Chapter 11: Katie's Predicament

"Come on, was that really worth losing her temper over?" Still, because of their agreement, Wesley stepped out of the bedroom and came downstairs to the living room. After a while, Katie came downstairs, her cheeks flushed. "Let's go. I'll take you to pick out a car." She led Wesley through the villa to the parking lot out back. He stopped in his tracks. Four or five luxury cars gleamed under the lights, and even the least expensive had cost tens of thousands of dollars. There was a Mercedes Benz, a Maserati, a Porsche, and even a Ferrari. None of them belonged to Katie. Suitors had given her these cars as gifts on birthdays and holidays, trying to win her over, but she'd never driven them. Her own Maserati had cost just over a hundred thousand dollars. "Pick anyone you like to drive," Katie said, pointing at the lineup. Wesley took in the choices. Wanting to keep a low profile and knowing his life was about to change, he decided it was best to have a reliable set of wheels. He chose a relatively modest BMW 5 Series. "At least you're being sensible." Katie tossed him the keys. They landed in his palm.  "If that's settled, go pack up and move in." Wesley caught the keys, pressed the fob to unlock the car, slipped into the driver's seat, and started the engine. The BMW roared to life.  With a smooth fishtail, it shot out of the gates like a bat out of hell. "Wait, I just remembered he doesn't even have a license!" Katie stomped her foot, realizing her irritation had made her forget all about that. So focused on getting him a car, she had forgotten about the license issue. "I hope he doesn't get into trouble," she muttered, walking back toward the living room doors. Milina, the Palmanovan housekeeper, came over. "Miss, did you know? Mr. Wesley speaks Palmanovan!" She said it in Corvainan. These housekeepers were college-educated and trained in different languages. "He can speak Palmanovan?" Katie was startled. Only now did she realize that what Wesley chatted with Milina outside earlier hadn't been Epean, but Palmanovan. She had been too far away to catch it. ... Back in the slum, Wesley threw a few belongings into a small suitcase. There wasn't much to pack-just the essentials. Finally, he slid a dagger under a loose brick in the wall and pried it free. From the hollow inside, he took out a crimson stone with a strange, alluring sheen. He tucked it carefully in the pocket, grabbed his small suitcase, and stepped out the door. "Wesley!" He had barely crossed the courtyard when someone called out. He turned and saw Tiffany. "Wesley, where are you going?" she asked, eyes pleading as she hurried over. "Tiffany, I'm married now," Wesley said plainly. "I'm moving in with my wife." The color drained from Tiffany's face. She froze where she stood. "Work hard, Tiffany. If you need anything, call me," Wesley said, giving her shoulder a gentle pat. He considered saying more, but let it go, climbed into the car, started it, and drove away. "Wesley!" She ran after the car for a few steps, then stopped, unable to hold herself together. Tears streamed down her cheeks. The Norman residence... When the oldest uncle, Dawson Norman, heard that Katie had gotten married to a delivery guy, he was furious. "What's wrong with you, Katie? What's so bad about Cayden Morton? You married the most useless delivery guy. How are you going to face the family? I'm telling you, the only reason the family kept you on as CEO was to pave the way for a marriage alliance between the Norman family and the Morton family. That was your grandfather's wish. And you went and married a delivery guy. How does that make our family look?" With Katie's grandfather, Omar Norman, gravely ill, Dawson took over as the family head and felt entitled to lay down the law. "I never said I'd marry Cayden Morton," Katie shot back. "And who I marry has nothing to do with my position as CEO." She had graduated from the University of Cambridge with dual master's degrees in management and economics. She believed she had earned the CEO seat on merit. Besides, she had heard all the gossip about Cayden Morton and his affairs with celebrities and models until her ears went numb. Proud as she was, there was no way she'd marry a man like that. She had gone to the bar because her family pushed her to wed Cayden. Depressed, she tried to drink her troubles away. With no real experience in bars, she got drugged. Wesley, who had also been drunk, pulled her out of it. For that, she felt some gratitude. Better him than waking up preyed on by the scum who spiked her drink. Yet, by a twist of fate, she had given her first time to a delivery guy—something she'd never imagined. The family's company, Pearl Group, specialized in medicinal herbs and medical supplies. Under her leadership, it took off and grew into a full-fledged group. It wasn't top tier, but it held assets of two to three hundred million dollars. And now the family wanted to strip her of the CEO role. She wasn't about to accept the outcome. "You really think it's all your own ability?" Dawson sneered. "I told you, the family kept you on as CEO to pave the way for a marriage alliance between the Norman family and the Morton family. Don't forget, the company only got here thanks to the family backing you all the way. If you're that capable, why haven't you collected the one million dollars Thalvara Trading Corporation owes us for equipment?" Katie had no answer for that.  A million wasn't much for the company, but Dawson's mention of it showed where this was going. Seeing her silent, Dawson pressed his advantage. "Don't blame me for being tough. I'll give you a chance. Bring that money back, and you can stay on as CEO. If you're unable to do so, then as the family head, I'll have to step in and remove you. Please don't blame me. It's your lack of ability." "I…" Katie faltered. The company had attempted to collect this debt multiple times, to no avail. Who was Thalvara Trading Corporation? They wore the mask of a trading company but ran gray-market rackets, muscling people into strong-arm deals. That was why they had ordered a batch of medical equipment and first-aid supplies, including gauze, bandages, and other essential items. Every time the company sent someone to collect the debt, the representative was physically assaulted and thrown out. The man behind it, Dustin, had a big name in the underworld. The Norman family had no leverage over him. What could Katie do? Precisely because it was so difficult, Dawson had set it up to make her fail. He wanted an excuse to take her title. Katie had fought her way up in ability. She'd poured too much of herself into this company to give it up, and she was proud.  To be stripped of over a mere million dollars would be humiliating. She refused to yield. "Fine. I accept. I'll get that one million back. If I fail, I'll resign on my own," she said at last, her jaw set.