How the enemy reacts

Evelyn frowned at her ringing phone as she walked out of the elevator heading for the company's lobby outside of which her ride home was waiting. It was a dark starry night outside and Evelyn had stayed in the office later than she usually did.

She had experienced and gotten used to the hostile atmosphere in her family for years. She was born in that environment, she thrived in that environment, she even took pride in it for making her an exceptional business woman but now everything had changed with one dinner.

Her parents who never saw eye to eye had suddenly turned into young lovers who were doting on one another. She couldn't stand it. It annoyed the living daylight out of her. Even though when she was younger, she had rebelled a lot because of her father's negligence she didn't know his attention was like this. Right now she was regretting it.

She had stayed so late in the office hoping to miss dinner and avoid her parents altogether. That morning her father had made sure they came to the office together, riding in the same car, and had almost initiated the same thing after closing hours. She would have been forced to go home with him if she hadn't lied about having an appointment with some friends.

It was so frustrating seeing so many changes. Her father who never kept to closing hours and practically lived in his office, suddenly keeping to time was too much to bear. It was so frustrating that she considered spending the night in her office. Unfortunately, her office didn't have a single comfy sofa on which one could snuggle.

"I might need to get a decorator," Evelyn murmured to herself as she opened the door to the back seat of her ride and got in.

Just as she sat down, the other door opened and Ramon slipped in silently. Evelyn raised a brow at him before turning to the surprised driver.

"Take me home." she said and the driver immediately began to drive, taking it as the cue not to worry about the intruder.

"I didn't expect to see you back so quick." Evelyn said as she looked out the window on her side of the seat.

"His life is an open book." Ramon said calmly and Evelyn turned to him sharply.

"So there is no dirt on him?" she asked.

"No, it means he doesn't know how to cover his tracks."

"What do you mean?" Evelyn asked with a frown.

Ramon handed over two files to Evelyn. Glancing at him again, she grabbed the files and immediately opened them pulling out of the first intimate pictures of Richmond and Martha.

Her furrowed brows rose in surprise, "isn't this....?" She trailed off

"You know her?" Ramon asked.

"She's the reason I gave you this assignment in the first place, she's supposed to be Nancy's friend. Who would have thought that she is his other woman?" Evelyn said as her lips curled in excitement at the secret.

"He met her today, there's a record of the things they discussed in the file." Ramon said calmly and Evelyn immediately puts the pictures aside and dug for the recorder then plays it.

Her expression which Ramon calmly watched, changed from excitement to surprise and then back to excitement again.

"This bastard. He would go this far to win a woman's heart?" Evelyn asked no one in particular.

"You don't believe him." Ramon observed.

"Believe him? It is all a bloody lie. Allman Bloom is clean. Really clean. Father have tracked his tails for years. There is not a speck of dirt on him."

"What if he's good at hiding?" Ramon asked indifferently,

"No one is that good. Corrupt people always leave a trail. We would have found it and his daughter is just too innocent to know about this shit. That was why she landed herself a big-time crook for a fiancé." Evelyn said, then folded her arms across her chest. "Looks like Nancy Bloom dug herself a pit this time without the need of my help." she said with a smile.

"You should see the remaining documents. He also has been stashing funds away and has been gathering them and making plans to buy huge shares in the company. He already has many investors, working for and in support of him." Ramon explained as Evelyn went through the documents in the second file.

"I think he's aiming for the president's seat." Ramon finished. While Evelyn stared at the documents in awe.

"How did you get all these documents so fast?"

"I could say we are lucky. We found hints in his office, lots of them so we followed their trail." Ramon said and Evelyn smiled.

The best choice she has ever made was getting Ramon to work for her. He had helped her unmask and frame all her enemies and he could find even the most hidden dirty secrets.

"Should we send the message to the Blooms?" Ramon asked again when he saw that Evelyn was silent.

"No." Evelyn said with a wicked smile on her face but Ramon frowned,

"I thought you wanted to ruin the wedding."

"Ah! Not anymore. I know now that the wedding is a sham. He probably already knows that naive Nancy would name him the sole heir of Bloom's wealth if he marries her. So after the wedding, he would own the largest share in the company which is Allman Bloom's share, the same share that has been willed to Nancy bloom. Then he would buy out the other shares and kick the Blooms out of their own inheritance." Evelyn said then busted into laughter.

