Chapter Forty-TwoLana walked out of the hall briskly, in the same direction that Zaire did. She held her wrist, rubbing the part where Damien had gripped her. "What a jerk," she muttered under her breath, annoyed at the way her heart was still beating fast. Her face was flushed and she coul not help but think about the spark she'd felt when his huge hand had wrapped around her wrist."Ugh!" Lana groaned in frustration as she came out of the hall and found herself in the swimming pool area. At the sight of the clear, blue water of the pool and the moolight shimmering on the surface of the water, Lana wished they'd had a pool party, instead for the mid-year gala.At least she would get some of the cool night air, which was blowing softly around the pool area, ruffling her soft curls and cooling her heated skin.Lana blew out a breath of frustration, as her eyes scanned the area, looking for Zaire. She walked along the sides of the pool, her reflection shimmering on the surface of th
Chapter Forty-Three"What did you just say to me?!" Lana asked hoarsely, her voice a ragged whisper as she stood rooted to the spot, still reeling in disbelief from Rina's horrid words.Rina approached her with an evil smile on her face. Finally, she had the bitch's attention. She stopped just a few feet away from Lana and sneered."You heard me, Lana. It'd have been better if you'd died with your little bas...Aargh!".Rina screamed in pain as Lana slapped her hard. She stepped backwards in shock, holding her red cheeks with her palm. The imprint of Lana's palm can be seen there, boldly.She gasped in disbelief, staring at Lana who stood looking at her, with murderous rage brewing beneath her eyes."Yo..you dare to hit me?!" Rina was trembling with rage. She charged towards Lana but was stunned when another slap landed on her cheek.Then another, and another...Lana held on to her hair and delivered the slaps onto Rina's face one after the other. She was blinded by rage, her blood bo
Chapter Forty-FourDamien sat in his plush office, brooding. His jaw was tense as he stared at the financial reports on the table in front of him.Behind him, his assistant Liam stood straight, his expression as stony as his boss's own.In front of them, on the elaborate black sofas in the office, sat the members of MAGIC'S financial team, as well as their directors.The directors were all on edge as they watched and waited for any movement from Damien. They fiddled with their thumbs and the documents they held on their laps, not daring to look at him. News of MAGIC going bankrupt had been circulating the company since that morning and the reason was in the office there with them.Rian sat on the sofa, directly across from Damien, watching him and biting her lips worriedly."Those annoying investors! Why do they have to be so nosy?" She thought in anger, not feeling remorseful at all for her action. Some of the Directors were casting resentful looks at her. After all, she was the rea
Chapter Forty-five"We are here, CEO," Diego said as he quietly manuevered the sleek Bentley in front of the remarkable skycraper that housed the offices of MAGIC.He turned off the engine, and sat in silence watching Lana who was staring at the building with an impassive expression."Ma'am, if you don't want to do this, there's no need for you to," he said, his words laced with concern.Lana turned her dead eye stare on him. The fact that he thought she was hesitating, because she did not want to work with MAGIC made her bristle with annoyance.He was so far from the truth She was only hesitating, because of the anger coursing through her veins, and also because she wears admiring the building that she knows would come to be hers later.She grabbed her purse on the seat beside her and pushed the car door open, saying tersely, "Come out and stop saying rubbish." Diego nodded, making a mental note to keep his mouth shut concerning matters like this in the future.They moved briskly to
Chapter Forty-SixFrom his desk inside his own station, in Damien's office, Liam could hear the conversation going on between his boss and his Ex-wife. He raised his eyebrows, and whistled quietly, as the words Lana had said floated to him.Fifty percent of MAGIC'S shares?!That was a lot. It was like taking ownership of MAGIC. Although, there was nothing left of MAGIC. If Miss Fernandez was really the CEO of ALLURE, and even recommended by Pierre, then she'd really be able to turn things around for MAGIC.Liam wondered how his boss was going to extricate himself out of this. He wished Damien would call him, so he would be able to go in there and read the room properly, but for now, he waited patiently, straining his ears and watching the intercom for any call.Damien stared at Lana, his brows furrowed slightly, "you've got to be kidding me." He said, tightly."I don't play games, Mr Romero," Lana replied coolly, as she leaned back on her chair, "it's like you don't know the situatio
Chapter Forty-SevenLana frowned as she tilted her head slightly to look at him, "Muse?"Damien stuck his hands in his pockets, squaring his broad shoulders which stretched the material of his jacket. He had a smug expression on his face as he continued, "ALLURE is the only company to have contracted Muse. I'll give you that fifty percent shares if you get her to design for MAGIC too."Lana blinked in amusement. Her lips twitched as laughter bubbled up inside her but she quickly composed herself, trying hard to keep a straight face.She squared her chin, and nodded in agreement, "Fine, you'll also get the services of Muse." Diego snorted in laughter behind her and he quickly started coughing to cover it up, as Lana gave him a quelling look.She cleared her throat, and smiled tightly at Damien, who was watching them, an eyebrow arched suspiciously.He found Diego's behavior odd, and Lana had agreed a bit too fast to his condition. Even though Muse had worked with ALLURE, that was thre
