a Gossip

Ariel's mood, which had improved once again, was shattered when she saw firsthand the treatment her grandfather gave Crystal. In the twenty-eight years she grew up in the same house as her grandfather, Ariel had never seen her grandfather smile so broadly at everyone, including herself. But today, she saw how wide her grandfather's smile was at Crystal, who incidentally had not lived under the same roof for 24 hours.

"Wait." Ariel restrained the movement of a maid who was carrying two shopping bags from a Paris fashion house.

"Yes miss."

Ariel gulped. "All of this belongs to Crystal?"

The maid nodded her head cautiously. "Yes miss, all of these belong to Mrs. Crystal and there are quite a few in the car as well."

"Is there anything else in the car?!"

"Y-yes miss." The maid's face immediately turned pale.

Ariel immediately turned her face towards the white SUV that was being surrounded by the maids, Ariel was stunned to see the many shopping bags that had just been unloaded from the car. Even though what she actually got was more than what Crystal was getting at this time but still she was jealous of how many gifts Crystal had now, her selfishness overcame her logic as marketing director at the West family's crude oil processing company.

Because she couldn't stand seeing her grandfather and Crystal together, Ariel then walked quickly to the place where Crystal and Roman West were. However, when she almost reached her destination a large hand suddenly grabbed her body, stopping her steps.

"Daddy!!" Aries shrieked loudly when she saw who the person who had stopped in her tracks was.

Austin, who had been watching Ariel's movements for a long time, fixed his gaze on the princess who was looking at him with anger. "Don't look for trouble, you don't want your grandfather to get angry, do you?"

"Who wants to find trouble?" Ariel tried to dodge. "I just want to get closer to my sister-in-law, isn't that okay?"

Austin chuckled. "You are my daughter Ariel, all your traits are inherited from me and I know what's on your mind right now. For now it's better not to disturb your grandfather's happiness who is enjoying his company with his granddaughter-in-law, there will come a time when he will refocus his affection on you again. So be patient."

"Grandfather never cared about me," Ariel said quietly. "All the achievements that I got were never considered by grandpa. Grandpa only cared about Reagan and now about that woman."

"If you want to get your grandfather's attention then show your achievements, winning the tender with a German company this week," Austin said quietly. "With your success then your grandfather will definitely focus his attention on you, Ariel."

Ariel's eyes opened wide. "But that German company is really hard to beat Daddy, they really charge a high price for..."

"That's why you have to prove your worth, Ariel. Just keep being Reagan's shadow, right?" Austin interrupted Ariel's words with a meaningful look.

Ariel was silent, her intelligent brain immediately processed her father's words quickly. Dozens of recordings that played many unpleasant events when she received a cold attitude from her grandfather replayed in her brain like a film camera roll, slowly the discomfort that stifled her chest rose up her chest accompanied by a feeling of heat.

"If you don't want to lose your position in this family and in the company then do what Daddy said before, don't waste this golden opportunity Ariel. Don't let Reagan be the constant highlight, it's time for you to shine your own light," added Austin again, trying to persuade his daughter to want to carry out the plan that he had made so well before. Austin wanted to use his daughter to destroy Reagan's reputation little by little, Austin was tired of seeing his daughter's behavior always following Reagan. "Show everyone that you can be better than Reagan."

****

West Oily Corp, London 13.30 PM.

Reagan, who was focusing on correcting Jarvis's proposal for a meeting with a German company for his new project, was very surprised by the appearance of Claudia, Jarvis' secretary who came in a hurry, her face that looked so panicked that Jarvis who was sitting on the sofa right in front of Reagan immediately reprimanded her with hard.

"S-sorry to interrupt, b-but this is important. Right now everyone is talking about you, Mr. Reagan," Claudia stuttered.

Reagan straightened. "Talking about me? What's wrong with me?"

"Turn on the TV, all your curiosity will be answered if you watch television," answered Claudia again.

"You dare give me orders." Reagan raised his voice in a tone of intense offense.

Claudia, who was well acquainted with the nature of her boss, took a deep breath before finally reaching for the television remote and immediately pressing the on button so that the dark television screen immediately brought up one of the most famous gossip shows in London.

"Fuck!!!"

Reagan squealed loudly when he saw his grandfather's interview with one of the paparazzi who followed him shopping this afternoon, in which Roman West proudly introduced Crystal to everyone. Roman West even said that his granddaughter-in-law was the best girl to be with Reagan.

"Why did you do this without discussing it with me first," growled Reagan with emotion. "Grandpa ruined my privacy."

Jarvis who had already expected this to happen slowly placed his smart tablet on the pile of papers on the table. "Looks like you have no other choice, Reagan."

"W-what do you mean?" Claudia spoke again in confusion. "Is what Mr Roman West said true?"

Jarvis shrugged his shoulders. "Ask Reagan directly."

"Eh?"

"What my grandfather said is true, that girl is my wife. Crystal Richard is my wife."

Continued