Chapter Forty-EightRina ran onto the circular driveway right in front of the building, just in time to see the Bentley driving away, leaving clouds of dust in its wake."Arrghh!" She screamed in outrage and stomped a heeled foot on the concrete floor in anger. "Lana, you freaking bitch!" She screeched through gritted teeth, watching the car drive further away from her sight, it's tail lights blinking in what seemed like a mockery of her inability to catch up with them.She was trembling visibly with anger as she turned to go back into the building. She paused, then snarled when she saw some of the employees staring out at her, through the glass walls of the building.Their gazes were mocking and she could see them snickering, while whispering to each other."Those brainless idiots! Haven't they got anything better to do?!" Rina thought furiously as she matched right into the building, yelling, "What the hell are you looking at, huh?!" The employees scurried away out of her sight, wh
Chapter Forty-NineWhen the call ended, Rina collapsed to the ground in fear and relief. She gripped the phone tightly, tears of anger burning in her eyes."How dare he treat me like this?!" She muttered bitterly. She felt powerless, like a pawn in his game, and she hated it.She was not supposed to be here, living life like this, driven by revenge and anger. She deserved so much better and she'd been so close.So close that she could feel it, touch it and even taste it. Every calculated step had produced result which pushed them closer to their goals. She'd gotten the man and was so close to getting the Empire too.But it had all crashed down, without her knowing how. Now, she was cowering on a rooftop, afraid of her own partner blowing her brains out from an unknown location."How? How on Earth had things go wrong?!" Rina hit the concrete floor repeatedly in anger, and frustration, until her knuckles bled.She closed her eyes, and drew in a deep breath. "I don't know how things wen
Chapter Fifty"Are you really going to go ahead with the contract sir, if Miss Fernandez gets Muse's approval?," Liam asked a few days later as he drove them to the Romero headquarters.Due to the state of MAGIC, and the investors impatience, any update on any improvement was to be shared with the investors immediately, so as to pacify them.Which was why they were currently on their way to Romero Headquarters for a meeting. Liam manuevered the sleek Maybach through the traffic, keeping his eyes on the road as he waited for Damien's answer.Seeing that the answer was not forthcoming as quickly as he thought, he glanced quickly at Damien through the rearview mirror, then returned his gaze hastily to the road.Damien was sitting very straight backed on the leather seats behind, one hand crossed across his chest. He rested his other elbow on it, and held his head in his hand. His eyes were closed, seemingly in deep thought.Liam wondered if he'd even heard his question, and decided to n
Chapter Fifty-oneThere was a general murmur at these words, as the shareholders all turned to stare at the person who spoke.It was a burly middle aged man, named Mr Alan, who sat to the far end of the table. Mr Alan was one of the very shareholders who was with MAGIC when it started.He was an avid supporter of Laura and was one of the shareholders that was glad MAGIC was in such situation.He relaxed in his chair after speaking. There was a smug expression on his face and a taunting look in his eyes, as he stared at Damien. Many of the other shareholders were amazed at his audacity. Even though he was a loyal supporter of Laura, he had sounded extremely rude, and dared to go against Damien, even with his temper.Damien's temper was not to be trifled with. He was not feared across the city for nothing. His stoic expression and steel grey eyes normally brought wrath on anyone who dared to go against him. Mr Alan must have lost his mind, thinking he could challenge Damien just becaus
Chapter Fifty-twoLana stood and looked around at the startled shareholders, with blazing green eyes. They all had a surprised and puzzled expression on their faces, as they did not know who the young woman was, that she'd strode in so boldly into the boardroom.Without another moments hesitation, Lana turned on her heels and walked down the hall towards where Damien sat.Damien was silent as he watched her approach, mesmerized by the sight before him.Lana was wearing a short black gown which hugged her amazing slim, curvy figure in all the right places. The gown stopped a few inches above her knees, showing just a glimpse of her slim thighs, before this scrumptious sight was caught off by high-heeled boots, which was knee high.Her flaming red hair was let down over her shoulders , a sharp contrast to the black dress she was wearing and she'd only applied minimal makeup, making her as exquisitely beautiful as possible.The shareholders were not just stunned by her beauty only but al
Chapters Fifty-ThreeDamien relaxed fully in his chair and glared fiercely at Mr Alan. He had managed to grow seeds of doubts in the minds of the other shareholders.This was something he could not condone."Mr Alan, you seem to have a problem with the CEO of ALLURE working with us," he said icily, asking the odious man so he could be sure of what to do next.Mr Alan shrugged nonchalantly. There was a triumphant glint in his eyes as he felt he'd succeeded in making the CEO falter."I do not have a problem with the CEO of ALLURE working with MAGIC," he answered smugly, the cast a direct stare at Lana, "I have a problem working with impostors like this so called CEO!"He finished this sentence, making quotation marks in the air when he said the word "CEO". He was clearly mocking Lana.Lana scoffed, as a small smirk curved her lip, "Your shareholders are really sensible," she muttered, her tone dripping with sarcasm. A muscle twitched in Damien's jaw as he heard what she'd said but he ig
Chapter Fifty-Four"Why'd you do that?" Lana asked puzzedly after some time.They were alone in the boardroom, waiting for Liam to be done with some paperwork. The shareholders were already gone and Lana already signed the contract. The fact that she was getting fifty percent shares of MAGIC was only known to Damien and Liam.The other shareholders were oblivious to this. If they'd known that Damien had easily given out fifty of his sixty percent of shares of MAGIC, they'd try to get it from her in every possible way, like a pack of bloodthirsty hounds."Do what?" Damien asked, fixing Lana an innocent stare."Kick out one of your top shareholders!" Lana retorted, exasperated at the situation.Hell, MAGIC needs all the investments that it could get at the moment, and he was kicking a shareholder out impulsively?While it felt good that he'd done that for her, it was still a stupid thing to do, and she told him so.Damien shrugged, nonchalantly, his broad shoulders rippling beneath his
Chapter Fifty-FiveRina was having a full body massage, when she received the call from Claudia."Miss Rina, you have to come in quick! That red haired bitch had appeared again!"This piece of news caused Rina to scowl fiercely at the masseuse, who was working on her body at that moment.The poor woman quickly removed her hand from her body and shied away from her in fright as Rina sat up on the massage table, her cell phone clutched tightly to her ear.A red haired bitch? There was only one that would come to mind, who had the ability to ignite her murderous instincts and that was Lana.She had appeared again? Did Damien already sign the contract with her?She listened to Claudia rant on about the woman the CEO had brought in, and who was now the new head of their design team.Rage boiled through her as she ended the call, "Get me my clothes!" She screamed at the cowering masseuse, who jumped and scurried out of the room to carry out her order."That little bitch, I won't let her get
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