There's no Ursula in this story because this story focuses on Contestshipping with minor Ikarishipping. Ursula is only included when I focus on Ikarishipping because she is Dawn's rival. In this story, we have Brianna because she is May's rival.
Anyway, it's been a while. I finally finished my longest story, which is a Pokeshipping story. Now, my goal is to finish this one, though we're not entirely close to the end just yet.
Chapter 45
"Why the fuck are you here?" The raven haired man narrows his eyes.
Chuckling, the green haired man smirks at him before sitting down across from the desk. "I need some help."
"Why would I help you?" snarls the lawyer.
Shrugging, the new arrival replies, "Because you're not a terrible person, and you care about the orphanage...Brendan."
Brendan furrows his brows. "Are you threatening me with it?"
Drew shakes his head. "On the contrary, I need your help protecting it."
"I'm a lowly family lawyer. You can just hire million dollar lawyers." Brendan returns to looking at his computer. Because he works in a small lawfirm in Petalburg City, he shares an office space with a few other lawyers. Thus, they're all listening in, especially when they saw Drew Hayden walk through the doors.
Drew lied about having a business trip to Petalburg City so that he can check out Berlitz Beauties' shop here. His parents aren't suspicious, even though May used to live here. The fact that May isn't in Petalburg anymore relieves Drew's family because they know he won't be sneaking off to see her. Moreover, his pilot, who works for his parents, knows not to take Drew anywhere but back home after this. Drew did find the tracker the pilot tried to place in his coat, so Drew currently has Owen at the mall with it.
Despite Drew's parents being firm on him not going to the orphanage, Drew needs to be out in public working. Any indication of weakness from the company will drop its stocks, and Hayden Corporation is already struggling with supporting Wakanna Enterprises. Drew will weaken his family's company later. Right now, he needs some assistance from a rival.
"Can you do divorces?" inquires Drew.
"I'm not helping you." How does this relate to the orphanage?
Sighing, Drew bites his bottom lip. He may have been too arrogant when he told Dawn to give him 6 days. Swallowing his pride, Drew says, "My family wants to shut down the orphanage."
"Because of you, huh?" Brendan knows all about Drew Hayden volunteering there. It's on the news sometimes.
Drew nods. "Yes."
"Then stop volunteering there. You don't need a lawyer for that." He also doesn't need a divorce for that. Brendan prefers Drew stay as far away from the orphanage and May as possible. Everything went south when Drew started volunteering there years ago.
He shakes his head. "That won't ever happen. Look, I'm tired of living for my parents. I'm tired of doing what I should do-"
"I'm not gonna help you." repeats the annoyed lawyer.
Drew takes in a deep breath to calm himself down because he deserves this treatment from Brendan. Drew has been talking to Brendan's ex, and Drew has always been hostile with Brendan. "You're not doing it for me. You're doing it for the orphanage."
"May doesn't want me there. Your family runs that place. Your family will just hire a much better lawyer. I'm not gonna waste my time on a losing battle!"
"You're not even gonna give it a shot?" inquires Drew.
"No amount of money you throw at me will make me take this case so that you can keep trying to hit on May." Brendan growls angrily.
Nodding in defeat, Drew stands up. "Thanks for your time. And uh, for the record, I wouldn't be paying you. I have no money, and I don't want to use my parents' money."
"Then I'm definitely not even gonna think about your case." Brendan can't believe how arrogant Drew must be to think Brendan would work for him for free.
After taking a few steps away from the desk, Drew turns back around. "You know, I might be wasting my time and my future by trying to be with May, but at least I'm trying." Drew slightly smiles thinking about the brunette who has his heart. "I'd rather try and fail than not try at all and still be apart from her." The man then heads back towards the door.
However, when Drew's hand touches the knob, Brendan inwardly groans. "I'll do it."
That's all Drew needs to hear for him to shut the door and sit back in his seat. "Thanks."
"It's for the orphanage and May. Not you." Brendan clarifies. "What do you need?"
"First, I need to make sure the orphanage keeps its building and licenses and everything after I piss off my parents. When Hayden Corporation tries to shut down the orphanage, I need us to have enough support to protect it." Drew quietly informs the lawyer.
