Chapter NineteenClarissa nodded satisfactorily, staring into Lana's determined eyes. "That's my girl. We are so over nasty cheats and ex-husbands, okay?" She affirmed and Lana giggled before nodding.Clarissa knew everything about Lana's life back in Oakcrest city. When Lana had returned home and they'd met once more, it was clearly seen that she was not okay.She was not the bright bubbly Lana that she was before she had left. Clarissa was furious that this was because of Damien Romero, her ex-husband.Even though Clarissa had the energy of a child and was as refreshing as fresh dew, she was the one who normally left men begging in herrelationships.No man would dare to try to break her heart. They'd be getting their three legs broken by her brothers, instead.A tentative knock sounded on the door and the two ladies turned to it. The handle turned and Diego poked his head inside. Relieved to see that Zaire was gone and it was now Clarissa in there with Lana, he walked right in to
Chapter Twenty"Pierre Evans, the world renowned mentor and fashion designer will be at SERENE'S fashion show!"Vera stood aside with a triumphant smile on her face, as Damien's head whipped up to stare at her.He narrowed his eyes at them, obviously thinking they were lying, but then he really did not focus on the trending news nowadays.But if Pierre Evans had really appeared...Nine years ago, when the fashion icon had vanished into thin air, the industry desperately searched for him but no one could find him.Pierre was an independent designer himself. He refused to be contracted with any company for any periods longer than six months.And if he did, the company had to be among the top five in the country. Once Pierre contracted with them, they remained in that top five due to his influence.Pierre Evans had worked for MAGIC TOUCH for just three months when Laura was alive but it was memorable. He focused more on mentoring their designers, helping them to make outstanding designs.
Chapter Twenty OneThe night was well lit both with the moonlight as well as the lights emanating from the huge dome where SERENE was holding its fashion show.The show proved to be a big affair with all influential and respectable members of the society in attendance. An hour before the show started, the dome was already filled up, with the invited VVIP members seating primly inside on reserved chairs.Over the years SERENE has proved to have amazing designs that were sought for at any opportunity. So no one wanted to miss it.They knew SERENE was getting its designs from ALLURE and also Muse. This caused a lot of dissension in the fashion industry, with everyone saying Muse was being unfair working for a few selected people.But no one had seen this talented fashion designer so their anger and envy were not well-aimed. The fashion icons in the city could not also reject her designs because they were top notch.So they took every opportunity to make sure they are available when her d
Chapter Twenty-two.At the instruction from Zaire's assistant, Diego steered the car around the dome to the second entrance which was behind it.This was so she could avoid the press and the crowd. Lana thought that was quite okay.She did not want to meet with the press. They could take pictures all they want when she's on the runway.The crowd watched the limousine roll down the road and drive past them. They could not see the occupants of the car but apparently, no one thought to follow it.Lana breathed a sigh of relief at that"My God, the place is so full!" Clarissa said, her eyes wide with wonder "What's this, Broadway?! SERENE never had this much audience before.""Pierre Evans be doing wonders" Lana whistled as she also stared in awe.She could not help but feel her chest puff up with pride. She was going to be wearing a dress designed by the man who could pull such a crowd.That was freaking awesome!The next instant, her palms became sweaty, and her breathing ragged. She in
Chapter Twenty-ThreeWhen Pierre Evans finished his speech, Damien was glad to see that he was in good health. He had feared the man would not want to venture into fashion designing again after so many years.But again, he had designed for SERENE, so there was no harm in trying to get him to design for other companies.When the show started, he was immediately amazed by the outfits just like everyone else."Thank God, we came out for the show. I can't believe I was going to miss this!" Vera exclaimed, her mouth open as she watched the models."Exactly, Mother. I can feel my senses tingling. I don't think I've ever seen such exquisite designs before!" Rina breathed by her side, her eyes wide as she took in every detail of the outfits being paraded by the models on the runway.Surreptitiously, she brought out her iPhone and took a few pictures, as the models went by. She caught Damien glaring at her when she looked up, and gave him a nervous smile. "Thank you so much for bringing us ou
Chapter Twenty-Four"Lana!"Damien yelled as he walked backstage. The place was huge and crowded. The occupants of the huge room stared at him, their eyes wide with surprise.They wondered why the C.E.O of MAGIC was there yelling for a certain Lana.Wait, who was Lana?"Lana!" Damien yelled again, his eyes scanning every inch of the room but she was nowhere to be found.But she literally just walked in here, dammit, he thought in frustration, his hand raking his hair.How did she disappear so soon?"I must find her!" Damien was breathing hard as his head swam with those thoughts. His fingers were clenching and unclenching as he stood helpless, in the middle of the back room, with everyone else stealing surreptitious looks at him.A woman walked up to him smiling nervously. "Hello, sir". Mira said tentatively "do you perhaps need help? Maybe I can do something?""The woman in the finale dress tonight. Where is she?!" Damien asked, staring at her directly in the eyes and Mira blinked.S
Chapter Twenty-Five Lana laughed, a mirthless sound escaping from her lips as she marvelled at Rina's stupidity. "How stupid can you be, Rina? Why would I want the attention of my Ex who is nothing to me?!" She said, her voice calm and mocking. She was totally enjoying seeing Rina lose control like she was currently. The little fool still thought she had feelings for Damien. "Damien can rot for all I care," she said those words staring at Damien directly and Vera snapped. "Shut up, you whore! Rina is right about everything!" She yelled, wagging a manicured finger at her "you must have planned this with the C.E.O of SERENE to embarrass my son!" "Mother, Enough!" Damien growled, his eyes closed in frustration. "Damien! What is this nonsense?!" Vera hissed, as she walked closer to him, her long black dress swishing the floor, threatening to trip her. She looked around at the crowd and spoke loudly "you're really doing this over this golddigger and lowlife?!" Damien's jaw tensed an
Chapter Twenty-SixLana walked out of the dome, blinking back the tears that was threatening to spill down her face. Even with Zaire's jacket draped over her shoulders, she was shaking terribly from the night cold and from what had just happened.Standing by the side of the tarred road, they were almost blinded by the headlights from Lana's Limo, as it rounded the corner and drove towards them.The car came to a stop in front of them and Diego jumped out of it, and went round to the owners spot to open the door.Clarissa walked in to the car and scooted over to the other side, before settling down comfortably. She bent her head and stared out at Lana, wondering why she wasn't coming in yet.Shrugging out of his suit jacket, Lana turned and handed it back to Zaire "Well then, this is it. Thanks a lot for tonight, Zaire."He looked at her sheepishly, his green eyes boring into hers "I'm sorry about what happened tonight, Lana. I never knew the Romeros would honor the invitation this ti
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