Grass to Grace: Second Chance Wealth

Chapter 6: THE WILSON HOTEL COMPANY IS OFFERING A DESIGN CONTRACT!

“He needs to earn it. If everything is handed to him on a silver platter, he won’t cherish it,” Mr. Wilson said sharply, his gaze fixed on the path leading to Alex’s room. “I know he may hate me for this, but I’m doing it for his own good,” he added, a hint of resolve in his voice.

That Evening

“Alex, it’s time for dinner,” old man Cole called gently as he knocked on the door.

“Okay,” Alex replied, opening the door and stepping out.

In the dining room, the atmosphere was tense. Mr. Wilson sat at the head of the table, flanked by Liam, a woman Alex didn’t recognize, and Leah.

“What is she doing here?” Alex asked, taking a seat next to Leah.

“Before we dig into the dinner Leah prepared, I’d like to make an announcement,” Mr. Wilson said, glancing around the table.

“First, I’d like to introduce my first son, who has been missing for many years now—Alex,” old man Cole said with a proud smile.

Alex merely stared blankly at him. Liam and the woman beside him exchanged surprised glances.

“Oh, Liam, you didn’t tell me you had a brother,” the woman said, smiling at Alex.

Liam remained silent, his eyes fixed on Alex with an unreadable expression.

“Alex, let me introduce you to the family. This is Liam, your brother, and Emily, his wife,” Mr. Wilson said.

Alex felt a jolt of surprise at the mention of Liam’s marriage.

“Now, for the second announcement: I will be transferring all my shares and assets to Alex,” old man Cole declared, shocking everyone at the table.

“What?” Liam exclaimed, standing up and banging his fist on the table.

Aside from Mr. Wilson, Alex, and old man Cole, everyone else wore expressions of disbelief. Liam shot Alex a cold glare.

“Sit down, Liam,” old man Cole ordered, his voice firm.

“No! It’s supposed to be mine!” Liam shouted, his voice rising.

“I’ve made my decision. Now sit down,” Mr. Wilson commanded.

Reluctantly, Liam sat back down, but his anger simmered beneath the surface.

“We can eat now,” Mr. Wilson said, attempting to diffuse the tension.

Liam continued to stab at his food without actually eating.

“Liam, you should eat,” Emily said, reaching out to touch him, but he violently pushed her away, causing her to stumble and fall to the floor.

“Don’t touch me!” Liam shouted, standing up again. “I will get what is rightfully mine, whether you like it or not,” he declared before storming out of the dining room.

“Forget about him; he’ll return to his senses soon,” Mr. Wilson said dismissively.

“I’m full,” Alex said, standing up to leave.

After Alex exited, Mr. Wilson turned to Leah. “What do you think of my son?” he asked, chewing his food.

“Which one, Mr. Wilson?” Leah replied, her brow furrowed in confusion.

“Alex,” Mr. Wilson clarified.

“I don’t know much about him, but he seems to be a reserved person,” Leah answered politely.

“Do you know why I invited you?” Mr. Wilson asked, his tone shifting.

“No, sir,” Leah replied, her curiosity piqued.

“I want you to marry my son. Do you think you could do that?” Mr. Wilson asked bluntly.

“Excuse me?” Leah gasped, nearly choking on her words.

“Do you think you can marry my son?” Mr. Wilson repeated, his gaze unwavering. “Remember, he just inherited my fortune.”

“Sir, with all due respect, I’m not tempted by money. I prefer a man who is hardworking and loving,” Leah said firmly.

“Good, that makes you a good candidate. I’m not going to force you into anything against your will. But would you consider going on a blind date with him? Any response you give after that is fine,” Mr. Wilson said, his tone softening slightly.

Leah looked at him in surprise. “Is he really serious? Hooking me up with his son? And worst of all, his son seems emotionless,” she thought, unsure of how to respond.

“Okay, sir,” she finally said, standing up to leave.

Mr. Wilson took a sip of red wine from his glass, a satisfied smile creeping onto his face. He felt like a predator, orchestrating everything to go his way.

“Master, I don’t think young master Alex would approve of that,” old man Cole said, concern etched on his face.

“Don’t worry about that,” Mr. Wilson replied dismissively. “Tell me more about what happened today,” he added, shifting the conversation.

****

The Next Day

Alex woke up early as usual. After brushing his teeth and refreshing himself, he headed to the back of the garden, where he found old man Cole watering the plants.

“Good morning, Alex,” old man Cole greeted him warmly.

“Good morning,” Alex replied as he approached.

“How was your night?” old man Cole asked.

“It was fine. We should head to the company today and check on the progress,” Alex said, his tone businesslike.

“Okay, I’ll go prepare,” old man Cole said before heading inside.

Soon, they both left the house.

****

“Why, Father? Why?” Liam shouted as he burst into Mr. Wilson’s room.

Mr. Wilson, who had been watching the car leave the house, wore a sad expression. He turned to face Liam, who was holding a knife. Mr. Wilson didn’t feel threatened; he merely turned his gaze away.

