Chapter 5

As I walked out from the bathroom back to the event, there he was - the last person I expected to see was standing before me, the man I once loved.

Noticing me, he turned in my direction. Nathan was filled with rage mixed with regret; his eyes could tell, and trust me, I wasn't going to be swayed by mere looks. His gaze was intense, and for a moment, he seemed lost. His usual confident demeanor was replaced with uncertainty, but he managed to find his words. 

"Paula, please, you have to hear me out," he said. "I'm sorry for whatever you had to go through." He said it with so much sincerity that one would fall for, but obviously not me. At this point, I was getting irritated. Could this day get any worse? And did he really think a simple apology would fix everything? 

His words made me angrier. "You've got to be kidding me, Nathan," I said. "You're sorry? Really?" I repeated, my voice firm. "Just stay away from me, Nathan, and I won't have Alicia barking at me again. You should put a leash on her."

Paula, please, Nathan continued, his voice laced with desperation, as if his life depended on it. He grasped my arm, his grip tightening as he tried to prevent me from walking away. 

Just then, Alexander stepped in. "Ah, thank goodness".

Nathan, you don't want to create a scene here, do you? Alexander's low tone was laced with warning, and anyone could tell he was boiling with anger.

In a flash, Nathan, burning with rage, landed a blow on Alexander's face. "Wait, what?" I gasped, shocked by his sudden action. Before I could say another word, Alexander retaliated, his fist connecting with Nathan's jaw. Nathan stumbled backward, losing his balance, and crashed into a table behind him, sending everything on it tumbling to the ground. 

I quickly intervened, rushing to stand between them. I grasped Alexander's arm, holding him back as he faced Nathan, his chest heaving with anger. "This is your problem, Nathan," I said, my voice firm. "You always act impulsively and end up destroying everything." Nathan was still recovering from the heavy blow, slowly lifting himself from the ground. At this point, all eyes were fixed on us. I felt embarrassed, and that's when I looked up and noticed a particular pair of eyes - Alicia's - staring at me with intense hatred. Her gaze was venomous, she's not my problem, she can do whatever she wants. 

"You've just ruined your event," I said, turning back to face Nathan.

 "Let's get out of here, Xander." Alexander's hand closed tightly around mine as we walked away from the chaos. My head was a mess, and I couldn't help but silently pray the media doesn't create headlines with this drama. 

Just outside, Alexander turned to me sharply, his eyes filled with concern. He pulled me into a warm hug and whispered, "Are you okay?" I wasn't. I felt exhausted, but reminded myself that this is just the tip of an iceberg in my revenge journey.

I woke up with a throbbing headache, still reeling from the drama of the previous night. Turning to my left, beside me, Xander slept peacefully, his face radiant, eyes closed, and chiseled features relaxed. His ruffled hair added to his endearing appearance. He was perfect.

As I gazed at him, he suddenly spoke up, "Are you going to stare at me all day?" A smirk spread across his face, catching me off guard. I thought he was still asleep. I tried to dodge his question and got out of bed, but he swiftly grabbed my waist and pulled me back. 

He planted a gentle kiss on my forehead, moving my hair behind my ears. "You're beautiful," he whispered."

I blushed, despite hearing those words from him every single day. 

"I've got you; you don't have to face anything alone. I'm always here for you." I nodded, smiling, as he placed another kiss on my lips. His reassurance was comforting. He was understanding and reliable, a treasure I wished I had met sooner. 

Today is going to be great, or so I thought. My optimism was short-lived as my phone beeped, an email from my company. Going through it, the content left me stunned and overwhelmed. Nathan's actions were beyond my wildest imagination. Alexander noticed my distress and asked, "What's wrong?" 

"It's Nathan," I replied

"He's bought out one of my partner's shares." 

Alexander's expression turned incredulous. "How is that possible?" he exclaimed "

I raised my eyelids, as if saying, 'I wonder.' 

"He just doesn't know when to back out" Alexander muttered. "This would give him significant control over your business, potentially allowing him to influence or even dictate the company's direction." he added. 

"I really don't know. I just have to find out myself. And also, I don't care. Like I've always said, I'm going into the industry, business, and not the CEO whatever.

But still, I will just go to the company and see for myself how things are faring". I said, getting out of bed. I'll come with you," Alexander offered, as if anticipating my next move. 

As if waiting for my arrival. Stella, my secretary, greeted us and escorted us to a board meeting. Nathan's audacity knew no bounds; he had called a meeting in my absence. Just how much shares did this punk get? 

There he was, seated with pride, like he just got a trophy, assuming my seat. As the meeting commenced, Nathan's smug expression made my blood boil. Mr. Trivor announced, "Mr. Nathan Jenkins has bought out Mister Salvador's shares.". I felt shocked. It all makes sense,Salvador has always been a Nathan's friend for a very long time, so this was it. 

After the meeting had ended, I met with Alexander and told him what provided Nathan the opportunity. 

Just then, Nathan stepped out. He approached me with a sly smile. "You can easily salvage this situation by partnering with me," he suggested.

"I was going to talk back, but Alex stepped in, as usual. "All this is just a waste of time. My woman is venturing into the industry, and this stunt you just pulled changes nothing." His voice firm.