Chapter Six
"We gather here in loving memory of our beloved sister, Laura Penelope Romero..." Lana sat very straightbacked, the pew hard beneath her as the priest went on. The entire church was so silent that if a pin dropped, the sound would bounce off the walls. Laura was dead. Laura, the one person who had been in support of her marriage to Damien. Laura, who had been like a mother to her this past three years. Laura, the only reason she was still holding on. Lana took a deep breath, as she fought back tears, which stung her eyes, and threatened to fall at any moment. She was seated among the other callers, while Rina sat with her husband and his family, in the pew reserved for families. Lana didn't mind. She had deliberately separated herself from them, and even though she was occasionally receiving dark stares from Damien, she would not budge. Finally, everyone filed out of the church, and the coffin was placed in the freshly dug hole in the ground. There were sniffles here and there, people pressing their handkerchiefs to their nose, as they wiped tears off their face and spoke about how Laura was such a good woman, and what a shame that she had gone so soon. But the Romeros stood aside, without a single tear, looking very fashionable in their dark designer attires. Lana stared at them in hatred. When the news of Laura's death was delivered to them, along with her body, they were all shocked but not shocked enough to care for her funeral routine. As usual, Lana had been the one who saw that the funeral was a success, and Laura would be sent off in peace. As soon as the last shovel of sand hit the coffin, the Romeros filed out, leaving even the sympathizers who came to give their wishes. She saw Damien leave Rina, however and walked towards her, his steps purposeful. Rina stood back, a frown crossing her face, as she saw that Damien was making for Lana. 'What on Earth did he want with that bitch?' she thought bitterly as she bit her lups, watching them. "Lana, we need to talk." Damien said, as he stood in front of her, his hands deep in the pockets of his custom-made black suit. "I have nothing to say to you, except of course, you are ready to sign the divorce papers." Lana replied, looking past him as though he were insignificant. The mention of divorce made Damien clench his fists in his suit pocket, and the muscles in his jaw tensed. "You're still on about that?" He said, sneering "Just so you know, grandmother left everything to me. You're getting nothing Lana. Your plans failed." Lana looked up at him, her gaze indifferent as she looked him from head to toe. "I'd rather choke on my own vomit before I will collect anything from you" she said and Damien's eyes widened in shock at those words. Lana smirked and signaled for her driver. "You're leaving too?" Diego asked, wide eyed, and Lana glared at him. He always seem to ask stupid questions. "Of course, I'm leaving, Diego. Get the car!" She snapped, then turned back to Damien "I'll be in the house with divorce papers. You just need to put your signature on it and we're done." With that, she strolled towards her car, past Vera and Rina who looked at her with narrowed eyes. Damien watched her leave and his face contorted with different emotions. What was wrong with that woman? What was she trying to prove? His grandmother was dead and she had left everything to him. He knew Lana had deliberately manipulated his grandmother into marrying him so she could have his wealth. So why was she acting all righteous? He should also be celebrating right now and getting ready to throw her out of his life but why was he hesitating? The mere mention of divorce made him grit his teeth in anger. Who did she think she was to just walk out on him like that? He had to get to the root of this matter. Things were not adding up at all. Signalling his driver, he asked for his car and sat in silence throughout the journey home, no matter how much Rina tried to bring him out of it. Seeing that Damien was not in the mood to talk, Rina bit her lips and turned away from him in anger, but she did not allow this to show. She must still maintain her victim image, so that she can have Damien deep in guilt all his life. Right now, Damien believes she's frail and suicidal, and he thinks it's due to the fact that he abandoned her. She must use that to her advantage. She wondered if Lana no longer wants the divorce. Maybe that's why Damien was angry, because there was no way he'd want to stay with her now that Laura was dead. Rina clenched her fists as she thought of Lana, acting all high and mighty even when she had no one to support her. She'd make sure they get divorced and Lana will never show her face in the city again, out of shame. As soon as they walked into the vast sitting room, they found Lana sitting very primly on a sofa with her legs and arms crossed and her face determined. A very uncomfortable lawyer stood by her side and bowed at them as they came in. She looked very regal and dignified and she gave them a blame look as they filed into the room. "Damien Romero, here are the papers" she said, calmly tapping