Chapter eight

Richard, now seated comfortably in his large, aesthetically pleasing and bright office, haven forgotten about his earlier ordeal with Durrel Stance and the unpleasantness he had caused him, reprimanded his secretary for the delay in the bidding announcement. “Giovanni, I expect the winner of the bidding exercise to be announced by now and, as per my instruction, should be accorded to my wife.”

“If I may, sir, I analyzed the pros and cons of placing sentiments in this exercise and blindly selecting a winner.” She spoke with so much confidence, her words contradicted his orders, but she waited for her to hit the nail on the head. “So?” Richard urged her to continue.

“The company's growth, development, and needs are far larger than what your wife's bid, with due respect sir, can handle. So, I kept the result on hold, hoping to discuss the issue at hand with you first on how to proceed.” Richard was a logical man that couldn't agree less with her suggestion. 

Now, the ball was in his court on how to tackle his problem. He already struck so many deals with the Devon's and failure to meet with them, would cost him his wife and unborn child. He had to proffer a solution, at the earliest, before his vile foster parents and brother, took the law into their hands.

“That will be all Giovanni. I'll inform you once my decision has been made.” His secretary placed some documents on his table before exiting out of his office. He stared at the bidding chart, the bidders all qualified and capable. This was a tough task. With a sigh, he opened the file and began analyzing each one of them.

****************************************************

Back at the house, the Devon's did not fail to keep Sierra on her feet with their incessant scolding. “I would have wiped you out of existence the moment I conceived you. Now, the family is in grave danger because of how self-centered you are.” Her mother groaned, worry lines visible on her face.

“The business is on the verge of collapse, a big loan was taken from the bank, a sum that even the company cannot procure up in two weeks. We are falling to rock bottom, Carolina.” Her dad finally spoke up. Sierra stared at the perpetrator of the crime, she knew that he knew he was the guilty party but wasn't ready to take the fall. 

Humphrey was an overzealous child who acted based on his whims and caprices, not caring about the repercussions later on. Sierra had no idea how he was able to forge her signature. Thereby putting her and the family at risk just because he wanted to expand his side of the business. 

“And there goes the white sheep of the family. We can't blame her without the inclusion of her husband. This has Richard's name boldly written on it as well. A massive loan is no big joke.” Humphrey added more fuel to the wildfire, and he did so without thinking twice. Of course, since herself and her husband were the evil of the Devon family, he saw it best to put the blame on them than to own up to his action and tell the truth.

“Oh spare me that bullshit Humphrey. We both know you are the one responsible for the financial setback in the family, not me. How dare you accuse me of something I did not do while you stand there wagging your tail like some dog with flimsy privileges.” Helen scolded at Humphrey, who always had mother's backing at all time.

“Now, don't you blame your brother for your mistakes, young lady. At least your cousins did good for themselves by getting married to affluent and notable men in the society. But, what did you do? Get married against our will to some cheap stake I bought from a two - star, low budget foster care home.” Her mother, Lady Carolina, spat out with disgust. 

Sierra's family claimed that they sunk to rock bottom following her marriage to Richard, as she was supposed to get hitched to a rich and powerful man who could help the Devon dynasty advance in the business world by mooching off him like Annabelle, and Marilyn, her cousins, had done.

“Heaven knows what your husband has been up to in the name of job seeking. I won't be surprised if he has some mistress he meets on the side.” Sierra's mother continued her vile outburst. Sierra stared at the faces of her so-called family and wondered if indeed they cared about any other thing outside money.

Her face grew red and redder with each jab, mockery laugh and disappointed head shake from her father, mother, and brother. She held it all in, saying nothing. She wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of breaking down in front of them.

“Too bad you all are hitting your heads on the wall that I got to marry the man of my choice and not some Durrell Stance. By the way, how did that go?” She retorted back, her comeback temporarily shutting her mother up.

“He is still a hundred times better than your scoundrel of a husband. Take a look at your apartment, for crying out loud. It reeks of poverty.” Her mother spoke in her defense. Sierra, ready to throw more accusations in the air, was cut short with the return of the officials.

“Sorry for keeping you all waiting, it has indeed been a long day hasn't it Ric?.” The first official asked his fellow spokesperson, who replied simultaneously “Indeed, it has”

“The announcement of the winning bidder, will be made over a Livestream in just five minutes. So hold your horses and prepare for the ride.” The first spokesperson informed those involved before a commercial filled the TV screen.

“Let's hope you're good for nothing husband, did not risk you and his unborn child for some wild guess. Because, I always keep to my words' child.” Lady Carolina threatened, to shut Sierra up completely.