Chapter 3

AIDEN

My face turned red with fury as I clenched my fists in anger, my body language displayed my rage as I paced back and forth. My breathing became heavy and my voice grew loud as I yelled at the man standing before me in my office. 

"I want you to find that lady and kill her," I ordered.

I couldn't believe that I had been taken off guard by her actions. I had remained sited, frozen in place, my face burning with shame as the woman lashed out after slapping me right in the face with a venomous tirade of insults and accusations.

 I had thought my business deal was going to go smoothly, my business partners were about finalizing on the proposal, but then she had arrived and ruined everything for me, her eyes were cold as ice as she finished her verbal assault, and left the office.

I could feel the weight of my partners' stares on me, a look of disbelief that a man of my calibre could be slapped not once but twice on the face by a woman, I was humiliated. I tried to choke out a few words to calm the atmosphere, but it was clear that my credibility had been irreparably damaged.

As the meeting disbanded, I stumbled out, barely able to hold myself up with the weight of humiliation heavy on my shoulders. I knew that I would never be able to live down the disgrace of being slapped by a woman in front of my business partner's and shareholders, and that the shadow of this moment would follow me for the rest of my career.

There was nothing more that I wanted now but to have that woman killed as soon as possible, she had done something that even my mother couldn't dare do.

"Sir, I understand your anger but it is best we find out first why she did...."

"Max."

"On it Sir," Max replied. He had been opportune to witness the whole incident and he knew I had every right to be mad with rage with what had happened but I knew he was about to stop me from trying to kill the lady but he didn't dare say anything further because he knew how I was in situations like this. It was best to obey my orders than face my wrath.

The office door opened as Natalia walked in majestically with a smile on her face, Max bowed his head to her briefly then walked out of the office closing the door behind him. 

"My love," Natalia smile at me closing the distance between us, she had been at her photoshoot when I  got a call from her that she had heard what happened, I knew she had someone keeping an eye on me in the company but I didn't bother finding out who the person was as long as it was just to check my well being. 

"My goodness," she said placing her hands softly to my cheeks where the aftermath of the slap was still showing but I took her hands and yanked them off my cheeks, it was obvious she had left her photoshoot halfway to come see me.

"I heard what happened, I am sorry baby."

"This is all messed up," I yelled banging the desk in front of me and scaring Natalia. 

We had been dating for three years now and it felt like she was still terrified of me, of what I was, even though she had told me constantly that she wasn't I could still sense the fear whenever I had a temper tantrum. 

"I am sure Max will be able to..."

"I want her dead, she has to be used as a scape goat," I said.

"Baby, you need to calm down," Natalia pleaded. She placed her hand over my neck leaning in as she kissed me lightly on the lips.

"She humiliated me for fuck sake, right now we can only proceed with what we discussed last night," I said angrily staring at Natalia. My mother had suggested that I got married as soon as possible, even if it was for a period of time, it was the only way I could get my shareholders to see me as being responsible.

Right now they were still looking at me as a young boy who wasn't fully able to manage the company, even though I had proved to them over and over again that I was capable and diligent, those old fools felt marriage was the icing on the cake. 

I didn't like the idea one bit when my mother had brought it to my ears but looking at the current situation, it seemed it was the best choice right now. 

"The marriage stuff?" Natalia asked like she wasn't certain of what I was talking about. 

I knew Natalia wasn't keen on us getting married quickly, and because of the company. I also didn't see myself getting married as well but right now it was the only option and Natalia and I had been dating long enough to get married.

She had sounded reluctant last night when I brought the topic up and even now I could see the reluctance in her eyes, I knew it was because of her modelling career but being married to me wasn't going to be an hindrance to her career as a model. 

If that was what she wanted to do, then I planned to support her.

"Yes, I think that is the best option right now for the company, we should get married Natalia, I know it feels rushed but three years is enough time for us," I said trying to make her see reasons I wasn't good with words, I was sure if I told her I loved her she would be willing but I wasn't one to use that word. 

"I don't want to get married," she said to me. "You know I was actually thinking of a plan to sort this whole marriage out and I think this slap incident came right in time."

"What nonsense are you on about Natalia?" I asked letting go of her, was she mocking me?

"Don't get me wrong babe, what I mean is, I am not ready to get married right now because of my career but that shouldn't stop you from getting married. This lady that slapped you, can be of good use for like a contract marriage till we are really ready to settle down."

"You want me to marry another woman?" I asked with a puzzled look not believing something like that could ever come out of her mouth. It was one thing for us to slow down on the marriage procedures but for me to marry another woman, was she out of her mind?

"A contract marriage for your shareholders."

"This is absurd coming from you Natalia."

"It isn't, didn't you say you wanted her dead. It would be a better punishment to take her freedom away from her than just killing her so easily," she suggested.