Brendan nods. "I prepared that years ago. The first time we were supposed to do this." Brendan will just need to update the information he has, which may be a lot after all the renovations and resources Hayden Corporation put into the orphanage. Nevertheless, this is for the palace he called his home for almost a decade of his life.
"When can you get it done?" Drew did promise Dawn 6 days.
"I don't know. I'm busy here, and then I'll have to go to the orphanage and get them to give me that information. Maybe two months at least?" Hopefully, Tyler and May won't give Brendan a hard time because he is helping the orphanage.
"How about two days?"
"That's impossible." Brendan exclaims, but when he sees the serious gaze on Drew's face, Brendan whispers, "Even if I dedicated the next 48 hours to just this, it wouldn't be enough time."
Drew furrows his brows. "Let's say I go public in five days. That's when my family will counter. You'll have about five days and an hour to prepare the lawsuit. Can you do it?"
Brendan leans back in his seat while running a hand through his hair. Can he do it? That's also impossible. "I probably won't have all of the new assets, but I will be prepared for keeping the city from shutting down the orphanage. With the orphanage being the only one within a 500 mile radius, and it being one of the better ones, it'll be difficult for the city to justify shutting it down. The city will just suggest Hayden Corporation pull the funding so that they have nothing to do with it anymore. But that will make your company look evil for stopping funding for the orphanage, and it'll make investors think Hayden Corporation is struggling financially. The stock will drop a lot."
"Great. That works. And then we can go into assets later."
Knowing he's not going to be paid while he's working this case, Brendan is slightly worried. However, this is for the orphanage. Plus, if all goes well, he will get a lot of recognition from this case. Hayden Corporation versus a small orphanage they funded and once tried to shut down in the past. This is going to be one spicy case where Brendan working for free will gain a lot of exposure. Regardless of the exposure, Brendan is just happy to be helping May and Ms. Lovely.
"And one more thing." Drew adds, snapping Brendan's attention back to him. "I want a divorce."
LaRousse City
On the flight back to LaRousse City, Drew was on a call with Solidad. He had Owen get him a burner phone, and Harley got one for Solidad. It's not a company phone nor ones the company is aware of; thus, Drew and Solidad can freely talk without fear of being spied on. Owen knows he is also a target, so he has been extremely cautious about everything he does. Fortunately, whenever Drew sends Owen to do certain things for him in LaRousse City, Drew is doing something suspicious on purpose. That way, whatever eyes that would be on Owen are on Drew instead.
Because Solidad and Harley are on Drew's team, Drew has relied on them with the media aspect of the whole plan. He gave Solidad and time and place. She will gather her connections who will make the world believe that this is just a normal press conference about Hayden Corporation stock. Hayden Corporation, and Drew's parents, have had this meeting scheduled for a year now, as they do all their meetings. Drew isn't supposed to speak due to his family's fears of what he may say because of his rebellious history when he's upset with them. Nevertheless, that's why Drew has Solidad helping. She'll get someone to get Drew into the spotlight.
Once the plane lands, Drew is immediately greeted by his family's top bodyguard. "I don't need an escort, Sebastian." Drew nonchalantly walks past the large man.
Sebastian sighs. "Your parents believe you do." He knows all too well about the tension in the Hayden household right now.
"Don't want it. Bye, Sebastian." Drew quickens his pace, but the bodyguard easily keeps up with him. Owen worriedly watches as both men enter the large SUV, prompting Drew to give Sebastian an annoyed look. "C'mon."
"They are orders, and I follow them."
"Can I bribe you?" Drew asks as Owen drives the car.
"No."
Grumbling under his breath, Drew leans into his seat. "Worth a shot." Sebastian is loyal to his parents. It's the reason Drew's father constantly has Sebastian around. Thus, Drew knows he won't be able to keep sneaking around much longer. "My parents don't trust me, huh?"
"Your parents think you need more protection, sir."
Drew chuckles in amusement. "How old are you now?"
"52."
