Having this ring on my finger also corresponds to duties and responsibilities not just to the family but to John and those protesters as well.
"I can do or ask everything because I have this ring, right?" It was I who broke the silence between us in the car. "By all means, Ms. President." "Then, give me every piece of information about the man who got hit earlier. His name, address, contact information, and his whereabouts. And I want to know that as soon as we reach the safe house. Could you do that in a short time?" Uncle Robin once mentioned at the meeting about me getting married and was currently working in one of our companies. I was completely unaware that John already finished his degree in Europe. I'm not even aware he was in New York since we already stopped our communication since then. That means, our marriage contract is about to expire. He should have messaged me. "I'll try my best, Ms. President," Mr. Emilio grabbed his phone and reached out to someone. If John was one of our employees, that means, it's not that difficult for Mr. Emilio to get what I asked. After the call ended, he also reached out to someone from our people to get us reasonable answers about the assassination attempts. Everything was new to me. Even from my first few minutes as the president, someone already wants me dead. As soon as we reached the safe house, mom did not wait for me to hop out of the car. Instead, she voluntarily opened the door and gave a tight hug. Perhaps the news about what happened earlier already reached her attention. "Did you have any idea who is behind the assassination?" she asked Mr. Emilio. "I'm afraid not yet, Madam. But, our men are now digging some answers." Mr. Emilio bent half of his body at mom. "However, I believe it has something to do with Malia being appointed as the new president." "Are you sure you gonna have to do it, honey?" Mom asked me. "You can still decline if you don't want to. I can call dad to give the position to one of your uncles." Similar to my mom, she also doesn't want me to get involved in our family's businesses, especially the illegal ones. She already regretted dad becoming the president of gramps' companies for years. Aside from a hectic schedule, our lives were like a timed bomb. With just a small mistake, everything will turn upside down or worse, can lead us to our enemies. "Better not, mom. Uncle Robin doesn't deserve to lead gramps' businesses. If he is going to use this power to do his dirty work. To hurt you. He would have to kill me first. But with this ring on my finger, I can protect everyone important to me." Later that night, my restlessness kept on hunting me, especially when Mr. Emilio already handed me John's general information and had informed me which hospital he was admitted to. So, I decided to visit him at the hospital that same night. At least, if given the chance, I could extend my sincere appreciation to him for saving my life. After getting out of the safehouse unnoticed, I hailed a cab heading to the hospital. As soon as I stepped foot into the hospital, I immediately inquired about John's room number. As I was about to hop into the elevator, someone pulled my body by force and pinned me against the wall behind the elevator. He also covered my mouth using his bare hands, forbidding me to produce any sound. And our faces were an inch closer to each other. "What are you doing here? Aside from the reporters, those people who want to kill you are also in the hospital right now." John muttered. "I'll remove my hands but make sure not to scream, okay?" What happened at that moment was a huge mystery to me. John recognized me at the hospital even without a short introduction, yet, he pretended back in front of the mansion. Instead, he addressed me as "Young Stevenson." "Aren't I supposed to be the one asking you that? What are you doing here when you still have an open wound?" I threw the question back to him. "And, what are you talking about these people who want me dead? I just got here." "Gotcha!" A familiar's rough voice suddenly appeared behind us. When I turned my face to the person behind me, the balls of my eyes almost drop to the floor. "Come on, lovely dove! You guys have nothing to hide from me. I already know my nephew had a sex toy. I just didn't expect it to be you, Mr. John." "I'm his husband. Not his sex toy, old man." To my surprise, John clamped my right hand in front of Uncle Robin. I try to remove his grip but his eyes were telling me that I should buy whatever his drama is. Then, I remembered John once told me earlier that the person who wants to kill me is in the hospital as well. Does that mean Uncle Robin was the person behind the assassination attempt? "What are you talking about?" I muttered to John. Soft enough that even Uncle Robin could barely notice a tiny movement of my lips. "Just go with the flow if you don't want to get killed or get caught by those reporters," he muttered back to me while smiling at Uncle Robin. "What are you doing here?" I asked Uncle Robin, partly curious. Well. The answer to that was utterly obvious. To see John. He already knew that I was married to someone. There's no other way he didn't know about who. "Well-" Uncle Robin rolled his eyes before he gulped a bulk of water down to his throat. "There they are!" a man from the distance yelled. Before the reporters could reach our spot, John managed to drag me out of the hospital and brought me to his place. His place was way more spacious compared to his apartment four years ago. He even had a few furniture and fixtures and electrical equipment. Perhaps Uncle Robin was right about John being highly paid for his work in one of our companies. So, out of curiosity, I asked him everything that happened right after he graduated from his