Ch-2 : Mayor's connection

Lady Holmes turned towards the stage, where the CEO was concluding his welcome speech. A hush fell over the entire hall as the old lady made her way to the podium, dressed in a Chanel tweed suit.

"Good afternoon, to one and all present here. I am honored that you took out the time to attend this gala, and I extend my sincere greetings to you.

As you all know, we are gathered here to know about the future Managing Director of the Blue Mountains Group.

But before that, I have another important announcement to make.

I must admit it's heartbreaking to announce the reality, but the truth is, the Blue Mountains Group is in heavy loss.

And with a heavy heart, I have to accept that our company's future seems quite dark. Owing to my poor health and the resulting mismanagement this past year, the company profits have declined steadily resulting in only one thing, constant losses!"

She sighed before continuing;

"Therefore, I have decided that the candidate who will be able to save the company and cover the damages while minimizing the losses, will be the future Managing Director of the company.

This is a fitting chance for both of my grandchildren, Andrew and Cassie, to show their capabilities."

This was not the announcement that everyone was expecting, and the company staff and board members, as well as the guests were at a loss for words. Mayor Ackerman was the first one to approach the candidates.

Shaking hands with Cassie, he said, "I wish you the very best. I hope the deserving candidate shall prove their worth. I will take my leave now, as it is getting quite late."

As soon as Andrew saw that the mayor was greeting his sister, he jumped in front of him with his own hand extended forward.

Although he was rather disappointed after hearing the announcement, he spoke up as his self- assured smirk returned;

"Thank you so much for your support, Mr. Ackerman."

Shaking his hand, the mayor said, "Of course, Mr. Holmes, I wish you the best of luck in this future endeavor."

Mark resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the lack of manners, and respectfully gestured for the Mayor to move towards the door as he escorted him outside.

Once they were alone and the sounds of the party had dulled to some extent, Mr. Ackerman said, placing a hand on Mark's shoulder.

"Don't you think it is time for you to reveal your secret?"

The mayor’s words left Mark thinking deeply for a few seconds. The conflict of selecting the right time and revealing the truth in front of everyone made him a little tense.

Which is why neither of them noticed Andrew leaving the party and following them to the top of the stairs until he was within hearing distance.

Although he might not have heard the words exchanged between them, the sight of them talking secretively was enough to ignite his suspicion.

As soon as the mayor had walked towards his car, he walked up and addressed Mark directly;

“How did such a low class man meet the Mayor of Clovelly? How do you know him?”

With a dry smile on his face, Mark responded,

“Have you forgotten? Of course I went to deliver food there, as usual, and this is how Mr. Ackerman knows me.”

Andrew let out a mocking chuckle, before commenting,

"Oh, really! When you are saying that you know him, then why didn't you beg him for some funds for our company- after all, our company is in loss!

Anyways, you have always been useless to my family, so this was the time you could shine by begging alms and doing a favor to your wife."

Tilting his head to the side, Mark spoke out quickly and clearly,

“I can't dare to ask him that! After all, I am just a delivery boy, remember! not his friend!

And as for your earlier hypothesis, I am afraid that I’ll have to tell you, coming to the party together was nothing more than a coincidence. I came here on my bike, and the mayor in his car, as you can see.”

Before Andrew could think of some way to dissect this reasoning, the mayor was back with a tray of gifts in his hands.

“These are just some gifts I had brought for the family. Please give my regards to Lady Holmes- goodbye, and good day!"

Mark accepted the gracious gifts with a smile and a thank you. After the tail lights of the mayor's car had disappeared from view, Andrew and Mark turned around to go back into the house.

While Mark went straight inside, Andrew spotted a waiter near the doorway and picked up a glass of liquor from the tray he was carrying.

Mark saw Cassie standing by her grandmother and crossed the room quickly, since most of the guests had already left. Although she looked calm on the surface, her eyes revealed her conflicted feelings.

Sensing her dilemma, he held her hand and led her a few feet away from everyone else, to ask her what was wrong.

But she herself took the chance to speak and asked him in a low voice, so that nobody apart from the two of them hear;

"Why were you late to the party? You knew how important this was, you should have just taken a leave today-"

Her question and his pending explanation was interrupted by the storming arrival of Andrew, who walked up to his grandmother, marching like an angry bull.

His appearance had also gotten completely disheveled; his navy blue tuxedo jacket was now open at the front, and even the first few buttons of his shirt had come undone, as the loosened tie hung lopsided. His face was red, his eyes were bloodshot, and his previously prim and proper hair had gotten ruffled. It was sticking out from various places, actually looking like he had grown a set of horns on his head.

Seeing that the hall was almost empty apart from the staff, he demanded,

"Grandma! May I ask you why you didn't declare me as the Managing Director of the Group? After all, I am the eldest son of the Holmes family!"

Mariella opened her mouth with an cryptic smile on her face,

"That may be one of the factors in a decision like this, but it can't be the only qualifying criterion, dear.

I am a firm believer in gender equality, which is why both of you will get an equal chance to prove whether or not you are fit for a leadership role."

Before Andrew could protest, Cassie stepped into the conversation;

"Brother! You must not disrespect grandma's decision like this.

You shouldn't be scared of challenges in life; instead, you should be willing to face them."

Her words felt like a slap across Andrew's face, and he retorted;

"I don't think you are in any position to advise me, dear sister!

Rather, you should look at your own state, do you honestly think you can convince Mr. Clarke to give you some funds for our company?"

And then he continued in a condescending tone,

"But I'm sure my poor sister can't even get a ten minutes' appointment with the richest and most successful businessman of our country.

And just like you, your low- class husband is also good for nothing!"

Although he hadn't said a single word so far, Mark's entire body was radiating a dark aura as he took one step towards Andrew and growled out his warning through gritted teeth;

"Don't you dare talk to my wife in this manner!"

In return, his warning was met with a fit of mocking laughter from Andrew.

"Oh really! You think you can tell me what to do and what not?

If you really think so, then prove it!

And if you imagine yourself to be so high and mighty as you like to pretend, then why don't you help out your beloved wife, huh?

Just go and try to get the company funds from somewhere, maybe by asking one of your affluent friends?

So just do something first and then talk to me, probably then I will listen to you-"

With a guffaw, he dropped his own sentence in the middle and started again;

"Oh wait, I forgot - you don't have any influential connections!

I know as well as you do, that you can't actually do anything- and that's why you should shut up.

And Cassie! My dear sister, it would be best if you teach him some manners along with the fact that he should keep his mouth zipped up in our family matters!"