Chapter Sixty-OneRina walked out of the elevator, sullenly. The joy she'd felt earlier at still being alive, and also with the fact that the instructions she received was to her benefits, had evaporated.She crossed her arms under her bosom as she walked on, her face pinched with annoyance when she recalled that she had to go back to the office and act like all was well, and also receive orders from that bitch, Lana.Well, it was something she had to do if she was to get her plans in place.She rounded a corner and stopped short, her eyes narrowing into slits at the sight before her.Damien stood in the middle of the passageway, tenderly holding on to Lana. The affection in his face and the tender, loving look he was giving her gradually increased her anger.She dropped her arms and her fists bunched by her side. Lana had only just started working here and she'd had him come to the office twice in an hour.This had never happened when Rina was the head of the design team. Damien had
Chapter Sixty-TwoThose words from Rina seemed to ignite a fury in Damien. He grabbed her shoulders tightly, his fingers digging deep into her flesh as he glared at her, his teeth clenched in rage.Rina watched him with a tiny, mocking smile. She knew what she'd said had triggered him and she meant every word of it.Lana walked over to them quickly, "What are you both doing?" She hissed in anger. "This is a business place. I'll appreciate it, if you both stop fooling yourselves in front of the employees!"Rina turned on her, her eyes shimmering with tears, from her fake crying. However, they were red-rimmed now, and glared at Lana with intense hatred."You don't tell me what to do, Lana...aarh!"She cried out softly in pain, as Damien dug his nails into her shoulders, deliberately.He could not stand her talking to Lana that way."Let go of me!" Rina said fiercely, her face twisted with the pain in her shoulder. She twisted and turned in his grasp, but it was too firm."I'll scream!"
Chapter Sixty-ThreeAfter exactly twenty minutes, Zaire sent another text message and since it was already lunch time, Lana went down to meet him.She blew out a breath in nervousness, clutching her purse tightly as she stood waiting for the elevator that would take her down to the lobby. She had to admit she was nervous meeting Zaire, and wondered how much she'd tell him. In order to fully pacify him, she needed to tell him the reasons she was doing what she was doing and why she was at Romero.The elevator finally arrived with a loud ding, jolting Lana out of her thoughts. The doors slid open with a satisfying hiss to reveal a group of employee, arguing loudly with raised voices.At the sight of Lana, they blanched horribly and fell into a deafening silence. Lana frowned slightly as her eyes darted side to side in the elevator, checking out the employees uncomfortable stance.Some of them actually slid back a few inches, until they were almost touching the wall. They glanced at he
Chapter Sixty fourAll Zaire wanted was to have a nice, little lunch with Lana. He'd missed her terribly and had not been himself since that night of the gala.He was consumed with different emotions all at once-Anger at the fact that she'd chosen to work with MAGIC, even after several pleas for her to work with his company, SERENE.Fear, at the possibility of old flames being rekindled between her and Damien Romero. Fear, at the possibility that she'd never be his, as long as she'd stepped her foot back into Romero.He'd been cranky for days, snarling and snapping at things and people. He regretted leaving so abruptly at the gala. Perhaps, if he'd waited to hear her excuse, then he wouldn't be so troubled, and feeling such heavy weight on his heart.When he finally summoned up the courage to invite her out for lunch, so he could hear what she had to say, he'd been stunned speechless.By her beauty and gracefulness, and the silent plea in her eyes. Zaire was sucked in all at once, a
Chapter Sixty-five Damien had quietly returned to his office fuming, after Lana rejected his invitation to lunch.He walked into his office to find Liam giving him a knowing look. Damien's brows furrowed in a fierce frown at this.He pointed at him and said in a warning tone, "Do not say a word."Liam shrugged, a smug expression taking over his face. He knew Damien's offer to go for lunch was rejected by Lana, and it pleased him greatly. His lips twitched in amusement, as Damien brushed past him to his desk.He removed his jacket in a huff and draped it behind his chair, then sat down behind his desk. He flipped through the files which Liam had set on the table, wordlessly. His eyes were on the documents but his mind wasn't there."How much longer would she reject me?" He thought miserably, as his eyes scanned the work in his hands, absent-mindedly.He was a man of great pride and his ego had been bruised when she had rejected him, in front of Rina, nonetheless. It had taken grea
Chapter Sixty-SixLana jumped at the sound of that familiar voice. Her eyes flew to the direction of the voice, and she blinked in surprise, when she saw Damien standing at the entrance.He looked huge, his broad shoulders stretching his jacket whose lapels were unbuttoned. The dining room was not small but to Lana, at that moment, it felt like it was, with Damien's huge form taking over the space.Her eyes dragged the length of him, from his legs until it stopped at his face, and their gazes held. He looked amazing, like some kind of Adonis, and she could not help a tiny shiver of relief run through her at the sight of him.She was getting very uncomfortable with Zaire at the moment.However, that relief was short-lived when she saw the dark scowl on his face. It seemed like the room grew a little darker, from the intensity of his frown and angry gaze on her. She blinked once more in shock when she recalled how he'd yelled her name.What was going on? Why was he here and why had he y
