Chapter One Hundred And Ninety-OneA deafening roar came in reply and there was a blur in the next instant.Someone rammed into Zaire, and he toppled off Lana and unto the bridge. "You dare to hurt her?!" Damien screamed in rage as he grabbed a fistful of Zaire's shirt, and delivered swift blows on his face repeatedly.Lana grabbed hold of her dress and watched the scene in horror, shaking in every part of her body.Damien had really come for her!Teaes burned her eyes as she watched him pummel Zaire who was offering no resistance, and then fear settled in."Damien." She called weakly, then raised her voice in alarm when Damien did not stop hitting Zaire, "Damien! Stop! Stop, Damien!"At the sound of her horrified scream, Damien paused in his assualt and his shaking fist was inches above Zaire's battered face."Stop, please! Please, do not get blood on your hands!" Lana pleaded once more, stretching out her hand to him.He immediately let go of Zaire who dropped like a sack of potato
Chapter One Hundred And Ninety-two "Let's die together."Zaire pressed the gun to Lana's head. He was really prepared to end it right there and then with her.He was so glad he had gotten rid of that pompous bastard. He would get rid of Lana as well and they can all meet in the after life.His fingers tightened around the trigger , with his teeth gritted in determination. A flurry of movement came behind him, distracting him but before he could assess it, he was hit across the back.This was followed swiftly with another blow to the side of his head, his jaw almost dislocating with the force of it. He collapsed with a sharp cry on the floor, his body racking with pain.From the corner of his eye, he saw the red haired guy, holding the same stick he'd used on Damien. Adrian threw the stick to the floor, and grabbed Lana, yanking her to her feet."Let me go." Lana whispered, struggling to get Adrian off her."Lana, c'mon!" Adrian said, looking back at Zaire in alarm. Zaire was still w
Chapter One Hundred And Ninety-Three"I said, bring back my son!" Vera screamed as she threw the vase at Lana.The vase of lilies clattered to the floor, inches away from Lana's feet and broke into smithereens.Lana stood as still as a statue, her eyes never leaving the floor, on which was splattered the soil from the vase and the soft white lilies.They had returned back to Oakcrest city just the week before. She had insisted on going to Oakcrest, instead of Emerald City.Infact, she had insisted on a lot of things.One of which was that Damien was still alive.When Paul had rescued her in Moreno, he had called in the authorities and for three days and three nights, they searched the river for Damien but his body was nowhere to be found.Lana stubbornly said she was not leaving Moreno until his body was found and the search stretched until a week, when she could not take it anymore.She was seriously ill from the air in Moreno, and this was posing a health risk for her child. However
Chapter One Hundred And Ninety-FourFar north, along the shores of a small coastal town called St. Hayes, located in Moreno, a man laid unconscious in one of the small abodes belonging to the fishermen.This was the third week he had been unconscious, even after being rescued from the frigid waters of Moreno, even after the doctors had checked on him and saved him from the claws of death.But today was going to be different.The man awoke to the soft glow of the evening sun on his face, the sea breeze playing with the soft blonde curls on his head, which were almost down to his shoulders by now.He was lying on his back on a very hard surface, and covered up to his neck with a blanket.He blinked to clear the grogginess from his vision, and after some time the room slowly came into focus.It was a large room, airy with multiple windows, covered with delicate curtains through which the soft golden glow of sunset filtered through. The bed on which he was lying on was located in the m
Chapter One Hundred And Ninety-FiveFour Years Later"With all due respect, Miss Fernandez, we would only like to know our stand in these circumstances." Director Noah spoke up, "It's been four years. Now, I understand the Chairman is recuperating but isn't it strange that we don't even know what he's recovering from? And why has he refused to take over his duties?"Lana chuckled slightly as she leaned forward, placing both elbows on the huge mahogany desk in front of her.She was seated at the head of the long rectangular desk, as the acting chairman of the Romero Empire. Behind her, Liam and Diego stood as straight as a rod, their hard gazes identical.Lana was smiling but the icy glint in her eyes was enough to send a chill down the spines of the thirty-two members of Romero's Board Of Directors seated before her.They cleared their throats enigmatically, and shifted their gazes, rearranging their jackets and trying to look more confident than they actually felt."Why has the Chai
Chapter One Hundred And Ninety-Six"Those annoying, grumpy, old..." Lana muttered angrily to herself as she stormed towards the elevator, pressing the buttons with a vengeance. Employees passed by her and bowed respectfully, giving her side looks but she didn't care. "You shouldn't blame them too much." Liam said curtly behind her, staring straight ahead as she waited for the elevator, "They have every right to know about where he is, don't you think?""Yes CEO, getting worked up is not going to solve anything." Diego agreed, giving Lana a nervous look."He's not here." Lana bit the words out. She took a deep breath then exhaled slowly, making her nerves which were on edge to slowly calm down, "When I find him, everything would return back to normal. You know this, don't you, Liam?""I know." Liam replied stiffly, "I also know whose fault it is that he is not here right now."Lana let out a shaky breath, her fingers coming to curl together around the clasp of her bag. Liam's cold wo
