Chapter eight : Shadows of betrayal 

Isabel Cruz POV

The furious typing sound of the keyboard and the humming of the air conditioner were the only sound you could hear in the room. I was preparing the contract to be signed by my new investors. I couldn't believe how a company that I started just two years ago was already gaining popularity and trust from the masses. This was a feat that took my father years to achieve, but I did it in two years. I wish my parents could have been here to see this. Cruz group was currently ranking number ten in the top company list.

" Isabel!" Someone shouted my name getting me startled. My attention immediately diverted to the source of the shout.

" Gosh Talia you got me startled." I said breathing in relief. " I had been calling you for a while now." 

" I'm sorry I didn't hear you, I'm just trying to finish up this contracts before next week, how's everything with the company?" 

I had refused to show my face to the public, no one knows the face behind the owner of Cruz group not even my employees. Talia and Mr. Cruz are the only ones aware. Talia was my Manager, so she had to give me daily reports on what's going on in the office.

" We recruited more people so that we could meet up with the fast rising demand." She said with a smile.

" Ok, that's good, send me their file so that I can run background check, we need to be sure that we are not recruiting in fraudsters." 

" Sure I will." Talia said still fixed to a position. I have known Talia for three years and I could tell she wants to tell me something. She stared at me for a while and I could tell she was trying to decipher how I might react.

" Just tell me already!" 

" Well the CEO of Martinez corporation wants to speak with you."

" I don't see the problem, give him the work line. I'll definitely get through to him."

" He means in person, like physically."

" Isabel, he's been wanting to see you for a while now. Don't you think it's time to probably reveal yourself and take the glory. This might open us up to more and bigger international opportunities"

" We've talked about this Talia, the time isn't right." 

" When would it ever be right? You need to move on from your past" Her words definitely stung me hard. She definitely had no idea what it meant to be betrayed by the ones you loved with your life.

" Talia, I'm not talking about this again and that's final." I said with a tone of finality making Talia storm out of the room. 

I felt my phone vibrate on the table, in a swift motion I swiped the answer button and placed it over my ear. 

" Raphael? Any news yet?

" No other than the fact that Antonio and Elena's marriage is suffering. Nothing more."

" Raphael I need you to add one more person."

" Who's that ma'am?"

" Miguel Martinez, CEO of Martinez corporation. I need you to look into him dig up anything you can find."

" Yes ma'am."

" Keep me posted." 

My quest for revenge was growing everyday. Each time I closed my eyes the memories of the day that my life took a bad turn filled my head. Well it's not going to be so bad anymore cause I would get what I want, revenge. I closed the laptop and walked over to the mini bar to pour myself a drink. 

I heard a knock at the door, that was definitely not Talia. I poured the content of the cup down my throat in one gulp. 

" Come in." I said before the door swung open revealing Mr. Cruz. He had adopted me as his daughter but I was still used to calling him Mr. Cruz.

" Isabel?" He called out as he entered the room.

" Yes Mr. Cruz, Good day." I said with a smile as he sat down on a new of my sofa.

" How are you dear?"

" I'm fine I guess." I said lowering myself on the space beside him.

" I couldn't help but over hear you and Talia's conversation."

" I don't want to talk about it." I said looking away. " Let me tell you a story." 

" There were two people, a boy and a girl. They were so in love but they were from to entirely different world. The boy was poor and the girl was rich. They loved each other so much that they were ready to uproot anything that stood in the way of them being together. The boy decided to pursue his dream and that took him outside the country. Before he left he had promised the girl that he was going to be back to marry her. Well fate had other plans for them. By the time he came back ready to marry her. She was already married with a child. He was heart broken and betrayed." He paused looking at me.

" What happened next?" I ask anticipating what the guy had done.

" The guy never forgave her till she died." He said as a lone tears slid from her eyes. My eyes widened in realization, he was talking about himself and my mum.

" I believe you know what to do." He said. I chuckled a bit.  

" I know you're expecting me to forgive and let go of this revenge plan of mine but you both loved yourself. In my case none of them loved me, they never saw me the way I saw them. I can't just forgive them." I said bitterly, I didn't even notice when tears started streaming down my face and I started sobbing. I felt a strong hands wrap around me and rubbing my back in a soothing manner. 

The shrill sound of my ringtone made him release me. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and picked the call.

" Raphael?"

" There's been a transfer of massive funds from the Lawson fortune account to an offshore account." 

I froze as my blood ran cold. " Are you saying ..."

" They aren't working alone. There's someone else.