Chapter 5 Taking the Risk

She did not know what spurred her to do this exactly, but she was not backing down either.

Peharps, it was because of the incident of a few nights ago, when he had drunkenly slept with her or because she had almost gone crazy in her desire for him.

When their love was still intact, he had made her a promise to always give her joy. She knew he was hurt when she tried to seduce him the last two years, but she was hoping his hurt would have reduced now that it was two years. She was hoping he would recall his promise and she would gain access onto his heart again by their physical and sensual contact.

"Please, Jacob," she pleaded with trembling fingers as she held unto his coat.

He rubbed his brows in annoyance, speechless.

She ran her hands across his chest, and he staggered and slumped into a sitting position on the couch.

She took that for a positive sign and proceeded to straddle him, her heart race at a million beats per second.

She could see it in his eyes. He still loved her and wanted her as much as she wanted him, but she could also see the wall of his ego.

She placed her hands over both sides of his face and connected their lips in a long, deep, sensual kiss, to which he responded hungrily.

His hands wrapped around her waist, caressing her and throwing caution into the wind.

After over five minutes, she pulled away but was scared to look into his eyes.

"Eva -"

An emotional tear rolled down her cheeks as she heard him pronounce her name for the first time.

"Baby-", she said and raised her head to look at him, and her heart skipped a beat.

He had a mad look on his face.

He shoved her off him and stood up.

"Eva, never in your life try this again. The day this happens, you can as well pack your things and get out of my house", he said fuming and stormed to his bedroom, leaving Eva in shock and hurt by the rejection.

****

Pamela bawled and rushed over to her father and pulled him into a hug while Peter stood with a sad look on his face.

Their mother, Susanna, had told them of their father's critical state.

"Can we not get him treated, mum? asked.

"The doctor said it would be a miracle for him to survive and and trying to look for treatments could cause be more detrimental than good"

"Mum, but what could be the cause?", Pamela cried.

She was her father's princess and did not want anything to happen to him.

"Stress, most likely. He has been working himself top hard. I kept telling him to take it slow, but he was so strongheaded. He believes the conglomerate would sink if he just took a day off", Susanna lamented.

"Oh, dad. Can't you just trust me and Peter to handle it responsibly?", Pamela asked, patting just face slightly, but he did not meet their eyes.

He hated feeling like a vegetable. He still had to keep his company running.

His multimillion dollar conglomerate was suddenly approaching the edge of bankruptcy, and he knew he needed to put in the work or at least seal a good deal.

They were all not aware of it because he had buried himself in his work, trying to tie all knots and close every loop.

He was not happy about his illness.

He knew he needed to hand over the responsibility of running the company to someone who would be meticulous enough not to let the company drown.

He remained quiet as he stared at his two children.

They were loquacious spenders and could not even manage without him giving them allowances even month, even though they were both twenty-three.

He could not blame them anyway. He and Susanna had spoilt them rotten, and he had not seen any need to train any of them to take care of his business in times like this because he had not even foreseen his illness.

Peter went to sit by his father's side, looking into his eyes. "Dad, you have to trust us. Trust me, at least. I can run Whitestone Conglomerate efficiently", he said ple

He coughed some more to divert their attention. Peter rushed to get him water.

He knew that handing Whitestone conglomerate to either of them was just sending it to its sinking point. He had tested both of them many times, but they had failed his test.

He recalled when he had made Peter head a branch for three months.

The branch had shut down.

Pamela had gone shopping when he gave her his black card to see what he would do with it and gotten the shiniest purple lamborghinni.

He loved them so much, but he just could not see himself handing the company over to them. He would rather give them a part of his wealth and hand his company over to a stranger who was more efficient, and he knew just one person who would be good for the job.

*

Roxa sat in the soft, plush cushion in the living room, draped in a green fur coat, scrolling through her Instagram feed.

Everything in the Green's mansion screamed elegance and class.

She sipped on a glass of champagne.

"The Wallace just signed off a merger and their companies. Their companies would soon rise to the top ten with this move of theirs, Mason", she told the young man who had his head buried in a book, unwilling to be disturbed.

He would rather have stayed in his room in the mansion, but he thought to enjoy the scenery of the landscape outside the large window in the living room in some peace and quiet. Emphasis on the quiet.

"The Arcados' stocks has dropped by 1%" she continued.

Mason blocked out her voice from his head.

He had a business meeting in the next three hours, and he would be gone for about three months.

He was trying to savour his silent moment at home he stuck his head back in business, where he also thrived.

"Mason, we need to do something to ensure Greenwood remains at the number one spot," she snapped to Mason, who had not paid her any attention.

"Mason!"

He groaned lowly and stood. He would just as well get his peace elsewhere.

"Mum, please save me the stress of your talks. I heard you. I already know about all these, but I am not bothered. I'm not in competition with anyone else but myself"

"Well, it seems they're in competition with you, and they are coming for your throne."

"This isn't a fairytale fiction, mum,"

"Whatever. You need to put in double the work"

"You talk like you know anything about business besides giving orders," he snapped and left the room, leaving Roxa fuming.

"Just make sure you do not drop,"

He did not say anything.

Soon after he left, he reappeared in the living room dressed formally.

Roxa looked so proud of him, her eyes shining with delight.

"My darling, you'll be gone for six months," she said, tearing up and pulling him into a hug.

Mason shrugged. "You seem to have wanted me gone since," he said sassily but hugged her back, enjoying the warmth of her embrace momentarily. "It's business,"

"Make sure you come back with a good deal," she said, putting on her strong woman facade again.

"You speak like you do not know your son!"