CHAPTER 11: I'm doomed.

Zara Langford

My phone fell out of my hands onto the plane's floor.

Can I at least get a break!

I placed my hands on my chest. My heart was pounding. It felt like it would explode in minutes.

Social media really is a crazy place. Within a few minutes, all these pictures were already published.

I read the first post on my feed out loud.

"Finally! A Woman to Warm Declan Voss's Bed on a Business Trip!"

Everything went blurry. Unblurred and went blurry again.

I tried processing the words in my head. Woman. Warm. Bed.

Christ! What the hell!

I gazed at the pictures attached to it. My shock tripled.

The pictures were photoshopped. In the pictures, Declan's face was a few inches from mine and the look in his eyes was unbelievable.

Lust. Obsession. Love.

Damnit! I need a fucking break.

I warned the asshole!

Warm his fucking bed?! I'm not his mistress. I didn't need to read the remaining ridiculous post. I turned off my phone.

Exhaling through my mouth. My hand clasped tightly.

Before I could stop myself. I was already up on my feet. An unknown energy surged through me.

I forgot the pain in my ankle. I found my way moving to Declan.

I got to where Declan sat. His head was nodding to whatever he was listening to.

Seriously? He is sitting right here ignorant of what the world is saying!

"Can you say whatever you want to say... You are blocking my airway" He spat with his eyes still closed.

I folded my hands. My fingernails are almost digging into my palm. I feel like punching his face.

Keep it calm, Zara. He is your boss.

"I warned you not to carry me... But being the annoying freak that doesn't listen to other people's opinions, you did and guess what?" I paused, thinking his eyes would snap open at the sudden burst of words.

But I was wrong. He kept nodding to whatever nonsense he was listening to. His feet are tapping the floor this time.

"The pictures of you carrying me are everywhere! With some ridiculous headlines, "my voice increased in tempo.

At that very moment, I was grateful The plane was a private one and we were the only ones in it except the pilot in the cockpit.

"Are you done?"He asked. His voice is too calm for someone who is trending on social media for lifting a woman who broke her ankle.

So many fucking narratives!

Huh? Was that the only thing he was gonna say after everything I ranted out?

I closed my eyes. Heaven knows how much I'm holding back.

Can he just open his damn eyes? Where is he acting like he doesn't care? Isn't this gonna affect his reputation?

This freak is really weird. Not weird, He is a fucking psycho.

I turned around ignoring his question. Limping back to my seat.

I couldn't help but wonder why he isn't affected by this?

Something crossed my mind. I'm just getting worked up over nothing.

My face was disguised.

Did he know this is gonna happen? Why ask me to disguise myself?

I whirled around. Staring at him for a heartbeat. Whatever games you are playing, just know two can play them.

★★★★★

~Author's Narrative~

Slams!

Victor slammed another flower vase against the wall in his office and it shuddered into tiny pieces.

Looking around the office, one would think it's a war zone. Broken pieces all over. Files littered all over the floor.

"Zara!!!!" He screamed rushing to his desk. And the remaining files and laptop on it found their way to the floor.

The laptop screen broke into pieces. The office was a mess. But right now he cared less.

Someone sent him the pictures of what transpired at the airport even before the press released them.

He felt betrayed. He felt cheated on. He knew his doom was near.

He knew Declan was doing all this on purpose.

Applying Zara. Taking her on a business trip. Asking her to be his date.

He could clearly see that nothing was normal about it.

And at that moment, He wished he had never taken Declan's company, He wished he wasn't involved.

Victor's wife rushed into the office and she stopped to an halt.

"Damn it, Victor! What happened right here?" She asked, trying to find her way through all the mess on the floor.

Victor placed his hands flat on the desk. Exhaling deeply.

" I shouldn't have... I shouldn't have taken part in the conspiracy, Emily" Victor whispered, regret dripping from his voice.

The only words that ring in his mind at that moment were " Had I known.”

"Oh, honey! It wasn't your fault. But I don't think this has anything to do with what happened years ago"Emily reassured, dropping her purse on the desk. She patted his back, rubbing it softly.

Emily clicked her tongue. She tried telling herself it's the truth despite knowing it's not true.

"Emily, it has everything to do with it" Victor's hands clenched into a fist on the desk. "It's been eight years to us... but it still feels like yesterday to him. Declan never forgives"

Worry clouded Emily's eyes. Her finger was slowing the pace of her rubbing on Victor's back.

Three words came out of her lips. "I warned you" she shook her head, trying to balance herself.

Suddenly, out of the blue, Victor's hands gripped Emily's neck shaking her violently.

“You should have stopped me, but you didn't !!!” Victor screamed, adding more pressure to his hands on Emily's neck.

“Ss…sto–” Emily choked on her words, trying to break free from Victor.

Victor quickly pulled away as if realizing what he had done. He looked at his hands and then at Emily.

Emily rubbed her neck coughing. She took a step backward shaking her head.

“I'm… I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me” Victor begged and tried reaching out to her, but Emily held out her hand.

She couldn't blame him, he is not in his right state of mind. She quickly pulled him into a hug.

“Everything is going to be okay. We are in this together.” Emily said her eyes were brimming with tears.

Her mind was on one person.

Zara.

She couldn't help but worry about her. She is Declan's personal assistant. She felt Declan didn't just pull that show for nothing.

She feels he is coming. Coming for them. Every one of them.

And Zara is going to be used as the tool.

"I'm doomed" Victor broke down into a sob. His soft cries filled the office.

"Shh... You are not doomed, we will figure this out." She reassured him. She turned Victor to face her and she pulled him into a tight hug.

Emily's heart was racing. She knew Victor was safe for the main time but not Zara.

But Zara is doomed.