Offer to the CEO

Friday, continued …

As Anna finished, she looked directly at James, who was nodding. James quietly said "Anna is right. The last thing that Alecia needs to have to go into court to deal with him."

Alecia overheard what Anna and James said, and lifted her head from his chest before turning and looking at everyone "You all want to figure out the penalty he should get viewing that it will help me. You all seem to be forgetting that nothing will take away what he did and the emotions I have to deal with each day. James gets that, as he must see it daily. Dad, Ton and Junior you always shut yourself off when I was hurting, now you want to see him punished. Let alone the rest of you."

"Yes, I love you, but do you really think a penalty will take away all that hurt. It will not. But Anna is right the last thing I want to have to do is to face him in court. He tried to intimidate me at the birthday party, but Uncle Yi and Dad with James turned the tables on him there. Plus, since he has been charged, he was dragged everyone back and forth to court while purchasing his way out of most of the charges. How all you want me to go to court to satisfy what you want as a penalty." Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click www.readwn.com for visiting.

"No way do I want that. It achieves nothing for me, as I need to focus on me and moving forward with my life. I started that journey when I met James, and I need to continue it. The thing is in the end he is nothing, and letting the matter go back and forth in the courts only allows him to seem important. While I would love that he never gets out of jail to hurt someone like he has hurt me in the future, but a deal takes away his importance in the court proceedings. I need a compromise not a sentence to satisfy what you all see as necessary."

As Alecia reached the end of her speech, she knew that it had exhausted her, so she sagged back into James' arms. James leant down, and quietly whispered "Are you sure you are OK?"

Turning Alecia simply nodded. Despite everything, she knew everyone here loved her and wanted the best for her, but she wondered did her message get through. Yes, her thoughts were jumbled but hopefully the underlying message of getting a deal, so she did not have to see him got through.

Everyone else in the room however was simply looking Alecia taking in her words. There were a few minutes of silence with no one knowing what to say. James, was staring at every one of them. Alecia did not need this, and he wanted to protect her from it, despite being realistic that he could not shield her from everything.  Their time in Australia had shielded both of them from the reality of the criminal situation here until now.

Eventually, Lizard turned and spoke "Apologise Alecia. We want him in jail, but we should have realised …"

"Thank you, Uncle Lizard." Alecia said quietly.

James added "Does everyone understand. We just want this over, as it is something we do not want to linger on."

After a round of nods from everyone in the room, Alecia turned to King and said, "Now Uncle King, Dad when I arrived back gave me an envelope from you."

Sheepishly King responded "Yes Princess, so …"

"Why in the world did you give me that? A small gift would have been appropriate, but the shares and the real estate that is too much."

Ton and Junior sat there in shock. But before they would say anything King continued "Princess, you know that none of us have children, and while it might happen for some of us for others it will not. But meeting you, your brothers and father's when you came to the neighbourhood changed our lives from where we were headed to where we have gotten. We have ensured that there is something for the three of you when you marry, provided the Bug and the Toff here find each of your spouse's acceptable. That is yours, and boys the same condition will apply for you."

James realising that Anna wanted to argue, put his finger on her lips before saying "All we can do is say thank you, but can you please take care of it for us for the future." James, when they realised the gift had suggested to Anna that this was the best way to handle the gift, as based on what she had told him about them he knew they would not accept the gift back.

The discussion however soon drifted off to more pleasant matters before about an hour later everyone decided to leave and head home. On the way back to the apartment, James turned and said, "That was an experience."

"At least it was pleasant James. The first time Tan introduced me to them, I believe the triplets were two of three they scared me to death. Despite business issue, for Tan they are true friends," replied Anna.

As they chatted the trip back to the building quickly passed before they each headed to their apartments.