Chapter One Hundred And Ninety Seven"Uncle Adrian, when will mommy get here?"The little girl sat upright on the bed and stared expectantly into Adrian's face, with startling deep blue gray eyes. She was a beautiful child, with a full head of blonde curls, a small delicate doll like face and pretty features. Her skin, however, was the unhealthy color of paper at the moment, and she looked too thin and small for her age. Adrian gently caressed her blonde curls, "She'll be here soon, angel." He said softly, as he gently lowered her back on the bed, "You know you have to rest. Do not try to sit up, Arielle.""But I'm not sleepy," Arielle protested, jutting out her bottom lip in a cute pout.However, she did not resist as Adrian gently arranged the covers around her, making sure she was comfortable, especially with the small hand, which had a tube stuck in it, and was attached to a drip bag above her.The large room was filled with medical equipments, monitors beeping quietly and consi
Chapter One Hundred And Ninety-Eight St. Hayes, Moreno. He was in the water again. He wanted to move, but his lungs were burning and his limbs felt like lead. The water surrounding him was colored with the deep red of blood. His blood. He was sinking, slowly but surely sinking. The life was going out of him. He was going to die. Then, she appeared above the water. She, with the red hair, almost like the blood pumping out of his side. Her face was hazy and he wanted to see it so bad for the last time. To touch it, to etch it in every part of his memory as he feels his life slip from him, but he could only hear the terror in her voice as she screams piercingly, "Damien!" He jerked awake, and tumbled out of bed unto the ground, breathing laboriously. It was like he was still in the water and his breath was coming out fast and shallow. The man couldn't breath, he peeled off the light cotton shirt off his body, which was soaked through with sweat, and tossed it to the side. The
Chapter Two Hundred And Thirty-SixThe door to the sales office creaked loudly as Gary slowly pushed it open.He walked calmly into the office and came to a dead stop, as everyone turned to face him immediately.The Regional Head was standing with his legs apart in the office, and his hands clasped behind him, like some sort of military commander.Flanking him on both sides were the members of the internal audit team, looking as neatly pressed and put together, with not one hair out of place or a rumple in their clothes, as though they had not just finished a grueling three weeks task.A task that could have taken them three months, and had taken the original internal team a couple of years. The other employees in that office stood behind their desks, nervously clutching their hands and giving each other side looks.Their gazes flitted from the Regional Head to Noah and back to each other. The tension in the office was palpable and they could not wait to get past the suffocating mome
Chapter Two Hundred And Thirty FiveGary's eyes widened in alarm and they reddened in the next instant from fury."What the fuck!" He snarled, "Why am I the only one taking the fall? Are you fucking with me right now, Maya?!""Because that's the only way you can save your head! God, are you stupid or something?" She said, throwing up her hands in disgust, "I should have known better than to warn you. I'd have just let your head be blown off in the streets because you deserve it!"Gary scoffed, "That's freaking bullshit." He said, a tiny smirk curving his lips, "You don't scare me and neither does he! I'm calling his bluff."Maya laughed in disbelief, then slowly blinked in confusion as Gary puffed out his chest, tucking his hands deep in his pockets.He was really serious!Her jaw twitching with anger, she jabbed a finger in his shoulder, "Don't say I did not warn you," she snarled, "I'd like to see you so smug when you're six feet under."She stormed off, and Gary watched her, his ey
Chapter Two Hundred And Thirty FourAs the internal audit raged on, everyone in the affected departments was on edge.The air was thick with tension.It clawed up people's throat and pressured them into seeking religion, making preparations in case they turned up unemployed...Everyone was on edge but no one more than Gary and Maya.They had no idea of the contents of the reports that Noah had drafted out for the regional head.But the rumors flying around the company claimed Noah had practically given the Regional Head everything he needed.It was said that the Regional Head already knew who the culprit was and was bidding his time because the culprit was a big fish.Gary knew he was no big fish but those rumors kept him awake for days, tossing and turning in bed with worry.His mind kept going over everything he did with the Deluxe products for the past three years, the precautions he was sure he took, the way he made sure nothing would point back to him..."But were they really eno
