Chapter Six: A Traitor Exposed

MALIA…

I was stirred from my sleep and my brain is awake with a primal surge of adrenaline that should carry me up but my cold heavy limbs disobeyed. I felt a dull pain underlying the numbness in my body and I turned my head sideways but I didn't see Larson on the bed neither was he on the sofa, I was thinking too deeply maybe he slept in another room. 

I stepped down slowly from the bed as I wore my slippers and left the room. I searched every nook and cranny of the mansion but I couldn't find him anywhere, probably he left cause he has duties to attend to. Once again I reached for my room door and looked back expecting to find him right behind me but he wasn't, my mind had begun to play mild games with me once again but right now I shouldn't let that get to me.

After showering I got dressed in a short sleeveless orange body fitted gown which exposed my thighs and my cleavages and it also clung to my body, revealing that banging body. I paired it with a black heels and I packed my hair up in a high ponytail while applying my gloss to my lips, I decided to go neutral without applying a foundation on my face but I applied a mascara and eye liner. My hands were trembling and my heart pounding harder and harder as the memories of last night flooded into my head like a roller coaster.

I began to feel embarrassed, what got over me yesterday?. I picked up my black cropped jacket and my handbag and made my way to the office. As I walked my high penciled heels flicked the floors of the company, I slowed down reaching the door as I pushed it open and when I looked up at him, his gaze roved over my face.

"You're an hour late miss Smith, your competence to work is badly poor" he stated and my eyes widened in outmost shock. Why was he so cold towards me? he was an entirely different person.

"I know what you're thinking and to let you know I don't mix my personal life with my professional life"

"I'm never late for work, I just got late because I wasn't feeling too well and you know about that" I fired back not giving him a chance to taunt me and he scrutinized my body intensely.

"Is there anything wrong?" I asked

"Yes miss Smith, a lot has gone wrong. Guessing from the time you've come to the office we have no other option but to attend the meeting at hand, I have kept the board members waiting for too long and what sort of dress are you wearing? doesn't it feel too exposive?" 

"I always wear such and I'm the head of the company so you have no right to judge how I dress"

"Here's the file we are using for the presentation" he said and handed over the document to me as he walked towards me and when he was about to step back my necklace got stuck in his shirt.

"What the heck! why do you wear a jewelry when you can't control it" he sounded pissed

"How I'm I supposed to know it would get stucked in your shirt? and it's all your fault for coming closer to me, just calm down and let me take it off" I said but it all fell on deaf ears as he kept trying to remove it forcibly and it resulted to the buttons falling down from his shirt and I bursted out in a loud laughter.

"Does this look funny to you? I have a meeting soon and I'm in a mess" he said running his hand through his hair.

"Serves you right, at least from now onwards you'll learn how to exercise patience. I'll help you with that I think there's a sewing kit in here" I moved away in search of it and I picked the buttons from the floor. I helped him unbutton his suit jacket then I neatly sewed the buttons on his shirt, after some few minutes I was done then I helped him wear his jacket.

"Thank you" he said and moved closer to me. If the kiss didn't happen yesterday it will surely happen today, guessing from his movements. I closed my eyes in anticipation but I didn't feel his lips on mine then I opened my eyes and felt a hand on my hair and immediately my hair fell loosed on my shoulders.

"I love it when your hair is down" he whispered in a deep husky voice and I looked away and fumbled with the needle and thread I found in the sewing kit.

"Thank you" I replied disappointed, I myself couldn't find answers to my unending questions.

"Expecting something else miss Smith?" he smirked and I blamed myself for getting easily tricked by him

We entered into the conference room with a very serious conversation going on between the board of directors. The conference room had ten seats and two tables and it is well equipped with a large screen for any business presentation. As we stepped through the doorway all eyes turned to look at us, I must admit we didn't hesitate to fix all eyes upon ourselves. I looked at Larson who briskly stood near the door and my face grew warm admiring his manly physique. My assistant Louella got up to pull out a chair for me then sat down again while I walked over and sat down.

The room had become quiet like a vacated house then Larson sat down on the left side of the table facing me.

"As for coming late I won't apologise, let's get done with the board meeting" he replied audaciously and I frowned at his rudeness then I focused on the big screen being played in front of us.

"Judging from the past records of the company's files, it has come to notice that the dubai project has been pending for a while which had made some of the investors withdraw their shares" Larson said

"What!? that's impossible. Maynard was working on this project, I've always desired to take our chocolate business to the top and I spoke to him about it and he said he'll do just that" I retorted surprisingly, exclaiming in disbelief

"Really? does that mean I'm lieing? here take a look at it if you don't believe my words at least your eyes won't be able to deceive you" he tossed the file to me and I cross checked it properly. The truth has finally come to limelight how dare Maynard deceive me in such a way?

"Forget about the project pending, he didn't even start it and I'm sure his right hand man mr Jay should know about it" I looked at Mr Jay whose forehead was beaded with forms of sweat and I knew something was fishy.

"Yes Mr Jay it's you I'm talking to. I need a reply and you don't need to get scared"

"Larson I don't know what you're talking about, I have been Malia's father assistant before moving over to Maynard I can never do such a thing" Mr Jay replied nervously and everything became clear, for some reason I could see through his eyes.

"Blatant lies" Larson slammed his hand hard on the table

"Mr Reynold" I mumbled under my breath but loud enough for him to hear me.

"You're a liar, you couldn't exploit the company while being under the watch of Mr Ray Smith and when you finally got the chance you and Maynard worked together. Miss Smith are you aware that your scum of an ex husband has been using the dubai money project to fund different women lifestyles, I have checked the statistics and I have seen a lot of women names" Larson said coldly and it hit me like a bomb. Charlotte wasn't the only woman in his life but he had other mistresses, how dumb was I not to know about all this? I took in a deep breath to calm myself down then my gaze got directed at Mr Jay"

"Mr Jay there are two valid reasons on why I respect you, the first reason is you're around my father's age and secondly you're the most trusted man of my father as of now till when he becomes aware of your true nature. I won't say a word because my father's health isn't good but I'm giving you a last chance to rectify your mistake, anymore compliants about you then I promise to kick you out myself" I said in a cold tone and I noticed his angry gaze on me.

"You haven't done the right thing Malia" Mr Jay said

"Yes you're absolutely right, she didn't do the right thing. If I were her I wouldn't hesitate to kick you out, you should be thanking her for keeping your reputation intact otherwise you were about to loose your face in the society" Larson added and I placed my hand on his, pleadingly looking into his eyes.

"Let's begin from where we stopped. Concerning the matters of the chocolate business we want to open in dubai we'll need someone who makes the best chocolate and he must also be able to handle the affairs of the business and he must also be honest and trustworthy, from the chocolates I have tasted so far I'm vividly sure about giving this position to Mr Rowan Rivers" Larson said and everyone clapped while waiting for Mr Rowan to stand up, there was a very bright smile on his face. I really didn't know much about him but I believed Larson's decisions will be the best for the company.

"Thank you Mr Reynold I'll make sure I take the company's chocolate business to greater heights" Mr Mykel said

"I hope you stick to your words, and also I need the company's trade mark to be on the chocolate so it won't be hard to dictate. Is that clear?" he said and we all nodded in agreement

"Then let's all call it a quit, it was nice sharing my thoughts with you all. I'll inform you all on our next scheduled meeting" he said and they all stood up to shake hands with him.