Chapter 11 Honeymoon From Afar
Livy
The flight here was rather too quiet. I mean, if he never wanted to come he shouldn't have brought it up in the first place. I'm quite certain I never gave him an impression that I wanted a honey moon experience.
And here I was thinking that just maybe he and I were slowly becoming friends, but since he returned from the office, he has been so much more withdrawn and unnecessarily occupied than usual.
Did I do something wrong again? If it continues like these, I don't think Heather's plans would work at all. I think i'ld rather just stay clear than to get in his way and irritate him.
Heather and I had gone to get our hair done at this new place called 'Hair Culture', but they were having their Grand Opening party so they invited a fortune teller.
Maybe, I was an easy target but her words keep ringing in my ear, now I can't think of anything else.
"You have a bright fortune, but for some reason there is this darkness surrounding you, trying to sap your happiness. It's everywhere and it would be your bane. I see 2 who desires you but their stubbornness could destroy you if you don't take a stand and hold the fort. Look! Right here! He is very head strong, but a strong woman can set him straight. Him, he picks on people's weaknesses and uses it against them, that's what will makes him great but it will also destroy him if left to his vices. Him! If you stay, will torture you daily because he sees another in your place and in his heart. But if you leave, you lose him forever, so either way you lose until you win, while he'll win until he loses. Such a fortune, though bright, but quite a handful. You have become the main project; the goal that destroys them and the glue that would bid them. It won't be easy for they will push you off the cliffs, but if you let courage rise in danger, you would gain peace. Are you in love?" she had asked suddenly, bringing me back to reality.
I nodded slowly, "then follow that love always, even if it rejects you don't run away, stay there and demand for you right. Your fortune is one of strive and struggle, so you need to build up your confidence and strength. If your love would be yours, you have to be strong". 'I have to be strong', everyone keeps saying that.
But why should I be the strong one? I was once strong, brave and flew so high I felt no one could touch me.
Until, I fell and got hurt. It was much more than anything I have ever felt. I shattered into a million pieces, and that's how I knew just how fragile I really was.
Why continue to pretend to be what I'm not? Why do I have to work so hard to get 'my husband's' attention and love. Can't I just be loved without forcing anyone into it?
All my life, I've always felt like I had to work for everything, so just this once... this once I wished I don't have to work so hard to be loved. Is it even love if it's forced?
I looked through the window, it was dark outside so my reflection stared back. Unknowingly, I was crying with soft sobs as I looked by my side to see a comfortable sleeping Markian.
What more do I have to lose? Maybe...just maybe if I keep moving forward, slowly but surely I might get to where he is, even if I risk loosing myself along the way.
He became my world the moment I said 'I do', so I really can't go back, I have to keep going on.
I can't help but envying the dead right now, Sophy was in this position after all, so making a place for myself is sure to be challenging than I thought.
But if I try to be strong once again, forgetting the pain of the past, maybe the future might be bright for me as the fortune teller said. Markian
I have been busy since we arrived at the hotel at 10:25pm.
I had already exhausted myself planning the move to the mansion Judy gifted her daughter, so I took some time on the flight to nap a bit.
I'll be pretty busy for the next 2 weeks so I needed to start.
I had searched and pulled out old projects that were kicked under the curbs due to better deals coming up at that time. I packed them all up and came with it on our trip.
Other recent businesses that didn't involve personal meetings at the office for all of next month, I also pushed forward the date and came with all of them.
Keeping busy is my sole purpose on this trip, so whatever plans my 'wife' and her mother has in store, I intend on making them fail so much so they understand who they are trying to mess with.
Honestly, the truth is that I'm not sure how long I'll last, but I plan to last longer than they intended. Staying away from Livy for the past few days have been a miracle, and I hope she haven't figured out the effect she has on me.
I would be a fool to lie to my self and say that ever since I married her, I've not been doubting myself a lot.
The attraction I felt towards her now is even more intense than I did before, and if care isn't taken, I would really fall prey to their plans. Because currently, it's getting harder for me to look straight at her.
She reminds me so much of Sophy and I can't bring myself sometimes to push her away.
Like last night, I could feel my heart beating so fast and sleep was far from my weak eyes, but I still couldn't push her away.
I was wanting more of her closeness, like a drug I've missed for a while and recently just had a taste of and now I can't let go.
