Chapter 86 The Last Laugh
"What in the name of the heavens is going on here?!" Sarah yelled out as she rushed towards the scene.
Jessica, once frozen and lost in the mystery of Romeo's eyes, now sprung awake and back to her senses. She snatched her hand from him and stumbled backwards.
"She-- she was-- she said that--" every single attempt at forming a sensible sentence was futile as Jessica spoke. She stopped and shook her head to clear her sense of reasoning. "She said something so preposterous! How can she say something as insulting as that and not come with proof?"
Cara opened her mouth to speak but Romeo's mellow voice cut her off ever so softly. "My woman would never tell a lie just because." He did not look at her as he spoke but she felt a cold shiver run down her spine... In a good way.
His voice grew hard in an instant. "I hope the Knowles family acknowledges this as a sign of disrespect to the Armani family and are ready to face the consequences of this action?" His attention was fixed on the oldest Knowles in the family. Michael Knowles.
Michael's eyes widened at the words he heard. He made to speak but Jessica took the front lead on her own accord.
"Yes we are! You need to understand that the Armani family will not be permitted to do anything and everything as they please just because they can afford to."
Romeo smirked. "And why should we not? After all, we can afford to like you have said."
Jessica felt a flutter in her chest at the man's smile but managed to keep from breaking her composure. She threw a bitter laugh at his face. "So now you are admitting to wanting to control everything?"
"No," Romeo said firmly. "Well at least not the way you are trying to put it."
She crossed her arms below her breast. "Do enlighten me, Romeo." She called his name in a sort of mocking tone.
Romeo simply smiled, unamused or moved by her childishness and disrespect. "I do control everything but not with money but with authority." He stood firmly with his back straightened, a position that threatened Jessica and made her slouch, and buried a hand into the depth of his pocket. "A man with authority needs no money for bribery. If you think I play a part in bribery and corruption then you know nothing of this business politics you are about to get yourself into.
"I hope the Knowles family knows what they are doing by making you in charge of such a position but then again it is not of my concern because I officially announce the annulment of every business deal and funding of every single Knowles productions here and now.
"After all, the Armani family is not the only one who can fund a company as yours, there must be a long line of investors waiting and begging for an open slot. Well tell them to wait no more because Armani is cutting ties with the Knowles family. Every single tie, both business and mutual."
Jessica felt weak in the knees. It was not a part of her plan to lose about eighty percent of their company's funding in one go. She did not expect something so grand to happen, especially not because of Cara.
Michael was on the verge of losing his sanity. He rushed towards Romeo, pushing Jessica out of his way and almost knocking her off of her feet. "Mr Armani! Please! I beg you! You cannot do this to us! My daughter in law is simply being naive, you cannot take the words of a child so seriously!"
Romeo arched his brow. "The words of a child? Are you trying to tell me that you have appointed a child into such an important position? A child? Mr Knowles, your own daughter in-law from what I can see is a full grown woman, a mother! I understand that you are trying to give a reason for her actions but that is a disrespect to her."
Jessica stared confusedly at Romeo, why was he taking her side? Was he her enemy or not? Was he perhaps... Giving some signs and expecting her to decode them?
She shook her head. An Armani would never do that, they would go straight to the point whenever they wanted something. So what exactly did he want?
Mr Knowles himself was dumbfounded. "Uh... I did not... I mean her words are... No she is not... Actually what I meant to say was--"
"I don't think I have any more reason to listen on to what you have to say. If you have any complaints, I'd rather you filed them officially to my company." Romeo said strictly.
He wrapped his hand around Cara's wrist and pulled her along. "Let's get going, shall we?"
Cara simply nodded her head. She did not have to argue, she had no reason to result in any form of violence or sort with Jessica. Her lover's authority and power had done all the talking.
Power had fought power and the highest had won.
She could not help the smile that worked its way to her face. She walked out of the hall with pride, being the focus of every single person in the room.
'So this is what it feels like to have the last laugh,' she thought to herself. 'Jessica had been having the last laugh or at least so she thought, as she stole everything from me and all I could do was stand idle and watch in pain. But now, this feeling inside of me, is this what satisfaction feels like?'
Romeo's hold around her arms tightened, just as the love he had for her grew stronger. She felt so grateful to have a man like him by her side, so content for the first time ever.
Holding the door open for her, Romeo smiled. "My Lady,"
She let out a soft chuckle. As she made to go into the vehicle, her vision suddenly blurred and dizziness dawned on her.
She stumbled back, holding her head.
"Are you okay?" Romeo asked her as he gripped her by the waist to keep her from falling.
"I feel..." The words could not even leave her mouth. The next thing she knew, it all went dark.