"Wow. Already? Didn't you start working for us right out of high school?" Drew has heard stories about Sebastian working his way up through security. The bodyguard nods, and Drew gazes out of his window.
The drive from the private airport to the mansion takes a while. Due to needing lots of empty land for the private airport, it's location is in the remote part of LaRousse City, meaning near another place in the remote part of the city. Drew knows this route pretty well, and he's about to try something he hasn't done in years. While the man would prefer to protect his brain from more risky behavior, he's feeling rebellious towards his parents. He's almost 30 years old, yet they have someone babysitting him. Moreover, he has an appointment he just made up in his mind.
"Hey, Owen." Drew speaks to his secretary driving them.
"Yes, Mr. Drew?"
Drew rolls his eyes at the formalities. "Don't stop. This car needs to get to the mansion ASAP. Okay?"
Owen curiously looks in the rearview mirror and nods. "Yes, sir."
Sebastian suspiciously eyes Drew. "What are you planning?"
"Nothing. I just figured I need to see my parents and tell them I don't need you." Drew innocently grins. When the car slows down slightly to merge onto the highway, Drew smirks. "I'll tell them later."
Before anyone can comprehend what he means, Drew opens his door to tuck and roll out. Owen's jaw drops in shock, and Sebastian starts unbuckling his seatbelt. Owen starts to slam on his breaks when Drew's words reiterate in his mind. Thus, Owen speeds up to get on the highway while Sebastian is yelling at him. Owen knows where Drew is going. There's only one reason Drew comes to the remote part of LaRousse City.
"Fucking pull over!" Sebastian exclaims. The car is going way too fast and there are too many other vehicles for Sebastian to safely tuck and roll out, so he needs the car to be pulled over.
"My orders were to continue driving." Owen weakly replies.
Sebastian glares at the secretary. "You work for Hayden Corporation! Drew's parents would demand you pull over immediately!"
"I work for Drew." Owen merges onto the fast lane, getting further away from Drew. He really hopes his boss is okay. "He said I need to get to the mansion."
Although Sebastian would normally force control of the wheel, this isn't a life or death situation. He'd rather not put innocent lives at risk as he chases after a rebellious heir. Annoyed that he's been defeated by Drew this time, Sebastian pulls out his phone to report to Drew's parents. "He jumped out of the car. I believe he's headed to the or-" Sebastian drops his phone from the hard brake.
He glares up at the rearview mirror where he sees Owen's apologetic eyes. "Sorry." Owen will buy Drew as much time as he can. Therefore, he had slammed on the brakes to disrupt Sebastian.
By the time Sebastian finds his phone again, he manages to tell Nicholas, "Drew went to the orphanage. His secretary is hel- I will kill you if you do that again!" Sebastian exclaims angrily at Owen. Finding his phone on last time, Sebastian clutches it tightly. "I'm unable to get to him for a while. You should send a car now."
"How can you lose him already, Sebastian?" Nicholas growls. With Drew being on his best behavior these past few years, Nicholas has forgotten about his son's rebellious nature. Drew has bested a lot of security guards in the past, including Sebastian many times. Nevertheless, Sebastian has been the best to bust Drew's escapes, even if Drew does succeed at times, like now.
"My apologies, sir. I forgot about his ability to leave moving vehicles. What do you want me to do?" Sebastian's glare on Owen intensifies.
"Wait for him at the mansion." Nicholas huffs while he stands from his desk. Some things have to be handled by him. Although Nicholas would rather pay people to do tasks for him, he's realized that certain tasks are only done right if by him. Ending the call, Nicholas grabs his coat and leaves.
Orphanage
"It's Brendan again." Betty tells Tyler as the man walks past her to the office.
Stopping in his tracks, Tyler sighs. "We don't talk to him anymore, Betty. Just block him."
"I did, and then he called from a different number. I think he's using his coworkers' phones." The phone goes off again, and Betty points to it. "He's not gonna stop until someone hears him out."
Furrowing his brows, Tyler watches the phone continue to ring. He knows Betty is right. Brendan won't stop, and Tyler won't let it be May who has to talk to him. "Transfer him, and don't say anything to May." The last thing Tyler needs is for both of May's exes to ruin her life again.
