Chapter Eighty-nine Evan Sterling's POV (Present Time)

When Zack and four of the agents carried Gaius away, I straightened my suit, took a deep breath and strolled down to the entrance of the boardroom. And as soon as I pushed the door open, Antony snapped, "You are late!" He was standing by the glass wall on the other side of the room.
"No, you were early. I said 2 p.m. I still have a minute," I replied. Brian strode to me from the corner of the room, and I offered him a handshake he took it, holding my gaze, as I passed two copies of the flash drives to him. He swallowed, nodded and pocketed his hand as he drew back from me.
"Evan," my mother said as she got up. Normally she would have tried to come and hug me, but she knew now that would not be appreciated. So she stood looking at me awkwardly.
Anastasia Dallas nodded her greetings and then I took a glance at Edward. He was standing at a corner to the left of the glass wall looking outside and ignoring everyone.
"Okay, let's get to it. Take your seat gentlemen—" I said.
"I will like to remain standing, that is, if you don’t mind, son," Edward replied. "I feel like I'm in constant danger for every second spent in this room," he added then threw a glare in my mother's direction. "Although why I am here in the first place is beyond me … "
"Do you have better things to do, Edward? Other than go screw some poor bitch who had no choice in the matter?" My mother snapped.
"Mind your tongue, hag!" Edward retorted.
"Hag?" Antony scoffed, "Come on, don't be dense."
"You, stay the fuck off my family business, Tony!" Edward yelled.
"You invited me into your family business, moron, when you asked for my help to get you off the hook of that money laundry mess you got yourself into, remember, Eddy? I still have all the deets in case you need to refresh your memory," Antony Dallas retorted.
"You brought that asshole to me, and gained from the so-called money laundry, you and your fucking family used me to get your hooks in my company! And what did I get?! I lost everything! So, when next you feel like throwing those fucking accusations at me, Tony, shove it up your pompous ass. You bloody A-hole!"
"Watch your mouth you loser!" Antony yelled, jerking up from his seat. His face was red with rage now.
"I'm a loser now, huh? After you screwed me over, setting me up with that criminal and coincidentally having IRS and MLARS breathing down my neck. You double-crossing pig! Do you think I am stupid?!"
"Shut your trap you drunk! You did that to yourself. You were sloppy and stupid!"
"Who are you calling stupid?!" Edward strode forward but was stopped by Zack who had followed me inside with Dan to guard the door.
"Please, calm down, sir," Zack said in a neutral tone. Edward pushed his hand away and marched back to the corner of the room.
"While this is entertaining, to say the least, I kind of have other business matters to attend to—so if you all try to act like grown-ups, this would be quick. I assure you," I said with gritted teeth.
"You asked for this when you invited your drunk of a father to join this meeting … " Antony snapped.
"Who are you calling a drunk? You bloody fucker!" Edward exploded in anger.
"You reek of alcohol and it's only 2 p.m., Edward!" My mother yelled in disgust.
"Mind your fucking business, Charlotte! This is all your fucking fault!"
"Why am I not surprised?! Of course! You blame everyone but yourself! You are immature, Edward!"
"Enough!" I yelled and the entire room went quiet.
"Why are we here? I want to leave!" my father said after about a minute, glaring at me with bloodshot eyes.
"Sit down!!" I repeated in a low growl. He took a calming breath as if fighting an inner battle and then jerked forward to pull back one of the chairs arranged around the round table, and settled in it.
"Brian … " I prompted, and he immediately placed a folder in front of my mother, Anastasia Dallas, and then Antony Dallas.
"What is this?" Antony asked.
"A mandate you need to sign to sell your shares to me and relinquish all your rights to my company," I replied. Brian placed a pen each beside the folders.
My mother raised her face to gaze at me in confusion. Anastasia Dallas sighed. Antony grew red in the face. Edward settled down with keen interest shining in his eyes now.
"And why would I want to sell profiting shares to you?" Antony said throwing me a sardonic smile. But his change of color betrayed his mood, and his eyes were as cold as ice.
