Crisis

Aiden was standing at the 50th floor of the mega building he had just acquired. He planned to use it as the headquarters for Hendrix Global in the Capital City. The interior of the office was cool befitting of a CEO of such a huge company, he stood gazing at the city view with a cigarette between his fingers when his assistant entered.

"Boss" We already found his identity. He's Ryan Andres, the heir of Andres Enterprises, one of the leading companies in the Capital City, from my findings, him and Miss Finch are discussing a marriage alliance to save the Finch Corporation.

Aiden turned to him, she's getting married to him? His face turned cold as he chuckled devilishly. A typical behavior of the Finchs, always using people. Give them a little more problem, i want to see what that marriage alliance can do for them.

I understand boss. 

Gary and the rest will be arriving at the capital city tonight, make some arrangements for that.

Ok boss, Miguel bowed slightly and left the office.

Aiden sat on his seat staring at the bite mark Aliya left on his right hand as he clenched his hand into a fist, you did better think twice before doing this, Aliya. 

Finch Corporation 

The panicking Linda entered Aliya’s office. “Miss” We’ve got a big a problem.

What’s wrong, Linda?

Some illegal hard dr*gs were found in our shipment to B city and it has been seized by customs. They have currently arrested our workers there and are about to make the matter public.

What! How? What’s illegal drugs doing in our shipment? Have you contacted our people in B City.

Yes, I already did.

Do your best to withhold this information from reaching the media here.

I will have Jason find out the situation there and try our best to stop them. I have to go now, Aliya said as she walked out of the office in a haste with Linda following her behind.

The overall atmosphere in Finch Corporation was tensed as some higher ups have already gotten the information. Aliya was able to work with B city authorities to not make the issue public until further investigation have been made so as to not endanger the company’s reputation.

She was in the middle of reviewing some documents related to the shipment when she got a call from Ryan.

Hey, I heard what happened. How are you coping?

News indeed travels fast, Aliya thought to herself. I’m really at a dead end, the shipment were purely raw materials for production, I think someone did this to sabotage my company. With the company’s current strength, we can’t stand such a heavy blow on our reputation, if the news is made public, it will really affect us.

I understand. Just leave it to me, I know a few people in B city who can help.

Thanks Ryan, I really appreciate your help.

It’s nothing, I will still see you at lunch today right?

Definitely.

Ok then, Ryan said ending the call.

It was lunch break and Aliya had lunch plans with Ryan so she headed to Jade Restaurant.

Excuse me, please I have a reservation for lunch with my fiancée.

Oh, Miss Finch, come with me.

Miguel looked at the dignified Miss Finch, his boss's obsession wondering if he should inform the boss that she was also here and that too with her supposed fiancee.

The waiter led Aliya to Ryan's table.

Hi, did you wait for too long?

Not really, I just had a casual lunch with my client here.

That explains why you didn't get a private room.

We can get one if you are not comfortable here.

No, it's okay, let's just eat.

How are you?

I’m fine, just the company issues but it’s all getting better, I can manage at least with your help.

I’m always willing to help.

The waiter served them food and they ate.

About the wedding gown, any arrangement for that, Ryan asked.

Nothing yet, I've been so busy and it skipped my mind.

Aliya, it's your wedding, a bride should at least be very conscious of their wedding dress on her wedding day, Ryan smiled softly. I made some arrangements, I had some custom made wedding gowns flown in from Paris, you can go check it out later and make a choice.

Thanks Ryan, that's really thoughtful of you and thanks for your help with the shipment crisis too.

Ryan held her hands, we are going to be husband and wife so there's no need for too much formality, even though it's not really a marriage based on love. I promise to fulfill my own part to this marriage.

I promise too, Aliya said smiling at Ryan.

This was the scene that greeted Aiden when he came out of his private room. His already cold face turned colder as he stared at the two holding hands and smiling at each other. Aliya Finch, you were just in my bed the other night and now you're here smiling and laughing with other men, seems you have plenty time on your side.

Aliya felt a cold gaze and turned to the direction but only caught his departing figure.

After the lunch, Ryan dropped Aliya off at the Finch Corporations.

Linda, how is the investigation going?

We already checked the CCTV footage and we found nothing and non of the workers admitted to putting the drugs in the goods and some workers were unregistered part timers and it's really difficult tracking all of them.

How could they employ unregistered workers, now how do we get to know the culprit? Aliya said resting her head on the seat as she massaged the space between her brows. Arrange a meeting with Ryan's secretary and help me collect a wedding dress.

Yes boss, right away.

Aliya was still resting when her phone rang with an unknown number calling.

Hello, who's this?

An oddly familiar voice answered. Miss Finch, I have something on my hands which you wouldn't want your fiancé to see.

Aliya understood immediately what he might be implying. Not many people knew about her marriage with Ryan, if this person knew, it could only mean that he was a strong opponent. It was you that night?

You are very clever.

Who are you and what do you want?

Well, nothing at the moment but I just wanted to inform you and he ended the call.

Aliya was stunned, was she getting blackmailed now? Her worst fear had happened, how could she have been so careless. What could he possibly have, was it a s*x tape or her n*des? Why was she encountering one crisis after another. This was really serious.

Aliya called her trusted friend Jason who was a hacker to help her track the number.