Chapter 120 CEO IXORA
\[RONALD'S HOUSE\]
"Do you think this will work?" Eric asked.
"Dad, we have to try. This is the only way out, and the only way to risk exposing us," Ixora said, and rolled her hair in a bun.
The disguise was gone.
"All the best."
Ixora nodded before climbing the stairs. She curled her fingers around the rail, taking slow, precise steps.
Eric prayed inwardly, hoping things would go as planned.
Ixora exhaled before twisting the doorknob.
The dark room clouded her eyes as she traced her fingers on the wall. She turned on the switch.
In the room, someone was sitting on a chair, head falling to the left, eyes closed, and a rope tied across his body.
Ixora walked to him and carefully loosened the rope without waking him up.
Darting her gaze around, she saw a cup of water. She took it and used her hand to sprinkle some water on his face.
Ricky jerked, slowly lifting his lids to meet the fluorescent light. First, he looked around the room, noticing the strange room.
He wanted to stand when his eyes fell on Ixora.
"Finally, you're awake," she said, a smile dancing on her lips.
"What did you do to me?" he asked, clenching his teeth.
"I knocked you out," Ixora replied, casually, as if it's something she's been doing for a while.
"Just wait and see, once I get out of here, I'm going to tell Nikita that you've been fooling her all along," he threatened, eyes throwing daggers at Ixora.
"Go on. You're untied and awake," she faced the door and pointed at it. "The door is wide open."
Ricky stared at her, slightly narrowing his brow. She's supposed to be scared, not ordering him around.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"Now you've asked the right question." She dragged a chair forward and sat. One leg was placed on top of the other.
"A deal." She picked up a file and flipped the page to the center. "You are the first son, your dad passed away, and your mum is struggling to make ends meet. You have two siblings to look after, and that's why you chose to be Nikita's puppet."
"H-How did you know?" he found himself asking.
"A little research did the trick," she replied, licking her lower lip.
"You can't brainwash me into betraying Hazel," he said.
"Brainwash?" She closed the file and placed it on the table. "Do you think I have the time for that? I'm here with an offer, and I'm sure it will benefit you," she smirked, seeing the look in his eyes.
She has finally gotten his interest.
"You spoke about loyalty, but you failed to notice she's just using you. You have been working for her for how long? Remind me again," she raised her brow.
"F-Four years," he stuttered.
"Exactly. Four years and your mother still lives in the countryside. Your siblings are barely managing, and you don't have anything to your name. Can't you see she's only using you?" she asked, eyes glued to his face.
Her face lit up when she saw he was quiet, probably weighing her truthful words.
"What do you want from me? You don't even have anything to give me. Hazel owns the Castellan property."
"Glad we're on the same page, and for the Castellan property, leave that to me." She picked up her phone and put through a call.
"Dad, you can come in. He has agreed."
Ricky gave her a confused expression as she wondered who she had called. For all he knows, her parents were killed on a ship.
The door slowly creaked open, and the last person he expected to walk in did.
A red suit clung to his body, fitting his perfect frame. His shoes clicked softly as he walked in with a smile and stood beside Ixora.
Eric Ronald.
Ricky opened his mouth to speak, eyes shifting between father and daughter respectively.
How's it possible? The billionaire who has left everybody speechless happens to be Ixora's father.
What's going on?
"Dad, let me have it." Ixora opened her palm, and he handed a briefcase to her.
She kept the briefcase on the table and lifted the cover.
Ricky's eyes widened at the sight of the thing.
Money!
He swallowed hard, taking his gaze to Ixora.
"They are all yours. Take it and go back to your hometown. I will still send some more," Ixora said.
"I don't know what to say."
Ixora smiled. "You don't have to say anything. Here is your flight ticket. Take it and leave the country. Nikita will not know what happened."
She stood and glanced between Eric and Ricky.
"I will leave you to think about it. Think wisely," she held Eric's hand, and they both left.
\--
"That was so amazing. You looked like a CEO striking a business deal," Eric said, feeling proud of his daughter.
Ixora laughed. "That's why I'm your daughter."
"You are dressed up. Are you going out?"
"I have a business meeting with Tanya. I have to get going."
"Bye, Dad. Don't fall for her. I don't want her to be my mother," Ixora teased.
"Who told you I need a wife?" Eric replied and left.
The smile on Ixora's lips fell as she remembered Nelly. She has to go and get Nelly. In order to do that, she would have to get the biggest mafia organization on her side.
She slid her hand into her pocket and took out her phone while something else dropped on the floor.
A rumpled piece of paper.
"What is this?" she mumbled and picked up the paper.
Curiously, she unfolded the paper, and the written content came into view.
On the paper, a single word was scribbled.
Firefly.
Her eyes refused to leave the paper as she couldn't believe she still had it with her.
She remembered he had left the note after tucking her to sleep because she was heavy with the guilt of killing somebody.
Even after so many months, the paper still smelled like him.
She was staring at the paper when Ricky's voice sounded behind her.
"I agree to the offer."
\[SICILY VIPOISON ORGANIZATION\]
"Please, Slade, tell them to stop. They're going to kill him," Nelly cried, trying to run to rescue Maddox.
Slade tightened his grip on her.
Maddox groaned as they kicked his stomach. His body was barely recognizable as they had beaten the hell out of him. His stomach, face, and back, nowhere left untouched. At first, Maddox was fighting back, but he wasn't compared to those brutally trained men. Not when he's sick.
Nelly had been pleading for his release, but neither of them was ready to listen to her.
She used her other hand and took out her hairpin. Without thinking twice, she stabbed Slade's hand.
He winced and was forced to release her body.
She rushed to the men and sent one of them a kick in the jaw.
His teeth flew off. Blood sprouted out of his mouth.
Her fist met the other person directly in the eyes.
Bam!
"Now this is what a movie is," J. K said, trailing his hand on his jawline.
One of the men rushed to grab her. She ducked and went flat on the floor. Raising her leg, she gave him a hard kick directly on his dick.
He groaned and fell on his knees.
"Maddox," she stood and rushed to him. "Please open your eyes. Nothing will happen to you, I promise."
The men stood and made to go to her. At Slade's order, they stopped.
"Please, Maddox. You can't leave me here. You can't give up. Please," she cried, and placed her head on his chest.
She felt someone's hand trace her hair.
Quickly, she raised her head to see Maddox's eyes barely open.
She smiled and sniffled. "You will be alright."
She stood, ran to Slade and knelt before him.
"Nelly," Maddox called out weakly.
"Please, spare Maddox's life. I... I will do anything you want, but please stop punishing Maddox," she sobbed.
Slade glanced at Maddox. He was trying to stand, hand stretched out, telling Nelly to stop.
His gaze went back to crying Nelly.
"What do you say, father? Should we spare the man who has stolen your daughter-in-law's heart?" Slade asked without removing his gaze from Nelly.
"You know, I trust your judgement more than anything," J. K replied.
Both father and son, danger lurked in their voices. Movie or not, they could clearly see what was going on.
Slade lifted her chin and held their gaze.
"Your senses have returned. I like that. I will make sure he gets treated and looked after, but leaving..." he paused, trailing his gaze to Maddox. "He will stay here and witness our wedding."
"W-wedding?"
"Yes, wedding. You and I are getting married in three days," he smirked and grabbed Nelly's hand in a rough grip.
Nelly winced.
"I will show you how to be a humbling wife," he began, dragging her away.
"Nelly," Maddox tried standing, but fell.
He tried to crawl, but his hands kept slipping.
Before he could make the third attempt, a gunshot left a gun.
He fell with blurred vision as he saw the J. K with the men leaving.
That was all he could see before darkness took over.