His Devious Rule

Catalina and Dennis watched Anya merrily exit the bedroom and go to the kitchen asking for help. Both shook their heads at each other without knowing how their angry daughter became joyous.

Zane just cared if his mother was happy or not. So he smiled brightly and ran inside to help his mother.

Catalina and Dennis turned to the room door when Alvin exited. While Dennis was speechless looking at Alvin, Catalina silently giggled.

Alvin ignored their reactions and informed them, "Mom, Dad, we need to visit the police agency to give a statement. So we will be departing soon."

Dennis and Catalina were aware of the case. If not for their relatives, the three wouldn't have visited the town in a hurry. Thus Dennis and Catalina didn't force them to stay longer.

Alvin continued hearing the noise from outside, "There will be a bit of commotion for a few days, why don't you two come with us?" They could be more at ease in the Oasis mansion without much disturbance.

Catalina and Dennis looked at each other. Although it was overwhelming to see so many people at their gate, it was a result of their daughter's success. They didn't want to consider it noise. "It's alright, Alvin. We will handle it." Dennis responded.

Catalina continued after Dennis, "Instead, you should take care of your wife. She doesn't like the public's eyes on her."

But it was inevitable to be in the public eye as Anya was a recipient of the most esteemed award. Catalina just wanted Alvin to accompany Anya without making her feel alone.

Alvin glanced at the kitchen door hearing the two giggling inside. Anya had told him she doesn't want to be famed. If he wasn't wrong with his deduction, she wasn't pleased about the award that was threatening her private life, grabbing all the eyes from every kind of field.

He assured the two elders, "I will be with her." He truly wanted her to enjoy the award that she deserved. It could only be possible if Gianna and Miles Johnson get out of her face.

His eyes fell on Rob who was in the hallway. They couldn't go out due to the media and the house wasn't big enough to go to a room and have the discussion.

He went to the hallways and heard Rob's low voice to report to him. "Miles Johnson is rushing back to country X. Are we letting him off?" Rob wasn't satisfied with just that.

When Alvin stopped Miles Johnson, even if his intention was to lower Anya's unnecessary stretch of work, it kept Miles away from the laws.

Miles should be thankful for Alvin but he was pissed off. If Miles returned their help with a scandal, how could they let him off with a threat through another company?

At the end of the day, The Building People company was doing business with the Johnson companies. Business is about profit and losses. If Miles compromises on some profit, The Building People wouldn't care about the photo leak.

Even if Alvin ignores it, Rob wasn't ready to let it go so easily for staining the reputation of Skylark and Alvin right at the beginning.

Alvin was never so good. He just got Miles out of his secret hideout and put him in country X. Although Alvin wanted to deal with Miles Johnson himself, he wasn't ready to leave Anya alone during Gianna's case, Casper's schemes, and the new scandal which hit her harder.

Upon all that, he needs to get her confidence back for the job she was fearing to lose because of her mental health.

So how are they going to handle everything without missing even one of them?

The Building People wouldn't dare to offend him. Hence they will give hard time for Miles. Miles will be busy for a few days or a week or two to rebuild a good business relationship with The Building People company. Hence, Alvin had some time to handle him.

"We will pick one after the other," Alvin said in a low and calm voice.

Thinking of all the problems that arose at once, Alvin discerned that Anya was the target of each. He was the catalyst for Miles and Gianna to target Anya.

Looks like everyone sees Anya as his weakness and Anya's weakness was Zane. And he had two to protect.

Rob considered handling Miles alone but hearing Alvin say one after the other, he wanted to focus on Casper's actions. "Yes, Boss." As soon as he responded, the dup heard a questioning hum. "Huh?"

Rob quickly corrected himself, glancing at Anya, "Sir." Anya had scolded them to stop calling the boss that scolds more like mafia from the fiction.

Anya buried her smile and requested, "Could you please open the door?"

Rob opened the door for her and watched her carry a large tray filled with paper cups and hot piping coffee in it. Wearing a face mask, Zane followed her shortly holding a smaller tray and coffee.

