The CEO’s Substitute Lover

Indeed, he knew his son, and sacking this woman will not help.

“What about giving her money to leave?”

Ottilie laughed lightly, “Even if you give it to her, can you guarantee that she won’t break her promise when she’s gone? It would be bad for Tredan and Lilian’s relationship to be affected if we were to become her ATM, right?”

Floyd nodded; indeed, the bigger picture must not be compromised by such a woman.

“So, what do you say?”

Ottilie said with some uncertainty, “Why don’t we let Tredan leave the country first? I heard that Octavia Gills’ brother is going to have a heart replacement operation, so she definitely can’t leave. Octavia Gills will be broken-hearted. As for Tredan, it’s up to Lilian. After all, there’s only so much we can do for the Drye Family.

“Good, you have a good idea, good!” Floyd praised.

“That’s it, I’ll start the preparations tomorrow, and I’ll let Grimm know. Eddison, don’t breathe a word of this to your big brother, or I’ll hold you to it!”

Eddison had been listening to what his parents were talking about and had chosen to remain silent, and vowed to give his unconditional support to whoever was separating his big brother and Octavia Gills.

Late night at Davi Family House.

Ottilie took her phone and walked out into the garden, where clusters of lilacs are gently blooming in the moonlight giving the air a faint fragrance.

When her call finally came through, Ottilie said in a cold voice, “It will soon be arranged for Tredan Davi to leave the country. I don’t care how you will do it but I only want one thing, I want him to go and never return! What? When have I ever been short of giving your money? Don’t forget what happened to Althena Cockey last time, I paid you double for it… Get things done and don’t give me any trouble!”

Hanging up the phone, Ottilie gazed at the moon and looked back at the magnificent Davi Family mansion behind her, and whispered, “Althena Cockey, you owe me! You bought my love with your power, and now I want you to not only return it, but I want you and your son to die without a trace.”

At that moment, Octavia was tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Every time she thought of Tredan’s attitude that day, her heart throbbed. These days, all she heard about was his marriage to Lilian and he had never come to see her again.

Every word of what he said to her on Domino’s birthday was still ringing in her ears, and he told her to believe in his love no matter what.

But why doesn’t she trust him? Why would he doubt her when she never had a relationship with Eddison?

And what about himself?

The sight of him and Lilian kissing flashed before his eyes.

Octavia pulled the covers over her head and tried to rub that image out of her mind.

Tredan, I want to take your word for it but, I can’t convince myself.

Octavia got up, she can’t sleep, so she got up to paint!

When she was studying abroad, she would get up and draw when she was homesick for her mother and brother and the delicious food she cooked, and when she couldn’t sleep, she would draw and paint what she was thinking.

As a child without a father, she learned to be independent and strong at an early age, taking care of her mother and brother, and Tredan for those two years between the ages of five and seven, she has always allowed herself to grow up like a tree that can be relied on by these people she loves and sheltering them from harm.

Looking at the cute little snail she drew, Octavia suddenly burst into tears.

She wanted to be a snail, albeit slow and small, but at least she would have a solid shell to protect her when she got hurt. How wonderful!

Tredan! Tredan! What do you want from me? Do you know what I want? What do you really want? There’s no future for us, is there? Mother is right, isn’t she? How can a man of your stature be coveted by someone as lowly as me?

But, Tredan, how can I forget you, how can I not love you?

Octavia put down her brush, picked up a beautifully bound notebook that her Japanese colleagues had designed for her back then, and murmured, “Perhaps, I should leave.”

The Drye Family’s Private Clubhouse.

Grimm Drye waited for Tredan Davi, who had finally arrived but was alone.

His smile was as friendly and easy as ever as he greeted Tredan Davi, “Tredan, come and sit down.”

“Uncle Drye, sorry for being late.” Tredan Davi owed him an apology.

“It’s okay, it’s okay, I don’t have anything to do anyway, it didn’t hurt to wait a bit longer, you youngsters are busy, and us, old bones just need to keep up with you a bit longer to keep an eye on you before we retire, then your dad and I can just go fishing every day.” Grimm Drye extinguished his cigar and poured tea for Tredan Davi.

Tredan Davi hastened to humble himself and snapped his index finger on the table.

“Watch what you’re saying! What was that saying? Ginger is older, and you’re not even close to it.”

Grimm Drye grinned, still taken with Tredan Davi’s teasing.

After a few pleasantries, Tredan Davi cut to the chase, “Uncle Drye, what did you want to see me about today?”

Grimm Drye took a sip of his tea and looked down at his tea set, “Tredan, in your father’s generation and mine, business was all about trust and loyalty, and after all, there are many things that may not be achieved the formal way.”

Tredan Davi listened quietly as Grimm Drye looked at him and suddenly smiled, “You’re a rare talent, I’ve seen your ability over the years to help your father with his business, I envy him for having a good son, and I’m glad you’re my son-in-law.”

