CHAPTER 5

NATALIA'S POV

With zero idea where my office was, I walked out of there with full confidence. Everything was finally falling in place.

The look of shock on Robert's face was too perfect. He thought he was dealing with just— a nobody— now he was going to regret his decisions for the rest of his bloody life!

I was still going down the hallway with a satisfactory smile on my face when it suddenly dawned on me that I had no idea where I was going.

There was no way that I would go back to Ciara for directions, so I started checking the name tags on each door. I was close to the end of the long hallway when a familiar face appeared before me with a smile on her face.

"Hi, hmm— I'm Beth, we met earlier," she said, holding to her chest. "You must be looking for the— I mean your new office?"

My eyes took in her unfamiliar clothes for a moment and even though I couldn't recognize it, I did remember her face.

"You are the girl who showed me to Ciara's office." I beamed and she smiled even brighter.

"Yes, that's me."

"That's interesting and yes, I am searching for my office," I said.

"Yes, please, come with me. You are on the wrong floor." She quickly led the way to the elevator and I noticed that she typed in about two floors above us.

"I was going to be searching for this floor for a long time, wasn't I?" I commented as the elevator swiftly took us there.

"Of course not, I am sure someone— anyone would have loved to help," She muttered under her breath, her sarcasm and carefreeness completely gone, now that she knew who I was.

Not wanting to make her uncomfortable, I simply nodded at her comment, letting her lead me to my destination.

Once we were there, she unlocked the door and motioned inside. "This is the door, right here... Ma'am."

"Oh, please, call me Natalia..." I said with a wave of my hand. "So Beth, what department do you work at?"

"Material resourcing and production ma'am."

I nodded at her response, my mind already drawing a plan. "That's perfect, I actually need to revise all documents right now. Can you please get that for me?"

If I was going to keep Diamonds in the spotlight, I needed to be ahead of my game. And this was a good start.

"Sure, I will." She swiftly left the office, her absence drawing my attention to the decor in the room.

Of all the elegance the entire building possessed, I couldn't even deny it. This office was disappointing. It was bland and haunting for lack of proper words.

The walls were painted dark with no form of additional pieces to bring the room to life beside the large oak table and executive chair. There wasn't even a visitor's chair.

My mind was still reeling in those thoughts when my phone vibrated in my pockets. Quickly I pulled it out and noticed an email.

With furrowed brows, I opened the message and smiled when I saw the heading:

'Message from Beth. PS: I promise I am not stalking you, the chairman shared your email with every staff member.'

Quickly, I pulled out my laptop and quickly downloaded the sheets, taking into account the parts in red.

The thing was, I needed something— something to buy myself time to make a proper stand in the company. And Beth just offered it to me on a platter of Gold.

"Yes!" I exclaimed with excitement just as a sharp knock echoed on the door.

I quickly closed my laptop and raised my head to find Ciara, fuming at the door.

My blood boiled at the audacity she even dared to have after everything but I kept it all in and maintained a controlled smile.

"Please, come in, we have a lot to discuss," I said, motioning to the empty space before my table as I moved to sit on my executive chair.

But Ciara didn't make a move, she remained there at the door with arms crossed and eyes flaring with rage.

"Ciara, you don't expect me to have an official conversation with you at the door—"

"Listen here, you little brat!" She hissed, taking a step closer. "If you think I am going to let you boss me around, then you are wrong! I won't!"

With a sigh, I joined my fingers on the table and held her gaze.

"Last time I checked, Ciara, I am the newly appointed CEO and you are still an employee of Diamonds, if I don't boss you around, who will?"

Her eyes flashed with irritation as she marched towards my table and slapped a brown envelope on it.

"Well, guess what?" She sneered, leaning over the table. "I fucking quit! And you know what that means for you and this shitty place?"

I relaxed into my seat and watched her display her rage.

"—It means that the company's stock is going to drop drastically and exponentially, because all top executives would rather quit along with me and Diamonds will fall, thanks to you!"

"Oh that sounds scary!" I whispered, making a face at her words. "But, I don't think any of that will happen."

"You think I'll work for an incompetent spoilt brat, just because her daddy said so?" She sneered, her lashes flapping around as she spoke.

My heart tightened with irritation at her words, but this was where Beth's little task came in handy.

While she babbled, I slowly opened my laptop and turned it to her side. "Check out this report, I am sure you are familiar with it."

Her eyes darkened and without even sweeping a glance at the screen before her, she started for the door— but I was prepared for that too.

"5 billion pounds of diamonds thanks to child labour and trafficking. 15 thousand children between the ages of 7 to 12 years," I said and Ciara's legs froze.

"W—what are you saying?" She stammered, her eyes trying but failing to hide the fear. "How did you know that?"

"You approved it early this month. Forgive me, but isn't that a crime?" I tapped the screen of my laptop gently and met her gaze again.

"If I let this piece of information out to the public, yes we will face some bashing but it will pass... But where does it leave you?"

"You wouldn't— do that. You are just bluffing because the company will suffer too!" She took a step forward, her eyes now clouded with fear and anger.

"Hmm, not really. We are releasing it to the public. We will be regarded as heroes. A company that frowns at such inhumane habits. But not you." I nodded, watching the fear explode through her.

Her fingers started trembling as she neared my table. "Look, I know you are just— you are trying to get back at me. But I—"

"I won't do it," I cut her off. "But my only condition is that you keep working for Diamonds... At least up until your resignation doesn't affect the company's stock prices."

It was mostly a game of gamble. It was either I played my chances with sending her to the police or the stock market. And with my father watching me so closely, I couldn't afford to risk the latter.

Ciara's mouth dropped in shock. "So what, you are going to force me to work for you?"

"No, Ciara. I'm not forcing you, I am only being generous considering the long sentencing you will have to face." I shrugged, letting a cold smile fill my face.

Her eyes turned glassy as she snatched back the envelope from my table.

"One more thing," I said, causing her tear stricken eyes to freeze on me. "I want you to act as my assistant for now, so for your first assignment. I want this office cleaned and decorated."

I could see the irritation in her eyes but I had her in a chokehold and she knew this. Unable to say a word, she clutched her envelope and walked out of the office.

I knew handling the business wasn't going to be easy. But I was certainly going to make sure to punish Ciara and Robert till they begged for mercy!

"Hello?" A familiar voice suddenly called, pulling me out of my thoughts.

Turning my attention to the door, I found the guy from earlier. Wesley Brooks, Roberts' brother standing there.

"I wanted to apologize for my ignorance earlier... I am sorry, I didn't know you were Mr. Carson's daughter," he said.

"Oh, it was nothing." I got off my chair and turned to where he stood. "If anything I should be thanking you for standing up for 'someone you barely know' the way you did... I genuinely still find it hard to believe that you are his— brother."

"I am glad you think of me in that light..." He said, his eyes glowing with an emotion I couldn't exactly place.

Yet as I stared at him, it suddenly occurred to me that something wasn't right.

"I'm sorry, you— I never got to ask. Why are you here?"