Chapter Sixty-Seven As soon as they were out of the restaurant, Lana tried releasing her hand from Damien's grip but he was all too strong. She pulled back, but it did not even have a fraction of effect on Damien. She gritted her teeth in frustration, and dug her heels into the ground, pulling back with all her might. Damien growled low in his throat, aware of what she was doing, "Can you stop doing that?!" he whirled on her and said tightly. She glared back defiantly, and they stood on the pavement, glaring down at each other. "Just let go, already!" She shot back, just as tightly "We're out of the restaurant already. Zaire is not here, so let me go now!" He stared at her and was at a loss for words at the moment. Her cheeks were red with anger, and her gaze was not that dead stare she normally gave him. Her green eyes, which shimmered with unshed tears, was filled with hatred and pain. This did nothing to stop his gut from twisting with guilt. Damien felt his grip on her arm l
Chapter Sixty-Eight"So...you're homeless?"Lana glared at Damien as he walked up to her, his hands clasped behind his back, like a guard. His steps were relaxed and he had a mocking grin on his face as he stood before her.She narrowed her eyes at him in fury, "Seriously? You eavesdrop on other people's conversations now?"He shrugged as though that meant absolutely nothing to him. Infact, he enjoyed the way she was glaring at him, looking all cute with her flushed cheeks and narrowed emerald eyes. The hot sun shone down on her bright red hair, making her look as though her head was on fire.Damien thought he'd never seen anything more beautiful. He definitely enjoyed looking at her.How on earth had he survived his days, after the divorce? Hold up, how come he'd never known she was this beautiful, this tantalizing to the eyes?He knew the answer to that, he thought as his chest tightened with shame. He'd never even thought to give her the time of day.She was the burden brought upo
Chapter Two Hundred And NineteenMaya made her way to the elevator that connected the company with the parking lot, her head held high in triumph.Before she could press the button however, Gary hurriedly stood up and shouted, "I was only trying to save you from embarassing yourself, Maya!"Maya stopped, her shoulders stiff with contained fury as she turned to him, "What?" She scoffed, taking slow threatening steps back towards him, "you never learn, do you?""You know he doesn't want you." Gary gritted out, "You're better off with me, Maya. You're smart and we connect well. Why don't you make the wise decision and come to me?"Maya laughed cynically, "Is this fool on drugs?" She asked, fury blazing in her eyes, "Why would I even consider being with you? You ugly looking wimp. Can you take care of me? Do you know how much I'm worth?!""You're not worth that much more than me, you know." Gary chuckled bitterly, his eyes wide in a terrifying way, "We both work in the same company and ea
Chapter Two Hundred And EighteenWithout warning, Gary marched forward and grabbed Maya's hand, pulling her flush against him.Maya gasped in outrage as she stumbled roughly unto him, "What do you think you're doing?" She screeched, "Let go of me, you pig!""I should be asking you that question!" Gary was trembling with rage, "What are you doing, selling yourself like a whore for this gigolo?!"There was a sharp intake of breath from the employees who were pretending to be working but also watching the drama.Some were enjoying the show so much that they spoke low behind their palms, laughing and snickering at Maya.It serves her right for strutting about like she owned the place. Maya had been a pain the neck around the office, ever since Noah started working there.It was refreshing to hear her being referred to as the slut that she truly was.She was clearly throwing herself at the man who did not want her, and bared her teeth at any girl in the office who looked at him. Not like
Chapter Two Hundred And SeventeenNoah stiffened as Gary said those words. What the actual hell?!He turned sharply and glared at Gary, who had a maliciously gleeful look in his eyes.How had he known about that? Noah narrowed his eyes at the odious man, who was enjoying the look of confusion on Noah's face.Slowly, he started chuckling and soon, the annoying man straightened up and laughed outloud while Noah simmered, and the rest of the colleagues watched in puzzlement."You never thought about that, did you?" Gary continued, after he'd had a good laugh, "Well, you should have, before you thought of running your mouth." He lifted the stack of files and slammed them back down on Noah's desk, roughly, "You better start working on them," he smirked, then leaned in to say in Noah's ears once more, "Or you're not the only one who is going to lose your job."Noah's mouth tightened into a grim line, as he realized what Gary was trying to say.He had indeed started working at the company
