Chapter 89: The Distant Relatives
Chapter 89: The Distant Relatives
"Choose whatever you like, Honey. I'm just going to take a call from Dad outside the boutique," Told Ethan while dropping by a Chanel Store in one of Asia's largest hubs.
After ten days of romantic stay in Bali, making love every day, the couple decided to fly to another country and experience shopping at its best.
Mesmerized by all the selection of bags, Samantha's eyes widened before she answered, "Okay, hon. Don't take too long."
Over the past months, it has always been Ethan's shopping agent who chose her clothes and bags. This was her very first time to choose one for herself.... in a very, very long time and a Chanel bag at that!
For seconds, she turned to where Ethan stood outside the shop.
Ethan found himself in a secluded area on the side of the boutique, taking a call from Daniel Wright, and was looking very concerned.
Samantha frowned, recalling how Ethan had been getting serious calls over the past three days since they left, both from Daniel Wright and John Garcia.
Her husband told her that someone has been buying shares from the company and the previous shareholders refused to name the buyer. They have a new business partner and they knew not who it was!
Samantha did not know the complications that it will bring, but Ethan told her, the Wrights always wanted to know who their business partners were.
With this in mind, an emergency meeting was in order upon Ethan's return to address the situation.
Drifting away from these thoughts, she sighed before shifting her gaze to the selection of bags and walked around, appreciating the options.
Having six bags coming from the same brand, Samantha walked past a few familiar ones, especially the same design that was dangling in her arm.
While Samantha was appreciating one purse, a man came up behind her and remarked, "A lovely bag, fit for a beautiful lady. Can I buy this for you in exchange for... coffee?"
Samantha abruptly turned to find a tall man, seemingly in his late thirties, clean shaved and had caramel hair. He had green eyes and emitted a very arrogant aura.
The man smiled at her and offered, "In fact, I can... buy you two or three bags. How would you like that?"
Winking at Samantha, the man added, "In exchange, you can simply have a day's date with me?" Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
A frown easily became painted on Samantha's face, utterly irritated. She answered, "It's not necessary. My husband will buy my bags. I'm sorry, but I am not free to date."
"Oh." The man leaned back, creasing his forehead. He asked, "You look young to be married."
Only then did Samantha flash her wedding ring in front of the man and repeated, "I am very married."
"Any problem here?" Ethan came from behind them, making his domineering tone audible.
Upon seeing the man that came to speak with Samantha, however, he took a step back and spoke, "Steven. Strange to see you here."
Samantha turned to Ethan and back to the man before asking, "You know each other?"
Like Ethan, the man whom he called Steven was also taken aback. He smirked before asking, "This is... your wife, Ethan?"
"Sam, this is Steven Wright. A distant cousin of mine who was not able to attend our wedding," revealed Ethan before he shifted his gaze to Steven.
"Ah!" Steven exclaimed before letting go of a remark, "No one told me... you have such a beautiful wife, Ethan. Had I known... I would have cancelled my business meetings to attend your wedding."
Looking at Samantha up and down, Steven answered, "How lucky can you get, Ethan?"
A scoff left Ethan's lips before he told, "Please, Steven. You and I both know you weren't attending, regardless. Your family had been staying away from Braeton for many years now."
Pointing a finger at Steven, Ethan warned, "Mind where you look. No one is allowed to stare at my wife."
Steven Wright wound up in laughter. He shook his head and answered, "Calm down, Ethan... I was just... admiring your wife... Actually, about that... we are coming back to Braeton in a few month's time."
The man took one last look of appreciation toward's Samantha before extending his hand. He said, "Well, fancy bumping into you here, Ethan and...?"
Ethan prevented Samantha from shaking the man's hand. He answered for his wife, "Samantha. Her name is Samantha Wright."
With a playful grin, Steven acknowledged, "Ah, of course. She is a Wright - being your wife."
Directing his gaze back to Ethan, Steven suggested, "I'll see you in Braeton soon, Ethan. I look forward to seeing Uncle Daniel and Aunt Amanda."
As the man walked out of the store, Ethan's eyes were glued to Steven's back. Only after seeing him go did Samantha remarked, "Something does not seem right between you and that guy. Even if he is a Wright."
With a long sigh, Ethan answered his wife, "Steven and my uncle, Sawyer Wright have long distanced themselves from the family, Sam."
Looking at his wife, Ethan revealed, "It started when Steven's father, my uncle, was not chosen to be the CEO of the Wright Diamond Corporation. Instead, my father won the votes of the board members to be the next president of the company."
"My uncle, was found out to have mismanaged the company funds and that all the more made the board of the directors decide that my father was more suitable to become the CEO, even if Dad was co-managing the company off shore," Ethan added before further explaining, "Back then, I was studying abroad, so Dad was often travelling to Europe."
"However, with the decision to make Dad as the new CEO of the Wright Diamond Corporation, came objections coming from their side of the family. It was because, my uncle was adopted that they think there was a discrimination in the judgment made by the board members."
"Till this day, we feel they bear the resentment, having left the City and rarely attending any of our family gatherings," revealed Ethan.
"Oh. What a complication," Samantha remarked before sneering. "I hope his return isn't trouble, hon."
"We don't know for sure, Sam. But it's safe to keep our distance from them," Ethan closed, directing her back to the bags in front of her.
Right before buying Samantha her choice of bags for that day, Ethan failed not to call Daniel Wright and warn his father of Steven and Sawyer's return to Braeton.
***
Riding in a luxurious car, Steven Wright took out his phone and called for his father.
Expressing a mischevious grin, he revealed, "Father, I just crossed paths with Ethan and his wife." He sighed before telling, "He has... a very pretty wife and one that I fancy."
"Steven, stick to the plan. We can't let this chance pass us," warned Sawyer Wright on the other line.
A chuckle left Steven's lips. He said, "Oh, I will, father. In fact, the plan will work best with his beautiful wife."
"Just make sure no one will find out about our intentions," reminded Steven's father. "I've waited for this chance for so long... It's finally time that we take back the company, it being rightfully ours."