The Last CEO's Deal

CHAPTER ONE

***CHRISTINE'S POV***

"Christine!!!!" My mother's voice calls from the living room.

"Coming mom!" I yell back as I stuff my black trenchcoat in my travel bag.

"It's getting late!" She yells back and I roll my eyes.

That's what my mom and I do best. We bicker to and fro all day long.

"Just a minute!" I yell right back and I smile to myself, knowing that she's probably rolling her eyes.

"You have a minute. And your one minute starts now!"

Before she's done with her statement, I walk into the living room dragging my bags behind me. She looks at them and her eyes widen.

"All that? Are you moving out for good darling?"

"Just stop it mom. I have like a few pieces of clothing in there."

"Then why all those bags? Oh, let me guess..books."

I shrug and stay quiet. She got me there. She looks at me over the rim of her glasses.

"I know you are crazy about reading and all that but you need to know that they have malls in college where you can buy books. You don't need all this junk."

"Seriously mom, are you going to give me one of your lectures right now? About books?"

She shrugs. "I can but I won't. I'm just lucky that I'm not dropping you there." She almost cringes as she looks over the pile of bags one more time.

"Mom, it's my first day in college. The least you can do is take me to school."

She shakes her head. "I'm sorry baby but I have a lot of work to do. Your father is taking you. He'll be here any minute from now."

"He's not my father!" I snap between my teeth.

"Your real father left you darling so the least you can do is appreciate Webb. He might not be your father but he provides for us."

"I still don't like him."

"Whatever child. Either way, he's taking you to school."

She turns her attention back to her computer and I know when I'm being dismissed. I swallow dryly and fight the lump that is forming in my throat.

I'm not going to give her the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

Only if she truly knew the monster of a dad I have.

I tug my heavy bags to the porch just as Webb pulls up in the driveway.

He smiles when he notices me.

"Hey kid." He says cheerfully. I have no idea why I just can't Kill him.

There's something about him that puts me off. I want to rip out his heart and pull out his soul to the dens of demons,where he belongs.

"Hi Webb." I answer quietly.

"Oh, come on Christine. You can call me dad, you know?"

"You're not my dad." I say a bit too harshly and he grins.

"Some day you're going to consider me as your father.''

Father my ass,it's the Audacity to say such words before me.

I fight the urge to roll my eyes at him as he dumps my bags in the boot.

I sit on the co-driver's seat and focus on my phone as Webb drives to campus. I'm totally uncomfortable around him and he knows that all too well. I'm not too good at hiding my dislike for him.

I miss my father...I have no idea why my Dad had to die,Mom said that dad was a jerk and a good for nothing moron and that got him killed.

I haven't set my eyes on him since I turned thirteen and even though my mom has painted an image of a monster in my head, I somehow miss him.

Some memories can't just be forgotten.

"I'll help you bring your stuff upstairs." He says again and I murmur a thank you as I strap my backpack over my shoulders.

We walk in uncomfortable silence and I fumble in my pouch for the key.

The room is big enough and both bed's are unoccupied.

Perfect; my roommate isn't in yet so I have the privilege of choosing whichever bed I like.

"I like this one better." Webb says as he sits on one of the beds and I turn to look at him.

He is giving me an irritating stare. Well, I'm choosing the other bed, just to spite him.

"I like the other one better. Thanks for driving me here but don't you think it's about time you left?" I asked in the most clipped tone I can master.

A frown overtakes his visage. "Not so fast little girl."

It's a low growl rumbling from his chest and it immediately offsets me. I look at him and his eyes are dilating as they move up and down my body.

Fear creeps through me and for a moment there, I'm totally motionless.

"What do you want?" My voice is panicky and I'm scared shitless.

He takes a step towards me.

"I just want to instill some manners into you. You've been a real pain in the ass these last few years and it's about time you paid for that; don't you think so."

"You've had your own share of the cake!!! What do you want to do, you monster huh?Having your friends ripped me off isn't enough right?"

I say in panic and move backwards until my back hits the dresser.

"You can run but you can't hide." He tells me while closing in on me. I am numb. I can't scream; I doubt whether anyone is on the floor anyway. I have nowhere to run to and obviously fighting him is not an option

***

The harder I fight, the more excited he becomes. I kick and claw at him but it's like hitting a solid wall. I bite and slap, hit and struggle but I can't overpower him.

He throws me on the bed and pulls at my cotton Shirt, tearing it.

I bite back the salty tears when he slaps me. Watching him succeed in his plans isn't the right thing to do, so I had to take action before things got out of hand.

He tried pulling me to himself but I lifted my leg and kicked his manhood. He groaned in pain as he staggered out of my side. I loved that action... Seeing him that way gave me an exact joy.

He cursed me, calling me a rude bitch and a good for nothing idiot. He says that he's going to kill me and my mom if I tell the police and from his expression, he is not kidding.