When Tyler shuts the office door, Betty doesn't even bother to pick up the call. She transfers it. The reason she knows it's Brendan is because she picked up the first two times. Realizing that all Petalburg numbers today are Brendan, Betty quit answering. She's even blocked a few numbers, but Brendan is persistent. May attracts some pretty clingy men.
"Hey, Betty."
Speaking of clingy men… Betty looks up at the very sweaty, dirty, frantic heir. She hasn't seen him look like this since his very first day at the orphanage all those years ago when he had to clean the bathrooms. "What are you doing here?" Betty hasn't seen him in a while. Furthermore, there seems to be some tenseness and a taboo subject pertaining to Drew lately. It makes Betty suspicious of the man.
Drew leans over the counter to catch his breath. "I-need-to see-May." He gasps out. Running a few miles here has made him realize how old and out of shape he's getting. Nevertheless, he's trying to beat Sebastian.
"Why?"
Drew raises his head to plead with Betty. "I don't have much time."
"Why?" Betty isn't a young teenager anymore. She understands that certain things affect the orphanage greatly, and these certain things happen to always relate to Drew Hayden.
"Please, Betty. I can run around this place looking for her, or you can just tell me so I don't waste any time."
"Why would I help you?" Betty narrows her eyes at him.
"Because it's me. We're friends, right?" Drew sheepishly smiles at her as his cheeks tint pink shyly.
Sighing, Betty studies his handsome face. She's spent enough time with Drew to know when he's being genuine. "You look like you're on the run, so it's better elss people know you're here." Betty stands. "I'll bring her to her room, but don't try anything!" May is falling into a comfortable routine here, so Betty doesn't need Drew ruining that.
Nodding gratefully, Drew replies, "Thanks, Betty. I owe you one." He then rushes off down the hall as Betty goes to get May.
Minutes later, the door to May's room swings open, and the woman stops in her tracks. She furrows her brows at the nervous sweaty man inside. "I should've known Betty was up to something when she asked for my logs." The logs are on the computer, but Betty requested the physical copies, which May holds.
"Sorry." Drew apologizes. He reaches past May to shut the door, causing the woman to narrow her eyes at him.
"What are you doing here?" The fact that he closed the door makes May skeptical of his intentions. Plus, she just saw him the other day, and he told her to wait a week. He specifically said that he's putting the orphanage in danger by being here, yet he's here.
"I need to talk to you."
"You're putting everyone in danger! You shouldn't be here!"
"I have it figured out. Trust me."
"I don't."
Drew runs a hand through his hair. "Fine. I'll earn that."
"I thought I told you not to come back. You said I can decide whether this is my last time seeing you or not. I'm choosing you to stop coming here." May won't put the orphanage into any more danger. With how nonchalantly Drew has been coming here, he's neglecting the orphanage for his selfish feelings, again. Something she once did. While Drew doesn't remember their terrible decision back then, May does. She won't put the orphans through that scare again.
"I won't come back until next week-"
"No. You won't come back at all." May sternly tells him.
Drew shakes his head. "The orphanage will be safe by next week. I'll prove it to you."
"If it even makes it til then! Someone's gonna figure out you're here and shut us down today!" May seethes.
The man grabs her tense shoulders to make her look him directly in the eyes. "May Maple."
"Don't-"
"I'm gonna protect the orphans and you. I promise. And when I'm done, you need to help me regain my memories." Drew gives her a small smile as his heart is racing.
"No." May glares at him, but Drew expected that reaction.
Chuckling lightly, he adds, "C'mon. If I can defy my family, protect this place, and divorce Brianna this week, you have to reward me. That's a lot to do for someone with memory loss."
May raises a skeptical eyebrow at him. "How are you gonna do that?" Back when May was on a team with Solidad and Dawn, they were unsuccessful. What makes Drew think he can do the same and more by himself?
"I have a team I trust." Drew smirks. "Wanna join it?"
"I'd rather not. You know the orphanage was already put in danger once because of me." May crosses her arms over her chest.