“Uncle Drye, I…”

Grimm Drye looked at him and continued, “In the battle of the malls, you have to do things for the sake of profit, and you have to do whatever it takes, if necessary, don’t you agree with that, great nephew?”

Tredan Davi thought for a moment and nodded slowly.

Grimm Drye laughed, “At my age, being unscrupulous is something we are allowed to do, and I can use it in my life in addition to the mall.”

Grimm Drye’s gaze grew cold as he looked at Tredan Davi.

Tredan Davi was still.

“I like your composure the best, that’s something that you’re good at and better than your dad.” Grimm Drye said heartily.

“I heard that you are very strict and that nothing under your command can fool you, and I also heard that you have a very good memory and that you don’t forget anything. Then I would like to ask you if you know what the patients in Ward 206 at Blue Mountains Psychiatric Hospital were eating at lunchtime today?”

Tredan Davi turned pale and his gaze shot at Grimm Drye like a sharp arrow.

Grimm Drye took a leisurely sip of tea, “For lunch today, we had fried beansprouts with chicken fat, dried green shoots with stings, and a fruit platter.”

Tredan Davi’s face paled and his hands on the table balled into fists, “What are you going to do?”

Grimm Drye said lightly: “Calm down, young man! Is that too much to bear? Don’t worry, I’ve only found a patient, but it’s up to you to do something about her.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“It’s simple, after three days, your betrothal to Lilian will be announced and after three months, marriage.”

Tredan Davi stares intently at Grimm Drye, not speaking, only his suppressed emotions evident in his slightly rapid breathing.

“Boy, you’re not at a disadvantage, my daughter is at least a golden girl, and I’m giving a big dowry, it’s a sure thing for the Davi Family, if I talk to Floyd, he’ll bet on you even for the wedding, but that would be pointless, I want you to say yes.”

“My yes is being coerced by you too, what’s the difference?”

“Ha, big difference, didn’t you make a promise to Lilian last time but you ran away? You should be glad that my silly daughter wants to marry you, or I would have simply watched the Davi Family go bankrupt and would have stepped on it.”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Grimm Drye spoke as if he was on cloud nine.

Tredan Davi’s clenched fist, his knuckles already white.

Grimm Drye looked away and continued, “Like I said, doing whatever it takes is sometimes a means to an end, Floyd’s not bad, actually keeping someone at Blue Mountains Psychiatric Hospital, but so what, when is money ever the answer, Floyd doesn’t care about her. But I know you do, so don’t bullshit me, just do as I say.”

Tredan Davi was trying hard to control himself, his face paled, and after a long moment he asked Grimm Drye, “You have found my weakness, but have you ever thought about the consequences that doing so could be the ruin of your daughter’s lifelong happiness?”

Grimm Drye smiled, “That’s all I can do as a father, it’s up to her to be happy. Even if I tell her with all my heart that you’re a scumbag, she will not take my word for it! Since I can’t change her mind, let her try on her own, anyway I’ve given her enough capital to start over at any time!”

Tredan Davi was silent.

“Yes! I promise you!”

“What? That old fox Grimm Drye is despicable!” Woodrow jumped straight up at Tredan Davi’s words.

Tredan Davi rubbed his hands over his face, his gaze deep in thought.

Woodrow calmed down and sat across from Tredan Davi, “Tredan, have you thought about what to do? Either I’ll take someone to snatch Auntie Althena out now, find a place where she can temporarily stay, and get her out as soon as the paperwork comes out!”

Tredan Davi shook his head, “Now that Grimm Drye is in the dark and we are in the light, we have no idea what he will do and his next move could be more dangerous.”

“What then?” Woodrow rubbed his hands together in anxiety.

“I agreed to his terms and will get engaged to Lilian in three days.”

“How will that work? What about Octavia? No, no, Tredan, it’s all messed up.”

“Woodrow, there’s no other way at the moment, time is too tight for us to do anything, I’ll agree to get engaged first, and as for his talk of marriage in three months, I’ll put it off until then.”

Woodrow couldn’t speak.

“Octavia there??” Tredan Davi couldn’t say any more.

“Octavia’s brother will have an operation in three days, Woodrow, you go and keep an eye on it for me, I can’t go, it’s all on you.”

Woodrow nodded, “No problem, don’t worry about that. All this?? should we tell Octavia about it?”

Tredan Davi frowned, “We can’t say anything, nothing must be known to her, our old man started to get people to find out who my secret lover is just the other day, if he finds out he might do something bad, he and Grimm Drye have the same mind, we won’t be able to look after them at all, unlike my mother, she has a family to worry about, we can’t take any chances.”

Woodrow punched the couch, “What the fuck is going on here! What are these old men thinking?”

Tredan Davi looked out the window at a corner of the sky and his heart was already racing like a thousand horses running through the fields.

“Woodrow, we’re going to have to pick up the pace.”

“Good! Any ideas, you tell me, I’ll implement them.”