Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Citadel's was as bubbly as ever. The clients went in with indifference but came out with a confident and an accomplished smile on their proud faces.

Margarette observed and made certain that business was running smoothly in all sectors of the company. With a satisfied nod, she headed back to her office.

Once she got there, she reviewed the data on the sales and progress of Citadel's with a small smile on her usually cold but pretty face. She was proud and dedicated to her job, knowing at least she wouldn't be getting scorned by her mistress when she returned.

She'd do anything just so the nightmare never becomes a reality!

Margarette was a distinguished and talented lady. To be the Chief Operations officer of a top-tier company at such a young age isn't a small feat to achieve. Plus, the CEO was her lover... as she liked to think. But...

Of course, she would be proud! Margarette felt her life couldn't be any better at the moment.

However, she frowned when a knock came from the door to her office and the door was pushed open to reveal a handsome man well-suited in a navy blue blazer and matching pants coming in.

' If it isn't Mark ...' Margarette's frown deepened for a moment before she quickly retained a neutral gaze.

" Ms Margarette, may I have a word?" Mark stated with a resolute gaze. His expression was frank and determined.

Margarette was the COO, however, that was just it. Mark had no reason to be subservient or reverent towards her, even though she held a position of vital authority in the company. He couldn't be impolite to her though.

" Please" Margarette pointed towards the seat before her on the other end of the table.

Mark nodded and swiftly took a seat. " I need your help" Mark was direct with his words.

" Does it have anything to do with your wif- ... ex wife?" Margarette asked in a nonchalant tone. She spoke deliberately, and wasn't apologetic.

Mark shot up his gaze and opened his mouth to speak but he couldn't find the right words. How did Margarette know? Mark never thought she made mention of Val once being his wife to this lady. They weren't even that close.

However, he soon realized that Valerie still shared the same last name with him. He almost facepalmed.

.

Wasn't it obvious? Mark thought his rationality was suffering a lot lately.

" Not really." Mark thought staring down in a lost daze at his shiny shoes. " You're the closest to the CEO and I was wondering if there was a way I could meet with her somehow" Mark looked up to meet Margarette's gaze as he requested in a low humble tone.

After that one time that he'd slept with the CEO, she had been so cold and distant to him that it had a huge impact on him. For a while, he thought he'd offended her and was certainly going to get laid off.

To his surprise, he got promoted just as she'd promised!

But the coldness and indifference never stopped. It was as though the CEO was a total stranger to him. Mark realized that it was supposed to be a one time thing, and decided to not overplay his role.

However, now that Val was involved, Mark knew there probably was something more to everything that was happening.

And that's more of a reason why he had the thought that Val's sudden appointment as his superior was a means to threaten him. He'd also read about the divorce trial, which further made him believe his thought was right.

This is exactly why he wanted to meet the CEO. He wanted to clear the air and inform her that he would be a loyal to her that wouldn't spill anything about their relationship. And perhaps, that would make her change her mind.

Anyone but Val being his superior was something he could bare with. Mark was losing his mind already!

" Oh? You think she's behind Ms Valerie's appointment?" Margarette straightened her back, placed her elbow on the table, and rested her chin on her palm as she stared amusedly at Mark.

If only he knew!...

Gulp!

Mark swallowed in surprise once again. " Do you happen to know about it then?" Mark asked unsure if he should. Maggie's expression showed she knew something. This might be dangerous, but Mark had no other choice.

" Of course, I was there when it all happened" Margarette half-lied conveniently.

However, she flashed a smile seeing how effective her words were on Mark. The latter's eyes widened in shock and he leaned closer on the table as if he couldn't wait to ask.

" Tell me!" Mark demanded with a soft bang of his fist on the table.

Margarette chortled softly like a devil, the tenacity in her gaze was just as that which intends to cause malice " On one condition" she raised a finger.

Mark grunted unpleasantly. He already saw this coming from miles away.

" What's the condition?"

Margarette slowly stood without saying anything. Mark glared daggers at her knowing she was up to no good.

Margarette didn't seem to give a care to Mark's glare as she slowly strode towards the window glass pane and stared down the street. After a while, she started to speak again,

" Your ex-wife has fallen in the hands of boss's husband, and even boss has no say in her appointment."

" Of course, isn't this a chance to show boss how loyal you are to her?" she turned around to ask.

Mark was silent for a while as he stared at a loss.

" What do you mean by Val having fallen into boss's husband's hands?" Mark questioned. He was baffled as to why Bob would have anything to do with Val.

" And what loyalty?" Mark frowned at Margarette. Not that he didn't understand what she meant but just because he didn't want to believe she knew about it.

" Exactly what you heard. She's in an affair with boss's husband." Maggie lied again. This was only a conjecture she and Courtney had made, and was unsure of it was true or not. But she had to do what she had to do.

" I so much hate Val in that position as much as you do Mark." Margarette strode slowly back to the table as she said. She purposely ignored Mark's second question as to what she meant by loyalty. Of course, she knew about what had happened between Mark and her Mistress- Courtney.

Mark seemed to still be caught up in the discovery of Val's relationship with the CEO's husband. Did she sought him in request for help to take revenge after having left their home? Were they acquaintances even way before all of this?

Surely this was all crappy talks right? CEO's husband is way above Val, why would he stoop so low as to settle for Val? Also, what did Margarette mean by CEO Courtney having no say in the matter? Mark was perplexed and quite furious. His face became sour and twisted the more he gave thought to it.

He suddenly seemed to remember he wasn't alone. Mark struggled to get hold of his bearing.

Mark looked at Margarette in silence as he thought about her words as to how she hated Val's position. He knew Margarette was her boss's pet and was doing all of this to gain her affection. This included doing the dirty job which the CEO wouldn't be able to do.

Giving it a thought, the CEO might not have a say in the matter if Bob had something against her. Did that mean Margarette couldn't do anything about it either? No!

Mark knew Margarette would do anything for the CEO. And perhaps, this was one of those things. However, he also knew he shouldn't trust her. But right now, their goals seemed to align.

" What do you intend to do?" Mark asked just to be certain.

" Well, I want to get rid of your ex-wife. Doesn't that seem the best idea to you?" Margarette raised a brow, corked her head to the side and placed a palm on the table as she leaned over. She flashed a gentle harmless smile.

Mark could see her soft pale bosom accentuated by her arms peeking at him from the crown of her gown, but he slowly averted his gaze.

Mark didn't like Margarette at all. So much that he couldn't see himself doing anything intimate with her. Not that he didn't consider her beautiful, but her attitude was a total turn off for him. Mark never fancied bossy and rude types, and the CEO was only an unfortunate circumstance. Either he lost his job or he succumbed, he had no choice!

" And just how do you plan to do that?" Mark asked a bit unsure.

" Well..." Margarette smiled knowing she had Mark right exactly where she wanted.