“Look at me!” Liam demanded, his eyes bloodshot with rage.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Mr. Wilson asked calmly.

“Give me the company assets now, or I will kill you!” Liam threatened, his voice trembling with anger.

“I’m old; death doesn’t scare me,” Mr. Wilson replied, his demeanor unshaken.

“Then I’ll kill myself in front of you!” Liam shouted, pressing the knife against his neck.

“Don’t make me laugh. Your brother suffered worse than you. He was kidnapped, and I turned a blind eye to it. Go ahead; let’s see who’s more cold-hearted,” Mr. Wilson said, his gaze icy.

“You are… you are a demon!” Liam exclaimed, wide-eyed in disbelief at his father’s coldness.

“You want something, you take it,” Mr. Wilson added before leaving the room.

“You want something, you take it,” Liam repeated to himself, contemplating the hidden message in his father’s words. “If the owner doesn’t hand it to you, you take it by killing the owner,” he thought, letting out a hysterical laugh.

“Watch your back, senior brother,” Liam muttered, scratching his head frantically as a wave of pain surged through him. He fell to the floor, clutching his head and crying out in agony.

****

In a Boardroom

“There is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! The Wilson Hotel Company is offering a design contract. This is a golden opportunity for us to strengthen our position,” Michael announced to the board members, his eyes gleaming with ambition.

“Sir, but they are high-class individuals. I’m sure that once the news spreads, many other companies will have already made their move. Will they even give us a chance?” a female colleague questioned.

“That’s the problem, and that’s why we need to give it our best shot. We’ll be sending Miss Rachel as our representative,” Michael declared, but the room filled with discontented murmurs as everyone glanced at Rachel.

Though they were envious of her opportunity to elevate their ranks, many felt Rachel was still too young and inexperienced for such a significant task. She had only recently been promoted to the board, and they viewed this as favoritism.

“Young Master Michael, are you sure you’re thinking this through? Miss Rachel is new. This opportunity is once in a lifetime. Giving it to someone inexperienced could backfire on the company,” Mr. Collins voiced, and the others nodded in agreement.

Rachel’s expression soured at the criticism, and she shot Michael a displeased look. Understanding her frustration, Michael’s face hardened.

“Are you trying to say I’m stupid?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

“No… that’s not what I meant,” Mr. Collins quickly backtracked, panic rising in his chest.

“You’re wishing the company bad luck and badmouthing a colleague. You’re fired, effective immediately,” Michael said harshly.

“What?” Mr. Collins exclaimed, confusion etched on his face. He hadn’t meant any offense.

“You can excuse yourself now,” Michael said coldly.

The board members fell silent, their thoughts and dissatisfaction unspoken as no one wanted to risk their own jobs. For Mr. Collins, finding another high-paying job at his age would be nearly impossible. He left the meeting room with a heavy heart, regretting ever speaking up.

“Anyone else with a different opinion?” Michael asked, scanning the room.

“No, Young Master,” they replied, their voices trembling.

“Good. It’s settled then. Miss Rachel will head there by noon today. Prepare her samples of our finest and highest-quality paintings and designs,” Michael instructed.

“Yes, Young Master,” they responded in unison.

Rachel beamed with excitement; this was what she had always wanted—power and influence. Being associated with Michael was proving to be the right choice.

****

Back at Alex’s Office

“What news do you have for me?” Alex asked Mr. Matthew as he entered the office.

“I’ve arranged the plans regarding the renovations. Many companies have sent their representatives, and more are still coming. Would you like to take a look?” Mr. Matthew inquired.

“Sure, let me see,” Alex replied.

Mr. Matthew handed over the documents, and Alex began reviewing the various designs. Most didn’t align with his taste.

“Whose is this one?” Alex asked, pointing to a particular design.

“That’s from Luminary Studio. Miss Rachel is their representative, and she’ll be coming in this noon. Do you like it?” Mr. Matthew asked.

“Luminary Studio!” Alex repeated, squeezing the words out with a hint of agitation.

Sensing something was amiss, Mr. Matthew quickly added, “Should I cancel the interview?”

“No, let her come. Offer her the contract, then terminate it before we sign,” Alex instructed, his gaze intense.

Mr. Matthew was momentarily dumbfounded. What did he mean by offering a contract only to terminate it? “Is this some kind of emotional joke?” he thought inwardly.

“As you wish, Young Master,” Mr. Matthew replied, bowing slightly.

“Select other options for me to consider apart from this one, but make sure you attend to her personally,” Alex added.

“I understand, sir,” Mr. Matthew said, sensing the tension in the air. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this situation than met the eye.

“But who is this woman named Rachel? She seems to be a target for the boss,” Mr. Matthew pondered silently.

“You can leave now,” Alex said, dismissing him with a wave of his hand. “But master, don’t you think announcing that would put him in danger?” old man Cole asked with a concerned look.