Chapter 3

~Grace~

Monday morning comes, I moved lazily around.

I'm heading to my cubicle as I got shouted by our head. I'm pretty much late first day of the week. I forgot to set my alarm clock knowing that I shouldn't be late right now.

I sent an immediate leave last time after talking to that investigator to make my mind at peace but I think I did it wrong. 

All I can do in that 3 days is to cry like I just mourned myself in grave. It's not helping either when 2 days ago, Bill called me even it's too late at night.

I shooked my head when pain attacked me. I put my bag on the table, started to open up my computer.

“What happened to you, Grace?” Dalia, one of our team, asked. She went near me and as if on cue, all of my friends came closer, wearing their pitty for me. 

“I'm okay, Dalia. Don't mind me,” I looked at the papers infront of me.  

“We saw something in the social media right after you requested your leave. Is that's the reason?” Angie's face softened a bit and tried to hold my hands.

I glanced them, looked away and gulped. I saw it with my eyes, too. Bill and the superstar model, Aliya, are together. They already announced it before Bill have the faced to talked to me that night. They seemed so happy with each other and I should be happy too. At last I'm not the fiance anymore. 

It kills me to know that Bill betrayed me and didn't tried to contact me but it's more even painful when he said his reasons. 

“I'm afraid to break my father's trust on me. I can't marry you, Grace. You're not yet worth to marry.”

Those words that lingers on me. His words like I'm such a disgrace to be his wife later on.

Of course, who am I by the way. I don't have means, I'm just a nobody. His new found fiance is a superstar model. What is there to me to be proud of. Nothing because I'm just a nobody to him.

I wiped the tears trolls down my face. “I want to work now. Can you please get back on your places? I'm... I'm still fine, anyway,” I croacked but managed to plaster a small smile on my lips.

They both sighed and nodded. “You deserves someone better, Grace. Don't settle to someone who can't see your worth,” Sean reminded as he patted my head. 

I nodded and said, “Thanks.”

I started to work what I left last time and continued my day like nothing. I made myself busy, even want to take the other's work just to make my mind clouded. 

Days went just like that. I wake up in the morning, go in the office immediately. Make myself busy, sometimes do overtime just to make my body tired to the point that I go home late, went to sleep. Not until my plans for the whole week changed when Mr. Baltemore called. 

“I've got an information about your asshole fiance,” he started while fixing his cuffs. “I hope you won't mind my words,” Mr. Baltemore said, loosening his necktie. 

I rolled my eyes and gazed our place. I requested Mr. Baltemore to discussed it somewhere crowded. And then he took me here on a high end bar, I barely go. It's not real crowded because he requested us to be on the VIP in the second floor. The booming sound of the music keep going on that I nearly can't understand him. And it's not appropriate to sit beside him to make our conversation clear. However, it's good that my ears are very attentive. I sipped my wine and looked at him. “It's all okay. Don't worry, I don't care anyway.” 

Mr. Baltemore nodded. He titled his head and an amusement showed on his face. “Well, that's good to hear. I don't think I can sugarcoat more my words just for cheaters.”

I fakely coughed at what he said. “You do?” I sarcastically asked. “Oh well, I can't remember that one. Nevermind,” I shrugged. Sugarcoat his ass. From those conversations we had, I can't remember he said sweet words just to favored me as his client. I put down my wine and look at him. “Anyway, what is it that you called that's for a meeting, Mr. Baltemore?” 

“I saw that your fiance's business slowly falling. Don't you know about that?” He raised his brow to me. My eyes widened in shocked that he shook his head, “I guess not. One of their shareholders are pulling back their shares in the Marco Y Incorporates. They announced years ago that Mr. Wilsmour from Los Angeles has the second highest shares amongst all. And he's the one who lead the pulling stunt.”

All I can do on my sit is to shut my mouth with my hands. I didn't know about that. Bill didn't tell me that. Mr. Baltemore handed me a documents which I took it from him. I took out the papers and checked immediately. It's all an articles and many datas about their company's stake. It says that not more than a year, their company will fall down cause of bankruptcy. I looked at the articles and it's all over the country since last month but I still don't know not until today. 

“Losing Mr. Wilsmour in their company is already their end. Although, some aren't planning to pull out even with the incident happened, I don't think they can still gain stocks.” He poured a drink on his glass then shake it on his hand.

I looked at him doubtly. “If they are persistent, they can do it. Besides, I know Bill. He won't let this happen especially that years from now...” He gazed me with a curiosity on his eyes. I looked away and swallowed hard. “He'll take his father's position.”

“Hmm, then that explains the pulling stunt. If I were them, I'll do the same too. Anyway, that's just all for me,” he boredly said. 

“Huh?” I got clueless with what he said. What's with Bill connected in the problem of their company? 

