Chapter 72 The Beginning of Their Downfall
Adrian's POV
I hang up the call for the tenth time this morning as I toss on the bed. I should be at work but with everything that has been happening, my body decided that I should take a break today.
The door bursts open and instinctively, my eyes snap open too. I hiss as the migraine hit harder.
Darcy rushes in and starts pacing back and forth, "petty people, how can they stoop so low just to get what they want?" She murmurs to herself. I gulp and sit up.
I watch as the converse with herself, clenching and unclenching her fists. She isn't just nervous, she's angry.
"What happened this time?" I groan out and her head snaps in my direction to look at me.
"You can't believe these people went online to spread rumours. Now people who don't know the truth are voicing their irrelevant opinions." She rants.
My eyebrows furrow but I stare at her quietly.
"Be specific, Darcy!" I say in a deep, yet calm voice.
Instead of answering me, Darcy walks up to the vanity table. She picks up the remote control and turn on the television.
The headline pops up: Business Tycoon Adrian Ashford Sued for child Neglect.
"Who else knows about the lawsuit if not them? They leaked parts of the case intentionally just to get the public to turn against us." She breathes out.
"These people are vile."
"It's no news that they are vile. Trying to poison the public perception before court." My lips tighten into a stiff smile.
They don't know what's coming for them.
"What did you think we should do, babe?" I ask Darcy with a smirk.
"They want to get a reaction out of us. Something they can use against us but we won't fall for their trap!" Darcy says with determination lacing her voice.
My smile brightens as I fold my arms, looking at her. Our eyes lock and she pauses and raise an eyebrow.
"Why are you smiling?"
I shrug, "I'm just impressed by my baby's intelligence. How are you able to see through their cheap tricks?"
She fights hard not to smile, "but seriously Adrian, you can't be this relaxed, we need to do something, else the company's stocks will suffer too." She looks worried.
As if on cue my phone starts ringing again. It's my secretary, Ryder.
Darcy watches me closely, monitoring my face if there will be a change while clutching hard onto the remote control.
"The stocks are unaffected. Everything is going on smoothly". He replies and I nod.
"So why are you blowing up my phone?" I groan as I pinch the bridge of my nose.
"I apologize sir, I want to inform you that we have tracked down the origin of the Surfer Holdings," he informs.
That piques my interest but I remain silent as I tap on my thighs.
Seconds turns to minutes. The atmosphere in the room becomes tense and Darcy's eyes drill holes into my skin.
"I see!" I say, ending the call.
Darcy doesn't say anything, yet stares at me with expectant eyes.
"Don't just stare at me like that Adrian, the suspense is killing me," she whines, pouting her lips.
I smirk, pulling her close to me and tap her nose. "The stocks are intact. Thanks to the loss preventive strategy that I introduced when the internet attacked us for the first time", I explain.
She sighs heavily. "I'm glad, but..." Her voice trails off, hanging her head low. "But what?" I ask.
"The public's opinion will affect the hearing one way or the other " her voice cracks.
"I will handle everything."
"Do you trust me?" She asks out of the blue. "I trust you but I need to know if you trust me too?"
"Yes, I do." I answer truthfully.
Her eyes flashes with mischief. "There's no rule that states that we cannot be petty. I'll do anything to protect my child. Nobody is taking her away from me especially them because they don't deserve her." She spits.
Her eyes blaze as though she will tears those people apart if she sees them.
"Since they like playing games, I have an idea but it shouldn't have anything to do with us." She smirks.
My eyes lights up. "Hmm. This is the first time, I'll be seeing the mischievous side of you but I love it."
"So tell me, how can I help you?"
She shakes her head. "You helping means direct link. Anyone could easily trace it back to us. I'll prefer your fixer instead."
"How did you..."
She scoffed. "You'll have to be more discreet if you don't want me to know somethings but I don't see a reason why you would do that."
"I've always known that you have one. I never needed him but now I do and there's something I'll like him to do for me." She grins.
My woman wants to play messy too. "Sure. Anything for you my love."
I pick up my phone and dial Reynold's number. "My wife wants you to get some things done for her."
"Connect him via video call". Darcy orders as she walks into the closet.
I don't find her tone insulting. It only makes me want her more.
I stand up and connect the call to the smart television in our room. Soon, she returns wearing a floral dress that covers her cleavage.
She sits on the bed and faces Reynolds.
"Good day, ma'am"
"Good day, Reynolds" she greets with a stern face. "I'd like you to do a little task for me. Since you work for my husband, I believe you to deliver a good job."
The corners of my lips stretches into a wide smile. Butterflies dance in my stomach. It will be the first time she'll call me that.
She probably didn't think much about it but to me it's a reassurance that she's my own. She'll always be here.
"Of course madam."
"I want you to find a guy that matches Tiana Carlton's type. Pay him to seduce her in a club and have a random person, make a video but it. Make sure it doesn't look staged." she orders.
"Also, they should be able to take down the video easily. That will be all for now."
"Yes, Ma. I'll get to work immediately." Reynolds replies before the call ends.
The moment the call ends, I try to understand her logic. I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. No matter how hard I try to understand, it doesn't still make sense.
As if Darcy understands my difficulty, she begins to explain her plan.
"Tiana Carlton is a spoilt brat who loves partying recklessly, and loves attention from men. If her type should approach her, she'll fall into the trap. Although it's a petty trick but it is effective."
"Who knows she might just take drugs. The aim is to show that they are not better options for Hazel."
"They were partial by playing the victim. And now, we expose a few of their weakness. The ones they're desperately trying to hard." She adds.
Yet, I still have questions.
"Your opinion makes sense but the lawsuit is a serious issue." I argue.
"Public opinions do matter too. If they can turn to the public, it means they can affect the case ruling to some extent. So it's fair we do the same. Leaving no stone unturned."
Damn!
I should trust my woman more.
My phone rings again. Ryder.
"Just like a predicted, sir. Surfer Holdings is a shell company and also the company doesn't have close ties with the Carlton, but it does have indirect financial transaction history with the Carlton family business."