the paper on the table with her fingers. "You can sign them. You have no excuse now." "How dare you, lowlife?" Vera sneered at her "Do you think you're getting anything if you divorce Damien? And besides why would you divorce him? We are the ones who are supposed to be throwing you out!" "Mother, enough!" Damien growled and his mother stopped. She glared at him, offended that he should stop her. Damien snatched the paper from the table and looked it over, then his eyes came down to Lana's face. She stared right back at him, her look cold and unnerving, and he was suddenly nervous. The feeling that he was about to lose something special came over him again, and his palms sweated. "You'll be compensated for your time" he muttered, frowning darkly at her "How much do you want? Ten million? Fifty million? A billion?" Lana laughed mockingly, as Vera gasped. "Why should we give her any money?" Vera yelled, her eyes as fierce as a spitting cat " she has enjoyed the benefit of being your wife all this years. Lana, I want you to return everything you got using my son's money and the name of the Romero Family!" "Mother, I said enough." Damien thundered this time, casting a dark look at his mother who gave him a stubborn look. "I'm only looking out for your interest, Damien" she fired back at him "I will not let a gold digger use our family!." Lana laughed and stood up. "I want nothing from your evil family" she said with a smile on her face , although her eyes were cold "I just need you to sign the damn papers." "If you leave, it's of your own accord!" He growled at her "if you ever try to make it look like we treated you badly to the media, I'll make you pay." "Exactly, Lana. Just take the money." Rina chipped in, coming to stand beside Damien "Where else would you see this much amount again in your life. Just take it now while we are being nice." Lana smirked, ignoring Rina completely while she stared directly at Damien. "Sign the papers!" Puzzled by her behavior, Damien was all the more doubtful of the story of Lana being a gold digger. If she was a gold digger, why was she refusing the money then? His eyes fell on Lana and something in her eyes made his heart clench but in the next instant, pride filled his heart. Even if he was wrong about her, she still manipulated his grandmother. It was best to be rid of her. He snarled as he grabbed the pen on the table, and signed his name on the divorce papers. Smiling blandly, Lana collected it and handed it to the lawyer who bowed at them and took his leave quickly, as though he was being chased. "Well then, I hope we never see each other again." She said coldly, as she walked out on them, taking absolutely nothing with her except her purse. "Good riddance!" Vera shouted after her and Rina laughed delightedly. "Finally, we are rid of the gold digger!" Rina cooed to Damien "Now we can be together, Dami, Right?" Damien was silent. He was breathing hard as he watched Lana walking down the narrow lane which led to the main gates. Without a word, he turned on his heel and went upstairs, leaving Rina puzzled. Meanwhile, as Lana walked towards the gate, she hugged herself to keep from shaking. Finally... Her heart clenched and the ache was unbearable but she knew she had to leave. Reaching into her purse, she pulled out a cell phone, which she had not used in three years. Pressing the dial tone, she called the one number which she knew by heart. When the tone clicked, Lana found her voice hoarse from the tears which were running down her face, as she heard the familiar voice she had missed so much. "Lana, is that you?" The voice asked, filled with awe. "Father. Please send the private Jet. I'm coming home."Chapter Seven"Lana, is that you?" Samuel Fernandez's deep voice came through the phone. It was filled with awe. He could not believe he was talking to his daughter, after three good years.He stood up, as though in slow motion and held up his hand. In an instant, the entire boardroom in which seventy shareholders were sitting became silent.They watched him in shock, as he walked towards a window, his face filled with glee at the call which he received.They had all been in the midst of a serious meeting when he had that call but now, he was not in the mood to listen to them anymore.However, at the sound of his voice, after so many years, something came over Lana, and she crumbled immediately.The tears fell in torrents down her face, and she made no effort to wipe them away as she walked down the Lane leading to the gates guarding Reign Estates.Bodyguards stared at her as she passed, shocked to see her crying but she did not care. She had missed her father so much.Why had she bei