He drinks his wine and put it back on the table. “I just predicted something, Ms. Simson. Though, I'm not sure if I got it right. Forget about it.”

I shrugged and didn't mind him. I scanned all the pages he gave to me and noticed something different to all he has given to me. I looked at him and back to what I'm now holding. I traced the headline of it and back to the man in front of me. 

He noticed my moves that he gazed me. He shifted his weight and spread his arms on the back of the couch still holding the glass on his right hand. He just arrogantly sit. “What's with that look? You're not believing me, again?” 

I smiled sarcastically and rolled my eyes. “Was that still new? Just wondering how unprofessional you are makes me doubt you,” I frankly said and poured drinks on my glass. I looked at the empty bottle and to him.

He first looked at me darkly before raised his hand for another drinks. “How you say so, Ms. Simson?” he asked the moment the waiter leaves us after putting another bottle in front of us. 

I glance at the letter printed on it. Daniels. I shooked my head as I can't believed I just drink hard liquors with this untrustworthy man.

“How many years you're serving clients Mr. Baltemore. 2, 3 or 4 years?” I mocked him out of the blue. He takes my words lightly that I can't help my mouth shut. Argh, this could be the effect of liquors. It sounded like I'm trying to pick a fight. 

He licked his lips. “Almost 7 years it is.”

“What an arrogant,” I murmured.

He laughed at me and tilted his head. “Wish that I am, Ms. Simson. I never thought myself being an arrogant. Proud itself is the best definition for me.”

I sneered then shrugged to feel my mind lighten but I soon stopped when I felt my head spinning. I stopped from moving and massage my temple to ease the pain.

“Anyway, you want to know about your ex new fiance? I'm willing to do a background check for you, Ms. Simson.” 

I sneered again. “You didn't checked those two girls I said last time and you asked me this? Are you out of your mind?” I can't believe it. What's with Aliya than those two girls I'm asking.

He chuckled darkly at my reaction. “I'm just suggesting Ms. Simson. Those two are obviously just his fling.”

“Thank you for that wonderful suggestion Mr. Baltemore. But no thanks, I don't need your suggestion.”

He's smirking from time to time that I want to erase it on his irritating face. He finds me being funny for sure. 

“So shall I continue the investigation? Or do you have something on mind that you want to know just for instance.” 

“Nothing. But if there will be, I think I can do it by myself. I don't have enough money on my pocket.” I just blurted out.

“Got bankrupt?” He teased. “How will you pay me then? Through debt?”

Shocked, I shooked my head vigorously and stopped immediately when I felt like I would vomit anytime. I can feel my mind getting out of my head. I can't think straight. My vision keeps on dancing. I forcefully faced him and picked my glass of wine. “The asshole's money on me,” I smirked. “He left me with a money before he went to Los Angeles. I don't take his money just to fulfill my whims. I do for myself.” I pointed my chest and chuckled again. “Obviously, I don't wanna see him too close for now because all I can think is how I will beat his face infront of me.”

Mr. Baltemore's face darkened as I'm telling him stories which I shouldn't do. But I didn't take it seriously and continued my words, “I can't bring back his money through seeing him so I got an idea when I took someone's advice. It's not me who I investigated, anyway, so it's better to pay you out of his money. After all he himself is the one who got investigated and just a bonus of her flings and fiance.” I laughed at my long speech.

Mr. Baltemore looks more pissed while I'm talking and it added more when I laughed. “Goddamit. Did you pay me already woman?” he asked like he lose his patience on me.

Out of my senses, I giggled. “Yes! Of course, I don't want money from him so I immediately put it in your bank account.” 

I watched his face change it's emotion. His biceps moved as his gripped to his glass tightened. The amusement on him washed out and change his reaction to an irritated scowl. Ow, the beast gets irritated too, I smirked.

My head spinned again so I cleared my throat and suppress an apologetic face. “I'm sorry Mr. Baltemore. I shouldn't said this to you. Did I offended you?” I said like it was a real sincere.

I bit my lips. “But the money is legal Mr. Baltemore, if that makes you offended. The money was given to me which I have the right to use it. Though I wouldn't use it for myself.”

He scowled me and drink his wine. He looks so deadly this time. My smirked vanished as his jaw moved. Even my head is spinning I saw his face darkened more as if what I said isn't good to hear.

He looked darkly with intense on his emerald eyes. “You better go home, Ms. Simson,” like a thunder behind storm, a beast beneath darkness.

Fear creeps me, I felt awakened on my drunk state. I looked away at him and cleared my throat. “T-thank you for the infos, Mr. Baltemore. Good night,” I said. With my gained sanity, I stand up and gathered my bag beside me. But I lost my balance when my stomach curled and my head hurts. 

I groaned as I felt my body hurts when I hit a surface ahead. I tried to open my sleepy eyes but all I can see is Mr. Baltemore's mad face while heading to me.