*******

I sigh in relief the moment I jot the last word on the answer sheet.

I'm officially done with college.

I place the pen on top of the sheet then look around the room. Everyone is scribbling furiously.

That's basically the nature of final exams; everyone wants to give their all.

I glance at Diana and she's beaming at me. I give her a tiny grin just as the bell goes and the professor glares at the students who are still writing.

Time is up.

I walk down the row and hand in my answer sheet before I stalk out of the room.

Diana catches up with me outside the hall."Can you believe it? We are so done with college!" She yells then pulls me into a bone breaking hug.

"Aren't you excited?" She asks while furrowing her brows and I shrug.

"I am. I just have a different way of showing excitement."

She lifts her eyebrows. "And which is that 'different way?' Pray tell, my pretty different friend."

"That I will be going he to face my sweet loving mum and a horrible monster who just got a job as a manager at Hudson Chemical technologies"

She snorted at the sarcasm.

"That should be great news!! Wow!! The biggest company in Jersey and my everytime crush is his son"

"Are we going to start talking about your obsession?" I ask while cocking my head to one side and she bursts out laughing.

"I my just addicted dear"

"This is not my best friend. That's my main bitch."

I point at a random girl in the crowd but She chants and drags me away from the prying crowd.

*****

I'm not exactly what you'd call an extrovert. Though I'm totally outgoing and social, something holds me back.

I feel a bit insecure around men and I have outright trust issues. I'm fiery as hell and I have very little tolerance to bull crap.

I don't date. I'd rather hook up casually and go on my way. No commitments, no harm done.

And another thing, I'm afraid of darkness. Totally, absolutely scared. You can never tell who is lurking in the dark; can you now?

And yeah, I hate it when the nightmares of my stepfather taking my virginity forcibly haunt me at night.

When I remember the horrible times his friends have their way with me after paying a huge bulk.

I totally hate them, but what can a woman do?

My Mum is in looooove.

Diana, my best friend, however steals the show anytime we are together.

She is a total freak and her mouth is sharper than a razor. Whereas I prefer getting all talkative and sassy in private, she talks whatever shit she wants to wherever she wants, whenever she feels like.

We are not what you'd call party animals, but we let ourselves loose on particular occasions.

Tonight is one of them.

We are done with school.

We're going to rock and roll.

CHAPTER TWO

Hudson Chemical technologies.

Webb POV

I stared at the celebrity magazine for a long time and lost in my thoughts.

Fanuel Hurdson,The only son and heir to Hudson Chemicals.

He could pass for a model,he was annoyingly cute and he seemed arrogant, aaargh!! I hate him already.

Nothing should make him come to Jersey City yet, at least not yet. Not when I'm beginning to harness all the goodies and wealth in disguise of being a manager. If heaven was a company then it should be Hudson chemicals.

I've achieved a lot from this position and I'm never going to back down.

Mr Hurdson's trust towards me and the affairs of his company is a sweet wine to savor into. I can't believe I own a car and a Duplex in Chicago.

Life is good, I'm living my very best but something keeps tugging in my heart as I remember something.

That bitchy Christine is coming back and something tells me she will be really feisty this time around.

She's done with college and I'm expecting a new bit of her. I'm going to make a surprise welcome party for her. I'm doing that to win the trust of her mum,my dear wife and she will have no option than to succumb to her mum.

How perfect.

My secretary came over and submitted a report for last week's meeting. She was dazzling in her milky white jumpsuit with her stilettos all making cranky sounds with every step she made.

"Good morning sir,Oak Bay mining investors are here. They wish to see you to discuss the sorted project yet."

"Two weeks sir? I doubt they will leave.This project has been pending since last month,the least we could do is to show them how far we've progressed with it."

"Celine!!! Tell them to come in two weeks time and stop blabbering! Leave my office,I have other important things to attend." Celine bowed and left the office.

I heaved a sigh of relief and I pondered hard on what to do next.

Maybe I'll just have to wait for the next investors,then I can use that to my advantage and claim it to be their own project.

Problem solved shouldn't be this hard.

All I should think of now is how to get home and prepare a stupid silly party.

*****

"Christine, Promise me that you won't drool over him" Diana shrieked and asked.

She kept talking about her celebrity CEO who is yet to return to Jersey City and insisted that I take a glance at him.

I rolled my eyes at her and replied to her silly question.

"I promise." I said and she stood dramatically opening the magazine before me .

"tadaaaa!!". She clapped her hands as if some important event was taking place and I laughed.

"I can't believe this crap you wanted to show me,holy grail!! Diana

Get a hold of yourself."

She sighed and jumped back on the bed.

"What planet did they breed you? You're so blind to see how cute he is,I just wished he would come back."

"Really,does he know whether you exist?"

