CRUSH ON AN ILLEGITIMATE SON
Janis stood behind her tech guy Harold while staring at his computer. Harold had gotten info on the Grand Aura embezzlment and just as she had predicted the company didn't know how much money they truly lost. Thirty million was an understatement. She had personally gone through the company's sales files and they had lost more than that.
"It seems like someone really wants the company to go down", Janis said to Harold.
"It seems like they are targeting Adrian", Janis added.
"It doesn't seem like it. If the person wanted the company they would have used a smarter move. The whole embezzling of funds incident happened years ago and if it happens again it will be really suspicious", Harold remarked.
"Then what do you think their motive is?" Janis asked.
"Blackmail", Harold replied and clicked on a file. The file opened up and Janis saw the shares of the Pedro family both in Royal Empire and Grand Aura.
"They want Adrian's shares", she stated.
"Seems like it. Holland gave Adrian the highest shares in both companies and I think whosoever is behind this wants full control of the company"
"The only person I know who would be against Adrian is Robert"
"Robert although the eldest isn't smart enough to pull this off"
"Really? Then who do you think would do it?"
"Cecilia", Harold replied.
"Cecilia? But she's his mother ". Mothers didn't just go against their sons.
"No she's not. I think you need to learn more about your husband"
When Janis got into her car Hermes who was at the driver's seat noticed the solemn look in her face. It was different from her usual aloof or bubbly expression. She must have heard something bad. Hermes thought all this in his head but he didn't ask her. It wasn't his place to know. He was just a body guard.
"Where to next boss?" Hermes asked as he revved up the engine.
"I don't really know", Janis replied. Her original plan was to head over to Kings Minerals but now she couldn't. She just found out that the great Adrian Pedro was an illegitimate child and it made her see things differently.
Since Adrian was illegitimate he must have wanted to prove himself in the family by bringing her family down and acquiring Grand Aura. He must have wanted to make his family proud but in turn he hurt hers.
"Then should we head home?"
"No. Take me to Dynamic motors", Janis instructed and Hermes began to drive. Something about the new look on his boss's face made him uneasy but who was he to talk.
Dynamic motors was filled with the hum of modern elegance, the floors were made of marble, chrome accents, and the employees were dressed like Vogue interns. But the atmosphere suddenly shifted the moment Janis entered the building.
Janis walked into the building like every step was a statement. She was clad in a deep emerald green silk blouse tucked into sleek black wide-legged trousers. Gold hoops gleam against her dark, glowing skin. A diamond watch. Matte red lips. Hair laid. Nails deadly. Everyone could tell at first glance that this was the CEO's wife. She was not just the CEO's wife—she looked like the CEO, the board, and the reason they're all paid.
At her side was Hermes, her bodyguard, sharp-eyed and intimidating as ever and scanning the lobby like a human alarm system.
Upon seeing Janis the receptionist, Lilian, stood up immediately with an overly polite smile on her face.
"Mrs. Pedro! So nice to see you again!
Um… Mr. Pedro is in a meeting at the moment, but I can inform him right away—"
"No need. I know where I'm going. You just need to make sure no one screams before I get to the elevator", Janis interrupted her coolly.
"Of—of course, ma'am", Lilian replied nervously.
Janis and the receptionist conversed calmly but their peace was a short-lived illusion, because lounging by the window, sipping an iced vanilla oat milk latte like she owned the air itself, was Catherine Moore.
She was dressed like she came to seduce trouble: a white satin halter mini dress, slit to mid-thigh, backless, and clearly from an overpriced boutique that believes more money means less fabric. Gold heels. Pearl earrings. And a tiny purse that couldn't hold anything except bad decisions and lip gloss.
Her eyes became narrow when she saw Janis. The woman who stole her position.
"Well, well… if it isn't Mrs. Plot Twist Pedro", Catherine said with her voice unnecessarily loud.
At Catherine's words the receptionist immediately panicked. She knew how much Janis didn't like to be disrespected and now this woman who could wipe her face off the earth was playing with her boss who could fire her. She was in a dilemma.
"Ms. Moore, please, this is not the..." The receptionist tried to say but Catherine ignored her.
"Didn't see you on Adrian's schedule.
Oh wait—you never are", Catherine said while smirking.
Janis was confused. She had no idea why this woman who she had only seen once was talking to her and calling Adrian by his name. Was this lady close to him or was she still in her fantasy like in the Eugene family anniversary?
"And yet somehow, I'm the one with the ring", Janis shot back with an unreadable expression. She couldn't let this wannabe win her in a word fight.
The employees who stopped to watch their unknown CEO wife face off Catherine gasped at her words forgetting that they were not supposed to eavesdrop. One intern slowly lowered his airpods to listen while Hermes rose an eyebrow.
"You know, Adrian was dating Vivian Lawrence before you showed up. Beautiful. Brilliant. Actually his type. Not… whatever it is you are", Catherine said bitterly trying to make Janis jealous.
"Vivian Lawrence? If she was so loved by Adrian how come I only heard about her existence on the internet or did Adrian ghost her?" Janis asked unbothered and slightly amused.
"He didn't ghost her. He was manipulated. He loved Vivian. They had plans—real ones", Catherine snapped.
Janis didn't say anything but rather stepped forward. Not in an aggressive way just… deliberate. Like a lion that knew that it didn't need to roar to be feared.
"And yet here you are—panting over a man who's married to someone else.
You talk about love like it's a dress you didn't get to wear", Janis replied with a calm voice.
"You think you won? You think just because you're married, he wants you?"Catherine said while snarling.
"Look Cassandra, if Adrian didn't want me, you wouldn't feel the need to bark every time I enter a building he owns", Janis said with a slight smile.
The employees who were just eavesdropping were now fully invested. There was definitely a betting pool forming behind the potted plant.
"Please, Ms. Moore—this is not the place..." The receptionist whispered frantically.
"My name is Catherine and you're nothing but a distraction from his real life. A side act!" Catherine said with rage.
"And yet here I stand. At his company. With his name. And you? Still auditioning for a role that's been permanently cast", Janis replied smoothly without breaking eye contact.
Janis didn't even really care about Adrian's accomplishments and wasn't proud of being his wife but saying all this was the only way to put this woman in her place.
Catherine facial expression changed and it looked like she was about to scream. Or cry. Or both. But instead of crying, she glared daggers at Janis and huffed towards the door, forgetting her latte. Her heels clicked angrily as she left the company like a storm in a short dress.
Once she was gone Janis turned calmly towards the receptionist.
"You've improved. Keep it up".
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you". The receptionist who was panicking earlier nodded frantically while blushing.
Janis gave one final glance at the stunned staff before pressing the elevator button. The doors of the elevator glides open, and she stepped inside like she just closed a million-dollar deal—not a public takedown.
"Wait for me outside... I just need to check somethings out", she said to Hermes in a cool and quiet voice.