course. He told me that as soon as he got his certificate from the school, he went back to New York to follow my advice - to get revenge on those people who framed him and caused his life upside down. Undeniably, I was a bit anxious about his will of revenge. I did not expect he would heed my words when I was simply encouraging him that time so he could forget all the awful incidents that happened to him. However, it has been almost five years already. I am confident enough that he could not find any evidence about the incident. All the evidence has been destroyed as far as I could remember. In the middle of our conversation, while helping him clean the wound on his shoulder, my phone suddenly dings. When I checked on the screen, I almost drop it when the ones calling was gramps. "For God's sake, Malia!" gramps furiously exclaimed. "Don't make me regret appointing you the new president. You brought chaos to the family. Is running away your way of solving things?" "I'm not running away, gramps. And it's an honor when you chose me instead of my uncle. Don't worry, I'll address everything as soon as possible." "Bring your man tomorrow," Gramps ordered which made me stare at John for a few seconds. "That's the only way you could address everything. I am more worried about what our shareholders would say to the president about marrying someone poor and useless. Got it?" I was supposed to debate further against gramps about my marriage contract with John. Sadly, he already ended the call. And I find it completely inappropriate to call him back that late. So, I talked to John instead. Explained to him that our marriage has been brought up at the meeting earlier. We also discussed the pros and cons of being my husband until the contract expires. Luckily, he agreed to come with me and face gramps, not because he felt obligated to do it, but because he valued the good things that happened to him because of me. The next morning, I stuck my phone with me, partly anxious while waiting for John to arrive at the safe house. Though I already equipped him about what to do and say in front of gramps and mom last night, it was still not an assurance everything will go well. What worried me the most was mom, knowing she still have no idea what the meeting I requested all about was. I already expected gramps will give us a hard time, especially John when I barely see any accomplishments from his general information aside from graduating with high colors in Europe. Graduating cum laude is not even enough for gramps who only loves and praise money and businesses. He needs more than that. Anything that could protect and help his business become stronger and more feared by our enemies. After a few minutes of waiting, John arrived wearing an expensive black tuxedo, slacks, and leather shoes which I barely expect from him. He's even wearing a limited-edition watch worth two million dollars. As soon as he stepped out of the cab, ten of our security immediately assisted us in heading to the dining area of the safe house. "Gramps... Mom, I want you to meet, John Mcwell, my husband." John and I bent half of our bodies towards them to extend our greetings. "It's an honor to finally met the people behind Malia's bloodline, Grams and mom." John let out his first statement according to our plan. As I expected, gramps raised one of his brows while busy studying John from head to toe. Mom, on the other hand, enlarged the balls of her eyes while gripping at the fork as though she was about to stab John with it. Luckily, Uncle Robin was not included in the surprise meal. If that would be the case, he might already bombard me with humiliation. Mom was about to say something but gramps preceded her by ordering us to grab our seats and asked, "Have we met before, Mr. Mcwell? Business trips, meeting, or bumped into each other?"I don't know where the hell gramps got the idea but it's a good start for all of us. At least my first impression of getting a hard slap from neither of them did not happen. "Gramps... How could my husband meet you at those events? He just got back from Europe." I intentionally clasped John's hand in front of them to make my words more convincing. And John was all for it when he gently caressed my hand. "I don't know if you remember me, but yes. We already met on one of your business trips, gramps." That wasn't part of the plan but I could see John was serious with his words. But I seated beside him to support whatever he claims to make sure the two of us will not get doomed. "Mall of Asia. September 21, 2019. You were our guest speaker that night. Truth be told, I was the only one who dares raise a hand when you ask a difficult question. Hope that helps you to remember me." "So, you were the lucky one who got my glimmering reward, huh? A million dollars for
As soon as I reached the living area, there I found both of them talking to the cops. Perhaps it has something to do with the assassination case. I haven't heard any words from gramps about it since then. Amongst us in the safe house, gramps is the one who needs everything under control. He doesn't want to be the last person to know about this and that thing. Not to mention those furious reporters outside that he only simply ignores. Perhaps he already filled them what they need to know. But reporters always love more. They always find anyone to get their source of the news. And that would be me as their main source. Good thing I simply ignored them. "Mom, what's going on?" I ask the second they see me approaching the living area. The cops immediately moved out of their seats and bowed before me to extend their greetings. What confuses me the most is when they grabbed a few things from the table in front of them. "I think we're done here, officers." G