"He doesn't need to know,he's far better off than Hart."

I laughed out,Hart was a celebrity singer Diana stumbled upon and confessed her undying love for him. Yeah,he was her biggest fan but he ignored her like someone didn't say a word.

She was broken. She disliked him so much that she became his enemy instead of her favorite.

"You're still hut huh? Take heart dearie, maybe you were too short for him to hear your words of passion."

"Stop it Christine" she yelled.

Now Fanuel wasn't handsome as she described earlier,He was hot!

Hot as in pepper, Perfect chisels jaws and the sexiest smile that could make you squirt. Studied chemical engineering in Canada and a fashion magazine model.

"Is he single?" I find myself asking...mistakenly.

"Omg!!! You're drooling over him! Christine you promised!"

"Silly girl,just get out okay"

"You're even asking if he's single,No way girl!! How can someone this hot be single? I can't believe you would ask that."

"Oh! I thought as much,so who is this unlucky Fiancee."

"It's me bitch" she screamed at me.

"You don't need to be so excited about a dream that will never become a reality,stop wasting your strength."

"I hate you Christine."

"I love you Diana." We both laughed at our stupidity and headed home.

We both went to my place first and I must confess a lot has changed.

A new model Toyota Camry was screaming beauty under the rays of the hot sun,and the exterior building of our home was like the white house.

Wow!! I Guess Webb Is doing a good job to please mum.

I entered and what greeted me threw me off guard. A welcome surprise party with decorated balloons strings on each end of the walls. Light color bulbs were hanging beneath the fancy ribbons and sweet Candies were displayed around the beautiful chocolate cake. My mouth watered instantly.

I felt awed,I can't believe mum would go the extra mile to make me feel this welcomed. I rushed to her and engulfed myself in her embrace.

"Thank you Mum,this is beautiful" I told her and she smiled.

"You're welcome sweetheart,guess what? Easton Is here!!

"Really!! You don't mean it"

"Of course I do."

"That's great,let me check up on him then"

"There will be no need for that,just get in and thank your Dad." She said and my countenance changed immediately.

Diana pecked Mum on the cheeks and went to the kitchen to get knives to cut the cake claiming it's her job and duty.

"Thank Webb for what?"

"He did all these hun,the least you can say is thank you dad" Mum said pleadingly and I almost snort at her naiveness.

I want to scream never and walk away, I want to shout in her eardrum that Webb isn't the guy for her,I want to smack her head so bad for falling for a devil who ripped her virginity and repeatedly lure other men to have their share.

I feel a lump in my throat,I want to cry but I shouldn't ruin today, Easton is back and I shouldn't let him see me that way. I wonder why he's not as monstrous as his dad,I wonder why he's nice,why he cares and looks after me so much. I just wonder why.

I smiled at mum and agreed.

"Fine mum,I will go over and thank....D..a..d" i disappeared from her sight the moment I drew those forbidden words.

He was there, sitting in his wickedness and looking for his next prey to devour.I started without permission and ended without permission.

"Dear wicked dad,thank you for destroying my Life. Thank you for covering a dark veil in mum's face as you hit her daughter behind her back,thank you for inviting those chipmunks you call friends for having my flesh to satisfy their carnal desires....". I sniffed and let the tears roll freely.

"T..thank you for ruining my life and making a surprise party to celebrate your demonic mission"

Someone gasped from behind and I felt my heart flew,I almost peed on my body. Lord! Who could it be?

I slowly turned my head to meet him,I could see the horrified look on his face,No he was indescribable.

"Easton" I gasped.

He stared at me and stared back at his father.

"I came to tell you that your boss,CEO of Hudson company was involved in a ghastly car accident."

Chapter 3

Third pov

The Press crew rushed towards Fanuel Hudson the moment he stepped down from the private Jet in Jersey's Specialist Hospital.

His father's accident came as a bomb to him that he left Canada for New Jersey City with immediate effect.

What happened?

His dad always has the best convoy and well trained drivers, how he had an accident drives him crazy in confusion.

"Mr Fanuel,how did you feel when you heard the news?"

"Do you think this happened naturally?"

"What will happen if he eventually dies?"

The BBC's crew kept bombarding him with numerous questions and poking different categories of microphones and chips in his delicate mouth.

His bodyguards walked briskly to the crew and disrupt their noisy gathering paving way for Fanuel to enter the hospital.

"Get those filthy presses out of this premises, this is a serene place that needs nothing but peace."

He told them and they all bowed and left to fulfill his wish.

He met his family and friend all restless and panicky as if a symposia

fear and empathy was conducted.

His Mum saw him and broke into a soft cry.

He engulfed her in a warm hug and assured her that everything will be fine.

"Your dad will be taken to the theater soon."

"Was it that serious?" Fanuel gasped.

