Chapter 17: An Encounter Between Mother–in–Law and Daughter–in–Law
Chad imitably hit the redial button. As soon as the call connected, he barked, “Michael, where the hell are you? I’ve been calling for an hour straight!”
On the other end, Michael’s breath came in quick gasps. “Sir, Mr. Chad… Apologies, I was just chasing down a new lead….
“Cut the excuses.”
Chad’s voice was icy. “That so–called legal titan–have you found her or not?”
Michael’s voice trembled audibly. “We’ve made some progress. According to my sources, she left the firm years ago. No records of her remain, and we can’t locate her through any public channels…” “Enough”
Chad’s sharp tone cut him off. I’m not paying you to report
useless progress, I want results!”
“At the moment… there isn’t much to report… Michael stammered.
Chad took a deep breath, his voice hardening. “Listen carefully. I have no patience for your meaningless chatter. Until you find her, you don’t get to sleep. Understand?”
The sound of Michael swallowing nervously came through the line….Understood. I’ll… I’ll do my best
Without waiting for a response, Chad hung up.
Just then, his secretary knocked and entered. “Sir, the chairman has asked to see you. He seems upset. Ms. Celine Weatherfield is also there.”
Chad frowned but said nothing. He followed the secretary toward his father’s top–floor office.
As they walked down the hallway, Chad asked in a low voice, “Did Mr. Spencer accept the gift I sent him?”
The secretary, walking a step behind, replied, “He was very pleased with your thoughtfulness. He expressed agreement that the Weatherfield Group needs transformation and someone to give the company a new soul”
Chad’s lips curled into a faint smile. Another ally on the board. “Contact Mr. Marshall’s secretary” he instructed. “I want to schedule a golf game with him tomorrow.”
As Chad entered his father’s office, elsewhere, Amelia was driving a white Mercedes E–Class out of a car dealership. Elise followed closely behind in another car.
The car radio played the news: “A longstanding New York City municipal redevelopment project, under intense public scrutiny, has been halted due to systemic legal compliance issues uncovered during an
evaluation”
Amelia’s phone rang. Seeing Richard’s name on the screen, she had a hunch about the call and answered.
“Amelia,” Richard said, leaning against his desk and rubbing his temples. “The municipal redevelopment project has run into some legal hurdles. Would you have time for dinner tonight to discuss it?” Amelia, flipping through some documents, didn’t even look up. “I just heard the news. I doubt I can help you with this.”
“Come on. You were part of the revisions to the Federal Administrative Code. The New York Administrative Code and zoning resolutions should be second nature to you
After a short pause, Richard played his trump card. “This isn’t just a contract issue. It concerns the future environment Luna and all the kids will grow up in.”
Amelia hesitated briefly. “Send me the restaurant address and time.”
That evening, Amelia arrived at the restaurant Richard had chosen.
She
wore a simple yet elegant black dress, moving like a shadowy sprite of the night.
Richard, already there, looked disheveled, his unshaven face and wrinkled suit revealing that he’d been living out of his office for days.
Amelia almost wondered how the restaurant hadn’t thrown him out.
Richard smiled and pulled out a chair for her, but she deliberately chose the seat opposite him.
When the waiter approached to take her order, Amelia declined. “Nothing for me, thank you.” She gestured toward Richard. “He, however, clearly needs to eat something.” Richard gave a bitter smile, guessing the reason for her attitude. “I’m sorry. I was too eager before. I promise to keep my distance until Luna adjusts to everything.” After a brief silence, the waiter stood by awkwardly.
*Just a coffee for me, Amelia said.
Richard ordered some food, eating quickly.
As they were talking, an older woman with a sharp, stern face and dressed in lavish clothes entered the restaurant with a friend
The older woman immediately spotted Amelia and the man sitting with his back to her.
This was Weatherfield’s matriarch–Chad’s mother. She fumed as she thought about how Amelia had skipped her birthday party, publicly announced their divorce, and danced with the mayor at a charity gala, humiliating the Weatherfield family.
Her anger surged, and she strode toward Amelia without hesitation.
Meanwhile, Amelia, noticing Richard had finished eating, set her coffee cup down. “What specific issues are you encountering? Did you bring the documents?”
Before Richard could respond, a hand reached out, grabbed Amelia’s coffee cup, and hurled its contents at her. Amelia instinctively blocked with her arm, and the coffee splashed onto Richard’s face instead. Richard froze. Never in his life had anyone dared to throw anything at him. As mayor, he was accustomed to smiles and deference, not public humiliation.
Amelia stood, snatched the coffee cup back, and, recognizing the culprit, snapped, “Are you out of your mind?”
She turned to Richard, her tone calm. “Go wash your face. I’ll handle this.”
The older woman ignored Richard entirely, her disdainful eyes locked on Amelia. “Amelia, without my permission, you wouldn’t even have set foot in the Weatherfield family. You should be full of gratitude and respect for me, not this disgraceful behavior.”
Amelia’s icy gaze met the older woman’s. “You think you have the right to lecture me about disgrace after what you just did?”
The older woman was Chad’s mother, Mrs. Weatherfield, a relic from another era. She was rigid, racist, and indifferent to politics, preferring radio to television.
Her domineering personality ruled over the Weatherfield household. She was quick to criticize and believed her age granted her authority over everyone.
Whenever Amelia visited, Mrs. Weatherfield would leave her exhausted with endless tasks, nitpicking her efforts, and berating her for not being as “perfect” as she had been in her youth. Often, Amelia wasn’t allowed to eat or was sent away in tears.
Now, standing face–to–face with this woman, Amelia regretted all the years she had endured such treatment for Chad’s sake.
Mrs. Weatherfield remained unfazed, turning to her friend and remarking, “Look at her. Just a few days ago, she’d hardly dare breathe in my presence. Now she bares her teeth at me.”
She sneered. “Good thing Chad takes after me. He made her sign the agreement early. Otherwise, she’d probably be clinging to our doorframe, refusing to leave.”
Her friend, a similarly wealthy and sharp–tongued woman, chuckled. “Exactly. I heard she even tried to seduce the mayor at a charity gala.”
Mrs. Weatherfield nodded in agreement. “Women like her didn’t exist in our time.”
Turning back to Amelia, she said with authority, “As long as you’re not divorced, you’re still part of the Weatherfield family. Don’t forget that.”
Her gaze flicked to Amelia’s neckline, her voice dripping with disdain. “Weatherfield women don’t dress like call girls. And they certainly don’t…” Her eyes moved to Richard, his face still damp with coffee. “…dine in hotels with their lovers.”
