Claiming Mr.CEO

CHAPTER FOUR

At noon, Ace's cabin, Skylark Estates,

"Has the logistical questionnaire survey been completed?" As he walked into Ace's cabin, Regan questioned him about sheets.

""There are some mismatches, so I'm rechecking them," Ace stated as he looked through some papers. The new recruits are making a lot of mistakes."

"I'll issue them a warning." As he sat down on the couch, Regan muttered,

"What's the point of a warning?" Ace questioned, raising an eyebrow. "I only want the best in my team." He stated, "Fire them,"

"Working under a supervisor like you is tough," Regan said, bored.

"Like you're the one to talk to Mr. Woods?" Ace chuckled sarcastically.

Leaning back on the comfortable black couch, Regan smiled a little. However, when his phone vibrated the next minute, he frowned. He took out his phone and grimaced as he read some messages.

Regan groaned and turned to face Ace, who was still hard at work. "Hey," he muttered, drawing Ace's attention. "Turn on the TV and check the news."

Ace paused his work and arched an eyebrow, but he did as he was told. He took the remote from his right hand and turned on the large screen in front of him.

"Ah f**k!" Ace grumbled as he switched on the news channel. "It still hasn't ended?"

Ace noticed that the actress who was involved in the scandal with him was being interviewed.

Both Regan and Ace were irritated by the actress's poor acting on the screen.

"Ms. Vida, Is it true that you and Mr. Ace Elrod are in a relationship? One of the reporters asked the famous movie star Vida Taylor, a well-known actress in the country. Because the press had surrounded her, the interview was taking place outside her residence.

"No, we're just friends," Vida stated dramatically, "We just meet up occasionally, but we're not in a relationship. We're only friends."

"Occasionally? one of the reporters questioned. "So you guys are close?"

"No, I mean what I'm trying to say is..." Vida pretended to be speechless, as if she was flustered by the reporters' questions. She was trying to create a suspense among the people.

"Bullshit!" Ace grumbled as he turned off the TV. "She's enjoying the public spotlight."

"Well, the word 'Ace Elrod's lover' is a tag in itself." Regan let out a sigh of exhaustion. "So occasionally, huh?" he teased his best friend the next minute.

"It was just a one-night stand." Ace rolled his eyes. "I don't even know her full name," he scoffed.

"You've had a string of bad luck. I can't imagine how Daniel Elrod felt when he found out about his son's countless romantic affairs." Regan burst out laughing.

"Shut up!" Ace shouted while tossing the TV remote towards Regan, who caught it.

Regan is only twenty-six years old, a year younger than Ace. They didn't grow up together and have just known each other for about six years, yet they are quite close.

"Speaking of which, how's Rick Simon doing these days?" Putting the remote aside, Regan questioned.

"Who is Rick?" Ace tilted his head, attempting to remember who this person was.

"Really, now?" Regan asked, "Stralight Publishing Company?"

Regan's hint still didn't make a bell ring in Ace's head. Ace was still unclear as to who Regan was referring to.

Regan, on the other hand, was irritated when he observed Ace's response "The man you hit with your car. I hope you remember him now."

"Oh." Ace remembered this time. "I'm not sure how he's doing. Perhaps in a hospital or, most likely, dead." Ace started laughing.

Regan let out a sigh as well.

Previously, Ace had sent over a few of his folks to one of the well-known publishing companies. Reason? Rick Simon, the Director of the Starlight Publishing Company, had published a scandal involving Ace and a female actress named Vida Taylor.

The very scandal that was going viral in the media, revealing Ace's status as a player. Ace, on the other hand, didn't seem to bother because he didn't care about his public image as long as he could trample on people in his own commanding position.

However, because the actress was a well-known figure in the city, her relationship with Ace drew extra attention to both herself and Ace. Ace didn't appear to care much about this minor scandal, but the actress was secretly enjoying the public's curiosity and interest.

