CHAPTER 14: Weaponizing a sprained ankle.

What!

“Wait… what did you just say?” I asked, finally finding my voice.

“You heard right, Zara” she replied

“Declan carrying me the second time will make him secure a contract?!” I almost shrieked into the phone.

Natalie's laughter exploded through the phone speaker, Loud and evil.

Now, this is what I call insanity. None of this made any sense.

Does Natalie think these are some W*****d novels that she reads during her free time?

“Grow up girl, it's not as bad as you think,” Natalie replied like this shit she just suggested is anywhere near good.

I rubbed my temple, The throbbing in my ankle started up again matching the one forming in my head.

“You are actually unhinged. This is a business deal and I'm not going to weaponize a sprained ankle for sympathy points”

How in heaven's name did she think I'll do that? It will cost me my leg for a week.

“Sprained? You literally can't stand it!”She fired back almost immediately.

“Natalie, hope you realize I'm his assistant and not his… “ I paused. Exhaled deeply, “And not his, whatever is going on in that thick skull of yours”

She laughed.

“Exactly my point! Okay, how about we see it from this perspective?” She asked, her voice hinting “What's coming next is naughty”

Okay, now what perspective is she talking about here?

“What perspective bitch?” I asked, my hand rubbing my throbbing ankle. Will this morning get any better?

She cleared her throat.“You are Declan's assistant, correct?”

“Correct”

“You are his date for three days, correct?”

“Correct”

“You are the one in charge of this deal, correct?”

“Correct”

“Now, give me a valid reason why you, Zara Langford shouldn't be carried into that meeting hall?” she asked, her tone daring me not to answer.

Laughter bubbled out of me. I really didn't see that coming.

“You need a reason? Okay, I'll give you a really valid one. People are gonna be watching, asshole! What are they going to think?” I threw the question at her, hoping it would throw her off guard.

There was a pause from her end, followed by the rustling of sheets.

Finally, I got her speechless! Just when I thought I had her, her voice boomed excitedly from the other end.

“That's the whole point of everything girl! Here is the plan.” Her voice switched into a full scheming tone.

“You stay back in your bedroom looking all snatched, but strategically vulnerable. Then Declan will come knocking after waiting for minutes for you to come out, and then boom, he will carry you to avoid being late. Wear that black slit gown we bought last month—the one that makes your legs look endless. We’ll wrap your ankle tight, slap on some nude heels you can barely stand in, and make sure you ‘accidentally’ twist it again right when Declan is nearby in the meeting.”

I stared at the ceiling, half horrified, half impressed by how fast her brain worked.

“You want me to fake a second injury on purpose?”

“Not fake it completely,” she corrected.

“Just… enhance the drama. One tiny misstep near him. He catches you. Carries you to your seat like the gentleman he pretends not to be. Everyone sees it. Contracts get signed out of sympathy or respect or whatever rich people feel. Win-win.”

“You’re insane.”

“And you’re boring when you’re scared,” she shot back. “Come on, Zara, trust me this is going to work”

This might not be a bad idea, besides he knows I sprained my ankle. Okay, Natalie will surely be the end of me.

“You are quiet,” Natalie sang “which means one thing… You are imagining it”

What! No! Okay, maybe I did imagine how terrible the scene would look like.

“I'm imagining pushing you off a cliff or a balcony” I muttered

“Just admit it girl, you are imagining it!” She argued, obviously giggling.

“Okay. Okay. Okay…” I sighed “If this turns out to be the worst terrible shit, I swear I will ghost you for months!”

She laughed.

Okay, I understand that laugh. The “you can't do a day without talking to me” laugh

Bitch!

“And hey, don't forget to send selfies of you in that outfit”

"Fuck you, Natalie!”

“I love you too, Zara!” She responded with the same matching voice aura.

The call ended. I exhaled, that was a lot.

Today really is gonna be a long day.

★★★★★

Declan Voss

I walked out of my room, dressed in a well-ironed tailored tuxedo suit. My hair combed neatly to the side.

I kept glancing at my wrist watch. It's already twenty minutes before the auction meeting and Zara hasn't come out of her room!

She is living up to the name she already established since she started working for me.

Almost immediately, yesterday's airport incident flashed into my head. The fall. She sprained her ankle.

The dots immediately clicked together, she wouldn't be able to use that leg today.

I walked slowly to her door, I raised my hand to knock, but it paused mid-air. I took a deep breath.

Am I really going to knock on my assistant's door? No way, I'd rather have a hotel worker do that instead.

I stepped aside, placing a call to the receptionist.

A room attendant made her way towards me. Smile enveloping her face.

“Good morning sir” She greeted, “you called for our service?” she asked with a blush spreading all over her face.

“My assistant is yet to come out, knock on the door, and find out what's holding in there”

She immediately got to work without any further questions. Turned to the door and knocked

“Yes?” Zara's soft tiny voice replied from inside the room.

“Room service ma'am”

“Use your card and find your way in” Zara replied, her response coming almost immediately.

The room attendant pulled out a card and swiped it. It beeped open. She turned to me.

I nodded at her, signaling her to go in, while I followed suit.

“Good morning ma'am,” The room attendant greeted Zara who was sitting on the dressing chair facing the mirror on the right side of the room. Fully dressed.

Wait! She is fully dressed and still in here? What is she thinking?

“The meeting is starting in a few minutes from now, grab your things, we are leaving now” I said, shutting her up before she could even say a word.

She turned to the female room attendant, “Help me strap my heels on”

The room attendant picked the heels lying next to the dressing chair, sliding them on for Zara.

“Thank you” Zara said to her with a smile.

The room attendant stepped back with a nod. I watched the whole time, stealing glances at her through the mirror.

Zara held the table and tried standing up, her face squeezing up with something obvious. Pain. She took two steps forward and while trying to accomplish the third, her legs gave out.

I moved on instinct, catching her before she hit the floor. She landed on my chest.

The room attendant gasped. Her jaw dropped.