99 YOU HAVE ME

"Oh no, no, no don't worry, I won't stoop to that level. But what if I'll ask you the same and insult you and implicate your child in a very dirty accusation? How would you feel? How will you react?" Ingrid paused before she continued speaking, her voice was becoming firm and compelling, "Listen carefully Maya Holmes, you may destroy me, drag my name down to the mud, defame me and bad mouth me but never, ever involve my child. You will not like what I'll do just to protect my son."

All of them did not move an inch after hearing Ingrid's words.

"Are you threatening me? Ha! I am not afraid of you." the woman still has the guts to sneer at her.

Ingrid smiled mockingly. "Nope, I am just warning you, never mess with a Howard."

Clifford waved to the men in suit and without delay they cleared the way for them to the parked Rolls Royce car. No one could longer come near them as the bulky men were like strong towers, shielding their masters.

"Geez, you go overboard Maya." Another reporter complained at her and some reporters agreed.

"We lose our precious opportunity because of this halfwit. Haven't you used you brain lately?? You've insulted a child, an innocent child at that and could be the future heir of the Briggs and the Howards. We didn't get any scoop that is news worthy." An older reporter felt disgusted towards her.

"You're more worthless than I am. You're too old for this, you better retire!" she retorted back.

Maya Holmes could not face defeat. 'Let's see what you will do Ingrid Howard.' She smiles devilishly.

Clifford was still cradling the sleeping child until they were seated at the back seat of the car. He glances at Ingrid clearing his throat before he spoke.

"That was intense. I thought you will just ignore her." Clifford commented.

"She insulted my child and I could never tolerate that." But then Ingrid came to realize what she did to the reporter. "I am so sorry I lose my cool back there. I know this will add fuel to the fire, but I don't care! No one dares to insult my child."

"That's why you have me. I'll make sure that they'll receive a pay back."

"No. Don't do that. As long as no harm done and my son is untouched, that's all right. I just overreacted earlier. I know it will be news later."

Ingrid puffed some air knowing that things may go a lot worse because of what she said or did to Maya Holmes. She knew how capable Maya Holmes can be in twisting stories; she could only hope it won't happen.

Ingrid's phone rang. It's Liane calling.

"Hey sis! What's up."

"Ingrid, where are you?"

"I'm on my way home, why?"

"No, please don't come to your house, there are some reporters who were at the gate entrance. I just left there a while ago because I wanted to see you, but only to find out that you're not there yet but the reporters instead. They were already prevented to enter but they insisted to hang around."

"What?!" she almost screamed. "Are they crazy? Why are they doing this?"

"I don't know, but if you are still with Clifford please tell him about the situation so that he will know what to do. Be careful." She hangs up.

"What did Liane said?" his voice was full of concern.

"There are also reporters waiting outside of my house. If I could only catch the perpetrator behind this, I'm gonna skin that person alive."

"Reporters are waiting on you?" Ingrid nodded. Clifford then received a text message from Gary.

<sir, there are reporters waiting outside your house. The press conference has just started.>

"Why are they so many?" he complained.

"Are they waiting at your house, too?"

"Yes."

"But what shall we do? I won't face them unprepared. I need to talk to my father first or we need to talk about it for our next move. The company could be affected, too."

"Yes, the company is affected but in a positive way..."