"Thank you for that question. I was wondering how I would broach that subject matter myself. You see, the four of you are about to experience the most disgusting scandal ever, and I figured it might be a decent thing to do from the goodness of your heart to not tank the company along with your … reputations?"
"Did you fall and hit your head? Have you gone insane? What scandal are you talking about?!" Antony said, shooting up from his seat. I noted how his eyes jerked to the door and sweat started to bead on his temple despite the air conditioner. I smirked.
"Come on, Antony, you really are going to make me say it in front of the ladies?" I replied in a lazy drawl, making great play of my Texan accent.
"Well, it appears drunkenness is something that runs in your family. I am regretful, to say the least, for agreeing to the marriage between you and my—"
I turned around to hold Brian’s gaze and he geared into action. Walking briskly to the smart Television hung on the side wall, he slotted the flash inside, picked the remote and offered it to me. I played the video and stood aside.
Antony's voice faltered and I made sure I had him and Anastasia Dallas in my line of view. Not wanting to miss anything whatsoever. Anastasia Dallas slowly went pale and so did Antony. My mother covered her mouth with both hands. Edward looked shell-shocked; he gaped at Antony. “You sick son-of-a-bitch!” he exclaimed under his breath.
The shock on their faces was profound.
Anastasia Dallas slowly stood up. Her chest heaved as she watched on replay as her husband drugged and raped their daughter.
"Sign here … " Brian prompted, addressing Antony, as he used the extra pen he was holding to tap the signature space on the paper.
"When did this happen?" Anastasia Dallas asked.
"Yesterday till early this morning,” I replied. She nodded.
"You don’t need his signature," Anastasia Dallas said.
"Yes, I do. He represents your family, and with the 50% shares—-" I said, prepared to argue my point, even though I knew Anastasia Dallas must have all the facts already, but she interrupted me.
"I'm the rightful owner of the company. He is just a custodian. My father made sure of it. If I sign the shares back to you, can you promise me nobody would ever get to see this?”
“Mrs. Dallas—” I said and again was interrupted by Antony this time.
"Anastasia—" Antony called. Anastasia Dallas gave him a withering glance.
"Don’t ever let my name come out of your mouth ever again! Don’t talk to me!" she growled with gritted teeth, then picked the folder up and quickly scribbled her signature where Brian directed. When Antony push back his chair to rush to stop her, pushing Brian away, she jerked back and stabbed the pen directly into the side of his neck.
"Anastasia! No!" My mother cried. I was stunned. Brian walked backwards till his back hugged the sidewall and his mouth hung open.
"Mrs. Dallas…" I said and she picked up her purse and retrieved a gun from it. Brandishing it at me and then my mother, Edward, Dan, and Zack, she yelled, "Nobody should interfere!"
Antony staggered on his feet in utter shock and with his hand held to the side of his neck, he bellowed for Gaius. Blood splattered from his mouth and streamed down his neck, staining his impeccable suit. Anastasia Dallas laughed, stepped closer and shot him in the knee caps. He fell to his knees in evident anguish.
"Before you die you son-of-a-bitch, I need you to know that I have been fucking Gaius and he is more man than you can ever be!"
"You whore! Your daughter is just like you!" Antony croaked.
"You dare to speak of her! After all that you have made her go through! You turned me into your accomplice in hurting our daughter. Nobody will mourn your loss. I will dance naked on your bloody grave! Antony! She is your daughter. You are a fucking pervert!"
"Anastasia—" my mother called, trying to move closer.
“Charlotte! Stay back. Damn it! She has a gun!” Edward snapped at my mother and I was surprised at the note of concern and even fear in his tone. My mother ignored Edward and took another step forward.
"No, stay back all of you! None of this concerns you! You have no idea how much I had suffered in the hands of this pervert!" she said, shaking terribly as she brandished the gun randomly at each one of us. She then jerked it in my direction, causing a bullet to shoot out. I flinched in reflex as pain spread through me. My mother screamed.