’ve started?"

Rafael’s smirk deepened. "Oh, I know exactly what I’ve started," he said. "This is just the beginning."

The screen flickered, shifting to an image of the gala, and then... her.

Rafael’s smirk faded as his gaze locked onto the picture of a woman displayed on the screen. He stood up, ignoring whatever his uncle was ranting about.

 With slow steps, he walked closer to the massive TV, his fingers lightly brushing against the screen where her face was displayed.

"Who is she?" he asked softly.

His uncle sighed and rubbed his temples. "That’s Thersa Mondragon… the wife of Diego Mondragon."

Rafael's eyes darkened slightly. "Oh… she’s married," he muttered, almost to himself. A smirk played at the corner of his lips before he straightened.

"I want her," he said loudly.

His uncle choked on his own breath. "What?! Are you out of your mind?"

"There are hundreds of women dying to have you, Rafael! Why are you looking in her direction?" his uncle continued exasperated.

But Rafael had already tuned him out. His eyes were still locked on the screen, the smirk never leaving his face. Without another word, he turned and started walking toward the door.

"Where do you think you’re going?" his uncle demanded.

"Send me her address," Rafael said simply.

His uncle’s eyes widened in disbelief. "For what?"

Rafael paused at the doorway, then let out a soft chuckle. "Never mind. I’ll find her myself."

"Are you crazy? This is Diego Mondragon’s wife we’re talking about!"

Rafael turned slightly with a sharp grin. "Crazy?" He let out a small laugh and shook his head as he pushed open the door. "Wait till I tell you… I’m already madly in love with her."

….…….

Thersa paced back and forth in her bedroom, her hands resting on her stomach as anxiety twisted inside her.

Suddenly, her phone rang. She rushed to grab it, her fingers trembling slightly as she picked up the call.

"I'll be there soon," she said quickly....her voice barely above a whisper.

Without wasting another second, she grabbed her bag and headed for the door.

.......

He glanced at himself in the mirror, his glasses lowered slightly to make sure he looked just right. With a quick adjustment to his hair, he exhaled with satisfaction.

The car slowed to a stop at a red light. Just then, a light knock on his window startled him.

"Flowers for your lady?" A rose vendor stood outside, holding a bouquet close to the glass.

"Wo..?" Rafael blinked, momentarily thrown off as he rolled down the window.

"Flowers for your lady," the vendor repeated, pushing the roses slightly forward to his face"You won’t find better ones than these."

Rafael stared at the flowers for a brief moment, then reached into his pocket. "I’ll take all of them," he said firmly.

The vendor’s eyes widened as Rafael pulled out a thick wad of cash and handed it over without a second thought. He took the roses and set them on the seat beside him just as the traffic light turned green.

With a smirk, he pressed down on the gas and sped off.