Chapter Eight"Please, call me Zaire." Zaire placed his right hand in the small of Lana's back she tried to lead her away to his car, and away from the rain.The car was sitting in the rain, a gleaming Bentley, and the driver stood outside, taking shade under a black umbrella while waiting for them to approach, so he can open the door for them.Lana stopped and stared into Zaire's eyes. His green eyes held a light that bespoke kindness, and there was a gentleness behind his touch.He had told her to call him,"Zaire" thereby putting them on a first name basis. Lana stared at him, unsure if she wanted to venture into this new path.Suddenly, something occurred to her, and she looked closely at him, her eyes narrowed with curiosity,"What are you doing here?" She asked, indicating the huge gates behind her which signified the Romero's Reign Estates. "Did you come to call on the family?."Zaire smiled, showing perfect white teeth,"That would be unheard of" he answered, a lazy smile on h
Chapter NineThe party boarded the helicopter, and it took off.Diego was numb with shock. He kept glancing at Lana, but somehow he could not say anything to her.He was especially scared of the dignified man who sat with the pilot in front, and he held his peace.Paul was her father, Samuel Fernandez's chief assistant, which was why he was entrusted the task of bringing the young Miss home.He looked stern, and had a face that screamed no-nonsense but was infacet a very softspoken person.He had not said anything when Lana boarded with Diego. She only said he was her person, and was with her and that reassured Paul.Finally, the helicopter finally landed at an airport, and the party came down.Diego could still not close his mouth, and his eyes widened all the more when he saw the private jet, sitting regally and looking spectacular.The party walked briskly towards it, the bodyguards flanking Lana on both sides, and soon they were ensconced in the private jet which took off into the
Chapter Ten"Miss, the chairman asked if you would honor dinner with your prescence." The maid stood just outside the door to the balcony, and said in a respectful voice."He has a special guest he wishes to introduce to you."Lana stood outside on the balcony of her bedroom, looking down on the vast land of the Fernandez's Estate.It stretched for miles, and there were several other buildings in the Estate, both residential and non residential. At the sound of the maids voice, she turned away from the view to call out her reply."Alright, tell him I'll be down in a short while." She flashed a brilliant smile at the maid, who bowed respectfully at her then exited the room.As the maid left, Lana turned back to the view which she had been enjoying. She lifted her face up into the sky, and inhaled deeply.The morning sun warmed her face and the gentle morning breeze, ruffled her hair, bringing with it the scents of the beautiful flowers, which were planted everywhere across the estate.
Chapter Eleven"I'm going back to Fashion Designing!"Lana looked at her father, her face lit with pleasure ,as she thought about what she had just said.It was time to rediscover herself and, get the old Lana back.She would go back to fashion designing, and make a name for herself just like her mother had done."But Lana, you only just got back! Don't you think you need to rest a while?" Samuel said, worried that she would stress herself.Lana shook her head as she stood up, carrying the box carefully, and placed it back in the walk-in closet."I've made up my mind, Father" she replied, as she walked back to his "its time to go back to my former self, to how I was before I..."She hesitated, reluctant to say anything but the next words her father said startled her."Before you met the Romeros." Her father completed for her grimly, and Lana's eyes went wide with surprise.In the next instant, however, she sighed wearily as she walked to sit back to the vanity table."How did you know
Chapter TwelveFive Years LaterThe sky was blue and the wind soft, as it carried the smell of the clean grass and flowers through the garden.Damien walked through the garden holding Lana, a satisfied and relaxed smile on his face. Lana held a baby in the crook her arms. It was their child. They were together forever. She looked up at him and smiled contentedly, and he had never felt as happy as he did in that moment.But suddenly, the garden was no longer a garden, the blue sky turned dark with gray clouds and lightning raced across the gray storminess, and Lana was no longer by his side.He squinted, looking into the distance, trying to make out her figure standing far away from him, phantom and ethereal."Lana!" He called out, yelled as he desperately tried to move his feet so he can return to her side.But the grasses suddenly grew taller with amazing speed, and around him, blocking his sight and seeming to choke him.The last thing he saw as the grasses closed to round him, wa
Chapter ThirteenDamien walked out of his room with long strides, and directed his steps into his study.Walking towards the desk, he pressed a button and his assistant's voice came loud, and clear over the speakers."Yes sir. Good morning, sir ""Call for Doctor Robert at once." He said in a voice that did not sound so urgent "Miss Carter is in need of medical assistance.""Yes sir" The assistant replied instantly, and the line went dead. Damien sat down in his chair behind the desk, his elbows propped up on the table as he held his head in his hands, relieved to be away from Rina and her demanding self.He was tired of Rina and her sneaky ways.The only reason he was still keeping her close was because he felt responsible for her.For how she had turned out.Rina was the sister of his best friend Lucas, who had sadly passed away ten years earlier.He had been madly in love with her when they had met and Lucas had been glad they were together.But when his grandmother insisted on h
