Chapter 99 - 99

"Imsorry" Manuel mumbled.

"Excuse me, what?" Jake asked as he grinned at Manuel. He knew he just got what he wanted. The Juans feared Jake more than they hated Ian.

Ian knew that they would probably choose to do this, since there were more ways in the next week that they could get back at Ian for this moment.

One week, that's all the Juan family had left before everything came tumbling down. The fate that Ian had planned for them was much worse than what he had suffered. 

Ian had no plans of being nice, why be nice to people who would never change or never feel remorse for their actions. They celebrated the fact that they had helped push the Lim Family overboard. Even children should know better than to do what the Juans did.

"I'm sorry." Manuel said in a much clearer voice making Camilla gasp and glance at Ian.

"I'm sorry to who?" Jake said. It seemed he really wanted to drive a message into their stubborn minds. 

"I am sorry, Ian Lim. I didn't mean to offend you. Please accept my apology." Manuel said slowly so that Jake could hear him.

"Where is the bow? You bowed to me." Jake pointed out making Ian want to laugh, now this was really pushing it. "Plus you didn't sound sincere, I don't think you meant that apology." Jake said.

Manuel hesitated as he glanced at his father.

The elder man did nothing to support his son, he simply nodded, telling the young man to do whatever made Jake happy.

"Jake, I don't think you need to force him." Ian said as he tried to sound kind and magnanimous, after all this was all an act on both sides, why not try to come out as the better of the two.

"You're too kind, Ian." Jake said as he shook his head. "Unfortunately, I'm not." 

With that Jake turned his attention back to Manuel and his father.

"Well, I'm waiting for you to apologize to him." Jake said as he crossed his arms on his chest. "And this time, I want you to mean it." 

Ian could see as Manuel bit his lower lip and hesitated. It didn't take a genius to realize that no apology coming from Manuel to Ian would be genuine. The only thing he would have felt bad for is the fact that he had said those things in front of Jake.

"This is a waste of time." Camilla suddenly said. "We know he will never genuinely apologize to Ian, why bother?" She asked Jake.

"Because I said so." Jake told Camilla in a calm and yet threatening tone. 

It was clear that he didn't like the fact that Camilla had challenged him in public, but he wasn't mad either. 

"I'm waiting." Jake said as he looked at Manuel and Manuel's father.

Clearly the older man was smarter and thought more logically as he scolded his son.

"Manuel, just do it. Drop your fucking pride and apologize." He told his son.

What Manuel did next shocked Ian and the rest of his companions.

Manuel suddenly dropped to his knees and bowed his head.

"I am sorry that I offended you, Ian." Manuel said in a shaky voice as he tried to get the words out as sincerely as he could. "I made a mistake in offending you. Please accept my apology and forgive me."

Ian was stunned at what lengths Manuel was willing to go to, just to get on Jake's good side. Clearly they wanted something from Jake, and it was something that was worth putting aside his pride for.

"You didn't have to kneel." Ian told Manuel as he walked over and offered his hand. "I appreciate the apology and you are forgiven." Ian said with a nod.

Manuel remained on his knees, not looking up. 

That's when Ian realized that his words meant nothing to Manuel unless Jake backed him up.

One week, in one week Manuel and the rest of his family would realize that Ian was not someone they should have messed with.

"You are way kinder than me, Ian." Jake said with a laugh as he shook his head. "If my team member accepts your apology, then I guess you are forgiven. I know that you do not regret calling him names, you just regret offending me."

Ian was shocked that Jake had told the Juans that, straight to their faces. 

"Get up, you look like an idiot." Jake said as he sat back down and waved for a waiter to approach them.

He quickly ordered drinks and snacks for everyone as the group sat in awkward silence, unsure what to say.

"Ash?" Jake asked as he looked at the saleswoman.

"Yes, Jake?" She asked back as she glanced at him.

"Shouldn't you begin the introductions and the presentation?" He asked her with a raised eyebrow.

"Ah, yes, yes." Ash said with a nod as she quickly introduced Jake as her manager and Ian and Camilla as her teammates.

As the drinks were served, Ian and Camilla found out that the Juans were searching for a place within the Capital, preferably a condominium. 

The first place they had asked about was Solaire Towers, Ash was quick to deny that Solaire Towers was owned by the Reyes Group.

This fact earned Camilla and Ian a confused look from Manuel.

For a moment, Ian expected Manuel to ask why the people at Solaire Towers referred to him and Camilla as their bosses, but he kept his mouth shut.

It seemed he was done with being embarrassed for the day.

"We could always offer your homes at the heart of the capital." Ash told Manuel and his father.

"No, no, no houses." Manuel's father said as he shook his head. "My wife and I are looking for something smaller."

This got Ian curious, why were the Juans looking for a smaller space. They were a rich family with a business that spanned generations. 

Was it possible that the Juans were slowly losing money?