Chapter 300
Blandon looked at Lydia, his expression one of confusion. “What good news? Did Bryan meet his end?”
“Not that good,” Lydia replied. “However, tonight Jacob threw a party. Bryan attended and ran into Eileen. He almost choked her; then he mingled with a rowdy crowd and indulged in drinks and smokes. Jacob was worried about him, so he shut down the party early and sent Bryan back to the hospital.”
Lydia considered the implications, realizing that Bryan had truly fallen hard for Eileen.
After a brief pause, Brandon smirked. “What a fool, destroying himself over a woman.”
“That’s accurate, yet… we must remain vigilant. I’ll take care of Zola. You need to prepare a contract for Bryan, similar to when you transferred half of your shares to him. Incorporate certain terms… so that even if we face defeat later, the contract will become invalid,” Lydia said.
Lydia and Brandon plotted with precision, directing their schemes against Bryan.
The following morning, Lydia met with Zola, laying a contract before her.
“I’m aware that you’re fond of Bryan and wish to marry him, but unless you secure genuine power over him, he won’t consider marrying you,” Lydia said.
Caught off guard, Zola strove to maintain her composure. “Whether I marry Bryan or not, I’m loyal to you. I’ll do whatever is necessary.”
Though Lydia heard her words, she remained skeptical.
“That would be for the best. Here’s the deal. If you manage to secure Apex Group and deliver it safely to Travis, we’ll ensure your marriage to Bryan,” Lydia said. “Once you take control of Apex Group, Bryan might just realize his mistake and come back to you on his own. With the way things stand between you two now, it seems impossible for him to marry you.”
Zola was well aware of the altercation between Bryan and Eileen the previous evening at the club. She believed Bryan still harbored feelings for Eileen, yet his resentment was overshadowing his love. His recent descent in behavior was temporary, and she would eventually show him that she was the one who truly stood by him.
After wrestling with her thoughts last night, Zola resolved that she would take over Apex Group at any cost. Once Bryan returned to his better senses, she would reach her objective.
“Alright, I’ll sign it,” Zola declared. She scrutinized the document, found it sound, and signed it without hesitation.
“Taking a position at Apex Group won’t be simple. Aren’t you on good terms with Kian? The Warren family has connections with Apex Group; maybe he could lend you a hand,” Lydia said.
After Zola signed the document, Lydia started advising her on strategies to quickly establish her presence at Apex Group.
Within three days, Bryan and Brandon had formalized their agreement, signing it before the entire board of shareholders.
Bryan had personally attended the signing at Apex Group, looking noticeably gaunt. The shareholders’ most recent memory of him was from photographs at a wealthy playboy’s yacht party, coupled with rumors of his wild conduct. Signing the agreement brought a new restraint to his demeanor; he began showing up at the company daily, yet it was more a formality than a commitment. The responsibility for several major projects was transferred to Zola. At Lydia’s urging, Zola turned to Kian for assistance.
Two months flew by.
Eileen vanished from the public spotlight, gradually fading from everyone’s memory. During the family’s shareholders’ meeting, Julio leveraged his substantial shareholding to overpower Kaysen and ascended to the presidency of Fregusan Group. Eileen was his strongest supporter.
With the presidency secured, Julio ousted Kaysen from the company and removed his loyal senior staff, ushering in a sweeping reorganization. The role of general manager was left unoccupied, reserved for Eileen.
Now five months into her pregnancy, Eileen avoided public appearances. Julio decided to leave the position for Eileen after she gave birth. Late one night, after addressing the internal conflicts within Fregusan Group, Julio and Eileen convened a video conference.
Despite her pregnancy, Eileen looked radiant and had not put on much weight. Dressed in winter attire, her condition was hardly discernible. As they sifted through business data, she laid out her thoughts to Julio.
“You’ve secured the presidency, yet the seat remains shaky. Your less-than-ethical approach to acquiring these shares means you’ll now encounter numerous adversaries. It’s crucial to secure significant projects to assert your authority and ward off potential challenges.”
Julio nodded, absorbing her advice. “I’m aware. That’s precisely why I’m scouting for opportunities that Fregusan Group could capitalize on. Do you have any recommendations?”
Given the current predicament of Fregusan Group, collaboration was unlikely unless they adopted a proactive and assertive approach.
“Apex Group,” Eileen said, pausing to let the words linger. “Fregusan Group and Apex Group are destined rivals. If you manage to take over Apex Group’s projects and bring them to fruition successfully, Fregusan Group’s position will be cemented.”
Such a move would not only stabilize their internal workforce but also showcase Fregusan Group’s prowess to external observers.
“Are you sure?” Julio’s surprise was evident when Eileen mentioned Apex Group. He hadn’t expected her to consider that company.
Eileen lowered her gaze, masking her true feelings. After a brief pause, her lips curled into a slight smile. “What is the matter? Are you scared?”