Chapter Forty-EightRina ran onto the circular driveway right in front of the building, just in time to see the Bentley driving away, leaving clouds of dust in its wake."Arrghh!" She screamed in outrage and stomped a heeled foot on the concrete floor in anger. "Lana, you freaking bitch!" She screeched through gritted teeth, watching the car drive further away from her sight, it's tail lights blinking in what seemed like a mockery of her inability to catch up with them.She was trembling visibly with anger as she turned to go back into the building. She paused, then snarled when she saw some of the employees staring out at her, through the glass walls of the building.Their gazes were mocking and she could see them snickering, while whispering to each other."Those brainless idiots! Haven't they got anything better to do?!" Rina thought furiously as she matched right into the building, yelling, "What the hell are you looking at, huh?!" The employees scurried away out of her sight, wh
Chapter Forty-NineWhen the call ended, Rina collapsed to the ground in fear and relief. She gripped the phone tightly, tears of anger burning in her eyes."How dare he treat me like this?!" She muttered bitterly. She felt powerless, like a pawn in his game, and she hated it.She was not supposed to be here, living life like this, driven by revenge and anger. She deserved so much better and she'd been so close.So close that she could feel it, touch it and even taste it. Every calculated step had produced result which pushed them closer to their goals. She'd gotten the man and was so close to getting the Empire too.But it had all crashed down, without her knowing how. Now, she was cowering on a rooftop, afraid of her own partner blowing her brains out from an unknown location."How? How on Earth had things go wrong?!" Rina hit the concrete floor repeatedly in anger, and frustration, until her knuckles bled.She closed her eyes, and drew in a deep breath. "I don't know how things wen
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
Chapter Two Hundred And Twenty SevenThere seemed to be a shift in the air as the regional head uttered those words.Fred immediately turned to Gary who had provided the reports from Noah.Within seconds, the report was in the senior sales manager's hands, and Fred passed it onto the Regional head."Here you go, sir." He said, "Everything has been prepared for you. We can send the shipment right away of you want."Very calmly the man took hold of the reports and went through it. The Vulcan reports were supposed to cover every detail of a huge shipment which was being sent out in a month's time.The regional head aimed to start from the report because whenever there was a big shipment such as this one, there was always one problem or the other.Whenever huge contracts like this one was given to the company, the regional manager makes sure to come down to Crestview and oversee everything himself. Now everyone, including Noah waited with bated breaths to see how he would react to the r
Chapter Two Hundred And Twenty Six"What?"Gary started asking but then a telephone began ringing loudly on one of the desks in the office and a colleague picked it up."Hello? really?!" The man looked alarmed. He nodded frantically as he ended the call, and looked at them all, "The Regional Head is here!"There was a general wave of murmurs and a flurry of movement occurred as everyone arranged their works, and gave their repirst last minutes touches.Gary glared at the man who had announced the Regional Head's arrival. The little fool had announced it before he even had time to think of his next plan. He turned back to Noah, who was giving him a calm look, his face devoid of any sort of emotion.Gary wagged his fingers ar him, "No games from you." He gritted, "If you try to pull a quick one on me in front of the Regional Head, I'll make sure it boomerangs on you."There was a bit of silence after that statement where both men just stared at each other, quiet hatred and fury simmer
Chapter Two Hundred And Twenty FiveNoah stared him down calmly, even though he was boiling with rage inside, "Where is what?""Where is the freaking file?!" Gary screamed as he flung all the reports to the ground in one swift move of fury.Noah bounded to his feet in anger, "Gary!" He yelled, "Enough of this!"Gary was stunned but in the next minute he burst into a ridiculous laughter at Noah's audacity. "Look at him," he laughed, pointing at Noah's enraged face, "he's yelling at me! Wow, you must have some guts now because of what you discovered, right?"At that moment, Noah leaned forward to say in his ears, "Yea, that's exactly what's up."As those words left Noah's lips, Gary froze on the spot. He had not exactly believed Noah had the file even after Maya told him so but now he did.He was not a man of weak spirit but as soon as he heard those words from Noah, he knew without a doubt that he was doomed.This golden haired gigolo really did have the file.He stared at Noah in h