The plane arrived a little later than expected.
As Cassie's feet touched the ground of New York City, she smiled. She pulled out her phone to make a call. A cab driver had pulled up before her, so she signalled him to wait a while.
After a few rings, the call connected.
"Cassie?" Eleanor's voice came from the other end.
She sounded busy and tired.
"Boss, are you alright?" Cassie asked in a low tone.
Eleanor hissed at Cassie's question. She was sure that Cassie's plane had already landed, but instead of her asking for the address, she was asking about her condition.
Well, that was just Cassie.
With this in mind, Eleanor replied gratefully, "I'm fine Cass. Here's the address _____"
Cassie ended the call getting the address. She told it to the can driver and they begun their journey.
After an hour drive, the cab pulled up in front of a big metallic gate. Cassie was awestruck by her boss' house. She was elated as she quickly paid off the cab driver quickly.
She was eager to get into the house.
Cassie prayed within her that her boss won't send her to a hotel, but give her a room in the mansion.
Eleanor was satisfied upon seeing Cassie standing in the doorway. She strode towards her.
"Well Cass" Eleanor said with a smile.
Cassie smiled in return as they hugged. "Eleanor, your house is beautiful!" Cassie declared gleefully.
Eleanor chuckled as she led her into the living room.
Cassie wasn't just Eleanor's secretary, she was also a friend. For the past five years, she had been with Eleanor, standing by her through everything. And Eleanor loved her like a sister.
"Aunt Cass! You're here!" Tasha screamed happily as her little feet ran across to where Cassie was.
Cassie knelt as she welcomed Tasha into her arms "Oh! My baby! I missed you"
"Did you miss me too?"
Tasha giggled as she nodded.
"Godmother! You're here!" Nathan said cheerfully as he strode into the living room, with his hands in the pockets.
Cassie grinned as she rose up, "Yes , Mr Gentleman"
Nathan walked to her and stood beside her.
Patting his head lovingly, Cassie asked, " Tell me where's my room?"
Tasha ran to her mum, "Mama, where's Godmother's room?"
Eleanor who had been standing the side, watching there little exchange, smiled as she replied, "Right after yours baby. The room on the left"
"Yay! Aunt Cass, our room is between yours and mommy" Tasha revealed happily.
Cassie feigned a surprise gasp as she placed her hand on her chest, "Wow! that's nice. We get to play...."
"Sleepover!" The trio sang in unison.
Sleepover was something they always do.
Eleanor chuckled lightly as she took Cassis suitcase upstairs, while Cassie and the kids followed behind her.
After dismissing the trio, she went to her room. Ensuring that everything was in place, she took her bath and got dressed.
Before leaving the kids to Cassie, she kissed them and left In a hurry.
-------
Inside the meeting room of the ZerAnderson Group building, Alexander and Elaine sat with their lawyers by their side.
They were negotiating with the people who wanted to purchase the company.
At the front desk of the building lobby, Eleanor showed her identity card to the receptionist and said, "I'm Eleanor Anderson-Red. The only daughter of The Late Chairwoman. Where's my father?"
The receptionist had seen, not only identity card but also the striking resemblance Eleanor bore to the Late Boss, so she told the truth, "Mr and Mrs McKinley are in the meeting room on the top floor. Currently they're having a meeting with the potential buyers of the company."
Eleanor was furious when she heard this. Her eyes flickered with hate and resentment as she made her way to the elevator.
The ZerAnderson Group was part of the inheritance left to her by her mother, Mrs Zera. The woman wanted her to take over when she came of age. But, unfortunately, she passed away before that time came, leaving the role of acting president to her husband, Alexander.
In the news, it had been widely reported that Alexander had plans to sell the ZerAnderson Group and register a new company with the money. With Elaine as the legal representative.
This information, of course, didn't sit well with Eleanor. She had to stop them at all costs. She couldn't allow her mother's company to be sold. Even more, she would never let them get a share of the profit.
Their greed was insatiable!
Back in the meeting room, Alexander and the buyer had finally reached an agreement. All that was left was to sign a contract of transfer of ownership and sale.
The lawyers checked the legal papers and saw that everything was in order. To make it official, was all that was left now.
