"Mrs. Smith, we can't offer you such an amount of loan without your husband's approval." Mr. Leonard, the company's financial controller, said, his voice firm and determined.
Janice lowered her head and pouted her lips.
"Mr. Leonard, hope you know that we're talking about my husband's life here, right? Mr Nelson has shares worth over $100 billion in this company.
And now that he's battling with his life, do you mean to tell me that you'd rather wish him death than offer him a loan that can be compensated with his shares?" Janice asked, raising her brows in a slight frown.
Mr. Leonard remained silent.
"Oh, wait." Janice scoffed.
"You know, I've always heard rumours of how you want to take over my husband's position at the company. Is this now your plan to finally secure it? You're angry that he's gonna survive after getting a transplant, right?"
"Com'on, madam. This is emotional blackmail. And...why would I wish my boss such evil?" Leonard argued.
Janice pressed her lips and nodded.
"Don't worry. I know who to call." She added, her voice barely above a whisper and took out her phone as if she wanted to place a call.
"Madam, please wait." Leonard muttered, his voice laced with fear.
For the many years he has worked at the Smiths Enterprise, he has heard about the silent connection of Janice to the company's affairs aside from being the wife of the president. In recent times, he also heard about how two employees were retrenched immediately due to her underground influence.
"It's possible to give you the loan, but I can't endorse it on my own. I'll need the approval of a few of the board members." He said, his voice trembling in fear.
"Better be fast." Janice snapped.
What Leonard doesn't know is that before she arrived at the building , she had already texted the key board members of the company about the loan request.
***
So, tell me, how did it go? Were you able to secure the exact amount?" Dian asked as soon as Janice dashed out of the building and got into the car.
"You don't expect my mission to fail, do you?" Janice chuckled softly, and they both bursted out into rounds of laughter, but Dian suddenly went mute, her eyes fixed on Janice as if she's looking for something missing.
"Any problem?" Janice asked, furrowing her brows as she placed her hands on Dian's cheeks to feel her temperature.
"Janice. What if....what if you get caught after all of this? What if that deadly Virginia comes looking for you?" Dian asked, her voice trembling in fear.
"There's nothing she can do about that. Besides, I didn't steal." Janice replied, her voice indifferent.
"Huh? Like seriously, Janice? I'm afraid for your life but look how confident you are as if nothing's wrong?" Dian bursted out.
"First, I only got this money because it's my entitlement for the wasted years. I would have made more than this if I were still in California pursuing my career, so I need it to get back on my feet. After all, they have no history of my family, so I'm leaving for California immediately to rebuild my life."
By the way, it's only those that have money that can win a fight, right? So, where will the Smiths get the money to fight me? Except if they're ready to go completely bankrupt." She added.
"That reminds me." She paused and pulled out her phone to place a call.
"Hello Mr. Romero. I need you to prepare divorce papers for me and Nelson as soon as possible. I'll text you an address where we can meet up and you'll give me the papers. And for that, I also want to let you know that from this minute, I am nullifying everything concerning my previous will." She instructed and hung up the call.
"Janice," Dian wanted to speak when Janice's phone suddenly started to ring again.
When she looked at the caller ID, she hissed bitterly and returned the phone to her bag.
It was Virginia Smith, her mother in-law.
But the call persisted for almost an hour. This time around, more than a hundred missed calls from her in-laws and husband's friends.
"Janice, I swear to God, you'll live to regret ditching my son on that hospital bed for the rest of your life. Just know that wherever you are, the Smith's family must find you!" Virginia sent a threatening voice note, followed by several others from Melissa and Nelson, but Janice remained unfazed.
"So, what are we going to do now?" Dian asked.
"Just a chill drink to cool down my head." Janice replied casually.
The ride to the Veritas lounge took only fifteen minutes.
"Welcome to the Veritas lounge bar ladies, how may I serve you?" A lady in white apron asked as she approached with an enigmatic smile.
"A glass of champagne would do." Dian scoffed.
"Yeah. Same here." Janice nodded when the lady's gaze shifted to her side.
"Wow! Wow!! Wow!!! Look who we have here! Now I have no doubt that this world is just a small place." A familiar masculine voice roared from an angle.
Janice turned.
"Mr. Lucas?" She raised her brows, a faint smile spreading across her lips to conceal the fear in her.
"Relax–Miss Capuno. Everything of the past has slid. Isn't it? Besides, you never imagined seeing me again in this life, do you?" He asked, curling up his lips in a wicked smirk.
"I don't care how you see it, Mr Lucas. But I never ran away from you! I was also innocent of the allegations. I tried everything to counter the evidence against and get you out of prison but I failed." She paused and took a deep breath.
"Do you think I can just easily win over my father even if I have every evidence to set you free?" Janice argued with a flinch.
"Who's this man, Janice?" Dian was starting to get irritated by his unwelcome presence, but Janice immediately winked an eye for her, asking her to cool her temper.
Soon, Janice's phone started to ring. She looked at the caller ID and heaved a huge sigh of relief.
It was Barr. Romero.
'Finally. I have a reason to get out of Luca's sight' she thought.
She quickly stood up. "You know what Mr Lucas, we can still talk over the phone some other time. I have somewhere important to go." She explained and began taking steps away.
Immediately, Lucas grabbed her wrist tightly, digging his nails into her flesh.
"Auch! You're hurting me!" Janice screamed, but Lucas remained adamant.
Dian's face got sullen with anger. She clenched her fist to her palms to reject the rising urge of slapping him, even though she's still afraid of his intimidating physique.
The last time she allowed her emotions to control her to hit a man with a physique like Lucas, she ended up spending two weeks in the hospital after just one slap that nearly shifted her brain.
"Janice, you dare not walk out on me when I'm talking." He threatened, fixing his deadly eyes on her without a blink.
"Well, I don't have your time today, because I'm here for something more important. In case you care to know, I have a multi-billion dollar business deal to close with the Smiths enterprise today. I know that you and your wicked goddamn father never expected I'll reach this level one day, right?" He let out a wicked smirk.
'Damn it Lucas! I'll make sure I do everything possible for you not to sign this deal with the Smiths Enterprise!" Janice cursed inwardly.
*****
"Ahhhh." Dian exhaled heavily, leaning her two hands on her waist. "Babe, that guy is horrible! Thank God for my past experience, if not, I would have foolishly allowed my anger to get my face disfigured today." She remarked, and they both burst out into laughter.
"So, did you really intend to call him once you get home, or you just gave him your contact out of fear?" Dian asked
