At the realization of what just happened, Tricia felt her world crumble.
"No, it’s impossible... No, it’s... it can’t be true..." she whispered over and over, her voice hollow, her expression dazed.
She could feel her world falling apart. Everything she had once controlled; status, money, reputation were slipping from her fingers faster than she could grasp.
Her position on the board had been revoked. Her cards were frozen. Her power stripped.
She dared not think about it, She dare not imagine the implications.
A worthless daughter... That’s what she had beco in the eyes of her family, friends and the society.
Sonia stood silently nearby, stunned by the turn of events. She looked down at the phone in her hand as though it might offer so explanation.
How could it have gotten to this point, she wondered.
Sothing didn’t add up.
A gnawing feeling settled in her chest. There is no doubt sothing had resulted in this.
It couldn’t be a coincidence with everything unraveling in one fell swoop.
This series of actions seems to be a targeted plot, a backlash of an action, but then what action?
"Tricia," Sonia said carefully, "did you offend anyone? Otherwise... how did things fall apart this fast? Why would your family be so quick, so eager and fast to cast you out?"
Tricia let out a slow, trembling breath. "It must be that bastard’s doing."
Sonia frowned, shaking her head in denial. "T, you need to think clearly. Your stepbrother has always been there even when things were stable. Why now? Why do you assu he’s behind this?"Sonia tried to help her understand.
She had only heard snippets about Daniel Watts, the so-called illegitimate heir.
But from what Tricia had told her, he hadn’t seed like the type to lash out vindictively, at least not without provocation.
And when the Watts family was on the verge of collapse, it had been him who helped salvage it.
Sonia thought for a while as a thought flashed through her mind, sothing Tricia had once ntioned in passing. Her eyes snapped up.
"Tricia," she said slowly, "you told once that J&D Globals had stakes in the Watts Group, right?"
Tricia nodded. "Yes."
Sonia leaned forward. "Then don’t you think... maybe the decision to revoke your position ca from them? Your grandfather only needed to approve it. Just like when they helped oust you from the CEO seat."
Tricia froze, her expression slowly changing. Her breathing grew uneven.
She recalled her grandfather’s earlier phone call—brief, cold, without explanation. The kind of silence that scread finality.
She recalled Davis... his ties to J&D... and then everything clicked.
Her knees gave out, and she collapsed into the couch, her eyes wide and unblinking. "It’s all over," she murmured.
"What’s all over?" Sonia asked, stepping closer.
Tricia looked up, defeated. "Can you help ? I need to return to Noveira imdiately. I have no money. No access. Nothing."
She doesn’t like to ask from her but at the mont, she is only at the rcy of Sonia’s help.
Sonia checked the ti and nodded. "There’s a flight in two hours. I’ll book it now... but I have to rush. I’m late for the eting with Angels Wear."
She tapped on her phone, quickly purchasing the ticket. "Done," she said, patting Tricia’s shoulder before spinning toward the door.
But just as she reached the handle, her phone buzzed again. She picked up without thinking.
"Dad," she greeted.
But the voice on the other end was frigid.
"Sonia. We lost the bidding."
Her stomach dropped. "What? How? That’s not possible, Dad, I did everything.."
"We didn’t lose because the bid was weak," he snapped. "We lost because you offended soone you should never have crossed."
The color drained from her face. "Who?"
There was a pause. "If you don’t know, then get your ass here. Now."
Click.
The call ended.
Sonia stood frozen.
Despite managing the Deluxe Wears as her personal business, she still manages so of the operations of the group.
And that tender, she had carefully prepared...As not to lose the bidding.
She didn’t want to imagine what is going to happen with the loss of this bidding which had been the expectation of every mber of Zak Group..
Tricia, still on the couch, watched her, a smirk tugging at her lips.
"What happened?" she asked, feigning innocence and concerned.
Sonia explained in a hurried rush, then bolted out the door, panic in her every step.
As the door slamd shut behind her, Tricia chuckled bitterly. "Quite refreshing," she murmured. "Knowing Davis, I’m sure this is his work."
She leaned back, resting her head against the couch cushion. "Finally... I’m not the only one paying the price." Her eyes cold and emotionless.
She stared at the door Sonia had just exited through.
"Maybe I should wait. See how this plays out," she said with a cold smile. "Let’s see how far she really gets. The partnership deal... the bid... perhaps they’re all being dismantled already."
She stood and sauntered over to the TV, turning it on just as the news began to flash financial headlines across the screen.
"Zak Group’s shock loss in Creek Smart City bidding sends ripple through market."
"Stock volatility rises amid unexpected loss by longti front-runner."
A financial analyst appeared onscreen, dissecting the possible consequences.
Tricia took a sip of water, eyes locked on the screen.
"As expected," she said, a sigh of satisfaction escaping her lips.
~Zak Group~
In the group conference hall, Pete sat at the head of a large brown polished mahogany table, his computer before him emitting its light.
He has just finished a shareholders’ eting, pacifying them with the promise to find a way out of the ss. That they had just left; angry, anxious, demanding answers.
He stared at the docunt on his right: the tender file for the Creek Smart City project. His phone kept buzzing with investors, directors, financial partners. All demanding explanations he didn’t have.
His assistant stood nearby, anxious.
Pete leaned back, rubbing his temple. "Has Sonia arrived?" he asked, voice low and tense.
"Yes, sir," the assistant replied, beads of sweat forming along his forehead.
The CEO’s love for his daughter was well known... but so was his wrath when she made costly mistakes.
The door burst open. Sonia rushed in. "Dad—"
SMACK.
The sound echoed in the room. Her hand flew to her cheek, eyes wide in disbelief. He had never hit her. Not once.
"Do you realize the ss you’ve created?" Pete thundered, his chest heaving. "The entire board is in chaos!"
Sonia stamred. "I-I don’t understand—"
"Who did you offend in Country Y?" he growled.
"I didn’t offend anyone—!"
Pete slamd a report onto the table. "Godson’s report," he spat. "Before the police got him."
She picked up the docunt with shaking hands. Her eyes scanned through line after line. Her knees gave way, and she dropped to the floor, whispering the sa line over and over.
"It’s over... it’s over..."
Pete’s voice dropped to a dangerous growl. "Now... tell . Who did you offend?"
Her voice barely ca out. "Lady Bright."
Silence.
Pete stared at her as if she’d just announced a death sentence.
His lips parted, but no words ca out. He slowly sank into his seat, shaken to his core.
Sonia blinked in confusion. "Dad?"
But he wasn’t listening anymore.
He leaned back in his chair, defeated as he thinks it over.
"She really didn’t know who she offended..
She had no idea what kind of power she’d just provoked."
And that terrified him more than the loss itself.
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