Billionaire's Treasure

Chapter 7

BERYL

I'm looking forwards to seeing Blake. He's the only person I can tell on as a brother. He always defends me when Helen and Brenda gang up against me.

However, since he moved out of the house and started living on his own, he doesn't know what I go through in that house.

Blake is Tyler and Helen's first child and only son. He hates Brenda's guts and always tells her off whenever she misbehaves in his presence. He never entertains any bullshit from her.

He knows her addiction to hard drugs and alcohol and he always talks to her but she doesn't deviate. Instead, she accuses me of feeding him with lies which earns me several blows from Mr. Wilson. Blake doesn't know that I'm still being mistreated by his folks.

Nowadays, I always avoid sharing about the problems I go through at home with him because if he happens to question them, it won't end up well with me.

The clock finally ticks 1pm and Arnold shows up and that's when I remember that we were supposed to go on a lunch date together.

“Beryl, are you ready to go?” he beams at me excitedly.

“Yes, I'm ready.” I respond as I pick my bag and coat and follow him to the elevator and together we walk towards an Italian restaurant down the street.

“I hope this place is alright for you.” he says, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly. “It's not fancy and I'm sure you're used to amazing restaurants and all.” he adds unsure of how I'll respond. I mean, he thinks being the boss's daughter, I'm supposed to dine in fine and expensive eateries not just a downtown Italian restaurant. Little does he know that I can bribe anyone so as to be coming to this restaurant always. It's damn good and I love it already.

“This looks like a lovely restaurant.” I cut him off quickly from his rambling and smile at him. I'm trying my best to hide the excitement boiling within me. I don't want him to learn my emotions that fast.

Arnold visibly relaxes and lets out a breathe of air. “Thank God you like it!” he says while chuckling.

I settle on my seat and look down on the menu.

The waitress comes and tries her best to hide the fact that she's checking Arnold out.

Well, I don't blame her.

Any other girl would do so.

Arnold is good looking with brown eyes. His cropped brown hair complements his looks perfectly.

She takes our orders and I chuckle when she blushes red when I catch her drooling over Arnold.

She can have him for all I care. He's not my man and I'm neither interested in him nor am I ready to date.

Not him...

I smile at her, a smile she returns sheepishly.

“So, do you date or are you by any chance dating anyone?” he blurts out.

“No, I don't and I'm not dating anyone” I reply simply.

“Why not?” he asks, his voice laced with curiousity.

“Well, I don't have time for it. I barely have time for myself let alone for anybody else!” I reply sincerely.

“Do you have to work?” he asks genuinely. “I mean, you're a Wilson!”

What does being a Wilson got to do with working for a living or not?

However, the question makes me wince a little bit.

It's a little bit rude and it hits a sore spot.

Basically, my mother never worked and she had everything she needed at her disposal since dad used to work and cater for her every need. Dad always told me was the heiress his our empire and I didn't need to work.

Unfortunately, all that changed when they died and I found myself in the hands of the monster family consisting of his brother Wilson, his wife and daughter.

I clear my throat and look up at him.

“I love working. I'm not the type to sit at home lazing around, doing nothing.” Arnold smiles and I'm glad he missed my discomfort. I hate having to explain myself to everyone. After all no one is entitled to know me deeper.

“I admire that.” he grins. “but is it not better for the job to go to someone who needs it?”

Why is he even making assumptions of my life?

Doesn't he know that I need this job more than anybody else so as to survive? I bet he doesn't, otherwise he wouldn't be asking me such questions!

I reply with a perhaps and maintain my smile. This man has suddenly gone from a sweet one to an ignorant man very quickly and I already hate his guts and loathe his inquisitiveness. However, I try my best to remain calm however much he keeps on getting into my nerves.

The rest of the lunch goes on smoothly, without any awkward questions from Arnold and I'm glad he decided to switch to another conversation all together.

I get to learn that he's from a middle class family with two other siblings. He graduated with a degree in Accounting and he has got unbeatable brains. He's smart.

I've just finished eating my fries and sausages when my phone rings. It's the boss and I answer immediately.

“Yes sir..” I answer in a panic mode.

“Get back to the office immediately. It's an emergency!” he bellows over the phone, sending shivers down my spine.

“I'm on my way sir!” I reply and the other end goes dead.

He just hung up on me!

Still in a panic mode, I take a bill from my purse and slap it on the table.

“You don't have to pay Beryl”

Arnold states, shaking his head.

“I'm sorry I've got to leave!”

I say, hurriedly grabbing my bag and phone and I rush back to the office.

I leave Arnold there shocked to the core. I'm sure he has over a million questions flashing through his mind.

I get into the office to find a furious Mr. Wilson, pacing up and down the office.

“Brenda got herself into trouble last Friday! The paparazzi got pictures of her leaving the club totally drunk and in a compromising position with some guy!” he says, still pacing up and down his office.

I sigh heavily, rubbing my forehead.

“They followed her to a hotel room and she didn't emerge till morning!” he sighs. “I need you to do what you have to do to get the pictures removed. They haven't published them yet therefore contact the lawyers and see if there are any grounds for lawsuit or buy them out!” he bellows in command.

He doesn't even humble himself even when his family's reputation is on the line. He doesn't know I can give the paparazzi a go ahead to publish the content! Well, I wish I can do that without having to pay dearly for that.

“Yes sir!” I reply.

“Don't leave the office until it's dealt with. I still expect your work to be done to the expectations!” he growls yet again as he runs a hand over his face. “I don't want the Smiths to see this!”

“Of course sir!” I immediately go behind my desk to put back my coat and bag.

Thankfully, most of my work is complete and submitted.

I can focus on this disaster that Brenda has created. It can cause media frenzy...no doubt!

Last time, I remember it was a ponographic video made by Brenda and two men engaging in a threesome, the time before then was a car accident while drunk in the company of her friend and before then was drugs!

I managed to pay them off and go away with the evidence after the accident.

A lot of money and time was involved back then.

Thankfully, this one is simple and doesn't involve the police otherwise it would be a heck of a workload.

Damn!

I ring our lawyers and find out that there are no legal grounds as they aren't trespassing nor have they published with false or misleading captions yet.

I ring around to various editing companies to find out any information on the photographer and threaten them with legal action if one dares to purchase the content, leave alone publishing it.

I do this zealously because I've no option but to deliver. If I dare go against my boss, I'll be dead meat if the photos reaches the public! He can't bear seeing his family being dragged in the mud.

It's past midnight when I finally manage to negotiate with the greedy paparazzi who's demanding for a huge sum of money to delete all the evidence!

I slam the phone down onto the cradle and rest my head on my desk.

“I hate these people!” I groan.

I've spend about twelve hours trying to clear some mess I didn't go out there creating! Damn!

I finish the rest of my work and pack up. It's already three in the morning when I finally leave the office and step into the cold and deserted streets!