"You decided to stop by and greet your friends like this? By confronting my boss and calling him names?" Jerry asked, his voice sharp. Matthias was stunned. He can't see himself believing that it was Damian that Jerry is calling boss, Damian, of all people? Everyone knew Damian was a nobody, a man who couldn't even afford to feed himself. How could he be a boss overnight? Was this all just a big act? Matthias couldn't believe it. Or maybe Jerry was just trying to get a revenge for him because this impossible, even magic can't change someone just like that over night.
"Umm, your boss?" Matthias asked, his eyes wide with confusion as he looked at Damian.
"Yes! You heard me right! So, right now, I want you to hand over the keys to that car you're driving. Let me have a look at it," Jerry demanded. Without hesitation, Matthias handed over the keys. After all, Jerry had bought the car for him but that's because of the stressing company work, to ease the stress for him. He couldn't argue with his boss so he handed over the key.
"Here, boss," he said, handing over the keys.
"Now that's good! You're fired!" Jerry declared. The words struck Matthias like a bullet, leaving him speechless. He gasped in shock, his mouth hanging open. As he immediately goes down on his knees with his breath becoming heavy.
"Don't be surprised about what you did that got you fired. First of all, you're a bad manager, but you're not the worst. You're fired because you insulted my boss, who is also your boss and the owner of the clothing brand you're managing! that company is part of Villa's Empire which is owned by him" Jerry revealed, a triumphant smirk playing on his lips. Damian smiled back, his eyes meeting Oliveira's.
Oliveira couldn't look at him directly. Shame washed over her, making her face burn. She couldn't believe what was happening. It still felt like a dream, a bizarre, unbelievable dream. She was still doubting its reality.
"He's the owner of Villa's Empire!" Jerry revealed, his voice booming. This was the biggest shock of all. How could Damian be the owner of Villa's Empire? They had thought he was just a poor, struggling soul!
"Umm, this must be a joke! You didn't come over here to make a joke, right...?" Ariel managed to say, her voice trembling. Damian gazes at her with a serious expression on his face, like she still had the guts to say shit? of course the surprise sent a wave through her, he wasn't surprised she's asking though.
"No! No one is joking with you. And if I had come here to make a joke, I could have brought thousands of comedians!" Jerry said taking in a breath.
"The KFC shops, the clothing brand, they're all under Villa's Empire's portfolio. And Damian's real name is Damian Villa!" Jerry declared, his eyes gleaming with amusement seeing the surprise in their faces.
"So, right now, everything is out of my hands. He's the one who's going to decide if he's going to let you manage his work or if you're getting fired!" Jerry said, his gaze shifting from Matthias to Ariel.
"Including you!" he added pointing at Ariel, his voice taking on a menacing tone. Ariel looked at her mother, who immediately averted her gaze. They both knew that a confrontation was inevitable. Ariel was going to blame her mother for what was happening, for not seeing Damian for who he truly was for hating him just for no reason. The young man didn't do anything wrong expect that he is poor which wasn't his fault, he's not lazy, he wanted to work but she refused him and he obeyed, still yet she hated him so badly.
"Umm, you all have suddenly gone silent? Now you see? You see a struggling man on the street, and you believe he's no one! Now you know that everyone is somebody! You thought you were feeding him, but you never knew he was feeding all of you together over the years!" Jerry said, his voice filled with confidence, his words echoing with a sense of triumph.
The air crackled with tension as Jerry's words hung heavy in the air. All eyes turned to Damian, the weight of their future resting on his shoulders. Now he is the boss, the one who held the power to decide their fate. It was clear they were seeking his mercy, a stark contrast to their past behavior when Damian was the one needing their pity. Why would they even for once think that he would pity them? Well... that's a pity to them instead.
"Over to you boss, what do you have to say, sir," Jerry said, his gaze fixed on Damian. "If you have anything to say, go ahead. You can decide whether or not to continue the contract."
Damian remained silent, his hand tucked into his pocket as he surveyed the faces before him. His gaze landed on Matthias, a flicker of disdain in his eyes. Anytime he sees that face he becomes more angrier, he's the one that caused him the highest pain, from sleeping with his wife to being the father of his beloved daughter.
"First, get that guy out of here," Damian commanded. "He's fired. He can only come back if he wants to be a houseboy. That seems like a perfect fit for him, and I'll pay him well."
Matthias recoiled, his face pale. "No! Please, don't do this! This is how I feed my family! I have no other work. I'm sorry for everything I've done!"
His voice trailed off as he caught Ariel's gaze. His words had revealed a secret, a truth he had kept hidden: he had a family. He had been deceiving Ariel, and the thought of her marrying him, only to be abandoned for his own wife, was a chilling prospect.
But why had he pursued Ariel, knowing she was married? Why had he relentlessly tried to steal her away from her husband, even after succeeding of having her in his bed?
This revelation only deepened the mystery surrounding Matthias's actions. Matthias and her mum were the two force that joined hand together to frustrate Damian.