Her Ex's Rival

“W-what?” 

The question hung in the air as Alana found it hard to breathe. Her mouth was left ajar, and the hands with which she held onto the phone trembled. 

Beside her shaky hands was a half empty bottle of chilled whisky, along with her black purse on the counter top.

“What do you mean by you’re pulling out? You can’t just tell me this out of the blue.” Alana frowned as she gripped the phone tighter in her hand.

There was soft music playing in the background, mixed in with a couple of scattered laughs and occasional conversation. All of it originating from people who were out in the bar, to lessen the tension of the day and catch up with a few friends. 

But this was not the case for Alana Monrael. 

She had come to drown herself away from the sorrows of the news that hit her. But even in the safe confines of the bar, as she thought, more bad news had hit. 

The last investor in her cosmetic business had just called, reversing their contract with her. 

She was distraught. 

“Out of the blue? Your company's sales have been dropping rapidly for the past two weeks, and there’s no guarantee I will be getting the money I had invested.” the man on the other end of the call hissed, his voice sounding irritated.

“T-The sales will bounce back, it’s just a matter of time before the rumors die down, I promise my company will not go bankrupt.” Alana affirmed but her assurance sounded weak even in her ears.

“I don’t believe in empty promises. Bye.” the line went dead and Alana dropped her phone on the table.

Alana had invested all of her time in this—in her company, Lana’s Skincare. Except that now it was all falling apart. Everything she worked for, dedicated her life to—it was all coming apart at the seams. 

All because some mischievous rumors had circulated that there were dangerous chemicals in her products. The media and social platforms had taken it all, in one big swig and it spread like wildfire. 

There were hashtags calling out her brand on social media, even to the point of being trash talked by certain social media activists. 

It happened so fast—even for damage control. And now, it had resulted in all of her investors pulling away, in a bid to save face. The value of her company has not only dropped but she lost money and was fast dipping into huge amounts of debt as result. 

“I-I can’t… I can't believe this.” Alana stammered, unable to articulate her words properly. “They just pulled out. That fintech company… they just pulled out.” She said, amidst shaky sobs. 

The lady by her side, placed a compassionate hand on her back gentle rubbing circles in a bid to comfort her. “It's okay. It's okay. Everything will be fine.” She comforted. 

Norah had been Alana’s best friend since high school, and when the scandal of her company came out, Alana knew that the only person who she could confide in was Norah.

She was a brunette, with black outline eyelashes and freckles on her cheeks while her lips were outlined by nude lipsticks. 

“It's going to be alright,” Norah added with a small smile. 

“H-how?” Alana turned to her, blinking repeatedly as she tried to keep the tears at bay. 

She was drawing so much attention and even the barman, whilst serving others at the counter kept looking her way every now and then. But that was the least of her concerns.

If she didn’t voice out her feelings, she felt like she was going to die. She needed to let it all out.

“How is it going to be fine? I am in debt, how do I balance the sheets?” Alana exhaled, holding her head in her hands.

Norah tilted her glass of alcohol, with a downcast face, looking thoughtfully at it. Right before she turned to the side, and sighed. 

“I can't say I know but it's you, Lana. You have a way of bouncing back.” Norah shrugged, saying with a hint of certainty in her voice. “You always do.”

“I know… But you know the worst part of this all?” Alana quaked, holding her hand to her mouth now. “The person that started all of this is Drake.”

“What?” Norah gasped, eyebrows knitted as she dropped the glass in full attention to Alana. “You don’t mean it?”

Alana nodded sadly. “Yes. And it's because I found out that he cheated on me in a hotel, some weeks back.” 

Norah was dumbstruck, her eyes wide with shock as she drew closer, with a whisper-like voice.

“Do you know who it was with?” 

“That’s not the point.” Alana responded with a slow shake of her head. “The point is, I promised… I threatened to reveal this out to the public and he has since been scheming to get my investors to pull out in a  bid to frustrate me. And I'm sure that this one is his doing too.” 

Alana was certain this was Drake’s handiwork. There was no one else who had a vendetta against her that would deliberately spread such rumors about her.

She knew Drake was arrogant and ruthless but never had she imagined he would stoop to such levels just to bring her down.

