Chapter One Hundred And FourZaire was in his office, standing in front of his floor to ceiling windows. The sun had already set and he was staring at the impressive skyline of Oakcrest City. Far below him, were hundreds of bright lights coming from the buildings, as well as the long line of vehicles which snaked along the main road.His reflection stared back at him from the glass. Behind him was his assistant, and another man. The other man was kneeling on the floor a few feet by the door. He had his head bowed and was clad all in black. There was a mask in his hand, which was bunched into fists on his thighs.It was the same man who had attacked Lana in her office, and stabbed Damien."So explain to me how an experienced henchman like you can't take out a single woman?" Zaore asked calmly, without turning away from the window.The man gritted his teeth, sweating beneath his layers of clothes but when he spoke, he made sure to keep his voice void of any tremors, "I'm sorry, sir "
Chapter One Hundred And Five"A tail?" Rina repeated, laughing into the phone. "That's ridiculous. What, you think I don't have people of my own who give me information?""That might be true," Zaire thought uneasily. He did not want Rina to have sources and information, damn it!. She was supposed to be a dumb girl that could be used anytime.Rina scoffed at his obvious silence, "I thought you and Lana had something going, " she muttered in a mocking voice, "Something quite special." She laughed out loud as the thought occurred to her again , "But you tried to kill her?! What a way to show your love to somebody Zaire.""Shut up," Zaire ordered, gripping the phone tightly against his ears."And then you failed on your first try?" Rina went on, enjoying the heady feeling that this power gave her. Her voice turned steely, "Or did you chicken out and canceled the hit on her? Dear Zaire, I can make you suffer for that, don't you know?"Zaire laughed slightly as he walked to sit behind his d
Chapter One Hundred And SixThe two men's ears perked up at that statement."What do you mean, happen again?" Damien asked, as his eyes narrowed in suspicion at the maid.Bella looked confused. She looked up nervously at Liam, then back to Damien, "That's what she said, " She uttered quietly, "to keep her updated.""That's like implying something would happen to Miss Lana again," Liam put in and Damien glanced sharply at him, "Possibly another attack."Damien's face darkened as he let out a light scoff, "And Rina is behind all of this?" He asked in disbelief. Liam shrugged, "I wouldn't put it past her, sir." He replied calmly, "Miss Rina is much too unstable. I believe she can do something as psychotic as this."Damien was silent as his brows furrowed in deep thought, thinking about what Liam had just said about Rina.He'd always known she was vicious, but he'd never thought she'd go for a person's life. Since the issue three years ago about Lana's pregnancy, Damien had always view
Chapter One Hundred And SevenLana stepped into the room, giving Bella a tentative smile. Bella bowed and closed the door carefully, while Lana walked towards the two men."Alright, let me know when the meeting with the shareholders is rescheduled," Damien said, quite loudly, "It is very important that you must get back to me today."Liam bowed slightly, "Yes sir," he responded and acknowledging Lana's presence with a nod, he walked out of the room. Lana returned his nod and watched him go out of the office. She placed the small tray on the desk in front of Damien and smiled at him."Something wrong?" She asked, referring to the mention of the meeting with shareholders."No. No." Damien assured her, returning her smile,"Everything's fine."Lana sat down on the plush chair in front of the desk and pointed to the tray in front of him, "Here, have some tea," she said, "Yvette made it for you. It will help you recover." Her voice became quieter as she said that last statement, and her
Chapter One Hundred And EightLana carefully opened the box and brought out the letter Laura had left for her. She read the words which she knew by heart over again and sighed heavily.Her mind drifted back to the conversation she'd heard in Damien's office. Yvette had wanted to take the tray herself to Damien earlier, but Lana had insisted on taking it to him. This was after she'd made up her mind to tell him all about Laura's parcel. After all, he'd saved her life tonight. Even if she wasn't going to forgive him, she could also save his life as well, by revealing Rina's true self to him.She had been surprised when he'd fired Rina at her request. On further thoughts, she realized that she had not seen him with Rina for some time, and he seemed not to be fooled by her antics anymore."Then, I guess he won't think I'm crazy when I tell him all about Laura's parcel." She muttered to herself as she walked down the hallway towards his study. She stood in front of the door and took a de
Chapter One Hundred And NineZaire paused as he gritted his teeth in regret. He could not believe he'd let slip something like that.After that annoying call with Rina, Zaire could barely control his anger anymore.As well as his guilt.The thought that Damien and Lana were together in the same house plagued him, as well as the fact, that he'd played a part in putting them together.God knows, he'd never hurt her willingly but in his hearts of hearts, Zaire knew that if he could not have Lana, then no one would have her.That was what had fueled his decision to get rid of her that evening. He'd allowed himself to be swayed by Rina. He had not thought she would be sensible enough to keep evidence of their dealings, but she'd been with him for a long time and he knew Rina was unpredictable as hell.But then...What was it she had said?"I thought you and Lana had something going, " She had mocked him, "Something quite special."But you tried to kill her?! What a way to show your love to
