CEO's Contract Obsession-Chapter 294: Loophole

As pale as a ghost is the best description for Amy and Ava who stood frozen on their spot as they stare nervously at the woman by the door who caught them inside the forbidden room. Ava felt cold sweat forming on her forehead as her heart beats at an unimaginable speed making her want to faint.

"Nana! Why are you here too?" Ava shifted her gaze to Amy after hearing her question the old lady.

"Lucas asked me to fetch him his favorite wine and saw the door open. Now let’s get out of here before the butler sees you two here," the woman said, and both Amy and Ava scurried straight to the door back to the wine cellar.

"I am guessing this lovely lady is the one Lucas is talking about?" the old woman asked after she closes the door of the forbidden room.

"Yes..." Amy nodded before turning to Ava who had a confused look on her face. "Ava, meet Nana Minerva, she was Ash’s nanny when he was still a young spoiled boy. Nana, this is Ava Lopez, Ash’s girlfriend," Amy stated.

Nana Minerva raised both her arms wide open and gestured for Ava to come closer before giving her a big warm hug.

"I am so happy to meet you dear, but let me just get the wine and bring it to Lucas before they look for me. Go to your room Amy, I’ll meet you two there. We are not yet done here, I saw what you two were doing here," Minerva said before leaving the two to look for the wine that she was asked to fetch.

"Let’s go, Ava. Mary and I have a room here. It’s a twin guest room that we always stay in whenever my family stays here," Amy then head towards upstairs and Ava followed her diligently without saying a word.

When they finally arrived in the said room, Ava finally let go of the breath that she was holding due to too much nervousness. She slumped her back on the bed as she place her hand on her chest.

"You ok there?" Amy chuckled, watching Ava breathe in and out heavily and deeply.

"I think I just had a mini heart attack there," Ava said as she stare at the ceiling before suddenly sitting up again to face Amy, "Will she report us to Ash’s dad?" she worriedly asked.

"I still hope she won’t but I also think that she will not, because if she plans to then she already did right?" Amy prattled for she was also nervous if on whose side Nana Minerva and she alone could ruin everything that they are planning.

They both sit on the edge of one of the beds as they patiently wait. They were both formulating their alibi on what they are doing there but Minerva already said that she saw what they are doing inside so there’s really no excuse that they can think of.

When Nana Minerva entered the room, Amy and Ava both stood up in chorus as their hearts started beating fast again. But the old lady smiled and gestured for them to take a seat.

"Now tell me girls, what are you two doing in there? Amy, you have known for years that no one is allowed to go in there, even the butler. So what is it that you are looking for?" Nana Minerva asked softly, reducing the nervousness of the two.

"Nana, we are trying to help Ash. Do you remember Uncle Dimitri? Ash and I think that he is holding Uncle Lucas by the neck. We are almost sure that he is blackmailing him but he doesn’t want to say how or by what. And that’s what we are trying to find out. Do you know anything that can help us? Maybe you have heard something or you know a place where Uncles Lucas must have been hiding some documents?" Amy explained.

"Oh, dear that is a big accusation, how can you and Ash say that? Did you see or hear something that gave you a hint about it?" Nana Minerva responded.

This Ava was the one who answered, "Ash said that Mr. Brighton is scared of terminating the contract with Mr. Turner because he is a dangerous man. That even if he wanted to terminate the contract he simply can’t and doesn’t want to tell him the reason. Instead, he just instructed Ash to find a loophole in the contract to be able to terminate it."

"Well I am old and I don’t know such things but perhaps I should tell you a story that might help you solve your problem," Minerva said, Amy and Ava sit back on the bed bringing their feet up to cross their legs.

Minerva pulled a chair, bringing it in front of the girls, and began her story as soon as she sat.

"Lucas came from a wealthy family whom my mom and I worked for and as you know I took care of Asher until he was a teenager. I got married and focused on my family life but now I am back to take care of some matters.

Lucas’ father was a gambler and put their company in jeopardy. When Lucas’ father died, Brighton Industries was on the verge of declaring bankruptcy I was in high school by then. Lucas hid the fact that his company is dying and then agreed to an arranged marriage with Asher’s mom who is the daughter of a bank owner.

The arrangement was done long ago, when Asher’s grandpa was still alive but both future bride and groom strongly refused the idea and it was only then when Lucas’ father died that he agreed to it after finding out the financial status of their company.

Asher’s mom has a huge inheritance and that’s why Lucas’ agreed to marry her but it was love a first sight for the two. Their wedding day is their first meeting and they both fell in love with each other on that same day until the day she passed away.

She was the heir to their bank but when her family found out about the financial trouble that the Brighton Industry is having, they forced her to divorce Lucas but she refused to do so so the inheritance was transferred to Asher’s aunt who now owns the bank.

Lucas met Mr. Bell and Mr. Turner at a party because of their wives who instantly became friends. These ladies were kindhearted it was unfortunate that all three are now all together in heaven.

The partnership of the three started there, but it was short-lived. Mr. Bell had a misunderstanding with Mr. Turner one night here in the mansion. I heard the three fighting and their wives were trying to break it off. The butler and security even helped. It resulted in Mrs. Turner having a miscarriage so Francis stayed here for a while and I took care of him–"

Amy was intently listening to Nana Minerva and quickly cut her off after hearing an unfamiliar name, "Wait, Nana, who is Francis?" Amy asked frowning.

"Francis is the son of Dimitri Turner. He is his son from his ex-lover and his wife wanted to adopt him since his mother abandoned him but I don’t know what happened to him. That was the first and last time I saw him. He is older than all of you. Maybe Mr. Turner sent him abroad to study," Nana Minerva said making Amy and Ava look at each other in confusion.

"But Nana Mr. Turner has declared no offspring in the family registry. When we investigated, he has no immediate family nor close relatives," Amy said.

Minerva crossed her arms and pouted her lips, "Hmm, that is weird. I am sure that Francis is his son, his wife was very eager to adopt him since they are having trouble conceiving a child. Mr. Turner was also so fond of him. He kept on calling me while I was taking care of him when his wife was in the hospital. I even thought that he was their son that’s why they named their company San Francisco Petroleum Corp." Minerva mentioned.

"The name sounds familiar but it’s not because of the company, I think I heard it somewhere else. But Nana you are saying that Francis has never been adopted by Uncle Dimitri?" Amy questioned.

"During that time yes, that’s why Mrs. Turner wanted to adopt him too badly so he can be their legal son, I just don’t know what happened after that since I never saw him again and the Turners never went back here until the day I got married," Minerva answered.

"Thank you, Nana, you are right telling us that story will help us," Amy said.

"You are welcome, dear. I also don’t think that Lucas is hiding some documents here. Maybe somewhere else but not here. My mom and the butler cleans the forbidden room and at one point I did clean too but there’s nothing in there just memorabilia of Mrs. Brighton," Minerva stated.

"We think so too, but Nana why are you back here?" Amy couldn’t help but ask. There are enough workers in the mansion already and Minerva doesn’t need a job, she has her own family now and her children are all working.

"Well, it is a secret but I will tell you because I am old and my daughter is against me working here. You are family and so is Ava so I will tell you and I hope in return you can convince Asher to return to the mansion, will you do that for me?" Minerva pleaded as her eyes are well up.