"Medical Experts said that the brakes were tampered with and since he happened to be at the driver's without a seatbelt he ended up being badly injured."

"That's bad Mum,can I see him?"

"He's in a very bad condition but the Doctor said he had been requesting to see you before being taken to the theater,I think you should go over and see him" Jayden told him and he left without wasting a second.

He saw his dad in a very exquisite ward with different drips connecting through his body and a life support.

Tears welled his eyes as he sighted the doctor and stood by him.

"He was badly injured and it led to a concussion,Injury of the head and a brain contusion. He had a jolt that made his brain collide with the inside of his skull. He needs to be operated on to remove the blood clot in his head or it might lead to his untimely death." The doctor said and he bit his soft delicate lips in fear.

"You can do something right? Something can be done to avoid that?" He shakily asked the doctor who adjusted the rim of his spectacles.

"We will try our best Mr Fanuel."

He saw his father's hands moving,more like a signal to come closer.

"Dad,you need to fight this okay? Mum still needs you,we still want you so don't you dare give up!"

"T...t...take ...company, take over the company, Mr Webb will show *coughs* will show you the vital documents."

"Dad?"

"I might not survive this."

"Don't you dare say such a despicable thing! You will survive."

"I'm sorry Fanuel,he needs to be taken to the theater" The doctor signaled the nurses to wheel him out of the ward.

Fanuel heaved a sigh of depression and confusion. He wasn't expecting this sudden gamble that life was playing at him. He hoped and prayed for the best.

********

The Hudson's Mansion.

The clicking sound of cutlery could be heard in the dining room. A sumptuous meal of pasta and Nashville hot chicken was served as they ate quietly until his mum broke the silence.

"You will be resuming as the CEO of Hudson chemical technologies, Congratulations sweetheart." His mum told him and he snorted.

"That's no big deal mum,stop sounding as if I won a jackpot."

"It's a new challenge in your business and academic life,so it's a big deal. Your dad is going to retire and you will take over the company's name all over the world." He smiled at his mum sarcastically and focused on his meal.

He had plans, you know,he wasn't prepared to carry the mantle of being a CEO in his dad's business,he now understands the reason why he was persuaded to study chemical engineering.

"There's been a little virus eating up the company funds without proper records and balance sheets. Oak Bay mining company has gone to court to file a suing complaint about the company."

"What?" Fanuel gasped at Jayden's words.

"Yeah, Celine told me that the few times I visited there that a 3 billion project was invested by Oak Bay miners in collaboration with the company,two containers of oil were also invested to carry out a chemical process that might serve as a domestic use to homes and companies."

"Who's Celine" he asked

"His secretary."

"That's absurd,what's the manager of the Hudson chemicals doing? '' Mum asked, petrified.

"Dragging the company's name to the court it's a very bad thing to start with,it will soil our brand's name." Fanuel thought.

"Hmmn,it could only represent one thing. There's a money squandering there or they are yet to implement the project."

"For how long Fanuel? This deal was signed two months ago."

"We need to find out something,Jayden came over." He stood up from his chair and signaled his brother.

"At Least finish your meal,will you?" His mum wears a worried frown but he pecked her and they left the house.

****

"Aren't you supposed to visit your boss in the hospital?" Gracia told her husband whose eyes were fixated on the TV's screen.

Webb only nodded negatively and stared blankly at the screen. Mr Hurdson was diagnosed with concussion and brain contusion and his son just arrived from Canada which could only mean one thing,He's taking over his dad's company.

How painful!! Why does he have to have an accident now, Damn!

Easton had eavesdropped on Christine's terrible words even though he stylishly denied hearing a thing that gasped couldn't be mistaken for a shock. He's going to Kill Christine if words gets to her mother and if Easton would believe what she said

Just that moment,Easton walked in all smiles and brought cookies for Christine's mum but his countenance changed towards him totally. His smile faded and if looks could kill, Easton glaring eyes would have killed him and sent him to hell.

He felt seriously uncomfortable and got up.

"I'll take a coffee in the kitchen." He tells his wife who smiled sweetly at him and laughed at Easton's dry joke.

He placed his hands on the kitchen counter and sigh nervously.

Fanuel is back.

Easton thinks he raped Christine.

No! This is not good. He still need to paint a picture of a perfect dad.

He opened the fridge and reached for the Screaming eagle wine,he had gotten it from his boss's office.

He poured it in a tumbler and took it all in one gulp. It burns down his throat and tears through his throat like fire.

He closed his eyes to savor that feeling.

He took a second gulp.

Third...and fourth.

He was feeling giddy as he sighed a knife peacefully standing in the knife stand.

Maybe killing her should end all this drama.

Yeah she should just die,she's just a waste trying to cause a commotion between him and his son.

He removed the knife and imagined slitting her throat with it.

He smiled sheepishly and headed to her room.

Christine must die tonight.