Chapter One Hundred And Fifty SixThe cheering and applause continued as the queen mounted the platform and walked towards the MC.She was a woman in her mid-forties, but looked very much like someone in her twenties. She was elegantly dressed in a white, fashionable frock.She carried herself with a regal air, and even from across the room, she exuded power and authority.The MC handed the microphone over to the queen, and stepped back respectfully. "Thank you so much for joining me in this wonderful event tonight." Queen Elena began, "It is with great joy that I am able to..."Clarissa leaned in to whisper in Lana's ears, "So, when are you going to tell me all about it?""All about what?" Lana whispered back, although she knew what Clarissa was talking about.Clarissa was miffed, "Don't play dumb with me, Lana." She continued, "Tell me everything about how you got back with Damien.""Shhh," Lana shushed her, appalled by Clarissa's behavior, "I will but after the event is over."Tha
Chapter One Hundred And Fifty-SevenThere was a unified gasp from the crowd, as Rina struck the trophy to the ground. She stood back proudly and smirked in satisfaction."No." Mandy said weakly as she dropped to her knees, and stared at the trophy in the floor. She looked absolutely crushed and Lana's face turned red with rage."Rina!"She yelled as she rushed up the steps of the platform, and hurried up to Mandy and Rina, followed by Clarissa and Vera.Damien stood back and called Liam, "Rina is here." He uttered, "I changed my mind. She will rot in jail from today. Send the recordings to the cops."He looked up in time to see Lana walked up to Rina, and delivered a hard slap to her face.He arched an eyebrow at that and chuckled slightly, as he started walking towards the platform. His woman can be really fiesty sometimes and he liked that."Are you out of your freaking mind?!" Lana screamed, as Rina stumbled back, shock etched on every part of her face.The crowd gasped in horror,
Chapter One Hundred And Fifty-Eight"I am Muse."The crowd went wild at this calm revelation of Lana's. They inched closer to the platform to see more of this drama, even as everyone was staring at her Lana in shock.Everyone, but Clarissa was stunned by her revelation and the queen was speechless."You are...Muse?" Damien asked, turning Lana by the shoulders to look at him. His eyebrows arched in surprise and disbelief as Lana nodded."Hmm. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you earlier," She said in response.Damien was dumbstruck. Lana was really something else. The woman whom he'd treated so badly years ago, turned out not to be just a heiress but also one of the most talented designers the country had known.This was the woman he'd almost let slip because of his foolishness, and now she was saving MAGIC.Shame flooded through him, just as Vera pushed her way through the crowd to Lana, her eyes shining brightly, "Lana, you're Muse?"she asked excitedly, "Oh my god, that's amazing! My daugh
Chapter One Hundred And Fifty NineThe queen managed to pick her jaw from off the floor and stared at Lana, "You are Muse?"Lana nodded politely in reply and the Queen laughed softly, a small and disbelieving laugh.This was the Muse who had refused to work with her?Anger surged through her, and she clenched the papers in her fist. However, before she could say anything, Lana uttered, "Your Majesty, I never knew you were in need of my services." She told the queen politely, "If I had known, there was no way I'd refuse to serve a great person like you.""What are you talking about?" The queen replied in an agitated voice, "You decided to keep yourself hidden, and only design for a select few. I tried to reach you through Ludovic, your agency, but you rejected me several times.""What?" Lana asked, interrupting the queen."What?" The queen asked, confused and pissed as well."No, you said something about Ludovic being Muse's agency." Lana inquired, "Ludovic was never my agency.""That
Chapter One Hundred And SixteenThe Queen's Award ended successfully with Mandy taking the trophy home. The event caused several headlines for days.The media carried the news of Rina's arrest, as well as Lana's revelation that she was Muse.The queen's award brought more popularity to MAGIC, and a lot more coverage to them when the season finally opened. Due to the award, MAGIC regained its top portion in Oakcrest, a fashion company known for their splendid designs and also for working with Muse.For days, Lana's email was blowing up with requests from companies asking for a collaboration. The press settled outside the entrance of MAGIC and the Romero Villa, always hoarding her with questions about her work, relationship and life.They were only satisfied when she gave an interview answering all this questions, but she was still a bit conscious of the media knowing too much about her life.This was the reason why she had not wanted to reveal her identity as Muse to the world."Girl
Chapter One Hundred And Sixty-OneWhen Lana ended the call, Damien frowned slightly in confusion. A bad feeling crept up his neck and nagged at him for the next one hour.He had become very busy after MAGIC had won the queen's award. The entire company was bustling with the aftermath of the success of that event, as well as their catalogue for the new season.Tonight, he and Lana would have some time to themselves for the first time in a week.They had barely had time for themselves that week all because of Clarrisa. Damien heaved a sigh of relief as he recalled that Clarrisa had finally returned back to Emerald City.He was sooner about to go crazy with her in the Romero Villa, always with her nose in his and Lana's business.Clarissa did not like him and Damien did not like her as well.He had vehemently refused to accompany Lana to see her off at the airport that morning, and Clarrisa had been glad he was not tagging along."Its the last time I'll be seeing my best friend in a long
Chapter One Hundred And Sixty-TwoDamien drove like a mad man along the highway at a neck breaking speedHe had only one thought in his head as he drove along; Lana was in danger.He shouldn't have let her go on to the airport. At least she would still be with him now. But how would he have known Zaire was going to hit this early?His forehead glistened with beads of sweat and his fingers gripped the steering tightly. Ludovic must have gotten to her.It has to be the case.In fury, he punched the steering, letting his horn honk loudly on the road, startling the other drivers."Damn you, Ludovic!" He swore under his breath.His phone was ringing nonstop. He knew it was Liam but he ignored it. Liam would meet him at the airport.When he got to the airport, he got out and actually met Liam there waiting for him. The assistant had taken a shorter route to the airport.There were patrol cars around the airport. The cops had been notified already, as well as the authorities in the building
Chapter One Hundred And Sixty-ThreeLana opened her eyes slowly and let out a groan. She held her head in her hands and tried to sit up, but on cue, pain exploded in her head and she fell back to the bed with a gasp.Wait, bed?Where the hell was she?Her eyes flew open once more and darted around the four corners of the room she laid in.It was a simple room, with walls painted white.Infact everything was white, the lone table and chair in the room, the dresser, the double bed she was lying on, and the covers over her.Lana sat up carefully, a slight frown on her brows. She realized she was also wearing a white nightdress, and her eyes widened in terror. "What in the actual fuck?" She muttered to herself, as she looked around her once more.She had no idea where she was , or how she even got there. The last thing she'd remembered was...Lana's hands flew to cover her mouth as her eyes stung with tears."Diego." She breathed in anguish.The last thing she remembered was seeing Diego
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