Their relationship is far from formal

At the Beazell's family, Linda sat with a swollen face and a sullen expression not understanding why her father will suddenly turn against her without hearing her side of the story.

After being disgraced from J and J Mall, she had received a call from her father summoning her to the house.

She had barely stepped foot into the house when a hot slap greeted her from the door.

She was taken aback and about to curse at the person and retaliate when she discovered it was her dad.

"How can you be so useless?" yelled Mr Beazell, his pot belly bouncing up and down.

He couldn't believe that the daughter he has doted on all these years would be the cause of his downfall.

"Dad?"

"Hubby!"

"Do you mind explaining the meaning of this?" He threw a stack of documents on the table.

Linda walked over to take a look and found a letter addressed to her among the documents.

Her expression turned sour once she opened it and saw what was written in the letter.

It was a court summons from Moore Chambers.

"What have you been doing outside all these days? You even went as far as earning yourself a court order from Moore Chambers."

On hearing about Moore Chambers, Mrs Beazell went pale.

"Dad, it's not what you think. I…"

"It's not what I think?" Mr Beazell let out a bitter laugh. "I gave you a simple task of following up with the collaborations with Wyatt Corps that everyone in the Beazell group have been working tirelessly to put together, but what did you do? Instead of clicking a deal with Wyatt Corps, you got yourself into trouble and messed up everything at the most crucial moment. Now what do you think I should be thinking?"

"It's not my fault dad. It's all Kathleen's fault and even the court summons is also related to her."

"Haven't I always warned you to stay away from her?" Mr Beazell stopped in his tracks suddenly. "Wait, what am I even saying? Kathleen is already dead. How did she come into the equation? Oh, now you can't see anyone to accuse so you have to go and resurrect a dead person in order to pass the blame to her."

"I've always warned you about this lifestyle of yours but you have always listened to your mother's advice. Now see what you have gotten yourself into."

"Hey! Hold it there, Are you insinuating that I am a bad influence on our daughter? All I've done is train her to stand up for herself and not to be a weakling. Is that considered as leading her astray?" Mrs Beazell refuted immediately.

"Moreover the collaboration with Wyatt Corps was not something she could pull off by herself. Don't blame her for your own incompetence. She's still a child"

"A child you say, at what age will she be considered an adult? She's almost thirty and you still indulge her. Why would she not behave the way she is?"

He had a furious expression as he stormed off to his room.

"Forget about your father. He has always been a nag and disgruntled person who has never stood up for the ones he loved. Don't be scared," she coaxed. "We will find a way around Moore Chambers."

"Are you sure, mom?" Linda was still scared about the whole issue.

"Of course I am. When have I ever lied to you? But tell me, are you sure about what you just told your father?"

"Sure about what, mom?

"That the things you've been experiencing are all related to Kathleen. Is she not supposed to be dead?"

"Mom, she is alive and has returned to Baltimore for over a month now." Her face twisted in anger at the mention of Kathleen's name."She's been the one interfering with my business and causing me untold problems."

"That's strange, but she died in a plane crash six years ago." Mrs Beazell was doubtful and worried at the same time. If Kathleen was truly alive and back, then things would definitely get complicated.

"I'm not the only one that have been seeing her mom, my assistant and Fiona have also seen her. You can ask them if you still don't believe me."

"I believe you, dear. I know you wouldn't lie about something this serious. But why didn't you talk to me the moment you knew of her return? Things wouldn't have deteriorated this much if only you had told me."

"I felt I could handle her myself, Mom. But this time around she's quite different from six years ago. Not only is she arrogant but the way she carries herself as if she's superior to everyone really pisses me off. She's even been hanging around President Jason quite often these days."

"What? You can't possibly be talking about President Jason of Wyatt Corps."

"Yes mom. He's the one I'm talking about." Even she herself was finding it difficult to understand how Kathleen got so lucky. Six years ago, it was Shawn and now, it's President Jason.

"And their relationship doesn't seem to be simple," she added solemnly.

"What do you mean, by their relationship isn't simple? Doesn't President Jason hate mingling with ladies?"

"I thought so too initially, but from the two occasions I've witnessed their interactions, I think their relationship is far from formal. They're already on a first name basis."

"Mom, do you know the reason we were denied collaborations with Wyatt Corps was actually because of her?"

"What! But why did you wait till now to tell me something this important?" Mrs Beazell scolded. She expected Linda to have known better. "We have to do something immediately."

"What do we do mom?"

Mrs Beazell didn't say anything for a while but her brow was creased and her head inclined at an angle. "Just leave everything to me," she eventually blurted out. "But first, we'll need to apply a cold press to your face to stop the swelling, then you have to take a good rest."

"Thanks mom." Linda embraced her mom. "You are my supper mom and I know there is nothing you can't handle for me. I love you mom"

"I love you too. Quick hurry up and get the ice pack."

Linda got up and blew her mom a kiss before heading to the kitchen.

"Naughty child." Mrs Beazell smiled back.

As soon as Linda was out of view, Mrs Beazell's smile was quickly replaced by a frown.

She took out her phone and dialed a number she hadn't contacted for years.