From Betrayal To Billions

CHAPTER 7

Rain splattered over the Parkinson family hall of souls…a grand hall where the Parkinson dead are buried, turning the marble steps into glass mirrors.

Jace stood apart from the mourners, his black coat and wide brimmed hat blending with the shadows, the gold ring heavy on his finger.

The board members huddled under umbrellas, their whispers carrying in the wind…

“Who is the heir?”

“Some orphan, I heard.”

“Marcus will eat him alive.”

Reynolds stepped forward and cleared his throat. “Gentlemen, meet Jonathan Parkinson’s successor.”

Jace turned, letting the storm shine on his face. Gasps of shock rippled through the crowd.

Marcus Foster, now huge like a mountain in a tailored suit, dropped his cigar and exclaimed, “Jace?”

The lawyer stepped forward hurriedly and unsealed the will with a flourish. “All hail the new CEO.”

The boardroom smelled of old money and skepticism. Jace took the head seat, his gaze sweeping all around the hall, over the six stunned directors.

Marcus recovered first and snarled, “This is a joke. You have never run so much as a kiosk stand.”

Jace slid a file across the table coldly—Marcus’s embezzlement records from the family trust account. “And you have never seen the inside of a prison. Yet here we are.”

“Please we know your grandfather. We have a knowledge of your father, even though he doesn’t want for work here, but we have no recollection of you?” A board director said loudly, with his chest puffed to the front.

“If you don’t mind, can you make a formal introduction?” A female board director said loudly. Her voice high pitched.

Jace clears his throat and replied, “My name is Jace Parker and I am from the line of Parkinson’s. I may have been raised in an orphanage but I still do have what it takes to handle a Buisness and be a ruler.

Silence.

Then a woman entered, her heels clicking like a countdown as she said breathlessly, “Apologies, Mr Parkinson. Your 3 o’clock with—” she froze.

Jace’s stomach dropped as he locked eyes with Mila Santos. Stella’s college roommate and best friend in a dozen I*******m posts

Reynolds murmured, “Your executive assistant, per your grandfather’s instructions.”

Mila’s professionalism snapped back into place and she smiled, “Shall I reschedule, Sir?”

Jace wore an icy smile and gave a stiff nod. “No. Stay.”

Alone in the office, Jace circled Mila like a hawk and asked, “How much does Stella know?”

“She knows nothing.” Mila said, her chin high. “I haven’t spoken to her since the divorce papers.”

Jace tossed a tablet showing Stella’s latest post…

‘Winning with my CEO fiancé! At a Montgomery Medical gala. “Funny you ‘liked’ this.”

Mila didn’t flinch. “I like all her posts. It is easier than explaining why I do not.” She met his eyes and muttered, “But I work for you now. And unlike Stella, I honor contracts.”

Jace believed her. Dangerous. But to his knowledge, Mila was the exact opposite of Stella, though they are best friends. Stella is vindictive, while Mila is empathetic, even though she is from a very wealthy home.

“How long have you been working here?”

“My contract is yearly. Since last year.” She replied.

“Through my grandfather I suppose?”

She nodded.

“Ok. I really don’t want Stella and Ethan to be aware of my identity right now.” Jace said blankly. “Does Whitson and Montgomery have any Buisness with Parkinson group?”

Mila laid out the bid files. Arranging them in an alphabetical order. “Montgomery Medical is competing for our medical equipments supply chain with six other companies, but Ethan’s father played golf with your grandfather.”

Jace traced the Montgomery logo absentmindedly. Never his wildest dream did he ever think he will ever be his ‘best friend opposition.’

Well, here is was. “Move them to the top of the pile.”

Reynolds frowned and asked with a hint of surprise in his voice, “After what they did—”

“It’s exactly because of what they did.” Jace replied scornfully as he handed him a sealed envelope. “These are my terms. Ethan gets special attention.”

Reynolds read the content and his lips twitched. “You are evil.”

“No.” Jace adjusted his cuff links. “I am a Parkinson.”

Upon ascending the role as the CEO, Jace placed some important rules in place especially for Mr Reynold and Mila….

No public appearances…Reynolds is to represent him publicly.

Mila is to monitor Stella, from a distance, but never engages.

But as Mila stood up, she paused and shrugged, “For what it’s worth…Stella doesn’t deserve what is coming,”

Jace snapped his head up from the paper work he had buried himself earlier and said loudly,

“A word please Mila.”

“Sir.” Mila approached him, placing her professional mask back on. “Is there a problem sir.”

“We have to straighten this out now.” Jace replied calmly. “Mila you may have a contract with this company, but I can dissolve it very easily, if I feel my values, threatened.”

“Sir?”

“If you are going to be working with me as Stella’s friend, you can as well forward in your resignation letter.”

“No sir.” She replied hurriedly. “I have not always been a fan of the way she treated you when you guys were still married. So I totally understand your pain.”

“So we are in the same page?” Jace asked.

“Yes sir. We are.” She nodded.

His phone buzzed—a notification…

‘Stella Whitman Montgomery tagged you in a memory.’

Their photograph. Their wedding day. Jace’s face blurred out with the caption…. ‘Upgraded!’

Mila scoffed and asked, “She doesn’t know you are a CEO. So unfortunate and unlucky of her. Want me to comment?”

Jace shook his head. “No. Let her laugh. The view from hell is priceless.”