Chapter 33

I stepped into David Brown's villa.

"Hello, Drea," David greeted me with a warm smile, his eyes landed on the ring Jason gave me, I used my other hand to cover it, would I say I was shy? It was weird that he is his father.

"He told you everything?" he asked.

"Yes, he did," I replied, taking a seat opposite him. "How are you his dad?"

David leaned back in his chair. 

"It's a long story," he began,  "When I was studying in Italy, I met a wonderful woman. We fell in love, got married... but things didn't work out."

"After she left, I focused on my business, unaware that she was carrying our son," he continued, his voice tinged with regret. "It wasn't until two years ago that I found out about Jason and that she also died in a car accident. I hate myself for moving on with my life without checking up on her."

I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for David as he recounted the missed opportunities and lost connections that had kept him apart from his son.

"I'm sorry you had to go through all that," I said softly.

David nodded, a grateful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Thank you, Drea. And thank you for being a part of Jason's life. He speaks highly of you."

Oh, Jason. I don't know if I should hate you at the moment.

"Drea," David began, his tone gentle yet firm, "everything that happened is in the past. I'm grateful to have reunited with my son, and I'm grateful to have a beautiful and intelligent woman like you in his life now."

As David spoke, his words resonated with a sense of gratitude. The way our paths had crossed seemed almost serendipitous, a twist of fate that brought us together in unexpected ways.

"Fate never ceases to amaze," David continued, his eyes reflecting a mix of wonder and appreciation. "But dwelling on the past won't change anything. We should focus on the present and the future."

I nodded in agreement, feeling a renewed sense of purpose wash over me. The past was behind us, and now it was time to focus on the task at hand.

"Let's focus on why I called you here," David said, his voice drawing me back to the present moment.

As David delved into the details of Joseph's scheming, a sense of urgency swept over me, mingling with a surge of determination.

"So, Joseph's been buying up abandoned buildings before redevelopment, huh?" I remarked.

David nodded solemnly. "Yes, and he's been making a fortune from it. But there's one building up for auction tomorrow that could be a game-changer."

My heart raced at the prospect. "How so?"

"It's a prime piece of real estate," David explained, his eyes narrowing with intensity. "The government hasn't announced the redevelopment plans yet, but Joseph somehow got wind of it. If he gets his hands on that building before the announcement, he stands to make billions."

A shiver ran down my spine at the thought of Joseph's greed knowing no bounds. "So, what's the solution?"

David leaned forward, his gaze locking onto mine. "You need to go to the auction and bid for that building. We can't let Joseph get his claws into it. You have to win it, no matter what it takes."

"If I get the building, what will..."

"You would get power, you might not understand me now, wait after you get the building tomorrow, you'd understand what I'm talking about."

Power?

His words ignited a fire within me, fueling my determination to thwart Joseph's plans and seek justice for my parents. "I'll do whatever it takes," I vowed, my resolve unshakeable.

---

As I stepped into the venue of the bidding, my heart pounded with anticipation. I had dressed to impress, donning a classy outfit and dark shades to leave a lasting impression. Arriving slightly late, I made my entrance with purpose, ready to assert my presence in the room.

The bidding commenced shortly after my arrival, with the starting price set at 150 million dollars. As the numbers climbed higher and higher, I kept pushing the limits, determined to outbid Joseph and anyone else vying for the coveted building.

"200 million," I declared confidently, raising the stakes with each successive bid.

But Joseph wasn't backing down. With a smug smile playing on his lips, he continued to match my bids, his determination evident in his steely gaze. Ugh, I hate his face

"300 million," I countered, refusing to let him intimidate me.

The tension in the room thickened as the bidding war escalated. With every bid, the stakes grew higher, and the whispers among the onlookers grew louder.

"Why would someone spend that much on a useless building?" I overheard someone mutter.

But I remained undeterred, remembering David's words of assurance. It wasn't about the money—it was about securing victory and thwarting Joseph's plans.

"10 billion," I declared boldly, my voice ringing out confidently across the room.

There was a collective gasp from the crowd as Joseph's expression shifted from confidence to disbelief. It was clear he hadn't anticipated such a steep bid. He wasn't expecting me

As the person in charge of the auction announced me as the new winner, a sense of triumph surged through me. Despite the odds stacked against me, I had emerged victorious, reclaiming control over my destiny and striking a blow against Joseph Dominic's reign of greed.

I signalled the guy that came with me to bring the briefcase filled with money.

With a satisfied smile, I accepted the keys to the building, knowing that this was just the first step in my journey to seek justice for my parents and forge a new path forward.

As I was about to enter my car, I heard Joseph's voice. Ugh

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Drea Campbell," he sneered, his tone dripping with malice. "I knew your face was familiar."

I turned slowly, removing my shades to meet his gaze with a steely resolve. "Mr. Dominic, I didn't think I'd run into you here," I replied coolly, masking the turmoil churning within me.

Joseph's lips curled into a sly smile as he stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling intensity. "Yeah, if I may ask, why are you so interested in that building that you bought it for 10 billion? I mean, the building is very bad."

I cleared my throat, searching for a plausible response to his probing question. "I don't think it's something you should know," I replied curtly, my heart racing with unease. "If you would excuse me, I have somewhere to go."

As I turned to leave, Joseph's next words stopped me dead in my tracks.

"I will buy the building for double the price," he declared, his voice laced with a dangerous edge. "Give me three days."

I stood there, stunned by his audacity. Joseph was willing to pay 20 billion for a building that he had just claimed was worthless. It was a move that defied logic, and I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his offer than met the eye. How much does this so called building really worth?

"I'm not interested."

I said, adjusting my shades.

"20 billion and the COO position."

Wow, Chief operating officer? that's like so big for me. He's willing to go that far for a building? The former chief operating officer was Mandy, she left to focus on her company and the position has been empty since. Trying not to look moved with his offer.

"I'll think about it," I replied nonchalantly.

Without another word, I turned and entered my car, refusing to meet Joseph's gaze. We drove off.

Minutes later, my phone buzzed with an incoming call from Sarah, since our reunion, she hadn't reached out, so I answered, curious about her sudden call.

"Drea! Drea! Help me, I think they found me," Sarah's voice trembled with fear, sending a chill down my spine.