His Perfect Wife Strikes Back

175 Deal

"I'm going to give you the last chance," Mickle said. "I'm not going to repeat myself."

"Mikeal!" I blurted out. "I want him to lose everything."

"You hate him," Mickle whispered. "Like you hate me?"

"Whatever deal you made with him, he knows your history with my mother," I said. "He's a time bomb for you, too."

"Aren't you?" Mickle squinted at me.

"But he's not my family."

"We're family," Mia interjected. "You should trust your daughter more!"

"Daughter?" Mickle laughed sarcastically. "And my daughters are negotiating with their father."

"Because we're a family of politicians," Mia said hastily.

I waited in silence for an answer. When the tension subsided, Mickle tapped me on the shoulder.

"I can give you what you want. But you have to give me what I want."

"Deal!" I subconsciously clenched my hands when I agreed.

Mickle walked to his desk again and held the receiver up to his ear.

"Ian, come in."

Less than two minutes after Mickle hung up, Ian pushed the door open and entered the room. He had changed into a light grey suit before he arrived. Ian stood deferentially in the doorway, waiting for Mickle to give him his orders.

"I've already talked to my daughters," Mickle said bluntly. "Mia wants 200 million and the title of the President's daughter. Eva wanted Mikeal Green. You talk to them about the rest."

"Yes, sir." Ian nodded.

"Girls, I have an important video conference to attend. I need to leave," Mickle said, walking toward the door. His eyes swept over Mia and me as if we were just a couple of things in the room.

When Mickle leaves, Ian comes towards us from the door. He puts his briefcase on the table and sits across from Mia and me. He looked at us with a professional smile.

"So, shall we begin?" Ian's pale blue eyes sparkled shrewdly.

"Are you in charge?" Mia looked at Ian suspiciously.

"If I wasn't, why would Mr Blanton leave something so important to me?" Ian said. "As Mr Blanton's adviser, it's my job to take care of his problems."

"You think we're a trouble?" Mia asked sharply.

"Mia!" I told her. "We are a problem for future presidential candidates."

Ian smiled at me. "Well, let's not waste any more time. Let's start with Eva."

"I have a tough question. Let's start with something simple," I said, glancing at Mia.

"Mia, do you need $200 million?" Ian asked.

"Yes. And I need people to know that I'm Mickle Blanton's daughter."

Ian thought about it, and it didn't take long for his brain to come up with a solution.

"First of all, we need to come to an understanding." Ian looked at Mia and me at the same time. "The public is very curious about your relationship with Mr. Blanton. I need to explain this to dispel the confusion."

"How?" Mia asked.

"It's just a story," I added. "A story that people believe."

"We will disclose your relationship with Mr Blanton to the media. But you need to show that you don't know anything about it. Your mother met Mr. Blanton at a casual party and they fall in love. Mr Blanton was sent to the Middle East to fight in the war and disappeared on a mission. Your mother thought he was dead when she found out she was pregnant and had to find a father for her child. So, she marries someone she doesn't love. And her two daughters didn't discover this amazing secret until one day when they were dealing with their mother's belongings."

"Good story," I said. "Looks like you're as good a storyteller as Mia."

Mia rolled her eyes at me unhappily. Ian continued, "Of course, your adoptive father knew this secret a long time ago. So, in order to get back at your mother, he deliberately sent one of the newborn girls to the slums, while the other was left to be raised by his side."

"It's seamless," Mia says in an exaggerated tone. "We're in the middle of the story, and you're having the beginning. So what's the end of the story?"

"Mr Blanton feels guilty about your mother's death," Ian said. "He will love you and be a good father for the rest of his life."

Mia and I looked at each other and laughed at the same time.

"A good father?" Mia was amused. "I'm really curious about how he's been a good father."

"Mia, this isn't a joke." Ian's tone was serious, "You have to remember what I said because we need to be on the same page. If someone says something wrong or forgets, they will get in big trouble. Ladies, you don't want to get your father in trouble, do you?"

"Go on, Ian," I laughed back.

"And during the election, you'll need to work with Mr Blanton's campaign," Ian said, opening his laptop. "You'll need to work with him at least twice a month until the election is over."

"No problem." Mia readily agreed.

"Good," Ian said. "So about Mia's request, my offer is, we can't pay you $200 million directly."

"What?" Mia glared at Ian. "What are you talking about?"

"Since Mr Blanton's campaign expenses are all paid for by the Wharton family, all expenses must be approved by the Wharton family. I don't think they're going to agree to pay for it." Ian raised his hand for Mia to be quiet, "But I have another way for you to get the money."

"How?"

"Because of your audacity on live television," Ian paused for a second, "You've outdone the Kardashians in terms of your popularity. I'm going to put you on Oprah's talk show, and then I'm going to help you become a public figure. You're young and in great shape. I'm sure you'll be a bigger star than Kardashian."

"That sounds great." Mia looked delighted. "So am I going to be a star?

"As long as you cooperate with us." Ian's eyes flashed with a hint of cunning. "I guarantee that your worth will surpass that of any Kardashian in three years."

"So I have to win this money on my own?" Mia recovered from her joy.

"Something like that."

"Are you kidding me?"

"Mia, the upfront costs of all the training and promotion are paid for by the company, and that's a lot of money," Ian said, "Although we have the Wharton family behind us, they are businessmen. If you want to use their resources to promote you personally, they need to be rewarded accordingly. Think about it."

Ian apparently did not give Mia bargaining room, but only after 2 seconds, Mia made a decision.

"Okay. I agree with your plan."

Ian nods in satisfaction, then looks at me.

"Then it's your turn, Eva."