Chapter Fourteen"You wouldn't want a bastard from a gold digger now, would you?!"Rina stepped backward in shock as Damien suddenly lunged at her, his huge hands wrapped around her slender neck."That's my child you're talking about!" He roared, his eyes bulging with anger as he glared down at her "How dare you refer to it as a bastard?!"Rina had gone pale, and she shook like a leaf in Damien's hands."Damien, what are you doing?!" Vera screamed in a shrill voice as she walked into the room.She had heard Damien roar in anger, and had hurried over to see what was happening only to see this.Rina gasped as she tried to ease the pressure of his huge hands around her neck, and Damien finally let go, when he realized he had held her too tightly.He turned away in fury, raking a hand through his golden hair as his breath came out in huffs.His eyes were red and his nostrils flared with the effort to stay calm.Rina sank to the floor, trembling as tears filled her eyes. Reaching up to tou
Chapter Ninety-ThreeThe security guards escorted Madam Vera and Rina out of the premises of the company.Vera had stopped struggling and Rina was still playing a dying girl. Soon, the driver brought Vera's car round to the entrance of the lobby, and only then did the security guards let go of the women."Let go of me," Madam Vera struggled one last time, just as they let go of them. She turned to glare at the security guards who still stood behind them, waiting for the woman to get into their cars.Vera stretched back her hands and gave them both slaps across their faces. The men did not flinch and their grave expression remained the same, even with the red welt marks on their cheeks."Please, get into the car, ma'am." A body guard said, giving Vera a serious look. The other glanced at the driver, who came round to open the car door for them."Lowlife bastards," Vera swore under her breath, glaring at the security guards with hate. They gave her a look that said they did not even c
Chapter Ninety-TwoRina walked into her office, and all the employees quickly stood up and bowed in unison, with respect. The fact that she had such influence to the extent that, she'd gotten Rina fired was still mindblowing.No one would dare to cross her from now on, especially now that they knew the CEO was solidly behind her. He even escorted his mother out of the premises for her.Lana sat behind her desk and only then did she ask them to sit with a curt nod of her head. The employees sat down clumsily, shifting uncomfortably under Lana's scrutinizing gaze.Claudia and the rest of Rina's minions felt the most uncomfortable. They could not even raise their heads to look at Lana. Instead, they fiddled with their keyboards or thumbs or bag straps or the pile of papers on their desks.All the while praying that Lana does not call them out. Even though they hated her, they still loved their jobs and wanted to keep it. Rina was gone, so there was no use acting up in front of Lana.L
Chapter Ninety-One"I'll reconsider suing your mother, Damien." Lana uttered, "If Rina is fired from MAGIC!"Rina gasped in outrage, while Vera struggled in the hands of the security men, "Let me go!" She struggled fiercely once more, and managed to wrench herself free from the men, who were a bit surprised by her strength. They had let her go, because it seemed like Vera would hurt herself any moment with the way she was struggling.She stood arms akimbo and faced Lana, "You bitch, what are you saying?! You want Rina fired, after everything she's done for MAGIC?!" She yelled at her, "Do you think I don't know what's going on? You're trying to throw out the rightful owner and take Rina's glory!" She then turned to face Damien, saying fiercely, "How long are you going to believe her? Can't you see how evil she is?!"Damien was silent, ignoring his mother's outburst. He tilted his head and watched Lana with a calculated, narrowed gaze. "You will reconsider, you say?""Damien!" Vera scr
Chapter NinetyLana looked so fierce, that both Vera and Rina were overcome with fear. They shuddered, even as Vera tried to stand firm."I won't let you get away with this, Lana!" she retorted, "I won't!""Oh right!" Lana said suddenly as she walked back to Diego, and examined his face once more. The sight of his bleeding lips made her grit her teeth in anger. She turned back to Vera and said coldly, "I won't let you get away with this too, Vera."Vera eyed her in annoyance, "What?!""This is assault." Lana said, simply, "You dared to hit a person to the extent that you left a mark on their skin." She smiled tightly, "You have to pay for that."Vera scoffed, "You must be out of your mind!" She spat out, unable to believe what she was hearing. She sniffed haughtily and looked down her nose at Lana, "I was only teaching your lowlife assistant a lesson. How dare he speak out of turn to me?!"Lana brought out her cellphone from her bag, and gave Vera a fake smile, "you can explain that t