Nodding, Drew replies, "Then after you know the orphanage is safe, you can join my team. I'd like to have you on it."
"I don't wanna join your team."
"Why not?" Drew is slightly hurt by her distance. "I've always been on yours."
Before May can formulate a snarky response that won't hurt her heart, the door swings open to reveal a teenage girl, Vivian. "Betty said to run!"
Drew's eyes open wide while May stares at Vivian in confusion. "Huh?"
However, Drew quickly pulls open the window to slip out. "I love you, May. I'm gonna be happy, so you should be too." Drew then runs through the brush.
Vivian curiously looks at the blushing woman. "May-"
"Who's here, Vivian?" May hopes to take the attention away from Drew's confession.
"Me." The door is then opened wider, causing Vivian to almost lose her balance. Seeing the large angry man, Vivian gives May a sympathetic look and hurries off to Betty who is nearby.
Taking in a deep breath, May gives the man a small fake smile. "Hello, Mr. Hayden."
Nicholas sternly studies the room. His eyes linger on the desk and then back to May's unwavering blue eyes. "We need to talk."
"The office is currently in use." May only knows this because Betty had told her Tyler is on a phone call there. That's why Betty needed May's logs instead of Tyler's.
"My company practically owns this place. Find somewhere."
It's too much work to kick the children out of the common spaces, so May grabs her desk chair to put by the open doorway where Nicholas is. However, her head quickly snaps back to her desk, causing her hard gaze to soften. There is a bright red rose in her plastic cup of water next to the old rose. Did Drew put that in there while he was waiting for her?
"I know Drew was here." Nicholas's deep voice breaks May out of her daze, making May mentally curse herself for getting into it. If Nicholas's attention wasn't on the rose before, it is now. Thus, giving away Drew.
May sits on the edge of her bed to face him. "He hasn't been here in days. Don't you have something to do with that again?"
"I've never had anything to do with what Drew does. That boy does whatever he pleases." Nicholas furrows his brows in frustration thinking about his only child being so rebellious. "You need to make sure he stops seeing you."
"That's not my problem, sir." May hates how the problems of the wealthy are always being shoved onto her. She's the not one who makes him visit. She isn't the one who fell in love with him again. She wasn't the one who even wanted him back into her life to begin with! It was all Drew, and some rebelliousness against his family.
"This orphanage-"
"Don't threaten it again." May sharply stops Nicholas, making Nicholas very surprised. It's been ages since someone outside of his family has spoken to him like this. "I kept my promise. I cut off Drew, and I never contacted him again."
"Then why did you return here?" Nicholas finds it hard to believe that May didn't expect to see Drew again by coming to the orphanage. Everyone knows that Hayden Corporation is funding this place.
May looks away painfully to mumble, "Personal reasons."
"Drew?"
"No. Drew is in my past for a reason. When he lost his memories, I decided that was a sign that we were never supposed to meet." May meets Nicholas's gaze again, causing Nicholas to be very intrigued by her. "The orphanage needed help. Help that money can't buy. Once Tyler is able to handle the demands by himself, then I'll leave again."
Nicholas studies the woman's face. Despite being on a much lower status than him, May doesn't show any fear. With a snap of his fingers, Nicholas can destroy everything she loves. Fortunately for her, he's not that wicked. Instead, Nicholas inquires, "Why do you let him keep seeing you if you claim you're done with him?"
"Ask him." May is tired of Nicholas putting the blame on her. He needs to go yell at that grasshead that ran out her window.
"I'm asking you."
Clicking her tongue, May lets out a defeated breath. "He comes to me. He makes the effort. Why should I push someone away when they're risking so much? I don't ever ask him to come, but he just stops by."
"Like today?"
"No…" May shifts her eyes, and Nicholas can tell.
Being a strong businessman, he knows social queues, even subtle ones. "Why can't he stay away from you?" During the three years Drew has been married to Brianna, prior to May entering his life again, Drew rarely wanted to be around Brianna. Plus, he didn't see his parents often either. Nicholas has noticed that Drew's work has gotten better during the time he's been seeing May. Thus, May hasn't been a distraction to Drew. Just who is this poor woman, and how does she affect his son so much?