"Well. As I said, I'm good with at least two months." Uncle Robin suddenly rubs my shoulder while displaying those hidden evil smiles. "I'm a family, Malia, not the enemies. Doing this will benefit not just me but the entire family as well. But, if you want to extend it, I'll be glad to follow the President's order." "Not that I am allowed to speak up, but I'll give my one vote to Robin's plan." mom agreed. "My daughter is not ready yet to handle such a position. She still needs guidance. Perhaps Don Lucas' assistance." "Then we're all settled then." Uncle Robin could not put off his ear-to-ear smile when even mom had his good side. "And by the way, I still have two more requests to make this plan work out." Gramps and I could not help but curve the tip of our brows when he is simply an interim president yet he is already taking advantage of the benefits. "First is to send my niece and her husband on a week honeymoon..." "No!" gramps debated. "I can't approve
John POV Seven days later, Malia and I got back from a life-changing vacation on her one billion dollars worth island. Who could have thought I married someone who owns an entire island? I considered the vacation a life-changing experience simply because a lot of wonderful things happened between me and Malia. Even though we only spent seven days, it looks like I have known her my entire life. We did a few activities on the island such as morning and night swimming, island hopping, collecting logs to use for bonfires, and eating unlimited seafood. Of course, I could never forget about drinking beer and wine. It has played a very unfortunate event between Malia and me. We accidentally kissed. But, it happens only once. Until then, both of us were getting cautious the incident would not happen again, especially when the kiss happens on our first day on the island. I don't want to spend the rest of my six days without talking to her. So, we agreed that wh
No matter how hard I tried not to think green, my brain kept on thinking that way even if that is not what Malia means by her invitation. How could I think not? She's a woman and I'm a guy with human needs. And we are about to sleep in the same bed. "But if you find me uncomfortable, it's all right. I know it's inappropriate for a woman and a man to sleep in the same bed, especially when they don't have a romantic relationship." Malia even made the situation more awkward. "No. It's fine - really." so, I shortly clear out my throat, grab the blanket and pillow from the floor, and unhurriedly crawl onto the other side of the bed. Malia then pointed her face in the other direction to make sure my rotten face will not explode. I don't want to think deeper so I forced my eyes to close and sleep as fast as possible. The next morning, I woke up with my head spinning. I didn't get enough sleep because I'd been thinking a lot last night, not because she somehow put
I don't want to extend the awkward sensation between us, so, I flashed to the living area at the speed of light. When I got there, gramps was already waiting for me, partly furious. "Get the car ready," he ordered. For God's sake. If he is not Malia's grandfather, I might have kicked or punched him on the butt already. He had a bunch of security guards standing in the living area, yet he waited for me so he can ask me to do it. "What are you looking at, huh?" he added. "that's the price for showing up late than I expected, you moron. Go. Hurry! We still have half an hour before the meeting." Leaving no choice, I run outside and asked for the keys to the car. Because I got furious at the old man, I decided to drive for him despite my weary body. And I plan to make his heartbeats race with the speed of the car as the price for ordering me around. Five minutes later, gramps kept on throwing up the second we landed in front of the building where the meeting is to
As soon as I reached the mansion, I was surprised after seeing Malia standing outside in front of the main door. She keeps rubbing her shoulder and was feeling uneasy. "Malia, what are you doing? Don't you realize it's freezing outside?" I quickly remove my tuxedo and wrap it around her. Then, dragged her back inside the house. The time is about a quarter before midnight but Malia is still awake. Our agreement was supposed to be just an act. She doesn't have to worry about me. "I'm waiting for you to come home," Malia uttered. "I'm sorry, but could not feel easy when gramps already got home but you're not. And he went to his room right away without saying anything to me." I scoffed shortly before I uttered, "that old monster." "Why? Did he do something to you at the meeting?" she asked. "Yes and no?" "What was that supposed to mean?" Malia's wide smile brightened my night. "It means that I'm hungry. Can you join me for dinner?" I pleaded with he
On my way to work, I took the flash drive and connect it to my phone since they were compatible with each other. Then, I searched for the files of the CCTV footage of the case and transferred it to my phone for future reference. After successfully transferring the files, I watch a few clips of the videos and noticed some relevant information that could correlate to the case. I could not help but notice Malia's face in four of the clips I watched. She might have covered a portion of her face with a scarf, but I know it was her. My eyes and instinct could not be mistaken. No matter how hard I try thinking about it, two questions were brought into my mind. Did she follow me throughout the proceedings of my case? Is that how she found me and helped me pursue my dreams? All my assumptions were shattered into pieces when the cab driver told me that we have reached the address I booked. My mind has focused its undivided attention on watching the clips to the point