Norah gasped once again, her hands over her mouth . “He’s such an ass. I am so sorry that this is happening to you.” 

Alana was about to reply, something on the lines of how she was going to get back at him for this. But when she opened her mouth to talk, the conversations in the bar seemed to die out. 

Curiosity piqued, she turned away from the counter, wondering what just happened. 

The first thing she noticed was the question on the faces of everyone else, all directed to the neon decorated entrance of the bar. Ladies swooned, blushing as they fanned themselves with gasps of exaggerated expressions. 

The men were not left out, as they looked on at the sole entrant with eyes that reflected respect. 

“There he is again.” the barman murmured under his breath before he continued with his work.

The man who commandeered their attention stood tall at the entrance, his deep green eyes scanning about the bar. He had a light stubble on his square jawed face that gave the vibes like he was from an Olympian greek sculpture. 

And coupled with broad shoulders and bulging muscles despite the two piece blue suit he had on, he was perfect. 

Alana leaned in to Norah, her eyes still fixated at the mystery man.  “Who is that?”  She whispered. 

At that moment, the man’s green eyes locked in straight at her, intense—like he was a hawk and she was his prey.  She had no idea why he was staring at her that way or what his gaze meant but she felt pinned to the floor, unable to look away.

Then, a waiter approached him and led him to a table by the corner.

“What??” Norah scoffed lightly, unable to believe what she had just heard.. “You don’t say.  You don’t know who he is? That is Trevor Halland, the most promising and eligible bachelor in LA. “

“I mean, where have you been?” Norah laughed mockingly.

Promising and eligible, Alana mused. 

“Isn’t he handsome?” Norah teased with a wink.  “He is every woman’s wet dream, and greatest desire.”

Alana could see that from the way he commanded the attention in the bar. He seemed to be someone very powerful. Even more powerful than the man ruining her life. 

She had only heard of the great Trevor Halland but never had she seen him in person. Their businesses were two worlds apart as he was into Electronics and she was in cosmetics.

“Trevor?” Alana nodded, absentminded as the man’s gaze tore away from her. He moved to a seat but she followed him with her eyes, watching his every move. “Isn’t he the CEO whose company has been at the top position for years now?”

“Yes, that’s the one. He’s known as your ex’s rival.” Norah let out with mischief in her eyes as she continued to stare at Trevor who was now talking to the waiter, ordering a drink.

Alana could remember when Drake used to mention how there was another company he wanted to bring down because of how competitive they were. Drake had always been an egoistic person and he would do anything to eliminate anyone who posed a threat to him.

Just the way he had succeeded in ruining her company because she had threatened to destroy his image. Almost ruined.

Alana knew it wasn’t over until it was over.

A devious smile slipped onto her face as a plan began to brew in her head. Maybe, there was a way to save her company after all.

“What’s going on? What’s that look on your face?’ Her friend, who knew Alana too well, questioned. It was clear that Alana was up to no good.

“Norah, I think God is on my side.” Alana muttered, reaching forward on the counter to grab a tissue. “He just showed me a way.”

“A way to what? What do you plan on doing, Alana?” Norah asked as Alana got up from the highchair.

She flipped her hair over her shoulder and her high heels clicked against the floor as she sauntered towards the man who was seated in the corner of the bar.

As she walked, she could feel it. The glances of people around her, and some even whispering, probably curious to know what she was about to do.

It seemed like a spectacle. Everyone watched her with bated breaths, wanting to know her next step while the man who she was approaching was sipping his drink without a care in the world.

Alana stopped a few steps before his table, and waited for him to notice her. Slowly, Trevor Halland looked up at her, his green eyes appearing like jade marbles under the dim light.

“May I help you?” Trevor’s voice was deep and alluring, just like everything about him.

But Alana didn’t let his charm intimidate her. Instead, it only gave her the courage to step forward.

“A very good question, sir.” Alana said confidently. “Actually, yes, you can help me. My name is Alana Monrael, the CEO of Lana's Skincare and I have a deal for you.” 

Whispers flooded the bar as everyone wondered who the bold lady was but Alana had eyes on only one person—the one who was going to save her company and destroy Drake Manchester.