Chapter One Hundred And Ten"Zaire?" Damien was giving her a very dark look with an eyebrow arched. He'd heard what she'd said, and anger rose up inside him. She was still talking to that jerk? Lana nodded her head, "yea, he just called to check up on me," she told him, "He heard about the incident and...""He heard about the incident?" Damien asked interrupting her, and Lana nodded once more. "Yes, he did." She replied with a sigh, "Come to think of it, I'm calling the cops. I was so distracted earlier that I totally forgot about it. We have to let them know so they can...""How did Ludovic know about your attack at the office?" Damien asked in a stern voice , interrupting her once more. Lana took a deep breath, incensed that he kept interrupting her when she was trying to say something important."Lana?" He prodded once more and she snapped."I don't know! Jeez, Damien!" She said, sharply, "He didn't really say anything about it. I know I must have misheard. He was just checking
Chapter One Hundred And Eleven.Over the next few days, Lana avoided Damien like the plague and he did his best to stay out of her way. She stared past him as though he was nonexistent to the extent that Damien felt he could not stay in under the same roof with her anymore.But then he waited patiently, waiting for her anger to thaw. He never hurried her or inputed anything since that day, although he wanted to apologize for the rest of his days.If apologizing till eternity will make everyhng right, Damien was willing to take it on. He'd walked into her room that day to apologize for his behaivour. She was right for being scared and trying to make sure she did not get anyone else caught in the fray. He was wrong for treating her like a weakling.However, when he'd held her by her shoulders and stared into her eyes, his gust was twisted with something he could not explain.She'd looked so small and defenseless that he'd wondered how she was able to get through what she did five ye
Chapter One Hundred And Forty Seven"Miss Lana, its okay. I can take it from here."Yvette said in a worried tone but there was no mistaking the gladness that laced it as well as she watched Lana gently remove the delicious, creamy bread from the oven.Lana gave her a grin over her shoulder as she removed the thick mittens from her hands. The sweet aroma of roasted meat, and freshly baked bread filled the kitchen and teased their noses, making her mouth water."The master would be back home soon. You go ahead and freshen up, Miss Lana." Yvette said with a conspiratorial grin at Lana.Lana cheeks flamed as she heard the hidden meaning behind Yvette's words. Its not like it was a special day or something, but Yvette was adding meaning to her cooking for Damien after such a long time.It was no big deal, really.Bored out of her wits from staying at home all day, Lana had gotten tired of watching TV. Then she resorted to growing her phone for emails and also her Instagram. Her feed was
Chapter One Hundred And Forty SixLana sat in her room poring over designs sent to her by Mandy, on her laptops. Each scroll she made, had her heart jumping for joy as she slowly forgot the bitter experience she'd had earlier that day.She had been so frazzled after listening to the recordings, that she'd gone home and cried herself to sleep. That morning, she woke up to about fifteen missed calls from Mandy the day before. "Ma'am, we made it to the preliminary round for the Queen's Glamour And Festival Awards!" Mandy had squealed excitedly into her ear that morning when she called her back. The young women sounded very excited and Lana had immediately been affected by her joyful mood.Although, she knew that they'd get selected and even possibly win the awards, her heart could not help but race in anticipation when Mandy announced the news."Mandy, that's awesome news," she said to her assistant, tears of joy filling her eyes suddenly to her surprise."Yes, ma'am. It is." Mandy af
Chapter One Hundred And Forty Five"Let me out, you hear me! Hey, I'm talking to you!" Rina yelled as she hit the metal bars of the cell doors holding her back. The cops, however, paid her no heed and went about their business like she wasn't even there."Agrhh!" Rina screamed, shaking the metal bars once more and snapping her head back. She winced in pain as she held on to her neck which had a brace over it.The doctors had warned her to be careful with moving it around, and now she'd almost dislodged it from its position again. She knew what she was doing would make no difference, but she could not sit still.It's been almost twenty four hours and yet she was still languishing in this cell. Her stomach growled with hunger and anger, and she glared at the police men.She'd not had anything to eat since she was brought from the hospital, and even then she'd not eaten anything.Both the food from the hospital and the one given to her in the cell looked like they were meant for dogs, n
