CHAPTER FIVE"Boss, I..."

"Will you shut the fuck up!!! You nitwit, how dare you keep my boyfriend waiting?" Her security guards took a stance by her side, as she stood in opposite directions to Sandra's mom and brother who were startled at the mention of “boyfriend”

"And who are these?" She motioned her hands at them, disgustingly eyeing them with a sneer on her lips.

Then sharply noticing David's torn dress, spoke gently to him. "How come?" She asked . “Who did this?” Her voice vibrated with rage as she looked from the torn shirt to the half piece left in Caleb's hands, putting two and two together.

Caleb's mom instantly grew wary. She couldn't understand how David had managed to bag such a powerful connection with such a sophisticated lady that could command enough respect for five bouncers to hover around.

"Sorry ma, it was all a misunderstanding," she half-begged, sensing how deeply in trouble her son could be in. "Here is the pendant, David. I'm sorry for everything," she pulled off the necklace and returned with a pleading look on her face, and with a prayer on her lips that the bodyguards wouldn't pounce on them.

But Caleb would not have it. He immediately grabbed the necklace and smashed it on the ground as he breathed heavily in anger. "If we can't get it, then he shouldn't," he tightened his lips as he made everyone stare down without any form of remorse.

David froze. This necklace was the only keepsake his late mother had left him. Stunned, he crouched down, picking up the shattered pieces with trembling hands and wide mouth, trying hard to believe his eyes.

Roseline, sensing the enormousness of his loss, ordered them to pin Caleb and his mom to the ground, awaiting instructions for more punishment.

“Who dares touch me? I’ll make sure they regret it!” Caleb ranted raspily while on the ground. "Do you know who my sister is, the CEO of the Grenda Family?" He exclaimed, struggling to let himself off the floor. "Who dares lay his hand on me when my new brother-in-law is the heir to the Denver family?

"How dare you?" He kept on shouting, wiggling himself to no avail. “You'll pay for this, you ex-convict bastard”.

Hearing that, David paused mid-motion, the shock at what was being said driving faster into his spine than necessary

Roseline didn’t hesitate—she kicked Caleb over with one sharp move, her face cold as ice. “Those two ‘backers’ of yours aren’t even fit to carry my shoes! Even if I cripple you today, they wouldn’t dare utter a word!”

"Please, just let it slide," Caleb's mom pleaded in a muffled voice that the rough hands of the bouncers could allow. "We were once family, let him..."

"Oh, fuck it, mom," Caleb cut through with disgust. "I'm not afraid of them, neither can they do me anything," he spat out daringly. "I dare you to lay one finger on me again, if you'll not face the consequences when I report to my new brother-in-law," he added, still trying to wiggle his way out.

David, finding it harder to control his anger than push an elephant into a needle, slapped Caleb hard across the face, his gaze icy. “That’s for your sister—for failing to discipline you! So young, yet already lying, bullying, and throwing your weight around! For old times’ sake, I’ll let you off this once. But if I ever see you again, I won’t hold back!”

With that, he turned and left, Roseline hurrying after him and the bouncers letting go of Caleb and the mom to keep up their ranting.

The fiery furnace of anger in David's souls didn't let him take much notice of his environment as he walked around. It was only when he had supposedly reached a room in the hotel, prepared by Roseline, did he allow himself to notice the serenity in the room and its privacy.

Before Roseline motioned for him to sit, he had already made himself comfortable, since his heart was still on fire.

"I know of a place where your pendant could be repaired," Roseline cut through the tense air as one of her guards handed over the broken pendant to her. "It'll be just as fit as new, when it's done being worked on," she aimed to cheer him up but failed.

Suspecting that it had something partly to do with Caleb's frequent repetition of "new brother-in-law" a wave of jealousy washed through her and tried to soil her mood but she waved it off.

Although it had barely been twenty-four hours since the divorce, she had somehow expected that he would have moved on a bit and concentrated more on her.

Finding a way to divert attention back to herself, she began. "So, what would you say about being present at my charity banquet?" She pouted, looking at her finger nails shyly. "I would love for you to be in attendance," she said, her eyes glistening with joy at the thought of his attendance.

"I don't think I'm in the right frame of mind to do that," David's expression was cool and unreachable. But Roseline was ready to pluck out a yes from his mouth, so she propped herself on his lap again, letting her hips and hands work some wonders.

"Get off!" David commanded weakly but Roseline shook her head and acted more coquettish. "This is my first time organizing this. Your attendance will really mean a lot to me," she kept on pouting and caressing David's beards until she managed to pull out a gentle smile from his lips.

Meanwhile, Sandra was already equally outside the hotel with her business partner who had just promoted himself to her fiancee and who was ready to spoil her in the party.

"How ready are you for the party?" Dustan asked, feeling quite happy with himself as he had managed to secure an invitation to Denver's family party, especially when it was one where the CEO was ready to make an important announcement.

"Finally, I'll get to see the famous Roseline Denver," Despite herself, Sandra allowed herself to savor the moment. It was a dream come true, a dream that she had held on to since she was a child.

Dustan might not have been as caring and competent as David, but at least, he had managed to lead her to meet Roseline.

With that she allowed herself to beam with more smiles in anticipation as they stepped out of the car.