I must be missing Sophy so much I'm willing to replace her with her twin.
I feel nauseous even thinking about it, but if it ends up that way then I really am a traitor and not just Livy.
2 weeks alone with this cunning woman would be the worst trial of my life, but I can't lose, I won't.
No matter how much she reminds me of 'my Sophy', I can't let myself get close to her.
Daniel
"The Carribeans? To do what?" I asked in surprise at this sudden news. I didn't know Markian was planning to go on a trip or any trip on that matter with Livy, he didn't mention anything to me. "For their honeymoon. Why? Do you want to join them? Tsk tsk...They are a married couple now so it's only natural for them, don't you think?"
Heather replied in a sarcastic tone making my blood boil even more and she knew it. She is trying to insinuate something and it made me clench fists so tight I might have bruised my palm.
"Why, why!...why would he take her on a honeymoon for a marriage he regards as a joke? And why on earth did you encourage her to go?" I snared angrily.
"Why did I? Because Livy wants to try and win her husband's love as his wife. She loves him you know, before they even got married, while he was still married to her twin sister. That is the kind of woman she is, she have been in love with him for a while now when she didn't even think she had a future with him. So, what do you think she would do now she has him? Not to mention, aren't you tired of having all the women you love fall for your cousin?" Heather questioned suspiciously inspecting her neatly polished nails.
What was she up to now? What does she want from telling me all these? It can't be true, could it? Is Livy in love with Markian?
As I mentally questioned myself, I recalled how distressed she looked when she begged me to let her go to the courthouse and get married to Markian.
"Hmm... True, it really is tiresome loving women who end up loving Markian. I want it to stop" I said, as I saw a slow smile creep up her lips.
"Which is why I'll make sure Livy is the last woman who does that to me, by making her mine." and just like the smile came it was swiped off her face by my confession.
"She is your cousin's wife, how do you want to make her yours?! Can't you find someone else, or have you gone mad?" she questioned looking puzzled.
"To you it's madness, but to me it's love. I'm really sick and tired of Markian getting everything I should have. So I've decided to fight back, and getting one thing out of it, and that is Livy. Up until now, I've been neglected and never being compared to Markian at all, maybe because I'm not seen as a worthy competitor. But not anymore, I'm getting everything I deserve back from him, and I'll become a worthy opponent to him" I spoke confidently and boldly.
"What do you mean, 'you'll get everything back from him"?" Heather questioned strictly.
"My prestige, my respect as the heir of Castlehill Shanghai group, and my love. Everything I had, I'll take them all back." I answered honestly.
"So you are going to wage a war with everyone including your family?" She questioned again. I'm guessing to ascertain if I understood the reality of my claims.
"If they try to obstruct me from getting back what is mine, then yes. I'll not hesitate to push them aside." I affirmed.
"Well well, 'little Danny', I guess you've made up your mind to fight everyone including me. Anyway, I still have a lot to do, so i'ld appreciate it if you leave." she ordered rudely.
My sister have always been known for her lack of tolerance, so whenever she refers to me as 'little Danny' it's more like a belittlement or an acceptance of challenge.
It's no lie that I have to fight my family, especially her if I want to be named CEO of Castlehill Shanghai Group.
She has handled the position so well for 6 years now and does have plenty of allies, but it's also not a secret that many people still consider her incompetent to an extent as she is just a woman.
And honestly at this point I don't care anymore and I'm willing to use anything and everything, including everyone's weakness against them if it means I will attain my goal. That is the Winfrey's way, after all. All is fair in love and war, they say.
Livy
I stared in bewilderment at the night wears packed for me. Heather went all out, from baby dolls, to satin robeties and even playsuits.
There was no way I was going to wear any of these and sleep beside Markian, he might get upset and decides to get a separate room. There is really no telling what he might do.
I sat down on the bed exasperated at mine and Heather's super plan that seemed easier said than done.
Since we got checked into our hotel suite, Markian has not gotten off his phone.
Forget about seducing this man, if he's too busy to even look at me, how on earth would I even have a chance at succeeding.
But to think that I used to dream of this day, when Markian would be by my side as my life partner, we would go on our honeymoon and have a wonderful time.
This was still very far from my dreams, and without mistaking, I'ld prefer my dreams over this reality now.
