1. Tessie Ivanovich
2086 Words
"Ms. Ivanovich, your three o'clock is here," my assistant says on the intercom.
"Send him in, thank you, Paula," I answer with my usual business voice.
Now, I understand that all of you might feel slightly confused about my name. I chose to bear another name in the corporate and underground world, considering that I'm a person of interest for those who seek an audience and alliance with my father, the feared Ivan Novak.
We thought it would be simpler if I took on a fake name, and create a false persona to hide behind, like I did with the Paulina persona. This way, my children won't be in danger since their names never can be put together with my business name.
"Ms. Ivanovich, such a pleasure to finally meet you!" the bald man says in an Italian accent, taking my hand in a firm grip to shake.
"The same goes to you, Mr. Alfredo," I answer politely and sit down behind my desk. "Please, sit down, and tell me what I might be able to help you with today."
He looks fragile and vulnerable when he sits there, and nervousness are pouring out of his pores. I can be quite scary to some people, since I have a reputation of being ruthless both on the market and in our hidden 'business.' He breathes out a sigh and looks at me.
"I've been having trouble making the restaurant go around. We don't have as many guests as we used to, not since the Ravellie's bought the restaurants around the block. I don't know what to do anymore! We need to renovate and modernize it as best as possible, but we lack the funding."
"I see where this is going," I say and begin to stroll around my office. "How would you feel about a collaboration?"
"Please, elaborate."
"We can go in with the funding you need, and in return, we'll get a third of your company. Co-owner if you want."
He looks displeased, and I don't blame him. The Alfredos are proud people, and they don't bow down to someone else. But at the same time, he needs to be rational. If he wants to save his restaurant and keep it protected, we need something in return.
You can resemble it with a purchase in the store, you get the tomatoes and pay the cashier in return. It's a business transaction, with the difference that we get the merchandise while he gets the money. I already had my eye set on their business for a long time, because I know how bad the state is.
Since they need a lot of funding to renovate, a couple of favors won't cut it as repayment. But even though I'm a ruthless negotiator, I never force anyone into collaboration, that choice is entirely up to them. I solely allow them an opportunity to save what's dear to them.
"You drive a hard bargain, Ms. Invanovich. But I see now that I have no other choice," he says after a couple of minutes with a sigh.
"I will not tell you how to run your business, Mr. Alfredo. My only request is that I will be able to see my money grow in your company and help your family get back on your feet in the near future," I answer confidently.
"We have a deal, Ms. Ivanovich," he says with a smile and gives me his hand to shake.
"Happy doing business with you. My lawyers will write our contract, and you can look it over in peace before signing. You'll get the document by the end of the week," I answer and firmly shake his hand.
"Thank you for your time, miss," he says and walks out of my office.
"Paula, please inform the lawyers about looking over the contract I asked them to write last week," I say into the intercom.
"Yes, Ms. Ivanovich"
It might sound like I was entirely sure and cocky about this deal. I had a hunch that the Alfredo family was going to seek our help, which is why I told the law apartment to write a draught of a possible contract between us. Thankfully, my intuitions were right on this one.
If you saw how my style has changed from the normal average dark-haired single mother to how I look now, you wouldn't believe it was the same person. I've dyed my hair into raven black, and it now reaches down beneath my ass. I use high heels every day, and have fake lashes on.
I have to say that I look hot! Every morning when I finish with makeup and clothes, I feel like a supermodel, I feel good inside myself for the first time in many years. I don't like to advertise or encourage to use makeup, and that's not what I mean either, everyone is most beautiful when they're natural.
But this is what makes me feel beautiful and strong nowadays; I'm not going to feel embarrassed about that. I am of the opinion that everyone should get dressed or makeup as they want if it makes them feel beautiful. It should no one else point out is wrong or ugly; that person grows in it, then the same should also be allowed to wear it.
"Ms. Ivanovich, I'm sorry to disturb you, but you have an unknown call on line four," Paula's voice says.
"Who is it?" I ask.
"It's a man looking for Wendy," she says anxiously.
Except for my father, his people, and my assistant, Paula, not many others know about my real identity, which means that this must be someone who knows where I work. I guess that it either is Adrien or one of the brothers. I connect with the line and answer with confidence.
"Hello, sir. How might I help you today?" I ask in my normal formal tone.
"Wendy?"
Of course, it had to be him. I haven't talked to him for months, and now he's disturbing me at my workplace. Why won't this guy ever give up?! He gets to meet his kids; that's what he wanted. So why is he calling me?
