Chapter 51

~Alistair~

Oh, sweet revenge! The once powerful family of The Venators had crumbled, and there was no hope of revival for them. If I knew where their relatives, who were also sworn werewolf hunters, were, I’d have done the same thing to them as well. They must be wondering what must have gone wrong, or who they must have offended in their past life, for things to have fallen apart so suddenly for them, but they weren’t close to getting any answers.

I did not pity them at all. They deserved what happened to them, and they should have seen it coming all along. Even the Christian Bible said that the wicked mustn’t go unpunished. They deserved even worse than what had happened to them. As if their downfall wasn’t enough, no one was interested in making any investment in their failed car dealing company, neither was anyone willing to buy it at a cheap price. Every hope they once had had been taken away from them, and I could only imagine the way their hearts ached, knowing fully well that nothing could be done to salvage their lost reputation.

The gate was opened after the security guard verified that I wasn’t a reporter, and Mr Coleman drove slowly into their compound. As Eliana’s boyfriend, I was obligated to go and offer my sympathies, and let them believe they were not alone in this fight, even though it was clear that no one had their backs.

The reason I didn’t have friends who were billionaires or CEOs was because I knew that those people didn’t like you or care about you. All they wanted was to have friends with the same kind of money you possessed, become shareholders in your company, share business ideas, and try to find out the reason your business was booming. Once your business fell, they would withdraw all their investments and leave you hanging. Their friendship was just beneficial, and they weren’t the kind of friends who came to your aid when you were in trouble. Some even wanted to see you fall, because deep down, they were never happy to see your company flourishing.

After studying the friends Mr Silas Venator, and his wife, Angelica, kept, I was immediately able to know that they would never again rise from the bottom which they had dropped to. However, as a proper businessman, I could tell that their company had potential, but lacked good management. What had destroyed the company was the fact that the profit on the cars weren’t enough, and the cars were imported, so, when the taxes went high, they started losing money. It became worse when some of the cars were seized by custom services, or drowned along with a ship during a storm.

They had a good business, but had failed to manage it properly. For a year, I had been thinking of the business to launch in order to add to the Duke Group, and I had been thinking harder about it since we were almost having our 57th anniversary as a company. I had thought of going into cosmetic products after seeing the way Jenny’s face had been designed to look just like another person’s face, but seeing the opportunity of launching something better before me, I decided to take it.

I was going to buy their company, and make it mine. I would change the name to Duke Motors Inc., an offshoot of Duke Group, and gradually, I’ll make it even a more lucrative business than it ever was. I would make sure the company achieved greatness, and became the largest automotive retailer in the United States.

“Alistair,” Eliana said, wearing a broad smile on her face, as she approached me, who was just alighting from my car.

“Eliana,” I said, pulling her into a warm embrace.

At times like this, I forgot for a second the pain she had caused me, then, I’d shake it off and just let her believe that things were still okay with us. I wanted to yell at her and tell her to get the hell out, but I needed to stay in character, as it was only when my revenge was completed that I would feel true satisfaction and relief. If I snapped now, I would ruin everything that I had planned, and I’d forever regret it.

When we both let each other go, she was still smiling broadly at me. I forced a smile, pushing back a strand of hair that was in her face, still unable to believe the innocence in her eyes was just a facade, and wondering how I had let myself be fooled by her sweet and charming outward appearance.

“You seem happy, even though things aren’t going well with your family. May I know why?” I asked.

“You didn’t have to remind me about the problems my family is going through,” She said, pouting like a cute little child.

“I’m sorry about that. I was expecting to brighten up your mood, but your mood already seems brightened, that’s why I was wondering,” I explained.

“Well, I got some good news today, for the very first time in a long while, and that’s why I’m excited,” She told me.

“Wow, that’s a beautiful thing. What good news, if I may ask? Did you secure a writing deal?” I asked.

She shook her head, in negativity. “No, it’s not that, but don’t worry, I’m going to share the news with you very soon. You said you had something to say when you called me earlier. Spill it,” She said.

“So, when I’m done with saying why I came here, you’d tell me why you’re so happy?” I inquired.

She nodded her head, still smiling. “Exactly, Alistair,” She said.

I shrugged. “Fine, then. However, I don’t know if you’d still want to talk to me after I tell you what’s on my mind,” Alistair said.

The smile suddenly left her face. “Are you breaking up with me?” She asked, with a worried look written on her face.

Had I given away the fact that I was halfway through with ending the relationship through my expression? What had made her say something like that?