“Absolutely not,” Julio replied instantly, his confidence unwavering. “Currently, Zola heads Apex Group with Brandon’s support, but they pose no real threat. Had it still been Bryan at the helm, I might have had reservations.”
“That’s why I’m directing you to focus on Apex Group.”
Eileen explained, reflecting on her strategy. “The Warren family as well. Seize any projects you can; lure away any talent possible. You’re halfway there, but truly elevating Fregusan Group in the business world hinges on your ability to be both ruthless and skilled.”
The icy screen was the only barrier between them as their gazes locked. A lengthy silence lingered until Julio broke into a smile. “Eileen, you’re truly a treasure. I couldn’t have made it this far without you.”
Eileen’s reply was cool and measured. “Let’s skip the emotional speeches. We’re both getting what we came for.”
Suddenly, Julio’s tone shifted. “Do you hate Bryan? Is that why you’re siding with me? Sure, safeguarding the child is part of it, but your hatred for him… that’s pushing you to go after Apex Group, right?”
Eileen’s hands tightened slightly, a subtle sign of tension. She dodged the question smoothly. “Apex Group is our best bet.”
Julio agreed with her. He accepted her evasion, opting to switch topics. “Apex Group has its sights set on land in the south suburbs. They’re looking to hammer out a deal with the government…”
While business and politics seldom intersected, when they did, the stakes were high, and the rewards were substantial. This was a major project for Apex Group, one they had been setting up for months, poised with confidence to clinch it.
“Find out who in the government is working on this. Zola and Kian are pushing forward based on Bryan’s initial blueprint, but with the leadership shake-up, they might overlook some details, leaving vulnerabilities,” Eileen said.
After a moment of contemplation, Eileen recalled a connection. “You know Benjamin Nash, Bryan’s assistant, right? Maybe you should contact him.”
The reason for reaching out to Benjamin was evident—poach Benjamin, employing tactics that were anything but clean. For Julio, playing dirty wasn’t just an option, it was a necessity to avoid defeat.
“I’ll take care of it, but I need you to write up a project proposal,” Julio stated, his voice reflecting his current overload of tasks and his lack of faith in his team’s reliability. Besides, he was certain that any proposal lacking Eileen’s input would be inferior.
Eileen nodded in agreement. After exchanging a few more words, they concluded their video call. Rising from her chair, Eileen moved over to the bed and sat down, her gaze settling on her barely noticeable baby bump.
Despite assurances from regular medical check-ups that the baby was progressing well, Eileen occasionally harbored concerns about its seemingly small size. Yet, the constant reassurances from her doctors did little to alleviate the worries of Bailee and Ruby, who diligently monitored her nutrition.
As dinner time neared, Eileen headed to the apartment across the hall. Bailee and Ruby, engrossed in their kitchen chores and conversation, didn’t notice her.
“Why did Eileen fall out with Bryan?” Ruby questioned with a sigh, her tone laced with concern.
“There’s constant about Bryan. They say the rising star in the business world has crashed. Could it be because of Bailee?” gently stirring the pot, she shook her head. “I’m not sure. She’s kept it to herself.”
Ruby, wiping a spill on the stove, said, “Even though Eileen seems okay, she’s been smiling less and staying indoors more since their fallout. The doctor emphasized she needs more exercise to avoid complications during delivery.”
Pausing, she glanced at Bailee and suggested, “Tomorrow’s the weekend, and it’s your day off, right? Let’s take Eileen out for a walk to the nearby supermarket. It’s unlikely we’ll run into anyone familiar there.”
“Alright,” Bailee agreed, but then sighed heavily. “They’re both so unhappy. Why did they end things?”
Ruby spun around, only to freeze at the sight of Eileen standing in the dining area. She swiftly nudged Bailee.
“Eileen, are you ready to eat? The soup’s almost done, and dinner will be on the table shortly,” Ruby said.
Eileen mustered a smile as if she hadn’t heard anything and started to approach the kitchen when Ruby quickly steered her back.
“Being in the kitchen isn’t great for you right now, not with all these cooking fumes. Why don’t you relax here? Tomorrow, Bailee and I will take you shopping. We’ll pick up anything you fancy to make sure you’re eating well.”
Despite wanting to object to the continuous small talk, Eileen nodded in agreement. She thought a brief visit to the nearby underground supermarket would be uneventful, unlikely to bring her into contact with anyone familiar.
However, the moment they stepped into the supermarket, even before beginning their shopping, they encountered Bryan. He was in the produce section, chilling in the cool draft from the fridges, his intense gaze landing on Eileen. Eileen was dressed in an oversized black down jacket that hid her figure, revealing only her slender calves and her now thinner face.
Bryan was holding her preferred type of seafood, his cart already laden with her favorite items. He added the seafood to his cart and began pushing it her way.
.