"Mr. Winston, wonderful speaking to you," I say sarcastically. "If you don't mind, I'd like to keep this call short. I don't know about you, but I have work to do."
"The school called me. You need to get here as soon as possible, Caleb's been in a fight."
"He did what?!" I exclaim with outrage. "I'll be there in five.
I know that it's been hard for Caleb to accept how things are, but Damien is still his father, either he likes it or not. We have shared custody; I signed the papers without hesitating. It doesn't matter that Damien is a full-blown asshole in my book; the kids are his too.
My thoughts are racing in my mind when I drive like a maniac to reach the school. Caleb has never hit anybody, not even once. He's not the angry type either, so why did he use violence against another person? I need to get to the bottom of this.
I park my car and walk straight to the principal's office. I'm a woman on a mission, and others can sense it, since they're moving out of my way. I slam the door open without thinking about it, angry. Adrien, Brody, Jaxon, and Damien are sitting inside with Caleb. Why are they all here? They don't recognize me.
"Mommy!" Caleb exclaims and runs to me.
I catch him in my arms and kiss his face. His royal blue eyes are filled with tears and he looks ashamed. My children don't fear anything, except my anger when they've done something wrong, and Caleb knows that he's going to get grounded for this.
"What do you think you're doing, hitting another person, huh?" I ask in a stern voice.
"I'm sorry, mommy," he sniffles and I pick him up with a sigh.
"Ms. Colton, please sit down," the principal offers with a smile, which I ignore.
"I'm good. Now, what happened?"
"Apparently, one of our students made some inappropriate comments about you in front of Caleb, which made him mad, and he attacked."
"I see," I answer in a cold voice.
"We don't accept this kind of behavior from our students-"
"Oh, but name-calling another students parent is okay?" I ask in annoyance.
"Ms. Colton, please calm down. What I heard, it wasn't that bad."
"Was too! Mommy, Thomas said that his daddy told him that you're a greedy money w***e. What's that?"
My nostrils are flaring from the anger I feel. I don't mind being called things, hell, it's not the first time. But I have NEVER been with someone because of their money, and I'm certainly not greedy. I know who Thomas is, and I know his father too. Without hesitating, I put Caleb down and walk out to the parking lot.
"Hello, Frederic," I say in a cold voice to the man who speaks ill of me to his son, and he turns around slowly.
"Thomas, go and sit in the car. I'll be there in a minute," he says and Thomas walks away.
"How dare you speak of me that way? And to your own child! Are you insane? Is this because I refused to go out with you?"
"Come on, Ms. Colton. I just-" he don't have time to finish before my fist hits his nose and the blood pours.
"Speak ill of me one more time, and I swear to you that this will feel like a slap on the wrist in comparison. Teach your son not to speak that way, and lastly, don't force your hurt ego onto your son!" I say through gritted teeth, and walk away.
I clean my knuckles with a tissue on my way back and when I reach the office again, I'm clean. All of them looks confused and surprised, everyone except Caleb who's smiling at me. Knowing deep in his heart that I've protected him.
"Come on, baby. They won't hurt you anymore, mommy made sure of it," I say in a sweet tone and take his hand.
I know what you're all thinking; 'hypocrite,' since I tell my son it's wrong to use violence but do it myself. There's a difference though; kids should learn early in their lives that it's illegal to hit someone, what they do when they're grown-ups is entirely another thing. I don't glamourize violence, no, I don't.
No one makes my boy sad or hurt him, not on my watch. Besides, no children saw me hit Frederic. Me and Caleb walk together towards the car. I can feel the others behind us, but both of us choose to ignore them. When we reach the car and Caleb's about to jump in, Damien speaks to him.
"Caleb, can daddy talk to you for a minute?" Damien says but Caleb closes the door and ignores him.
He sighs and looks at me. I stand before them with my arms crossed over my chest, and my foot tapping at the ground, waiting for someone to say something. Damien looks like crap, they all do, good for them. I really don't give a crap. I move towards the driverseat when he stops me.
"Wendy, wait! Please, let me talk to you."
"I don't have any more desire to talk to you than your son does," I begin, and he looks sad. "You made your choice, all of you did. He doesn't want to see you, and neither do I." my voice breaks, but I don't show them my tears.
Me and Caleb drive away from the school, broken by Damien's appearance. I need to mend my little boy's broken heart, and not even Damien will stand in my way.
A/N:
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