Alvin and Rob looked at each other without understanding why Anya was serving coffee to the media and the crowd. Both made way for Dennis and Catalina and stood behind them watching the mother and son.

The cameramen had started clicking pictures as soon as the door opened. The reporters and people were waiting to interview Anya and Alvin. Seeing Anya going to them with a tray, they soon got the whiff of freshly grounded coffee beans and looked at each other.

Their eyes shifted to the little man in a face mask who elegantly walked next to Anya. Mrs. Matthews and Ms. Owen soon filled the air as she went closer to the main gate.

"Mrs. Matthews, what are your mother-in-law's actions?"

"Mrs. Matthews, were you aware of your husband's actions behind your back?"

"Ms. Owen, how do you feel about being the second youngest ever to receive the presidential award?" The questions poured in mercilessly.

Anya and Zane were unfazed at the fierce questioning on any of the topics they picked.

The guard who looked like a bouncer of a night club didn't open the gates. He suggested seeing the crowd and two, "Mrs. Matthews, it's not safe for you and little master to go to the crowd."

Anya was aware of it. If the crowd gets excited at a question, they would start shoving a microphone to her face and might end up pushing her around. More than her, her darling son has to be safe.

Anya agreed, "I will pass the tray to them." Her voice held no emotions and sounded distant just like her expression.

The guard lifted his hand and the questions slowly died down.

Anya ignored all the questions so far and stood in front of them. "It's cold outside. We have made so much coffee. Have it before it gets cold."

She passed the tray to the man in front of her who received it in a daze and passed it behind as he took a cup.

Zane passed the plate to another man at the side as he said, "Be careful while passing the tray."

Everyone turned to the adorable voice and looked at the gray eyes. They glanced at Anya who smiled at her son. They wanted to ask him to remove the mask from his pictures.

Nonetheless, Zane ran towards the kitchen house. He returned with the last tray of coffee and passed the tray himself.

Everyone enjoyed the hot coffee as they were standing in the cold for a few hours.

Anya collected the trays back and instructed, "Please use the dustbin to your left." She wouldn't have considered giving the interview. It was the only solution she could let her parents live peacefully without the media bombarding them every day to get exclusive news articles.

Alvin crossed his arms and watched the excited crowd cool down at the hot coffee. His wife didn't even offer smiles or pleasing words or expensive snacks, yet the crowd was under her control.

It was going well. If Anya had ignored the media as he does, then Casper would have got the chance to do so.

Alvin instructed Rob, "Ask Ean to deal with the media companies." He didn't want Anya's words to be twisted by the media.

Dennis and Catalina smiled to themselves witnessing their daughter handle one side and Alvin taking care behind the scenes. They were ecstatic with their daughter's choice.

–––––––

At Matthews Industries,

Casper had thought Anya wouldn't dare to accept an interview due to the cheating husband's posts. When the scandal was blamed on Gianna, his team started to control the situation.

Having no idea Anya and Alvin were in Anya's hometown, Casper had instructed secretary Harrison to stop the media from questioning Anya about Gianna's case.

Nevertheless, Secretary Harrison rushed inside the office and reported, "Chairman Matthews, Ms. Owen isn't in the capital." He grabbed the television remote and switched to the news channel that was telecasting Anya standing in front of the media behind a small house behind her.

Thus the news they were desperately trying to suppress was going to be telecasted live on the news channels. More and more people will show interest in Gianna's case if it's said by the award recipient.

Casper commanded Harrison, "Contact the news channels and stop the telecast. Pay them as much as they want."

Harrison: "..."

Casper lifted his hand and stopped Harrison who hadn't moved yet. Casper strangely calmed down as he slowly instructed, "Call Alvin. Tell him that their secret will be revealed if Anya speaks anything against Gianna." He was sure Alvin and Anya wouldn't want Zane to be called a bastard, an illegitimate child by the whole nation.