Chapter One Hundred And Forty FourZaire had been following Damien all his life. He kept tabs on the Romero family as well, always looking for an opening, a leverage he could use against them.He saw when the little bastard had his first car.When he got into an ivy league. When he took over from their father.Zaire was always skulking around them, hiding in the shadows, watching every moment of Damien's life.Damien had been happy. He had loving parents, and a doting grandmother. He had his life set out for him and even got to marry a beautiful, and astounding woman in the long run.Everything that should have been his.With one tilt of his head, he downed the entire contents of the glass in one gulp and walked inside the house with it, leaving Aryan staring after him.He walked into his spacious bedroom, which seemed to be made of glass, with one part overlooking the glorious expanse of the sea.Zaire made his way to his walk in closet, divesting himself of his clothes. He walked o
Chapter One Hundred And Forty ThreeZaire stands in the balcony of his villa, overlooking the sea as he sipped from a glass of tequila.The sea wind was cold and crisp and ruffled his hair and the collar of the crisp white button down which he wore.He tucked his hand in his pocket, a calm expression on his face as he watched the sea down beneath him.It was dusk already and the dark, foamy waves of the sea crashed against the rocks situated at its bank, and spilled over the beach. During the day, he'd walked barefoot on the beach, close to the edge of the sea.The sand on the beach was fine, mixed with pieces of rocks that prickled the sole of his feet as he walked past, 0but Zaire paid no heed to it.He looked down at the beach now from his balcony, and let his blank stare gaze at the roaring waves.He took another sip of his tequila, letting the warmth of the liquid burn through his throat and spread throughout his chest. His calm and blank expression belied any of the raging turmo
Chapter One Hundred And Forty Two."There are some things we need to look into before handing the files over to the police."Damien was silent.He had his head in his hands with his eyes closed. He was not fully listening what Liam was saying, with his mind whirling with various thoughts. He was still numb from the fact that his grandmother had been killed. She had been taken away from him. He did not even get a chance to reconcile with her.For months he'd been at loggerheads with her because of Rina. He'd made her cry and frustrated. He'd repeatedly declared his love for Rina, and how he'd choose her over Romero. Damie closed his eyes as pain lodged in his throat. She must have been very heartbroken, yet she still made sure she helped him recover.Yet, she'd been taken away from him?Rage coursed through his body and he shivered with the intensity. At that moment, he swore he was going to crush Zaire's neck.Just the way he'd done to his grandmother. And he'd take extreme pleasure
Chapter One Hundred And Forty OneAs soon as the party arrived home, Lana went straight to her room and locked herself in.She had been quiet throughout the ride home, and refused to say or acknowledge a word anybody said to her."What's wrong with Miss Lana?" Diego asked, looking round at the others who stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching Lana go up.Yvette shrugged, as puzzled as Diego was.Damien and Liam, however, ignored him as well, and went into his study. Damien was brooding, his heart heavy with sadness and anger.Liam stood before him looking downcasted as well. Knowing Damien's temper, it would not be a good idea to say anything unless Damien spoke first.It had not been a good idea to let Lana listen to the recordings with them. That was the one thing Damien regretted. Although, it was supposed to come to her notice one way or the other, but Damien would have loved to keep it buried for life.He hated to see Lana sad, or heartbroken. After listening to the tapes,
Chapter One Hundred And Forty "Miss Lana, pick up already." Mandy muttered to herself, as she called Lana's number for the umpteenth time. As usual, the call rang out, leaving Mandy in despair and on the verge of pulling her hair out.She was pacing up and down the design team's office, the phone pressed to her ear, while the other employees went on with their work. It seemed like the design team was not affected by the crisis which had hit Romero since earlier that day. There was an air of joy, and the employees were working in a frenzy, with a light heart and smile on their faces.But their joy was incomplete somehow, with Lana's absence in the office.Where on earth did their head of design team go at this very crucial moment?At this memorable moment.A smile of joy and disbelief tugged at Mandy's lips, as she tried Lana's number once more. For the first time in years, MAGIC got accepted in the Queen's Glamor And Festival Awards, and it was all because of Miss Lana.She had mad
Chapter One Hundred And Thirty Nine Without another word, Samuel stormed out of the office, followed by Paul and his companion.Lana heaved a sigh of relief, but she could still not ignore the pang of guilt that twisted her stomach. She'd have to call her Dad later on and explain things clearly to him.She was still a bit stunned that he'd actually left with a warning. "Oh God, hope he's not planning something behind my back." She muttered to herself, biting her lower lip in trepidation. If he was, then she deserved it, but she was not leaving Oackcrest without doing what she came here to do, anyway.And with the way things are, it seemed they'd gone back to the root of all squares. Romero was in danger!Before she could comprehend this thought any longer, Damien pulled her in to himself for a crushing hug.He pressed her to his chest, his heart racing from her nearness and his nose filled with the scent of her. He closed his eyes deeply and reveled in the feel of her still in his