Chapter 93

93 A Cost-Effective Deal

CRASH!!

Kyle, alongside the driver seat door, was sent somersaulting into the air.

There was a screeching deafening sound of a car tire, as a Toyota Corolla swiftly caught Kyle in slow motion, upon his descent, on top of its bonnet. This prevented Kyle’s body from crashing onto the concrete road floor which may have resulted in a fatality.

The driver of the Toyota Corolla spun the car slightly, thereby causing Kyle’s blood-covered face and deformed body to roll down from the car bonnet onto the road.

Then, both the Toyota Corolla that has saved Kyle and the Honda Civic that had intentionally run into him quickly reversed like professional car racers and sped off from the crime scene.

Kyle lay unconscious on the road with a smashed head oozing blood, as motorists and concerned citizens gathered around to render help.

———–

A few hours earlier...

Chloe stormed into her father’s mansions cursing at the top of her voice. This was due to the way her father’s minions had discreetly accosted and whisked her out of Zeal international entertainment company.

.....

They had forced her against her will into the car and brought her home. Even when she protested to go back to her office, they paid her deaf ears. As if embarrassing her in public wasn’t enough, they dragged and pushed her into the lounge where her father was patiently waiting for her.

Her body trembled from hair to toes due to the enormous rage that was seeping through her entire system. Her pulse slammed in her neck and her forehead throbbed with animosity against; Ella, Leon, Frost, Kyle, Ericka, and surprisingly her dad.

“Dad, did you instruct your barbarians to rough handle me and force me home?” Chloe questioned in an irked tone. However, she was slightly alarmed at her father’s chilly and darkened expression. He had a dreadful haunted look in his eyes that could touch a skyscraper.

“Chloe,” Albert called in a deadly tone, “if you know what is good for you, shut that hole in your face before I make you to.” He clenched his fist and smashed the glass of wine he was drinking, on the tiled floor; causing shattered glass particles to fly in different directions.

Chloe took frightful steps backward due to her father’s scary words and actions. Her initial irked expression was replaced with horror.

“Why have you chosen to bring me so much heartache and disgrace?” Albert stood up and took a few heavy steps toward her. “Do you know the gravity of what you have just done?”

Chloe’s adrenaline kicked up. She instinctively turned around and made a move to flee from her father’s terror.

Unfortunately, her father’s minions who were standing a few inches behind her, grab her easily and pushed her toward her dad.

SMACK!

SMACK!!

Albert released two face-blinding slaps on either of her cheeks with both his hands.

“Ahh!” Chloe staggered backward and tripped over. She cupped both cheeks in her hands and screamed in pain. It was as though she had been simultaneously stung by five worker honeybees on either cheek. Tears flooded her eyes and started pouring out like a heavy downpour. “Mum!” She cried out, hoping her mother would run down and rescue her from his father’s madness.

Unfortunately for Chloe, her mum didn’t respond to her earnest cry for help. Hence, she was left all alone to face her father’s wrath.

“Scream louder!” Albert scoffed. “Maybe your mum would come running down to save you, fool!”

“I’m sorry!” Chloe tried pleading with her dad. She felt hopeless and all alone in her present condition. She couldn’t tell what demon had possessed her dad.

This was the first time her father had ever raised his hands on her and it broke her heart.

“You should be sorry for yourself, you pathetic excuse for a child!” Albert sneered at her. “As if stealing another company’s work wasn’t enough, you went on air and disgrace the family name yet again. Why are you too adamant about instructions and corrections? Because of your foolishness, a small boy I watched develop into a man, had the nerves to insult me.”

“I was only trying to...”

“Shut up before I redesign your face with more slaps!” Albert threatened with a finger pointing menacingly at Chloe. “You were trying to do what, huh? Brainless idiots!” He scoffed and returned to his seat.

“If one percent of that your brain was functioning adequately, you would have known that does designs were stolen.”

“They are my designs, I made them myself,” Chloe cried defiantly.

“Shut up, your mouth, fool!” Albert boomed at the top of his voice. He picked up a throw pillow and threw it in her direction.

Chloe was alert and easily dodged the throw pillow. “Daddy, what is wrong with you!” She screamed.

“Everything!” Albert high pitched voice was filled with so much pain and regret. “You, your wayward lifestyle, your lunatic behavior, your continual defaming and humiliating of the family name! I am tired of you!”

“Mummy!” Chloe cried out and scanned around for her mother.

