Chapter Sixty-OneRina walked out of the elevator, sullenly. The joy she'd felt earlier at still being alive, and also with the fact that the instructions she received was to her benefits, had evaporated.She crossed her arms under her bosom as she walked on, her face pinched with annoyance when she recalled that she had to go back to the office and act like all was well, and also receive orders from that bitch, Lana.Well, it was something she had to do if she was to get her plans in place.She rounded a corner and stopped short, her eyes narrowing into slits at the sight before her.Damien stood in the middle of the passageway, tenderly holding on to Lana. The affection in his face and the tender, loving look he was giving her gradually increased her anger.She dropped her arms and her fists bunched by her side. Lana had only just started working here and she'd had him come to the office twice in an hour.This had never happened when Rina was the head of the design team. Damien had
Chapter Sixty-TwoThose words from Rina seemed to ignite a fury in Damien. He grabbed her shoulders tightly, his fingers digging deep into her flesh as he glared at her, his teeth clenched in rage.Rina watched him with a tiny, mocking smile. She knew what she'd said had triggered him and she meant every word of it.Lana walked over to them quickly, "What are you both doing?" She hissed in anger. "This is a business place. I'll appreciate it, if you both stop fooling yourselves in front of the employees!"Rina turned on her, her eyes shimmering with tears, from her fake crying. However, they were red-rimmed now, and glared at Lana with intense hatred."You don't tell me what to do, Lana...aarh!"She cried out softly in pain, as Damien dug his nails into her shoulders, deliberately.He could not stand her talking to Lana that way."Let go of me!" Rina said fiercely, her face twisted with the pain in her shoulder. She twisted and turned in his grasp, but it was too firm."I'll scream!"
Chapter Sixty-ThreeAfter exactly twenty minutes, Zaire sent another text message and since it was already lunch time, Lana went down to meet him.She blew out a breath in nervousness, clutching her purse tightly as she stood waiting for the elevator that would take her down to the lobby. She had to admit she was nervous meeting Zaire, and wondered how much she'd tell him. In order to fully pacify him, she needed to tell him the reasons she was doing what she was doing and why she was at Romero.The elevator finally arrived with a loud ding, jolting Lana out of her thoughts. The doors slid open with a satisfying hiss to reveal a group of employee, arguing loudly with raised voices.At the sight of Lana, they blanched horribly and fell into a deafening silence. Lana frowned slightly as her eyes darted side to side in the elevator, checking out the employees uncomfortable stance.Some of them actually slid back a few inches, until they were almost touching the wall. They glanced at he
Chapter Sixty fourAll Zaire wanted was to have a nice, little lunch with Lana. He'd missed her terribly and had not been himself since that night of the gala.He was consumed with different emotions all at once-Anger at the fact that she'd chosen to work with MAGIC, even after several pleas for her to work with his company, SERENE.Fear, at the possibility of old flames being rekindled between her and Damien Romero. Fear, at the possibility that she'd never be his, as long as she'd stepped her foot back into Romero.He'd been cranky for days, snarling and snapping at things and people. He regretted leaving so abruptly at the gala. Perhaps, if he'd waited to hear her excuse, then he wouldn't be so troubled, and feeling such heavy weight on his heart.When he finally summoned up the courage to invite her out for lunch, so he could hear what she had to say, he'd been stunned speechless.By her beauty and gracefulness, and the silent plea in her eyes. Zaire was sucked in all at once, a
Chapter Sixty-five Damien had quietly returned to his office fuming, after Lana rejected his invitation to lunch.He walked into his office to find Liam giving him a knowing look. Damien's brows furrowed in a fierce frown at this.He pointed at him and said in a warning tone, "Do not say a word."Liam shrugged, a smug expression taking over his face. He knew Damien's offer to go for lunch was rejected by Lana, and it pleased him greatly. His lips twitched in amusement, as Damien brushed past him to his desk.He removed his jacket in a huff and draped it behind his chair, then sat down behind his desk. He flipped through the files which Liam had set on the table, wordlessly. His eyes were on the documents but his mind wasn't there."How much longer would she reject me?" He thought miserably, as his eyes scanned the work in his hands, absent-mindedly.He was a man of great pride and his ego had been bruised when she had rejected him, in front of Rina, nonetheless. It had taken grea
Chapter Sixty-SixLana jumped at the sound of that familiar voice. Her eyes flew to the direction of the voice, and she blinked in surprise, when she saw Damien standing at the entrance.He looked huge, his broad shoulders stretching his jacket whose lapels were unbuttoned. The dining room was not small but to Lana, at that moment, it felt like it was, with Damien's huge form taking over the space.Her eyes dragged the length of him, from his legs until it stopped at his face, and their gazes held. He looked amazing, like some kind of Adonis, and she could not help a tiny shiver of relief run through her at the sight of him.She was getting very uncomfortable with Zaire at the moment.However, that relief was short-lived when she saw the dark scowl on his face. It seemed like the room grew a little darker, from the intensity of his frown and angry gaze on her. She blinked once more in shock when she recalled how he'd yelled her name.What was going on? Why was he here and why had he y
Chapter Sixty-Seven As soon as they were out of the restaurant, Lana tried releasing her hand from Damien's grip but he was all too strong. She pulled back, but it did not even have a fraction of effect on Damien. She gritted her teeth in frustration, and dug her heels into the ground, pulling back with all her might. Damien growled low in his throat, aware of what she was doing, "Can you stop doing that?!" he whirled on her and said tightly. She glared back defiantly, and they stood on the pavement, glaring down at each other. "Just let go, already!" She shot back, just as tightly "We're out of the restaurant already. Zaire is not here, so let me go now!" He stared at her and was at a loss for words at the moment. Her cheeks were red with anger, and her gaze was not that dead stare she normally gave him. Her green eyes, which shimmered with unshed tears, was filled with hatred and pain. This did nothing to stop his gut from twisting with guilt. Damien felt his grip on her arm l
Chapter Sixty-Eight"So...you're homeless?"Lana glared at Damien as he walked up to her, his hands clasped behind his back, like a guard. His steps were relaxed and he had a mocking grin on his face as he stood before her.She narrowed her eyes at him in fury, "Seriously? You eavesdrop on other people's conversations now?"He shrugged as though that meant absolutely nothing to him. Infact, he enjoyed the way she was glaring at him, looking all cute with her flushed cheeks and narrowed emerald eyes. The hot sun shone down on her bright red hair, making her look as though her head was on fire.Damien thought he'd never seen anything more beautiful. He definitely enjoyed looking at her.How on earth had he survived his days, after the divorce? Hold up, how come he'd never known she was this beautiful, this tantalizing to the eyes?He knew the answer to that, he thought as his chest tightened with shame. He'd never even thought to give her the time of day.She was the burden brought upo
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