Chapter 9: Meeting a new enemy.

Nadia's POV.

"So it's settled, Nadia, you will begin work first thing Monday.

Deluca Empire will be glad to have you on board," Mr. Albert beamed, and I smiled back weakly, for some reason, regretting my decision.

"I will be glad to join," I said calmly as my eye ran to Jeremy.

He seemed preoccupied, his mind not really on the discussion, nor paying any attention to the fact that I had just accepted to be a marketing strategist with Deluca Empire.

What was he thinking about?

"Good, so let's enjoy our food."

Mr. Albert said and returned his attention to his meal, and I pushed a shrug off my shoulder as I heard footsteps approaching me from behind.

"Sir, I got freshly pressed orange juice for the table."

A feminine voice muttered from behind, and I turned to see a lady dressed like a maid holding a tray of orange juice.

She walked slowly towards me, but then seemed to have tripped, extending her tray towards my chair.

Splash!

The orange juice poured on me, the cold liquid rolling down the space between my boobs, soaking my dress and even my hair.

What the heck?

"I'm so sorry for my clumsiness. Sorry, ma'am," she apologized almost immediately, as I jerked off my seat, grabbing napkins from the table.

"Oh no..." I gulped as I soon dabbed my dress with the napkins, the spilled cold juice causing me to shiver.

"How dare you, Kate, have you lost your sight?"

Mr. Albert raged, and I could see the woman trembling.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry..." she said the words repeatedly, and I decided to step in.

"I'm sure she tripped. Okay, it wasn't her fault. She lost balance and lost hold of the juice tray. Please, it wasn't her..." I tried to defend the lady, but my eyes landed on Miranda, who had a smile on her face.

Why was she smiling?

Wait, did she?

No, it couldn't be.

It was an accident, right?

The lady lost her balance and poured the glasses of orange juice on me by mistake.

There was no other explanation.

"I think you should let me go, Dad.

I will take Nadia to go change."

Jeremy interfered, standing up from his seat and taking hold of my hand.

Without letting his father say another word, he dragged me out of the hall and up the stairs.

As soon as we entered his room, he locked the door and turned to me, scooping my face into his cold palms.

"Are you okay?"

He asked, his eyes widened with concern.

"Yes," I mumbled.

"Yes, I am..." I shifted a little bit, feeling uneasy by his sudden closeness.

"I'm just freezing to death," I added, trying to fake a smile.

"Quickly go into the bathroom and change your clothes.

You... You can pick a jean and shirt from my wardrobe.

Get changed and I will drive you home." He said in a bit of a hurry, and I narrowed my eyes.

"Home?" I murmured, pushing his hands away from my face.

"Yes, you need to leave... I will take you home."

"I said I'm fine, Jeremy." I snapped a little bit loudly.

"Lunch isn't over, I can't just leave."

I quarreled, stepping back, his concern a bit suspicious.

"I'm just worried about you," he tried to say in his defense, but for some reason it pissed me off.

"Worried about me for what reason, huh?

That your father offered me a job?

That your father likes me and your little dating pretense plan is going overboard?"

I pointed at him, taking a few more steps away.

"Or for the fact that your soon-to-be sister-in-law is actually behind the cold orange juice that splashed over my body."

I paused, catching my breath.

"Which... which of these reasons is making you worry, Jeremy?" I asked, and I heard him groan in frustration.

"I just want... I just don't want you messed up my family business, Nadia. Okay?

Dad, Silas, and his girlfriend, they're all..." He paused, letting out a long heavy breath.

"I care about you. It's okay if you want to take the job.

But I'm just concerned about your well-being."

Did he just say he cared about me?

Was that how easily he could lie?

"Silas works there, and... I'm just concerned, Nadia. I don't want you to get into any messy business nor be wrapped in my family's affairs." We locked eyes, and for a split second, I almost believed him.

"But it is all up to you..." he continued, looking away.

"You should go change. I'll take you home whenever you're ready." He said and walked out, leaving me with lips trembling with more words.

I stood still, replaying what had just happened in my head.

But when I turned to leave for the bathroom, I heard dragging footsteps by the door.

I turned swiftly and my eyes settled on Miranda.

"I can see you're still in your orange juice dress."

She taunted, and I clenched my fist.

"So it was all you...

The bitchy fiancée felt so insecure that she resorted to getting the maid to spill orange juice on my dress.

So pathetic!"

I spat, filled with pure disdain.

"Oh, I see... you aren't as slow as I thought you were, that's good.

You're able to tell that I'm behind your stained wet dress; at least teaching you a lesson will be a bit entertaining." She sneered, fully entering the room, and I rolled my eyes.

"What do you want and why are you here?" I asked, crossing my arms against my chest.

"It's simple." She wiggled her jaw.

"I'm here to tell you to back off.

Reject the offer, leave this house, leave Jeremy, and never show your face here again."

She demanded, and I found myself chuckling.

Really, I really did chuckle.

"What?" I asked amidst rising laughter.

"What did you say? Do you want me to leave?

Are you that insecure and threatened by my presence?"

I said as I watched her clinch her jaw.

"Do you think it's funny?

Do you think I'm here to tell jokes with you?"

She asked, walking closer, and I rolled my eyes.

Here to play jokes with me, my ass.

"Your face is already a joke enough, so it'd be better for you to mind your words and watch how you talk to me."

I closed the distance between us as I spread my shoulders.

"You spilled orange juice on my dress; that was already an offside.

You try me one more time, and I'll show you what makes us very different.

Now get out of my boyfriend's room; I want to change."

I bellowed, my voice growing firmer, its sternness fueled by the disdain I had for the woman I had just met.

"I see we are raising our voices now." She refuted.

"Oh, Nadia... poor, naive Nadia.

I'm going to tell you this once...

Get away from the Delucas and especially from Jeremy, or I will make your life a living hell."

She began blabbing, and I scoffed.

"Reject the job or end up working in misery."

She threatened and walked out, and I hissed as I regretted not pulling her by the hair.

That bitch....

Why didn't she want me in the Deluca empire?

Why did she want me gone so bad?