Chapter 4 A Disgraceful Coincidence

“It is?”

Giovanni nodded, her eyes gleaming happily. “But I only asked him to make me a necklace, did he throw in a ring because of how much time it took to get it to me?”

Alicia thinned her lips and exhaled calmly. “If you only asked for a necklace, then clearly this isn’t for you.”

“Shut up!” Andrea immediately barked, gritting her teeth.

She had doubted the true authenticity of the necklace and didn’t get to touch it. She was this close to owning a piece from Mr. Red.

Though annoyed at the sight of Giovanni living caressing and testing the ring, she knew she couldn’t lash out at a member of the Hayne family, so she turned to the one whom she can afford to berate.

“That’s it! I’ve had enough of your lies. First thing tomorrow, you will sign the forfeiture agreement than you will take a cab to the bus terminal to head back to the countryside.”

Alicia was astounded and looked up at Andrea in disbelief. “Grandmother, youre believing a total stranger over your own flesh and blood?”

“How dare you? Your father had an affair which brought forth your father so you are not my flesh ans blood.”

“And rightfully so because I could never have such a disgraceful person like you as my granddaughter.”

“These are so lovely.” Givonnai was gushing, running her fingers through the intricate lines of the necklace when Olivia grinned broadly and suggested.

“Giovanni, you should better call Mr. Red to let him know you’ve received the gifts.”

Giovanni thought it made sense and flashed her a bright smile. She took out her phone and went into a corner to call Nathaniel.

The call was answered on the first ring.

“Oh my God, Giovanni. You have no idea how worried I am. Your cousin had a courier take the gifts and deliver it directly to Mrs. Hayne.”

Giovanni’s smile stiffened as she tried to make sense of his words.

“Nathaniel, what are you talking about? My grandmother doesn’t need a special courier to bring her jewelries. You always do it.”

The man hurriedly waved her off. “I’m not talking about your grandmother. I’m talking about Derek’s wife.

Ever since I met them both outside my company three nights ago, I’ve spent the last 72 hours making something deserving of her.

“I made her the wedding ring she requested and threw in a complementary gift. But I’ve heard nothing so I don’t know if she likes it. Can you look around and see if she likes it?”

“Derek’s wife? You saw Derek’s wife? With him?” As the questions rolled off Giovanni’s lips, her eyes couldn’t help darting toward Alicia.

Didn’t Olivia say the woman claimed to have met Nathaniel Red three nights ago? And Nathaniel was now saying he had been up for 72 hours making a wedding and…

The phone in Giovanni’s hand trembled as she connected the dots pretty quickly.

“You didn’t know? Really? Does that mean Mr. Hayne still wants his wife’s identity to remain a secret?”

“Forgive me, Alicia, I got carried away and didn’t mean to accuse you of being a liar.” She hurried toward Alicia who was being talked down to by Olivia.

“Giovanni?” Olivia was taken aback.

But Giovanni remained standing, a smile cracking into her expression. “I just got off the phone with Nathaniel and he confirmed the ring and necklace were indeed not mine, but were delivered to the wrong address.”

“Since Andrea wants a piece from Mr. Red so much, she can have this. I’ll just tell the courier that it was lost somehow.”

Alicia furrowed her brows in confusion. What?

Andrea immediately broke into a sweet smile. “Giovanni, I’ve only met you today, but you have successfully won me over. We should continue eating before the food gets cold.”

Giovanni returned the smile and took her seat, stealing glances from Alicia from the side of her eyes.

Alicia was a little confused, but since her grandmother got the necklace and ring in the end, she knew it was not a good idea insuring they were sent to her, so she took her seat as well.

The dining which was filled with small talks from Olivia and Giovanni talking and laughing was instantly replaced with something different.

A one sided conversation from Giovanni that involved Alicia occasionally nodding and smiling most of the time since she didn’t understand why the woman suddenly stopped talking to Olivia and shifted her attention to her.

“Alicia, do you want more wine?”

“I studied at Brimton, but i went to a community college in my freshman year.”

“I’ve been to the countryside a few times in the past and it’s definitely not as bad as people make it to be.”

“Alicia, if you ever need to go somewhere or just talk, just hit me up.”

When Giovanni left, Olivia was simmering with rage.

“I hear the Haynes are raised witb a strict hand so don’t think for a moment that just becauee Giovanni is nice to you means she wants to become your friend.”

“Enough of your bickering. I have made up my mind. Alicia, you may stay, and fight for your inheritance back, but on the condition that you do so without spending money from the Hodge.”

“All we’ve done is spend money on you. It’s time you start bringing in some money if you want to spend any.”

Alicia immediately nodded. “I will do my best.”

“Dimetri has agreed to have launch with me tomorrow to discuss the Damapol Project.” Alicia’s words had barely settled when Olivia chipped in.

Immediately, several faces turned green with envy.

Olivia was dating a first tier family heir. Furthermore, his Scavo family was in charge of the project, so it was almost a done deal if he agreed to talk with Olivia over lunch about it.

The project was worth thirty five million in its first year and given the multiple stories being built, it would be worth even more in subsequent years. So Andrea was very pleased to hear this.

“Learn from your cousin. Once we clinch this contract, she’ll be getting at least two million in bonuses.”

Then she got up and left. As soon as she did, the other members of the family rushed past Alicia to butter up to Olivia.

That night, Alicia went up to her room to search about projects similar to the damapol one. It was impossible to schedule meetings with anyone, so she printed out her business plans and left early the next morning, handing them out to the receptionist in every company she went to.

She sat on a bench that evening to rest when she got a call from Derek.

“Can you meet?”

“I’m at Beech Park.” She hummed.

Thirty minutes later, she saw a man jogging toward her in workout clothes.

This was her first time seeing him without a suit, so she was stunned a little bit before she got to her feet.

“You want to hang out like that?”

Derek was still hoping, trying to stay moving in one spot.

“This is my workout time and it’s the only time I have to hear that guy’s pitch.” As he spoke, he spoke he pointed at a bald headed middle-aged man trying to keep up with him.

When he finally caught up, Derek pointed Alicia to him, breathing out. “Don, this is my wife. Wife, this is Don something.”

“W-w-wife? Nice to meet you, ma’am. It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” The man began stuttering and ended up rambling a bunch of words.

Alicia didn’t think too much about it and assumed it was because he was out of breath.

…

Derek would jog forward then jog back to go around Alicia and repeated the circle several times.

Alicia shook her head watching as Don’s suit soaked wirh sweat from trying to follow Derek while talking.

After thirty minutes, he stopped jogging and stood at a place to listen to Don. Something he said made fhe middle-aged man laugh happily. After a while, he excused himself and went into the outside restroom.

On the top roof restaurant they stood under, Olivia and Dimitri had dinner.

After talking about nothings and displaying their love for each other for several minutes, she finally brought up the talk about the project.

“My uncle is overseeing the project and he has to get a few things signed guy Derek Hayne, but I already your idea to him and he said it was the best out of all the ones he’s gotten.” The man said, not missing a beat in his lie.

Well, technically not a lie since he did pitch the idea to his uncle, but he shot it down after looking at the first page.

According to him, the owner of the idea would bleed them money before they even started seeing tangible profits.

But he couldn’t say that to Olivia. Not when he needed to marry into an unsuspecting second tier family for a better shot to take over his family’s company.

“What would I ever do without you?” She sighed, forking a beef into her mouth.

As she chewed, her eyes fell on a familiar face outside the building, handing a sweating man a towel.