"Mr Callaghan, I'm happy we've finally come to a conclusion. Our business will grow stronger from here on, I assure you. Without further ado, let's make it official, shall we?" Alexander was eager. He couldn't wait for the ZerAnderson Group to be sold so he could finally receive all the money and start a new company with his wife.
Callaghan Mark couldn't disagree, as he too was eager to add ZerAnderson to his corporation. "Agreed. Mr McKinley, I really look forward to doing more business with you. Cheers to us bo--"
The last words were hardly off his tongue when the door suddenly flung open.
"I'm afraid that wouldn't be happening"
A fierce looking Eleanor walked into the meeting room, glaring at the shocked couple.
Eleanor felt lucky to have arrived just before the contract was signed. She had saved her mother's legacy in the nick of time.
Across the long table, Alexander and Elaine became furious as they abruptly stood up.
"Eleanor? what are you doing here?" Alexander asked in disbelief.
The McKinley family had never heard from Eleanor after they has sent her out of New York. Alexander thought she was dead. He definitely didn't expect her to reappear in the company, especially not sat such a crucial time.
Elaine glared at Eleanor. If looks could kill, the latter would have died. She pointed her finger at her stepdaughter as she spoke through gritted teeth, "You! What do you think you're doing? Huh"
Eleanor scoffed at her stepmother's words.
Was she daft?
"Are you so blind? or deaf? or both? Isn't it obvious? I'm here to stop you two sly foxes from selling the ZerAnderson Group" came Eleanor's firm reply.
"I'm here to take what rightfully belongs to me!"
"I'm here to take what rightfully belongs to me!"Eleanor turned to the confused group across the table with a sense of urgency. She politely greeted them, before stating her businesses there. "Hello, apologies for barging in. I'm Eleanor Anderson-Red and this company belongs to me. My mother, Mrs, Zera Anderson passed it down to me. There's a document that had been notarized by her attorney. If you need to clarify, it can be shown to you. Therefore, Mr McKinley here, and his toy, have no right whatsoever, to sell this company. I am in charge!"Callaghan and his group of lawyers were surprised by this shocking revelation. This was a twist they hadn't seen coming.They had come here to buy the company because they thought it belonged to Alexander. But they were wrong!They turned to each other and began to whisper amongst themselves.Alexander and Elaine, fearing the worst, became anxious. Billions of dollars was about to go down the drain. Just like that, it'd slip from their fingerti
The air in the meeting room was suffocating as they struggled for air.After watching Eleanor leave, Elaine had quickly opened the documents only to be left shocked.Is this real?Seeing his shocked and speechless his wife was, Alexander grabbed the sheets from her and scanned through them."What is this?" He spat out in anger as he threw the papers furiously on the table."What nonsense! These cannot be real! I had this discarded!"After taking Eleanor out of the picture, Alexander had ordered for the discarding of the original documents that were notarized. He had made a new one were he stated that for Eleanor to take over the ZerAnderson Group, she had to be married. He had made that condition because he believed she would never return ever again.Now he realizes how foolish he was, he should have removed her name completely!Thinking back to that time, he realized that he had forgotten about the copy that was left with Lawyer Jesse.Alexander gritted his teeth in frustration.He w
The plane landed at the airport late in the afternoon.Taking the car that was already waiting for them, they made their way to Damien's Villa.***After Eleanor was done talking to lawyer Jesse about the ZerAnderson Group, she told Cassie and the kids to wait for her while she visited the McKinley Manor.***At the McKinley Manor...Old Madam Cindy, the leader of the McKinley family, was the oldest of the family and Eleanor's grandmother.Cindy was sick and as such, had to spend the most of her time in the bed. She had been diagnosed with a terminal illness 4 years ago and since then, she has been struggling for her life.Eleanor was not sure, but she knew that it might be only her grandmother who loved her in the entire family she's always called her own.She went into the room and saw the old woman sitting leisurely on the balcony with her personal servant by her side."El, is that you?" Cindy's voice was aged.Eleanor nodded."Come closer child, I have missed you."Eleanor walked