Chapter Two Hundred And SixteenThere were shocked gasps around the office at that statement. Everyone was staring at Noah, wondering where he got his boldness from.Even if he was right, no one had ever thought of talking back to their superior. They had always collected whatever harsh treatment had been meted out to them, without second thoughts.Who did this new guy think he was? What was that he said, Manager Gary's job was what was on the line.Really, it was his own life that was on the line. They looked at Manager Gary to see how he'd receive this news.Gary had gone pale, then slowly he turned beet red. He bared his teeth at Noah menacingly, "What did you say?"Noah stood his ground, staring at the man, "This preparations were supposed to have been sent in a month ago." He went on, "The orders for the shipment were made before I even started working here. I'm sure the regional manager have this job to you directly but you did not carry it out, due to your negligence."Gary was
Chapter Two Hundred And FifteenWham!A huge stack of files was dropped on Noah's desk like a boulder, and the small desk rattled from the force of it."Listen up newbie, I want these files to be screened and the reports on my desk in the next one hour, do you understand me?"Noah slowly looked from the huge stack of files sitting in his desk, to the shaggy haired man in front of him.It was Gary Shane, the junior sales executive and Noah's direct boss in the establishment.From the very day, Noah started working at Romero Solutions And Logistics, Gary seemed to have it out for him and took extreme pleasure in giving him demanding tasks.Arching a well carved eyebrow in question, Noah spoke calmly, "All of these? In an hour's time?""What?" Gary smirked. He was chewing gum and the smacking sounds it made grated on Noah's nerves. Gary shoved his hands into his pockets and took a relaxed stance in front of Noah's desk, his eyes roving over Noah in mocking fashion."What?" He asked agai
Chapter Two Hundred And FourteenLana looked up again as she felt Adrian's hands stop their soothing motion on her neck and shoulders."You've located...he's really alive?" He asked, his brows coming together in disbelief.In reply, Lana laughed happily, covering her mouth daintily. Her eyes shimmered with happy tears and she went on speaking cheerfully, "Yes! Can you believe it? Well of course you believe it, because I always said so!"Adrian was silent even as Lana kept in talking. He'd stopped massaging her shoulders and her cheerful voice was just going on and on in his head.She looked really happy, hopeful, something he'd never seen in her in a long time.And that was because Damien Romero had been found.Wait, he was really alive?He'd always heard Lana say it and he'd seen her waiting for him, encouraged her to keep on hoping because only then Arielle could be saved but now, it seemed like Damien Romero was really going to be back in her life.Their lives.Somehow, and for rea
Chapter Two Hundred And Thirteen"What do you mean he knows something?"Lana asked, later that night in Adrian's office.When Adrian had called her at the company earlier, she'd immediately headed to the hospital to see him.Oakcrest City's hospital was one of the best healthcare facilities not only in the city but in neighboring cities as well. It was a combination of both specialists and general hospital.It provided the best health care services and even the creme de la creme of society had their check ups there. The hospital's VIP section was built solely for the benefit and comfort of wealthy people. This sentiment has gone on to be abused by the rich, who use the hospital as a getaway to evade tax hunt, scandals and malingering.The facilities in the VIP area were more like the equipments that belonged in a spa or resort than an hospital. There were lounges, perfect little cafes and the patients wore robes as their hospital wear instead.However, only the best and most professi
Chapter Two Hundred And Twelve"You were right," Director Evans said as he walked over to the single table in the centre of the small office.Apart from the single table and two chairs facing it, the office was bare, with its grey decor.There were two chairs sitting side by side near the table, which had a packet of cigarettes sitting on it as well.Director Evans drew a cigarette out of the slim pack and lit it with a lighter lying close by, "Romero is really not in the hospital. Lana did really play us all."Zaire smirked as he listened to this, while Director Evans took his seat with a satisfied sigh, "Now, there's just one little problem to sort out before we make this public," he drawled, taking long puffs on his cigarette, "Where is Romero, really? Do you think he's going to come back?""Damien Romero will never come back to his Empire," Zaire spoke with a calm smile, as he turned to back to watching the city below.Director Evans was watching him with narrowed eyes, "How do yo
Chapter Two Hundred And ElevenDirector Evans walked briskly out of the hospital and towards his parked car, smiling from ear to ear. His driver swiftly opened the car door for him and he quickly got in, making himself comfortable.The driver quickly went round and took his spot as well, "Should I go to the location, sir?""He must be waiting by now, don't you think?" Director Evans replied, "We'd better get moving then."The driver nodded and immediately placed the car on the road, and was soon speeding down the highway.The Director sat in the back seat looking very pleased with himself. He was still smiling and soon, he burst out into full blown laughter.The driver glanced at him curiously from the rear view mirror and quickly looked away focusing on his driving.He did not know what was making his boss laugh and he was not very curious by the way.Besides, he and his boss were not in a relationship where they could discuss his source of joy.But he could not help, but wonder wha