Even if Ace Elrod didn't care about his reputation because he was just interested in power, Daniel Elrod was troubled by his own son's irresponsible behavior. To Daniel Elrod, his reputation matters more.

Ace, on the other hand, took advantage of the opportunity to make Rick Simon compensate him for the profit that Starlight Publishing Company made from publishing Ace's scandal in a magazine.

Ace approached Rick Simon to partner with him on a project because Starlight Publishing Company is one of the city's most well-known publishing houses. Rick Simon, on the other hand, declined the offer since he knew how cunning Ace Elrod could be.

But, Ace Elrod isn't one to take rejection lightly, so he did what he felt like. He made the famous Starlight Publishing Company taste the dust.

In the hospital,

"Sir, I have bad news for you. Our company is on the verge of going bankrupt." One of the employees hurried inside Simon's hospital room, swinging the door open.

Rick Simon, the person who was hit by a car by Ace. He turned down a collaboration with Ace, who apparently found his behavior offensive.

Simon was in his hospital room, lying down with his bandaged leg. When he heard the news, he clenched his teeth. Ace Elrod first insulted him and then took over his company, and when he tried to confront him, he was run over by a car and ended up in the hospital.

Rick Simon's offense was that he published an article about Ace's affairs and refused to take it down despite Ace's promise of a hefty reward.

"What a scumbag!" Simon growled, his hand clenched in rage as he watched his own enterprise collapse in front of his own eyes. The employee who broke the news was Simon's management advisor.

When the manager saw his boss in this position, he devised a strategy. He cleared his throat and began speaking.

"Sir, how about we get some dirt on him?"

Rick Simon was skeptical of the plan because Ace was the son of Daniel Elrod, the owner of the city's chain of businesses.

"Nothing affects that jerk; he just goes about his business. He's only recently made his debut, and now he wants to evict his seniors. Furthermore, he is Daniel Elrod's son, who will devour us even if his child receives a single scratch." Rick Simon stated.

"How about we attack indirectly?" The manager asked after hearing his boss.

Rick Simon's ears perked up this time,"What do you mean?" He asked of his manager out of curiosity, knowing perfectly well that being the manager of a news publishing organization necessitates the ability to dig up dirt on people.

"It was merely a flying rumor that Ace Elrod was in a relationship with a male in his adolescent days." The manager said, straightening his posture.

"Is that all you have?" Rick Simon sighed and rolled his eyes.

The manager smirked, "The lover's identity is revealed to be that of the Hart family's heir. He hasn't made his public debut yet, and he's currently overseas with no public information."

"The Hart family's heir? Is this the son of Richard Hart? Are you sure you're serious? He's not just another of Ace's anonymous lovers. The city's two most famous and powerful families are involved. This is going to be a tremendous scoop." Rick Simon continued, "Get as much information as you can. By this evening, I'd like to have an article completed."

"Roger." The manager grinned as he exited the room.

"You'll pay for this young Elrod, you'll pay for messing with your seniors." Rick Simon mumbled to himself as he chuckled, knowing that he would exact his vengeance this time.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

In the evening, Elrod Mansion,

Daniel Elrod was seated in the yard area with his wife, enjoying his tea time.

"At long last, some relaxation time." Daniel Elrod muttered to himself as he sipped his Chamomile tea. "Someday, the brat will really give me a stress attack."

"Well, he'll grow up," Mrs. Juvia Elrod said, chuckling at her husband's words.

"No, he won't." Daniel Elrod grumbled irritably. "He's already twenty-seven, he should be thinking about getting married and settling down, but instead His Majesty is changing his partners, like clothing. I'm being really flexible with him."

Mrs. Elrod couldn't disagree with her husband on this point because their only son was a was a troublemaker.

"Speaking of marriage, I was even thinking about Ace getting married." Mrs. Hart said. "Do you think he has someone he likes? I've heard rumors that he's involved with both men and women; I'm not concerned about gender, but is there really someone who Ace is interested in?"