“Why would you ask that kind of question?” I asked.

She shrugged. “I don’t know. Everything has been going wrong with my family, and I felt that it was only a matter of time before nemesis also caught up with me,” She said, looking really distraught, a tears welled up in her eyes.

“Hey, it’s okay. Trust me, I’m never going to do anything that will hurt you,” I said.

“I guess I’m just being paranoid. I’m sorry about that. What’s on your mind?” She asked.

“I heard what’s been going on with your family, and how their business has crumbled,” I said.

She forced a smile. “Yeah, who hasn’t heard about it? Elvira said the most trending discussion on twitter is hashtag - The downfall of the Venator family. You’re sorry, thanks, but it’s not your fault. My family deserves this,” She said, trying to act like everything was fine.

“No, princess. Your family doesn’t deserve any of this. We all have skeletons in our cupboard, and it shouldn’t be made a public discussion,” I told her.

She nodded her head, agreeing with what I had said. “You’re right, Alistair. It’s so refreshing to know that someone is on my side, at least,” She said.

“I am always on my side, which is why I have come today to buy your family’s business. I just thought I should get your approval first,” I said.

“Wait. What?” She inquired, looking really shocked.

“You heard me, Eliana. This is going to be beneficial for both of us,” I said.

“No, screw that. My family is going through a crisis, and all you can think of is how to make our business yours?” She asked, looking annoyed and disgusted at the same time.

“Calm down, and listen to all I have to say first before jumping into conclusions,” I said.

She folded her arms underneath her breasts. “Okay, I’m listening. Go on,” She said.

“I’ve listened to the news, as well as gone through the newspapers. Your father’s business failed because there was a lack of good and proper management, and trust me, I can offer that. I would make the company prosperous once again under a different name, and once it has attained great heights again, I’m going to be partners with your father. How does that sound?” I asked.

She seemed to deeply consider what I had said. “I don’t know, Alistair,” She said.

“This is the best bet, princess. Your family’s business has already gone bankrupt, and from what I heard, your father has been finding it really hard to even sell the business, even for a cheap amount. However, instead of just turning it into a warehouse, I’ve decided to buy it at the price it’s worth, and make it prosperous. Apart from that, I won’t mind being partners with your family,” I said, cupping her face in my palms.

She heaved a thoughtful sigh. “I don’t get it. This just seems too good to be true. Why would you decide to help my family for no reason at all?” She asked, looking worried.

“He has a reason, Ellie,” My father said, coming into view.

“And what may that be?” She asked, facing her father.

“He loves you, that’s his reason,” Her father said.

“Good day, Mr Venator,” I said.

“Good day, Alistair,” He said, giving me a handshake.

“What are you going to do, dad?” Eliana asked.

Mr Venator shrugged. “Well, I was going to sell the business anyway. I don’t see why I shouldn’t sell it to someone I know I can trust to handle it even better than I did,” He replied, shooting a small smile in my direction.

“Thank you, sir. I’m going to ask my lawyer to prepare the documents,” I said.

“I will be waiting,” Mr Venator said.

He then said he was going to pick up his newspaper which he had forgotten at the gazebo, and asked me to go on in with Eliana, before he left our presence.

“Thank you so much, Alistair. I didn’t even want my parents to give up and sell their business, but since they’re selling it to you, I’m at peace now,” She said.

I smiled at her, and took her in my arms, patting her head gently, trying to make her feel warm and comfortable.

It was funny how she actually believed that I would help them because I loved her. Perhaps, I could have done that in the past, but unknowingly to her, I had become wise and I now knew that it would be plain stupid of me to just go ahead and help her family for no reason at all.

One may think that I was also helping them by paying for the business, as that would give them money, but the truth was that I was only assisting them in paying off their numerous debts, and they wouldn’t even be able to boast of having a penny left from the purchase after paying off just Elio's gambling debts. They were going to be satisfied with thinking that they could still become partners in the business in the future, but they were going to receive the shocker of their lives soon enough.

This was just the last step I had to take before the big finale, which I had already fully planned in my mind, and soon, whenever anyone heard of the surname, “Venator", all they would think of is a pathetic family who had been exposed for leading shameful lives.

I was almost through with my plans for the Venator family, and it felt a little bit sad that this may be the last embrace I got to share with Eliana. I really loved her, anyone could bear witness of that fact, but she had hurt me more than anyone ever had, and even though a part of me still wanted to hold on and not let go of her, I knew that it was the best thing to do.