CHAPTER 21

Tessa watched Mrs Penelope and Annabelle leave, she knew they would surely come for revenge, but what could they possibly do to her? 

She was far superior to them, she was even superior to Oliver, even though Oliver's family was among the top ten richest families in the city. 

The top ten richest families were nothing compared to an underground family like hers, they might have the money, but they didn't have the power, and power was superior to money. 

'Money might buy power, but there is some power that money can't buy, and in fact, being powerful is better than having money"

Tessa reached Mr Dawson's office, she never planned to release the video now, that was why Mr Dawson didn't hurriedly move to get it done. 

If she had released the video, it would've affected her too, it would affect her more than the Winston family. 

If only Mrs Penelope knew that.

"I have blurred your face, and I have changed your voice too. You can upload it without issues now"

Mr Dawson handed Tessa the SD card, it turned out that all the cameras were working, so her voice recording wasn't needed, but she would add it. 

Tessa accepted the SD card, she never planned to let them off the hook, of course, she was going to upload it no matter the case, now she even had a better reason to upload it.

She told them that they had five minutes to apologize to her, but they didn't, so the deal was off. Whether they apologized or not, it was over. She would upload it, but not now. 

"I should take my leave"

Mr Dawson stood up and bowed 90 degrees. 

"Lady Tessa, how about I buy you lunch for the troubles you had to go through? I could help you deal with the Winston family if you want"

Tessa recalculated her time, she had to be at home now so she could think of what to wear and arrive on time. 

"That would be next time Mr Dawson, and about the Winston family. Please leave them to me. I will handle them myself"

Mr Dawson nodded to Tessa's words. 

"Very well then, have a nice day"

Tessa left DK store and came back home. She met Jeremy at the parking lot, he didn't go away. Perhaps her father instructed him to follow her, so he rather stayed hidden until she came back.

She didn't know if that was the case though, but she knew Jeremy was under her father's control not hers. 

Tessa came out of the car, she threw the keys to Jeremy.

"Bring the box to my room, and drop it at the door"

She walked away without waiting for Jeremy to respond. Jeremy frowned a little, he just wanted the best for Tessa, not that he was getting paid to spy on her. 

Tessa quickly freshened up again, Jeremy had already dropped the clothes in her living room. she wondered which to pick since they were five now. 

Without much debate, she went for the one she initially wanted to buy. Tessa puts on the black backless gown, she finds it suitable for the occasion.

She stared at herself in the mirror. The elders were aware of her time in the military bachelor party, and they were also aware of this. 

She must get this head commander to get on their good side, or else they might start having certain thoughts of her not being qualified enough to be the head of the family. 

There were three elders in the Wood family, it was more like three clans, each clan having their role in the family, if one suffocates, the family would suffer in one way or the other, so the family needed the three clans in order to function properly.

Jeremy's father was one of them, she believed getting on Jeremy's father's good side would be easy but for the other two, that was a different story.

Anyway, she wants to do things right, she wants to do her best for the family, for what her grandfather left for her. 

Tessa came out of the main house, Jeremy was waiting for her with his father's favorite car, the 1995 McLaren F1. Jeremy's father was the money handler in the Wood family. 

He was in charge of running majority of the family companies, like the car dealership company, estate management, investing, and some others.

Jeremy father was good at these things, he was also a good gambler, but her family didn't have a casino, so he stopped gambling when he joined the Wood family, he only gambles with businesses now. 

Without thinking, one could already tell that Jeremy's father controls the money in the family, the other two elders have their role too, each vital, and important to the development of the Wood family, as a family and as an underground association. 

Tessa approached Jeremy, she would have to let him in, but she must speak her mind and hear his opinion.

"Who side are you on, my side or my father's side"

"I am on your side, Tessa. I..."

Tessa cut him off. 

"Who are you protecting, me or my father? Who do you report to, me or my father? Where does your loyalty lies, to me or my father?"

Jeremy was dumbstruck by Tessa's numerous questions. 

He raised his voice a little. 

"I was assigned to you"

"Then do exactly what I tell you to do, and report to me first before anything. It's an order not a friendly request. Disobey me, and I won't ever look your way again"

Tessa entered the car and shut the door. 

Jeremy took a deep breath and entered the driver seat, he wouldn't be able to serve two masters at a time, it was either he supported Tessa or continued his loyalty work for Sir Mateo. 

Jeremy didn't know which to pick, either way he wanted the best for Tessa. 

He drove to Green Belt Restaurant. 

The place was designed with a military desert color, the inside wasn't visible, it wasn't made of glass like some high-class restaurant, Tessa saw it more like a prison due to the solid walls. 

Whoever did this had probably never been to a restaurant before. 

There were security guards everywhere, military security guards, which also added to the prison sense Tessa was getting. 

They came out of the car after Jeremy safely parked at the restaurant parking slot. They approached the main entrance of the restaurant and were stopped by the security men standing close to the entrance door. 

"Ma, Sir. Can we have your entrance card"

Tessa brought out the invitation card, the head of the security team looked at it before he signaled his men by snapping his fingers. 

"Open the door for our guests"

He handed the invitation card back to Tessa with a smile. 

"I hope you enjoy your day Ma"

Tessa and Jeremy entered the restaurant, they were greeted with a corridor that housed different private rooms, with some better than the others. Tessa looked at the number on the invitation card, it was a letter and two numbers.

[B10]

Jeremy looked around trying to find the number, but none of the private rooms had the number. 

They decided to check the other side of the restaurant, which was a bit off-limits.

Tessa immediately handed the card to the military men there.

The man looked at the card and faced Tessa. 

"You or him, since it's only one card, only one person would be allowed inside"

Jeremy stepped aside when he heard that. 

Tessa faced him. 

"Wait for me here"

The men opened the door and Tessa was greeted by a luxurious dining Hall, with many dinner tables. 

Some of the tables were occupied, while others had only one person sitting.

Tessa entered the luxurious sector of the restaurant, now that she had seen everything, it wasn't that bad, it could be compared to some high-end restaurant. 

Once again, it was a show of superiority, she believed only commanders above would be allowed to dine here. 

Tessa quickly finds the table that consists of the number on the invitation card.

She found it straight away, but it was strange. 

Tessa approached the table, she thought this was a single date, with her and the head commander, but three beautiful ladies were already sitting with the Head commander.

The head commander was in a green military uniform, he was a medium-height fellow, and he looked a bit old, he should be around thirty-five to forty.

His looks were manageable though, given his connections, he was bound to be old, at least he wasn't that old.

Tessa reached the table. 

"Mr Edward. I am Tessa Wood"

Edward eyes brightened when he saw Tessa, but he kept his cool, he stood up and offered Tessa a handshake. 

"I am Edward Jackson. A head commander in the military"

Tessa accepted his handshake, she glanced at the ladies sitting and gave a quizzical look.

Edward cleared his throat and sat down. 

"Tessa, these are your competitors. I would be choosing among you four beautiful ladies"