His Devious Rule

After lots of cuddling, and kissing his mother, Zane hid his grin behind his straight face. He had successfully coaxed his mother to go to the Oasis mansion after shopping. They will be staying in the mansion until he learns to ski.

He wanted to convince her to the swim classes too, but he devised a plan to trick Chipmunk Monster to help him. Giving one last kiss to his mother's dimple cheek, he jumped off the car at the Nest villa.

He almost squeaked when Krystle ran over and embraced him without giving him a chance to escape. He was baffled when Krystle started wailing without tears. He tried to stop his godmother, "God mommy… Kryst… Why are you crying?"

Krystle faked her long sniffle and pulled him away from her arms. Before all her thoughts could be overwritten with the wish to have a baby by watching her adorable godson who was patiently waiting for her to speak, Krystle cried, "Zane Baby, grow up fast and help your Kryst… I need your smart brain…"

Zane: "…"

He did wish to grow up fast and hold Chipmunk Monster upside down and be stronger than him but it wasn't possible.

Anya smoothly scooped her baby from behind and buried him in her arms. She retorted the idea of her baby growing up fast, "You girl, why do you want my sweet little cute baby to grow up so soon?"

She pouted in displeasure and looked at her baby. "I still want to get pampered, and cuddled by my little man. I want more kisses and hugs. I want to carry him in my arms for more years, teach him everything, and have lots of fun."

Krystle: "…"

She watched a little man giggling adorably and hugging Anya. She wondered if Anya was faking her anger or demanding more attention and love from Zane.

Just when her thoughts were drifting about having a baby of her own, she shook her head to disperse those thoughts and focused on her problem. She cried. "Annie… I'm scared…" She threw herself on Anya and hugged the two.

Anya gasped, balancing Krystle and holding Zane in one arm. She had thought Krystle was poking fun at Zane. Wrapping a hand around Krystle, she gently rubbed her back and heard Krystle rant everything.

"I don't know what came over me. How could I take care of the company when I don't know anything? What am I going to do? What if Linus gets angry if I make a mistake? Will he dump me? I'm so stupid. How am I going to handle everything? What if I fail? Will your husband kill me if I drown his money? Will he send thugs like in movies to get the money back? Annie, you have to protect me. You should come and give them a flying kick… First to your husband…"

Anya was hardly able to make out what Krystle was speaking about. She guessed the company was the start-up of Linus as Alvin invested in it. And Krystle wants her to protect her from Alvin.

Why did Krystle agree to take care of the Start-up?

What about Linus?

When Krystle was confident to agree, why was she crying about the failure?

More than that, is Krystle so influenced by Linus to give up her passion?

Anya felt the need to have a serious girl talk before Krystle blindly jumps into something.

Krystle paused after some time to catch her breath. Her lips softly curled up when sensed a little hand rubbing her back like Anya. She didn't want a baby of her own but to steal the little man from Anya.

Zane understood nothing other than knowing the ladies needed to talk. Like a gentleman, he suggested when he found the silence, "Kryst, it's cold out here." There was worry in the tone. "Let's go inside first. I will let the two ladies have a good talk." He meant he won't disturb them.

Krystle and Anya looked at Zane, then at each other. Both broke into a chuckle and planted their lips on Zane's chubby cheeks. They should be worrying about him and he was an adult to them.

Zane: "…"

He controlled himself from rubbing both of his cheeks. Else the two ladies will ravage his cheeks. He forced a smile at them and got off Anya's arms and walked away to escape the little devils.

Anya and Krystle know Zane hated that. They were proud and also amused by how smoothly he managed the situation without getting angry at them.

Anya turned to Krystle who forgot her worries for a moment and smiled because of her son. Sighing out, Anya hooked her arm to Krystle's and took her inside, "Start from the beginning, Krystie."

Zane served them glasses of warm drinking water and went upstairs for his bath. Krystle began to narrate everything from the previous day.

––––––

Meantime, at Matthews Industries

Everybody lost their voices to respond to Alvin. Grave silence filled the air. In no way they could understand Alvin and his suggestion. They were holding their breath, waiting for Alvin to add more words or say he was just kidding to stop the commotion.

Well, Alvin was serious. He didn't seem to be joking. One of the shareholders who were close to Casper breathed out and looked at Alvin as if he was a piece of trash. "What nonsense is this."

Everyone breathed heavily and turned to the old man who continued with his snide remarks, directed at Alvin, "This isn't your playground or your junk-selling company. This is a conglomerate, running for decades, employing thousands of people, and built with our hard-earned money."

Alvin supported his elbow on the desk and propped his head to take a good look at the old man. 'Junk Selling Company?' No one told him that before.

Liam was speechless. Linus almost choked on his spit hearing the old man. If a person could become a billionaire by selling junk, he wouldn't have become a social worker. He pitied the old man.

The many shareholders and Liam were rendered speechless. They were trying to appease Alvin and stop him from selling his shares to foreign capitalists.

Foreign capitalists will not seek every shareholder to buy the shares and own a company because it was time-consuming. However, if they get a large number of shares from Alvin, why would they miss the chance?

Then they would entice other shareholders with large amounts of money and buy more.

Thus many shareholders felt like the old man put them under the ax.

Harrison noticed Alvin's lips curling into an enticing but dangerous smirk. He felt like the old man was giving ideas for Alvin to play with the Matthews Industries.

Harrison tried to cool the air, "Please calm down. Let's maintain the decorum." He was polite and respectful.

Steve Hanks thought he was speaking for Alvin and growled at the old man, "How dare you insult President Matthews?"

Linus: "..."

The old man wasn't insulting Alvin but his business. Talk about fools.

The old man scoffed without listening to Harrison, "A person can't just come and threaten us to do as he wants. Another person will come next and say another bullcrap. Do we have to do as they want?"

Well, the old man had the point and guts to voice what others didn't say. But he wasn't taking Alvin seriously. He narrowed his eyes at Alvin and scoffed, "Do whatever you want with your money at your company. Get out of here."

Alvin watched the old man as if the old man had lost his mind. Why will he listen to somebody or get influenced by them?

Did they think he would get scared or listen to them?

But he was interested to talk and convince the fools. If they weren't ready to follow him quietly, he had the whole plan prepared to dig Casper's grave deeper every day.

He yawned lazily, wishing to cuddle his wife for a day nap. He got up from the seat, "Let's go." He said it to Linus.

Everyone: "..."

Alvin wasn't one to accept defeat so easily. Linus followed Alvin in confusion. Harrison knew that well. Liam stood up hurriedly, "Alvin, wait… The meeting isn't over."

Alvin lazily glanced behind. He nonchalantly responded, "I have more important things to do." He turned around and walked out as he elaborated on his important things to do, "I need to accompany my wife for new year's shopping."

Linus controlled himself from laughing aloud, while the entire hall was flabbergasted excluding Liam. Liam was enticed to go home and celebrate the new year with his daughter and wife without letting the troubles make their days gloomy.

Well, Liam wasn't fated to enjoy his day. A group of employees appeared at the door and looked at the two men. Harrison and Liam.

the news of Casper was spreading like wildfire. The media companies were swarming the building. Business clients and partners across the globe were calling them to know the situation. The stock market was expected to have a sharp fall.

Everything was in chaos.

However, a middle-aged man in a suit caught Liam and Harrison's attention. Their eyes widened when they deciphered Alvin's plan.