"Nancy really outdid herself this time. Since she dug this pit for herself unknowingly, It wouldn't be fair if I don't let her fall into it, would it?" Evelyn asked no one in particular as she smiled like a maniac.

She looked at Ramon who still maintained an expressionless face. "Keep on digging him up. Dig up everything on him before the wedding, there has to be more. I would use this information to divert the whole of the Blooms wealth to Noosa Inc." She said again looking straight ahead. "Also, find out when the shares would be sold, we have to be ready to buy those." Evelyn said turning to Ramon who only nodded.

"This would be a good show. I would really enjoy it, I hope to see what Nicole's face would look like when the whole thing plays out." Evelyn said happily.

When Ramon didn't respond she turned to the driver. "Stop the car."

The driver obeyed immediately, bringing it to a stop by the roadside, Ramon stepped out without another word, as gently as he had stepped in.

He went to the sidewalk and watched as the car rode away.

Soon another stopped in front of him, and he got in.

............................................

Martha walked into the Blooms' mansion slowly, lost in thoughts of her own. She passed by the maids who murmured greetings to her but didn't respond, she only looked at them with pity, these maids have been deceived by Nancy and her father for many years just as all the people of Hillwood had.

Those brood of vipers, did they think their secrets could be hidden forever? Did they think they could keep her Richmond away from her forever? How dare they? she was going to make them pay.

"Miss.... miss?" Martha suddenly came to her senses and looked at Miss Joyce who had been calling her. She had spent half the day with Richmond and the other half wondering what she would do and trying to calm her anger. For their sake, Richmond had to succeed in his plans, so that they wouldn't get caught this time. She thought.

"Yes? Is there a problem?" Martha asked immediately composing herself.

"No. Miss Nancy is out with her friends, she wouldn't be back until late. She asked me to show you to her room where you bridesmaid's dress is waiting." Miss Joyce explained.

"Never mind, I would go get it myself. You can go and rest." Martha said smiling sweetly and began to climb the stairs.

"How was the meeting today, miss?" Miss Joyce suddenly asked shocking Martha, who feared her and Richmond had been caught. She stared at the smiling Miss Joyce for a while, repeating to herself that Miss Joyce never left the house and there was no way she could know.

"It was fine," Martha said returning a fake smile as she turned and began to climb the stairs, she comes face to face with Allman Bloom who was rushing down the stairs. She froze in fear as her face turned pale white as if she had seen a ghost.

The Ignorant Mr. Bloom saw her and smiled. "Martha! How are you? Is Nancy back too?" he asked as he looked around for his daughter.

"No sir, Miss Martha went out separately on a business of her own." Miss Joyce answered when she noticed the sudden look of fright on Martha's face. Allman also noticed.

"Okay, are you alright Martha?" He asked with concern but Martha only nodded placing one of her hands on her temple as she couldn't even bear to utter a word, not when she was in front of the man who threatened to kill her if he found her beside Richmond again.

"You know you can tell me anything right? I am like your father." Allman told her with concern but she got the interpretation.

He was threatening her, wasn't he? She thought and immediately got her act together.

"I am fine uncle. I just remembered something, I would be in my room." She said quickly and began to hurry up the stairs. Allman nodded and began to go downstairs before he remembered something, he then turned to the retreating Martha.

"Oh, did you have dinner?" he asked and Martha's feet trembled, she had dinner with Richmond. They met again after the morning meeting and spent time restating their love and promises to each other. Did Allman Bloom find out already? She couldn't help but wonder.

"Y....Yes. Yes, I did. Goodnight uncle." Martha said and rushed upstairs before Allman could say another word. He looked at her and frowned before turning to Miss Joyce.

"Don't you think there is something wrong with that girl?"

"I'm sure she's just acting like the young adult that she is." Miss Joyce said in reply smiling at Allman Bloom's concern for a girl that wasn't even his daughter.

"That's exactly how Nancy acts whenever she does something wrong." Allman said thoughtfully, "I hope she doesn't get herself in trouble."

Miss Joyce's smile broadened, "She's a good kid sir, she won't." Miss Joyce said and Allman nodded, "How can I help you sir."

"Ah, yes." Allman said as she remembered why he had come downstairs in the first place, "Get me, Secretary Kim, tell him to meet me in my study." he said and Miss Joyce nodded as he hurried towards his study.