Chapter Eighty-NineVera raised her hand to strike Diego once more, but then she felt a tight grip on her hand, holding her back. "What the..." she started saying as she turned in anger to look at the person that would dare to hold her hand back. Her eyes widened in shock when her eyes met Lana's face."Y..you.." she retorted, trying to sound firm, "What do you think you're doing?""Are you out of your freaking mind?!" Lana growled, baring her teeth at the older woman, who was stunned at her audacity."Let go of me this instant!" Mada Vera shrieked in a tremulous voice, "Don't you know who you're talking to?!"Lana was trembling with rage. She looked from Diego's reddened cheek and bleeding lips, and it only seemed to add more fuel to the inferno that was raging within her."You nasty old hag, how dare you touch him?!" She said to Vera, fiercely. The employees gathered around, all gasped at Lana's audacity. They wondered if she knew she was talking to the mother of the CEO.Vera's mo
Chapter Eighty-EightDiego paced back and forth outside the office of the design team, eagerly awaiting the arrival of Damien.He could not take it if Lana was angry.His heart clenched within him, as guilt made his stomach churn. The question she'd asked him rang in his ears over and over again "Is CEO Damien your boss that you take orders from him?"He was sure he'd heard some traces of hurt in her voice. Diego groaned at that possibility. He could not believe he was such a coward in front of the person who had treated his mistress so badly when she was in RomeroIt was just that Damien's aura was too domineering and Diego still feared him.If it weren't for Miss Lana being in the Romero Villa, Diego wasn't sure he'd ever have gotten the opportunity to look Damien in the face.That was how high up he was.The elevator dinged behind him and he turned to it sharply, his eyes lit with hope, "Miss Lana?!" He called out as he walked towards the elevator. However, he stopped and froze, a
Chapter Eighty-Seven"We'll be signing it in the office."Lana scoffed in disbelief. She raked a hand through her hair, and tried not to glare at him."It's okay, it's okay ." She calmed herself down, "He's just trying to get on your nerves."She was certain now, that Damien was playing tricks with her. If not, why all these delay in signing the papers?"You said you had the papers here." She said, giving him a right smile, "Why trouble ourselves and take it to the office?"Damien shrugged, "So we can meet my lawyer there," he replied and walked past her to grab his jacket which was on the chair next to where he'd been sitting, and draped it over his shoulders, "He can be our witness as well."He finished buttoning the jacket and gave her a cocky smile, as she watched him puzzledly.What he'd said made sense .Perhaps, he was not playing tricks after all?"I can only know that when I sign the papers," she reminded herself, then raised her nose haughtily at him, before saying outloud.
Chapter Eighty-Six"Yes!" Vera cried, admitting her wrongdoing "Yes I did! And so what?"She was breathing hard and trembling with fear and anger at her ruined plans, but she decided to forge on anyway."Yes, I set someone to keep tabs on you!"she continued, her words coming out in a rush, "But that's because you chose to keep yourself far away from the rest of the famiky and your fiancee! Do you know how heartbroken Rina was everyday, at your absence? Just knowing that you were fine was enough for her, which was why I did it!""Who is it? Your minion?" Damien asked, ignoring her outburst. If Rina died every night and woke up every day at his absence, it was none of his business. She was the one reason he'd left the main estate in the first place. She should deal with it. However, Vera ignored his question as well, "But it's a good thing I did, right?" She went on with a vehemence in her tone, "if I hadn't, then I wouldn't have known you disgraced our family by bringing back that sc
Chapter Eighty-FiveThere was an awkward silence at the table for a few minutes, with Lana wondering why he'd not take his mother's call.But that's none of her business now, was it?"Aren't you eating?" Damien's asked. His brows was furrowed slightly in worry, "Why? It's not to your taste?""No, no." Lana replied, shaking her head, "I've not tasted it, but I'm sure it tastes superb." As she spoke, she looked down at her plate and her mouth made a round "o", when she saw the food.Beef cutlets with a side of roasted vegetables and pasta. "Impressive." She mumbled as she took a bite of a juicy, crispy beef cutlet. They were actually her favorite, and she wondered how Damien had known about it.He was watching her now, eagerly anticipating her reaction, "Well, do you like it?" He asked, softly."It's really good," Lana replied, nodding her head in appreciation, at the rich flavour of chewy meat and vegetables that burst in her mouth with every bite she took, "Yvette's cooking is real