Eddy was watching Damien typing on his laptop. His long fingers were moving swiftly across the keyboard and there were a few lines of data on the screen that caught Eddy's eyes."Boss," Eddy said pointing to a random line. "there""What?" Damien asked irritatedly, not understanding what Eddy was pointing to.Eddy moved closer to his boss and touched a picture. It was the picture of a lady and Eddy felt the resemblance was deep to the one his boss had sketched."The woman in this picture," Eddy began, "she looks like the one from your sketches. The one you've been searching for for years."Damien's interest was instantly piqued and he immediately taped the picture. His eyes widened instantly.Eddy was right. She did look like the girl from that one night years ago. Those eyes, he could never forget them. Except for the fact that the one in the picture looked more mature, everything was the same.After the nightstand with Eleanor, Damien had been crazy about finding her. He had even beg
Eleanor chuckled, "Cassie, I'm not interested" "You might not be interested. But," Cassie took Eleanor's hands in hers and said, "They need a father Eleanor. You don't just expect them to grow up without one, right?" Eleanor was quiet and didn't respond. She only looked at the kids quietly. Nathan had finally slept off too. It was true they needed a father, but she didn't want just any man for them, she was determined to find their father. They have every right to know him, and they will know him. "Don't deprive them of the right if growing up in a happy family. Please Eleanor" Cassie added. "Cassie, they have a father" "Then where is he, Eleanor?" Cassie retorted. She was starting to lose her cool. They have a father, so she heard countless times. But where was he? She couldn't understand just why Eleanor was refusing to date, anyone. Since they met, men have been asking her out, yet she was refusing without even thinking twice. Just what was wrong with her? "All I'm saying
Eleanor woke up late the next day. It was already past eight when she left the bed.She decided to take the twins to visit their great-grandma. Since Cindy wanted to see them, she'd bring them to her."Mama, we're set!" Tasha called happily. Her little feet made their way down the stairs as she pulled her brother behind her.A smile formed on her face when she saw them, "Oh... Don't you two look so cute." she pulled their cheeks playfully and they giggled.Suddenly, Tasha's smile dissolved into a frown. Noticing this, Eleanor asked. "What's wrong baby?""Mama?""Yes, baby?""What if great grandma doesn't like me?" Tasha asked suddenly. Her voice sounded like she was about to break down into tears."Who can dislike a baby as cute as you?" Cassie asked as she descended the stairs.She had just come into the room to here Tasha's childish question."No one, I repeat, no one at all could be able to withstand your charm my darling. You're adorable and irresistible, so great grandma would ha
Eleanor had barely taken five steps when she abruptly stopped and turned around. "I believe you got my offer from Lawyer Jesse last night. Choose wisely, besides am still a McKinley." She said meaningfully and continued to walk away.Alexander gritted his teeth in anger when he heard her words.*Crash!!The table in the hall was sent crashing to the wall by Alexander.Elaine and Penny instantly drew back in fear. They didn't want to be at the receiving end of Alexander's anger.The anger in him was only growing more and more."That stupid girl!" His voice thundered in the hall."Who does she think she is? Huh!"Last night, after the call with the lawyer, he had convinced himself that it was nothing but a threat. But hearing it from Eleanor now, he didn't know why he suddenly felt scared."I'd show her what I am made of!" Alexander vowed.*****The lobby of the Elegance Hotel was lavishly decorated. The marble floor was so clean and clear that it reflected the beautiful lights.A man s
"My kids need me." Eleanor got up and walked out straightaway. She boarded a taxi and left.A confused Jerome was left frozen. He couldn't help but feel annoyed.Why would she walk out on him?Was she playing hard to get?That must be it!—Eleanor went to see lawyer Jesse. It was already late in the evening that she finally dragged her tired self back to the house.As soon as she opened the door, she overheard Cassie's conversation with the kids.Since she knew she would be late, she had told Cassie to pick the children."Aunt Cassie, does that mean we don't have a father?""No my love. Don't say such words."Do you want your mother to be worried?""No""No""Then stop saying such. Your father is alive and he will come back to make your family complete okay?""Okay Godmother"Eleanor who stood by the door frame was already close to tears. Cassie had gotten the children to believe her tonight, but what would happen if they ask after their father tomorrow?' Where are you?' She thought