May's face heats up as she remembers Drew's confession. "Again, sir, that's a question for Drew."
Sighing, Nicholas knows May is right. He shouldn't be using his status to intimidate her into answering him. She has no idea how someone else is feeling. "Why-"
"Sir, I need to get back to work." May uncomfortably interrupts. She'll berate Drew next week for putting her through this. May hasn't seen or spoken to Nicholas since the hospital years ago.
"I am funding this orphanage. You can go when I say we're done."
"I don't appreciate you using your money to order me around. We never needed it, and we still don't. You can pull out the funding now." May angrily tells him. Although the funding has made life much easier for everyone at the orphanage, May won't be used like this.
Nicholas chuckles in amusement. May is a very fast learner for growing up poor. "Okay. I won't use those words again." He meets her furious orbs to say, "Answer this honestly, and I'll leave. Why are you so persistent on protecting the orphanage now, but you risked it all those years ago?"
To his surprise, Nicholas watches May's gaze turn sad. She takes in a deep breath. "You wouldn't understand."
"I don't. That's why I'm asking."
After a few seconds, May realizes that Nicholas isn't leaving until she answers. "After my family died, I had nothing. I made a friend here, and then he left. I was back with nothing, so I promised myself that I wouldn't have anything again. That way, I wouldn't have to lose anything anymore."
When May stops talking to expectantly look at Nicholas, the man sighs. "That doesn't answer my question."
"I don't wanna answer it."
"Then this meeting won't be ending."
"I'm sure the chairman of Hayden Corporation has better things to do than talk to some orphanage worker." May challenges. Why should she tell this man her personal information? She doesn't trust him.
"My once money hungry son is once again willing to give up everything for you. He is the heir to the company. You are affecting him, so I need to know why."
"Then ask him. My personal feelings have nothing to do with him!"
Nicholas narrows his eyes at May. "I'll determine that for myself."
"You need to leave, sir." May stands, but Nicholas doesn't. His chair is blocking the doorway of the small room, causing May to reluctantly sit down. "I don't get it."
"Me neither. My son has taken a liking to you again, and my wife can see his side, but I don't. Neither of them will answer me. I was hoping you could." Nicholas shyly tells May, surprising her.
Had she heard that correctly? Drew's mother understands the relationship? And Nicholas wants to understand it? Just what is going on? "I hated Drew when he first came here. He was arrogant and lazy."
Nicholas nods. "I recall that letter you sent to the judge."
May's lips twitch upwards at the remembrance of her first few days with Drew. "He constantly tried throwing his money around, but that doesn't work here. And then one day, he showed a different side of him. A kind supportive side." May meets Nicholas's emerald eyes. "A selfless side…"
Awkwardly looking away, Nicholas clears his throat. He never thought his son could be described using those words. Drew has always been an arrogant annoying reckless heir. Even after the accident, he couldn't be considered kind of selfless. Drew is on track to being a ruthless heir with the way he's been cutting funding in certain sections, including the orphanage.
"I don't know when I fell in love with him. I just know I started relying on him. The children were too. We all loved his presence here. The last day of his community service was a bittersweet one. I still remember it." May sighs. "When Drew promised that he'd visit, I expected him to visit a few times before stopping altogether, like all volunteers do. But he continued to visit every day if he could. And even though he was making money with the company, he never offered it to us." May smiles warmly. "All we ever wanted from Drew was his time. It has never been about his money or what he has to offer. He's everyone's support here."
"What about you?" Nicholas presses. This whole time, May has just been talking about Drew's impact at the orphanage. Nicholas wants to know how May feels about Drew. The reason she claims to love him.
In the corner of her eye, May spots the beautiful rose. "I'm going to tell you this because I know you won't tell anyone." It's been difficult keeping a cold face every time Drew confesses to her; thus, she needs to let it out to someone who doesn't care for her feelings. "I still love him. I'll always love him, and I'm willing to live without him. He's the only one who could make me care again." May gazes back at Nicholas's eyes. "Drew made life worth fighting for. I couldn't sit around and let him protect me, so I fought to protect him too. We're a family at the orphanage. And a family looks out for each other. Drew became our family the day he protected one of the orphans from her abusive father. Drew will always be our family, even if he doesn't know it."
