Chapter 73 Checkmate
Adrian's POV
"Did you do this?" Maleek asks as he replays the clip from the club. Luckily, Tiana showed her wild nature and then as the icing on the cake, she did drugs.
"Why do you ask? Am I petty?" I question him back as I stand in the office with a glass of whiskey in my hand, staring outside.
"Exactly. You are a proud man and will not stoop so low," he agrees.
"I know it's wrong but I'm kind of happy. The comments are wild."
"Videos like this trend every time but in Tiana's case, it's as if she's the first. People are trolling her." He says.
He hands me the iPad and I scroll through the comment section.
"Is she not the same girl, that claims that Mr. Ashford isn't a good father?"
"We don't see him or his girlfriend doing drugs or going wild."
"Let's see if Nora Carlton will remain confident after seeing her daughter's misbehavior."
"Imagine how many other bad things they are doing behind closed doors."
"If Nora Carlton's children turned out like this, she shouldn't be trusted with Hazel, else she will ruin the poor baby's life."
Darcy is right. Utilizing the power of the public is not a bad idea. They are literally saying everything we can't say openly.
Nora and her children had it coming. They deserve everything they are getting and I know it will only get worse.
Especially after Darcy instructed Reynolds that the video should not be easy to take down.
I chuckle. Just maybe I have become petty without knowing it. Darcy is slowly rubbing off on me.
"But I must commend whoever came up, with this idea. It attacks them without a direct link to you," he nods.
"My wife came up with that. However, that's not the reason you're here" I gulp the liquid at one go. Before walking over to my chair.
"Your wife? You guys are married?" He gaps.
"It will happen sooner than later." I answer.
That's why I need to get rid of these obstacles earlier. I add in my head.
"Let's get to work," I announce.
Maleek drops the iPad and straighten his back.
"The main reason why they are filing a lawsuit is because they want my money. So, I want to make some changes."
He brings out his laptop, and starts clicking in the keyboard.
"I want to transfer Hazel's trust fund to Darcy Ife!" I drop the first bomb on him.
Maleek freezes immediately and looks up at me as his forehead crease into a frown.
"Darcy Ife? Your woman? Isn't that risky?" He questions with uncertainty.
"Explain!" I command.
"They are filing for this lawsuit because they claim that you do not care for your child. The trust fund is supposed to be an evidence that you care about Hazel's future."
He's right but if I must win against this people, I will have to stop playing defensive and go offensive.
"I'm sure about this, so do it."
He sighs and nod. "Also transfer Hazel's shares in the company under Darcy's name. As for the other accounts, add a clause to it that no one can access the bank accounts. The only authorized person is Hazel and she can use the money when he turns twenty-one."
Maleek shakes his head and stands.
"I honestly don't know what you're thinking right now. Because all you are saying is exactly opposite of what you should be doing."
He grabs a glass and pours himself a glass of scotch which he picks from the wine cellar.
He walks back to face me but doesn't sit down. "We are working tirelessly so these people won't win the case. So why are you making so much changes? Handing everything to them on a platter?"
Darcy's words replay in my head. I'm proud but that doesn't mean I have to be serious at all times.
They want money, right? All these changes are my response to them. Being petty for a day won't kill me.
"Because I want to toy with their feelings." I shrug.
I clench my jaw as I remember all the times, they made Camille suffer when she loved them wholeheartedly.
When Hazel was born, they didn't show concern for the baby as her mother passed away after childbirth.
What did they do? Not once did they show concern. Now they suddenly turn to the caring family?
Till I take my last breath, I will protect my child. My heir. My seed.
He chuckles disrupting my train of thoughts. "Permit me to say this, but why do I feel like this is not you speaking? Or rather say those are not your words."
An evil smirk tugs on the corners of my lips but I don't say anything.
"Let's move forward, how are the evidences coming together?" My face turns serious. "As for the evidences, I mean the ones on my side are almost ready. What about you?"
"Same, Sir. I'm actively working on them."
"Good."
The silence in the room stretches. Yet, I can hear Maleek's unvoiced question.
"Speak, Maleek!" I groan.
Maleek raises his eyebrows, looking unconvinced. "About you transferring almost everything to Miss Darcy, don't you think it will cause more harm than good?"
"After all, the case is still against her. According to the Carlton family, she's the inappropriate third party that is ruining the relationship between you and Hazel."
"If you really want to push forward with this, you'll be handing the Carltons ammunition and if this fails, she goes down with you."
I lean further into the chair and spin the pen between my fingers.
He's right. I know Nora will prepare enough evidence that will drag not just me but Darcy down.
"You don't trust my judgement."
He buries his face in his hands. "You're my client and friend, of course I trust you but no matter how much I think about it, I can't... Wait!"
He widens his eyes.
"Chess."
"You're playing the game of chess."
"Took you so long to realize but too bad you still have a lot to learn." I declare.
He sits and pushes his chair forward. "You can't blame me, you know. I'm only doing my job as your legal adviser."
"What else do you want to do next?"
"Moving forward, they will cause more troubles for Darcy, especially in court. To make sure no one questions her stand in Hazel's life as well as the decision of transferring assets..."
The words roll off my tongue before I can fully comprehend the weight of it but I don't regret it. "I want to make her Hazel's legal guardian."
Maleek smiles and nod. "That's perfect. But you need to ask her if she's willing."
There's no need to ask her. It's clearly obvious about her love for Hazel. Her affection, protectiveness, love, care are all evident. Or is it the way she fondly claims Hazel as her child?
"Since you trust her so much, the court will see Darcy as a woman of stability weakening the Carlton's claim of unsafe environment."
Checkmate.
In business, I hate failure the most and same thing goes for other aspects of my life.
Unless I permit it, I never lose!