Chapter 49 Tank his business
Jonathan had been scowling ever since he arrived at the charity gala, still fuming that he had to apologize to Sylvia at the prestigious Ivan event.
He couldn’t understand her luck in cozying up with the Ivan empire. She didn’t seem particularly cultured or impressive in the years she was married to Cyril – more like a housekeeper, obediently staying in her room and occasionally going back home to cook. What was so great about her, other than being docile?
Even though Jonathan knew he had to apologize, doing so to someone of Sylvia’s station grated on him.
Upon entering, he spotted Bruce with a woman on his arm – none other than Sylvia herself. Bruce was carrying her bag, to the shock of onlookers unsure of her identity but surprised at their apparent closeness.
Jonathan gritted his teeth, incensed that she had snagged Bruce so soon after divorcing Cyril. He had underestimated her cunning.
“Behave yourself!” his father hissed, noticing his son’s threatening demeanor. Causing trouble around Bruce would have consequences.
“I know what I should and shouldn’t do,” Jonathan huffed before stalking forward, his father unable to restrain him. This would not end well. The father hurried to find Cyril for
help.
Bruce and Sylvia observed Jonathan’s approach, his glare impossible to miss.
“What do you think?” Bruce asked, deferring to his sister on handling the situation. She could let Jonathan off if she wanted, though Bruce would make sure he still paid a private
price.
“If he comes to apologize, I’ll forgive him,” Sylvia replied. “But he ruined several of my overseas deals and embarrassed me. He won’t get off easy.”
Bruce doubted Jonathan would intentionally sabotage things here, but soon realized he had underestimated the man’s audacity.
Jonathan came right up to them, surrounded by several business partners chatting with Bruce. The men were puzzled by this rude interruption.
Jonathan bowed dramatically before Sylvia and Bruce, both taken aback.
“I sincerely apologize for spreading false rumors without knowing the facts. I was wrong
Chapter 49 Tank his business
and hope you can be the bigger person and forgive my family.”
It was an earnest apology, apart from the audience of peers.
Bruce saw now that Jonathan had deliberately made a spectacle. Sylvia likely expected this attempt to publicly disgrace her into forgiving him to save Ivan face.
With a sharp smile, Sylvia responded, “Since you’ve acknowledged your mistakes, I will forgive you, of course.”
Jonathan smiled too, confident she’d have to take the high road surrounded by so many people. His intent was obvious.
“Well, now that you’ve apologized, I assume you can be on your way?” Bruce said coldly, irritated by the posturing.
Inexplicably, Jonathan decided to further provoke Bruce. “I’d just caution you, sir, that the lady just divorced recently. You may want to console her.”
A stunned silence followed, appalled at his daring to lecture Bruce about Sylvia’s worthiness. “Is divorce so shameful?” Bruce retorted. “Wasn’t your wife filing for divorce recently? A good woman not cherished shows faults in her past marriage, not herself. It’s the ex- husband who likely needs consoling here.”
Jonathan was shocked at Bruce’s defense of Sylvia. Did he really favor her so strongly?
“I think that concludes today’s event,” Bruce stated firmly before leaving with Sylvia and abandoning the gala, no longer interested in charity facades.
The remaining guests were confused by Bruce’s dramatic exit and horrified at being left to deal with the fallout of Jonathan’s troublemaking.
Jonathan himself didn’t know what to do. The others clearly blamed him for ruining things and expected consequences.
When Cyril and Jonathan’s father arrived to overhear Bruce’s parting words, the father immediately collapsed in rage and distress at his son causing such chaos.
After the siblings left, Bruce made a call: “Tank all of Jonathan’s overseas deals.”