Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion >>
Eustace sneered. “My father. Is. Dead.” No way was he going to accept this man as his father now.
Old Mr. Quincey hurriedly stopped their argument from escalating. “That’s enough, Eustace. I know you’re angry with your father, but you should consider giving him a chance now that he’s back.”
“A chance? Sure?” Eustace’s eyes burned with contempt. “Bring my mother back from the dead, and you’ll get your chance.”
“Don’t you cross that line, Eustace!” Mortimer cried, startled that his son had matured into a man he utterly had no control over. “I’m your father whether you like it or not, and Quincey Group’s rightful president!”
He had been gone for decades but was still the company’s head director, courtesy of his father. The old man might be upset with him, but he secretly still cared about his son.
Eustace hadn’t cared about this before, given his father had long left them, but his sudden reappearance completely upturned everything.
“Are you going to allow this, Grandpa?” he asked the old man sternly.
“Give your father a chance, Eustace.”
Eustace gritted his teeth and glared at Mortimer before leaving. “Don’t regret choosing him over me.”
“Eustace!” Old Mr. Quincey called out, but Eustace had already left the mansion.
Mortimer was nonchalant about it, however. “Don’t worry, Dad. He’ll come to his senses in time,” he said to the old man.
“Hmph! “I’m not opposed to your return, but if you so much as touch a hair on his head, I’ll make sure you never have a place to call home!”
His son was important to him, but he had raised Eustace since he was a child. Their bond was tight, and he was one of the most precious people in his life. Naturally, he wouldn’t let Mortimer do anything to Eustace.
Mortimer nodded. “I wouldn’t do anything. He’s my son.”
“Stay out of his relationship with Danika, too.”
This Mortimer didn’t agree. “Don’t worry. I know what I need to do and not do.”
He didn’t know what kind of spell that woman had cast on his son and father to have them so infatuated with her. Mortimer couldn’t let her marry into the family no matter what.
He couldn’t make the same mistake twice, after all.
LIT
Eustace lit a cigarette by the door, gazing up at the night sky, deep in thought.
Footsteps sounded from behind him. It was Mortimer, surprised that his son was still there.” You’re still here. Good. I need to talk to you about something.”
Eustace tossed the cigarette on the ground and snubbed it with,his foot. “Really. What?”
“Break up with Danika Zellweger and never have any contact with her again,” Mortimer said swiftly, oblivious to his son’s hostility.
Eustace sneered but said nothing.
“How could a woman like her be on the same level as you? She’s obviously just in for your money. She’s not fit to be your wife, Eustace!” Mortimer had no clue about Danika’s background. Old Mr. Quincey didn’t tell him either, so Eustace wasn’t going to start.
His hands curl into fists by his sides. “A woman like her? She’s a hundred times better than that whore you ran away with.”
Mortimer’s face darkened immediately. “Don’t you dare talk about her like that!”
“You’re protecting her even after her death? How romantic. Like finds like, I guess.”
Eustace’s mother had committed suicide because of them. His perfect family was ruined all because of his degenerate father. Even Max had suffered, all because of this man and that woman who had long died.
“You fucking brat!” Mortimer lunged at him, fist already midair.
Unfortunately for him, Eustace was no longer that sad little boy prone to abuse. He grabbed Mortimer’s wrist, flinging him away. “You don’t have much time ahead of you, old man. If you want to live comfortably for your remaining time, I advise you to stay the hell out of my life! As for Danika -if you touch even a hair on her head, I’ll make sure you wish you never did!”
So what if this man was his biological father? He had long thought him dead.
Mortimer was unfazed by the threat. He sneered, “Don’t forget that I’m still the head director of the company,
Eustace Quincey. I’d like to see what you’re capable of, especially when the board will do what I tell them to do, even kicking you out as president.”
Eustace didn’t show any fear. “Really? Fire me, then. We’ll see just how much the company depends on me.”
Mortimer gritted his teeth angrily, then took a deep breath to calm himself. He couldn’t show a hint of weakness in front of Eustace. “Stay away from Danika Zellweger if you know what’s good for her, or you won’t get a warning before something happens to her.”
“Don’t you dare touch her!” Eustace warned.
Mortimer grinned menacingly. “Try me.” He had all the power Eustace had, given he was still the Quincey Group’s head director.
The father and son glared at each other, each longing to tear at the other’s throat.
Finally, Eustace relented. “Just….stay away from her, and I will too.”
Saturday night was La Vie Danika Rose Designs official launch. Danika had rushed to the office early in the morning to finalize the preparations.
Jade crept to her side and whispered, “Is Eustace coming?”
Danika grew still. She did call him last night, but he seemed busy with work and couldn’t make it to tonight’s event.
“No. He’s busy with work.” Danika shook her head.
Jade looked disappointed. Eustace’s attendance would’ve added more influence on the company’s opening. “It’s fine. I trust our company’s worth,” she murmured, as if reassuring herself.
Once the preparations were complete, they proceeded to the storefront where their models and outfits were. The staff were busy making sure everything was ready.
“Nervous, Danika? The world will soon witness your brand’s capabilities.”
Danika shrugged. “I have faith in my creations.” She gazed at all the outfits ready on their hangers, and confidence and pride swelled in her chest.
“Good for you, ’cause even I’m nervous.” Jade was actually afraid of disappointing Danika. She had long lost her edge after spending years away from the field.
Danika smiled and encouraged her, “You don’t have to be, Jade. You’ve done your best, and your best is THE best. Believe in yourself, Jade. Believe in us!”
Jade nodded, beaming at her. She then glanced at Felicity walking past. “Your cousin’s really turned over a new leaf. She’s been really hard working lately.”
Danika was surprised to see that too. “Good. That way Uncle David can stop worrying about her.
“Mm. Let’s hope she keeps it up,” Jade agreed.
Their staff quickly settled everything. Danika and Jade went to the store entrance to get ready for the opening. They had called up several reporters, so they had to maintain appearances.
Jade cut to the chase. “Thank you for coming to our grand opening. We hope for your continued support, and we promise we will not disappoint.”
Their store was in an upper-class shopping center frequented by Parrington’s rich and influential. They now crowded around the shop, hopeful for what it would bring them.
As Jade continued speaking to the press, Max appeared from out of nowhere, squeezing between Jade and Danika. “Where’s Eustace? Isn’t he coming?”
Danika frowned. Why was someone asking about Eustace again?
She didn’t know how busy he really was; all she knew was that he was going back on his promises but never telling her the reason. Danika truly didn’t know if Eustace was telling the truth anymore. They hadn’t seen each other for some time,too, only keeping in touch via text.
Fear struck through Danika’s heart at the realization that things were not what they used to be.
“I’m not sure. He said he’s been busy. Do you have any clue with what?” Danika asked Max in return. She knew his relationship with Eustace had eased up some.
Max frowned. “I’m not sure either. There hasn’t been much going on with the Quincey Group, so he shouldn’t be so busy.”
The moment those words left his mouth, he was filled with regret. He quickly added, “But then again, he might be busy expanding his company’s reach into the country.”
Danika’s smile soured just the slightest as doubt crept into her mind. Yes, the Quincey Group hadn’t been up to much lately, so why had Eustace been so busy? He didn’t even have time to grab a quick lunch with her.
Something was wrong.
Danika quickly stopped those thoughts from spreading. She decided to make a trip to the Quincey Group after tonight to finally get an honest answer from Eustace.