Chapter Two Hundred And Thirty-ThreeThe discovery of the siphoned goods and the part Noah played in the big reveal spread like wild fire across the company.Everyone marveled at how he was able to pull it off himself.It was said that the reports he provided made the internal audit to move more smoothly than ever.The audtors knew where to go, who to ask questions, what questions to ask based on what Noah had provided.This earned him considerable respect in his department as well as the company. The golden haired mystery man was not as dumb as every one thought he was.Infact, he was being accorded honor by the regional head, who made sure every thing was done to the letter, following Noah's instructions."We cannot misuse such valuable information. Its time to fish out those perpetrators and clease out Romero Solutions," The regional head had declared before he gave Noah a determined look, "If this turns out successful, headquarters will be really pleased with you, Noah."And that
Chapter Two Hundred And Thirty-TwoThere was stunned silence in the Regional Head's office as Noah made that statement."Wh...what did you say?" The regjonal.head asked in shock and disbelief, "The batches for the deluxe products are being siphoned?! By who?"The regional Head voice was rising by the minute, and his hands curled into fists on his seat."I don't know about that, sir." Noah said, carefully choosing his words else he let something slip.He did not intend to reveal the one behind the crime, mainly because he did not know who the mastermind was.Secondly, he had no evidently of the ones he suspected. These little details will be brought to light when the Regional Manager sets the auditing team to work."When I noticed a pattern of weight discrepancies as well as other inconsistencies in the record, I had to check for myself." He continued but was stopped by Fred."What do you mean, inconsistencies?" The man asked, "What did you discover in the records?,""There were a lot
Chapter Two Hundred And Thirty OneGary quickly rushed after her before she could get to the door and drew her back sharply."Hold on, you little bitch," He snarled as he accidentally grabbed her hair as well and pulled her back.Maya winced in pain as she felt strands of her hair being pulled from the scalp, "Ow!" She cried out in agony, "Let me go. At once!""Not until you explain what you mean by that little statement which you just uttered," Gary fired back heatedly."I meant exactly what I said, you piece of trash, " Maya said as she mustered her energy and stomped on his toe with her heeled foot."Ahh!" Gary cried out in anguish as pain exploded in his foot. He let go of her hair at once and doubled over in pain, trying to hold his throbbing toe but it was much too painful.Maya, seeing as she was free from his hold, turned back and stared at him in disdain, "You think I won't take protective measures for myself? You've got to be joking, Gary." She spat out, "You take care of an
Chapter Two Hundred And Thirty "Something of utmost importance?" The Regional Head repeated in puzzlement, "What could that be?"Maya's heart slammed in her chest as she heard Noah say those words. Franticaly, she glanced at Gary who had also gone a little pale.A look of terror passed between them and they immediately knew what the important news Noah had for the regional head was."Stop him!" Maya seemed to say with her eyes, glaring at Gary and making motions with her head towards Noah.She was so agitated that she could not stand still. She had been so eager to want to leave this place earlier but now she wouldn't leave for all the world.She had to stay to hear what Noah had to say to the Regional Head.Quick as flash, Gary stepped in between the Regional Head and Noah.Smiling nervously, he started speaking, "Regional Head sir, why don't you allow the Senior sales manager to take you to his office, while you wait for the reports on the audit?" He turned and nodded to Fred, who
Chapter Two Hundred And Twenty Nine"Infact, these has got to be the best results I've ever seen in a while."Everyone stared in amazement at the Regional Head.He was giving Noah a warm and approving smile, while patting him heartily on the arm."You say they are the best reports that you've ever seen?" Fred asked as he stepped closer to the Regional Head."But that's inpossible," Gary uttered through gritted teeth, "He has no qualifications. How is he able to prepare the best reports you've ever seen?"Everyone almost groaned in annoyance at Gary's stupidity and shamelessness.Maya rolled her eyes and stomped her foot impatiently on the marble floor.It was bad enough to stand here like some kind of lackey, and watch the regional director do his job but now she had to listen with her heart in her mouth, hoping that Gary does not let any information slip."He talks too much," she thought angrily, biting her lower lip in annoyance, "if he dares to say anything concerning the deluxe pr
Chapter Two Hundred And Twenty EightJaws dropped in shock as Noah stepped out of the throng of employees and stood directly in front of the Regional head.Everyone was shocked at his boldness.This was a chance for him to make his escape and blame the superiors for giving him such an important task.He was not that learned nor did he have much qualifications. They knew that, yet he was still asked to prepare the reports in such a short time.Although he did not have much chance of defending himself, since he was a lower level employee, yet the Regional head was known to be fair to others not on his level.He hated any sort of unfair practice and he would definitely side with Noah if he revealed he had been pressured into making the reports.Yet, Noah had come out boldly, as if he was ready to take the fall, the consequences of making such sloppy reports."He's done for," Greg sighed in despair, watching Noah with pitiful eyes."He really is just a golden haired dumbass," Jason agreed