“Shut up! do you know how much heartache you’ve given your mum and me? She’s literally crying her eyes out in her room because of you evil child.”

Albert took in forced breaths to calm his nerves. Then he looked directly into Chloe’s reddened eyes and asked: “Can you draw or even cut a material?

Chloe wiped her flowing tears with the back of our hands and glared at her dad, but said nothing. Inwardly she wished her dad to die instantly of a heart attack.

“I have already made calls to your company and discovered that Frost gave you all those designs. Frost used you like a puppet to get revenge against his former employee and you fell for it like the brainless idiot that you are.”

Chloe’s eyes widened as reality finally struck her. She recalled how Frost kept pushing her to grant different interviews. She also recalled how Frost had allowed her to claim all the glory for herself, even when she did that out of spite. “So this was all a big set-up?” Her head throbbed from all the thinking and the slaps. “How do I escape from this old fool,” she mused incoherently. A sneaky idea flashed in her mind and she decided to act on it.

“Dad, please forgive me!” Chloe clasped both hands together and pleaded. She made a funny baby face which usually melted her father’s heart. “I made a terrible mistake and I’ll do anything you want to amend it.”

Although, Chloe’s actual plan was to soften her dad’s heart and free herself from her current state. Afterward, she planned on dealing with her parents by defrauding them and running away. She wanted them to suffer a great deal while looking for her. She concluded that this would teach her dad a lesson for raising his hands on her.

Unfortunately, her dad didn’t fall for her theatrics. His mind was made up concerning her.

“Saying you’re sorry to me is meaningless and disgusting.” Albert’s rage deepened at her childish plan to escape the blazing fire she had ignited. “Do you know that your ill-thought plan has backfired greatly? How did my ingenious gene ever create a hopeless daughter like you?” He directed this question to himself rather than Chloe. “What evil did I commit loving and raising you as my child? You have made me a laughingstock in this city. You have destroyed the beautiful relationship I had with the Treshvires. If you plan to completely ruin me, then I’ll do that to you first.”

“Dad, please...”

“Now, you listen very carefully, I have decided that you and your lowlife partner would appear before the court tomorrow and plead guilty to the crime you have committed.”

“What, I will do no such thing!” Chloe stopped pleading and scowled at her father.

“Are we suddenly done with the drama and pretense? Do not worry, I have already initiated everything that would make you comply without a fuss,” Albert grinned wickedly.

“What have you done?” Chloe became scared due to her father’s sly expression. She had seen this expression countless times whenever he was dealing with his business rival or enemies. ‘Has she been categorized as a potential enemy by her father?’ She thought inwardly.

“As of this moment, I have confiscated and dissolved every dollar and property attached to your name.”

Albert gave a short signal and Chloe’s handbag was taken forcefully from her. Her credit cards, phones, car keys, and the little physical cash in her possession were seized.

Chloe’s eyes widened as she gawked at her father in disbelief. Her loving and caring father had suddenly turned into a monster. She wanted to say something but the sinister glint in his eyes was suffocating her. She felt a tightness in her chest and she bit down her lower lips in agony until she tasted her blood. “Why?...” This was the only word she could force out in her distraught state.

“I will tell you why!” Albert stood up and trudged to a round table. He picked up another glass of wine and poured himself a drink. He took several sips and this energized him to pour out his heart without fear or favor.

“The biggest mistake your mum and I made was condoning your atrocious deeds. Because of our unconditional love for you, we turned you into a lunatic and for this, we are paying the price greatly.”

“Going forward, we will act accordingly and deal with all your excesses. Even if it means seeing you go to jail, we would comply without a fuss. The crime you and your partners committed is attracting a lawsuit compensation fee of five billion dollars.”

Chloe’s eyes almost popped out from shock. She couldn’t believe the words coming out of her father’s mouth.

Albert ignored her expression and continued speaking. “However, I have been granted a better deal, which I have gladly accepted due to its cost-effectiveness. Tomorrow, during the court opening process, you and Frost that committed the crime would face the judge. You both will plead guilty to the crime of theft and apologize to the APB fashion company. Also, I’ll be buying off the F&K fashion company from you and your partners, to settle the compensation fee of five hundred million dollars.

Albert turned his attention to his security details. “Take her and lock her up in the bunk below.” Then he looked at Chloe with a chilly expression. “If after the court opening process tomorrow you feel like taking a life, I’ll give you the necessary tools to do so. I’m already making plans to adopt a capable and intelligent son that will inherit all my possession.”