I took my bath and felt a little tingle below my abdomen as I washed off the jet lag and fatigue. I realised I haven't eaten at all since noon, maybe I was getting hungry but it's already late.
I still wore my travel clothes even though they were so uncomfortable to sleep in, but I had zero confidence in myself and even though it was his idea that we come here, I should also try to make it less uncomfortable for him.
A grabbed the extra blanket and as I laid on the couch, I placed it over my body. It didn't take long for the fatigue to take over and I was asleep faster than I could think.
Daniel
An official visit to Luthel Ind's Chairperson should be an honor, but unfortunately she doesn't seem pleased to see me.
I've heard of the kind of woman she was and honestly while growing up, she was the exact example of an affluent ambitious business woman we were taught.
She was strict, thorough and direct, but people like her don't get to were they are right now without soiling their hands one way or the other.
The last time Mrs. Luthel and I had had a meeting, it was to buy my silence concerning a deep secret that runs so deep and wild in this region that it has her name and other powerful affluent names all over it too.
I did promise i'ld never use that trump card, but seems i have to go back on my word since i need to use what i have to get what I want. So it's only natural she isn't pleased to see me.
"Mr. Winfrey how may I help you?" she asked very direct.
"Wow, you are what I've heard all along. They say you can be very intimidating and blunt, I'm certainly nervous just to how straightforward you are being ma'am." I paused to understand her expression, but there was none.
She wasn't phased at the slightest, but her patience seemed to be running out very fast though.
"Fine. I get it, you're not a woman of many words, so I'll just continue. I want the Hongkong contract, you know. The one meant to come in this month, yea, my Shanghai group wants to handle it and for that reason I'm here today to see you." I spoke nonchalantly. Slowly, I was becoming rase but it didn't matter to me at all. I have to be worst things if I'm to be given the same reverence and fear as Markian.
She looked at me in awe, bewildered as to maybe how I found out about the contract or to what guts I had to tell her what to do.
"Are you sure you want to do these?" she asked, taking me aback.
I wondered briefly as to what exactly was she asking? But anything it was, I was ready, so I nodded playfully.
"I see. Well, the Hongkong contract is already in the hands of the President of Castlehill Groups. If you want it, you have to ask him for it yourself. I'm sorry, but you came a little bit too late" Judy replied with a smirk.
I'm not stupid enough to confront Markian, at least not yet. But if she thinks that I came here without a single clue as to what was going down, then she would be shocked after all.
I knew the contract has been promise to Markian, which was why I wanted it.
If I can snatch such a huge deal at the first stretch, I could land a serious major first blow on Markian's pride and ego. That alone was sure to skyrocket my name in the major market industry.
My plan was simple; beat Markian in this game, make a brand-name and have my dream woman.
All the women in my life in the past and present have always chosen Markian over me because, he was always the 'heir to Castlehill'.
Even my own sister is now siding with him too and driving the woman I love into his arms. So, mere crushing him isn't going to be a enough for me.
I also want to take everything that makes him Markian away too, and when that happens, everyone including Livy would finally see him for who he really was, a phony.
"Now now, you are well respected even by me, so you really don't have to lie just because you don't want to get into trouble. Mrs. Luthel I know you haven't given the contract to him yet because it haven't even been sent yet." I smirked knowing how effective my words were.
"And if it's to be sent, it would naturally fall on you to choose whom to give it to. So I want you at the very last minute, to give it to me." At my request, I saw a slight distortion in her face.
Well, I'll be damned. The great and mighty Judy Luthel hates been given orders. Really? Her outburst was scary but also kinda expected.
"And why on earth would I do that? What are you to give me orders, telling me what to do or what not? Who the hell do you think you are?".
I couldn't help but get all defensive. It was very easy getting her all reeled up and feisty.
It gave me great sense of satisfaction, seeing her mad, and to know that I was capable of doing that to her made me bolder.
"I'm Daniel Tion Winfrey, son of Mr. Tion Winfrey President of Castlehill shanghai group, heir to that Shanghai group and soon to be successor of Castlehill Groups. I'm not much but, when you think about it, I know some secrets you know you don't want getting out. Smirk....so now, I hope you fully understand just what and who exactly I am, also why you would do as I have just said?"☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