"I'm not sure," Daniel Elrod said, exhaustedly shaking his head. "I only hope this troublemaker meets someone who can mend his outrageous behavior,"

"I'm sure he will." Mrs. Hart gave a warm smile.

Both the husband and wife were conversing between themselves when Daniel Elrod's manager walked in and interrupted them.

"Please accept my apologies for interrupting you both, sir and ma'am, but this is extremely urgent." The manager said humbly.

"It's all right. Go ahead." Mrs. Elrod said as she put the teacup on the table. The manager hesitated before breaking the news, and Daniel Elrod could tell by the worried expression on his face that it had something to do with his troublemaker son.

"What did the brat do this time?" Daniel Elrod asked, and his manager paused before responding, "Please see this."

Both Daniel Elrod and his wife's eyes widened as the manager gave them his phone. The news said, "Ace Elrod's scandalous affair DISCLOSED."

What startled the couple the most was not what was mentioned in the article about their son, rather learning who their son's previous lover was. It was the son of Daniel Elrod's best friend, Richard Hart. Because Richard's son has been overseas and has yet to make a public appearance, his name and information have been hidden.

"Who wrote this article and when was it published?" Daniel Elrod, enraged, asked.

"To be precise, three minutes. Rick Simon's news publishing firm was behind it. The young Master allegedly shut down his business, and Rick Simon publicized it as a form of retaliation."

"Do you want me to contact the young master about this?" the manager continued.

"There's no need. I demand that this be taken down immediately and that Rick Simon's firm be fully removed from the city. He has the audacity to mess with my name," Daniel Elrod said.

"Will do." The manager responded respectfully and then walked away.

"This boy!" Juvia Elrod sighed out of exhaustion, "What am I going to do with him?"

"It's all because he was spoiled so rotten." Daniel Elrod fixed his gaze on his wife. "Look what your beloved son did this time; it's become his habit to get himself into trouble, and this time he's gotten Richard's involved." He said.

Juvia Elrod let out a weak grunt as she was disturbed by her son's behavior, and her husband, Daniel Elrod, lightly massaged his temples. She knew her son. Ace had undoubtedly been involved in numerous scandals involving other people, but what struck her the most was the fact that he was dating Crescent, which came as a complete shock to her. And right now, what troubled her the most was how the Hart and Elrod families' relationship would turn out. The Hart and Elrod families have been on good terms for a long time, but a scandal like this has caught both families at surprise.

"I can't believe this!" Mrs. Elrod was taken aback by the situation. "Crescent and Ace were in a relationship?!" She asked in disbelief.

"They had broken up long ago, according to the article. This would not have happened if that brat hadn't gotten himself into trouble. Crescent is coming back, and I'm not sure how I'm going to respond to him or Richard if they find out." Daniel Elrod was worried out of his mind.

He isn't unhappy with Crescent, who was his son's former boyfriend, who also happened to be the son of his best friend; rather, he is angry with his own son for causing all of this trouble and involving a bunch of people for no reason.

"Oh my goodness!" When Mrs. Elrod received a text message and she worriedly tapped her husband's shoulder. "You have to see this, Daniel." She said as she showed it to her husband.

The Hart Corporation's reputation had been severely harmed, and it was too late to save it. The investors have opted to withdraw their financing.

"This time, Ace has truly gone overboard." Mrs. Elrod murmured

"We owe Mr. and Mrs. Hart, an apology." She added.

"What words do I use to express my regret?" Daniel Elrod's voice became more hushed, "If only Ace hadn't created such a mess." He grumbled to himself, unsure how to answer to Richard Hart, his best friend and as well as Crescent's father.

Mrs. Elrod was concerned as well. For a long time, the Hart and Elrod families have gotten along well so far. Richard Hart is a childhood friend of Daniel Elrod. She was afraid that the situation between the two families might deteriorate because of his.

"We'll have to compensate for the loss." Mrs. Elrod responded, and Daniel Elrod sighed and got his phone, dialing his best friend's number,

"Hello, Richard?"