It's the reason Tyler, Benny, and Betty are so welcoming to Drew. Once a LaRousse City family member, always a LaRousse City family member. Tyler is on the phone with Brendan who was once a part of this family and has turned his back on it a few times already. That's what a family is. They always support each other regardless of their history.
The woman shyly gulps as the impact of her words finally reach her. Did she just tell Nicholas her feelings for Drew? Nicholas is the last person who should know that because Nicholas has the power to shut the orphanage down. Nicholas has continuously threatened to shut the orphanage down. May bites her bottom lip in frustration, though Nicholas stands and moves the chair aside.
"Thank you for your time, Ms. Maple." He nods at her.
"I won't tell him." May repeats. "I don't want him regaining his memories, and I won't want to be in a relationship with him, so please don't shut the orphanage down."
To her dismay, Nicholas just quietly walks out. Typical of a businessman to not speak what's on his mind. May falls back on her bed and groans. Drew coming here got her all flustered. Thus, she was in a different mindset when Nicholas arrived. May really hopes she didn't just mess up and put the orphanage in anymore danger.
"May?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you okay?" Betty quietly asks. Just when Betty and Tyler were trying to protect May from more emotional harm, the chairman of Hayden Corporation comes to interrogate her. Betty hates how the wealthy use their power over poorer people.
"I might have screwed up again." the brunette shuts her eyes in exhaustion. Maybe if she packs up and leaves right now, Hayden Corporation will back off?
"It's okay, May." Betty tries to soothe her.
"No, it's not, Betty. The orphanage is more than just me. There are young children here. I can't let them get hurt."
Although Betty doesn't know what May and Nicholas spoke about, judging by May's demeanor, it doesn't look like it went well. "We're the number 1 ranked orphanage in the region. It'll be hard to justify shutting us down." Betty reminds May. "Since you feel like you already messed up, why don't you just go full force and mess up more?"
"What are you talking about, Betty?" May peeks through her arm to look at the determined girl.
Having just heard from Tyler about the nature of Brendan's phone call, Betty replies, "Drew and Brendan are working together to protect us. That's why Drew came here, right? You should join his team again."
"No." May snaps.
"You just said you already messed up with Mr. Hayden, so just join Drew. If we're gonna get shut down anyway, we might as well go down fighting." Betty clenches her fist triumphantly. "Tyler and I are gonna join him. You should too, May."
When May doesn't say anything after a few minutes, Betty shyly rubs the back of her neck. Maybe she got too ahead of herself? Betty knows May tried to fight in the past and lost. They got lucky that the orphanage survived, but May is scared from that experience. No way will Hayden Corporation let the orphanage go by unscathed a second time.
"I'll start on lunch. You should take the day off, May." Betty then leaves the room.
The moment the door closes, May lets out a very loud groan. Since when did Betty start giving May life advice? Since when did May want to listen to it? This whole time, May has been blocking out the messages from her heart for fear of falling for her love again. She can't be that selfish anymore, yet she just admitted her honest feelings for Drew to Nicholas. The very man who can close this orphanage down right now if he wanted to. Maybe Betty is right? May already fucked the orphanage over with today's conversation. Thus, May should start fighting before it's too late.
If this is anything like last time, Drew is most likely on lock down with no safe way to communicate with him. Pulling out her phone, May calls an old contact of hers. The phone rings, so May assumes she must be going to voicemail or the person got a new number. It has been years since they last spoke. However, before May can give up on the call, it's picked up.
"May?"
Focusing her attention on the rose, May says, "Hey, Solidad. I know you're working with Drew. I want in."
We're almost done with the whole power struggle thing. Just gotta give Drew his memories back, and then we're done haha. I'm trying not to rush this story and make it shitty, but I'm also just trying to get it done. It's taking me far too long. Hopefully the next chapter comes out soon.
