Chapter 68: Chapter 68

CHAPTER 25

It's 8 am in the morning. Aunt Ruth had gone home, back to her husband the night before. I get up and head to my walk in closet. There's a calendar, hung just before the entrance. It's June 5th. I smirk. "Siri, is it going to rain today?"

"Yes, it's going to rain today."

I rush into the shower and have my bath, excitedly. Today was going to be a very fruitful day. I could hardly wait.

**

As I enter my child’s room, I realize that he’s still fast asleep, his pacifier still in his mouth. Louis had a thing for his pacifier. I place Alex's gift on his hand. "Mommy misses you so much," I say, as I caress his face. "Today, Mommy's going to take back what rightfully belongs to you. I won't let anyone cheat you, my darling." I place a kiss on his cheeks.

***

I had gotten into Alex's bed willingly, and mostly, because of my lust. However, I couldn't deny the fact that deep down, I hoped that getting into his bed would allow me command him as I wished. After all, a man in love was as good as a slave.

As soon as I enter the company, I head straight to my office. Jenifer's still not there. I dial her number again. This time, it's unavailable. I sigh. I take off my coat and open the blinds. I take my phone and head for the conference room. There was a board meeting.

***

"Good morning, gentlemen," I say as I enter the room. Everyone's present. I continue, "Its 9:55. I'm not late, am I?"

"Shall we begin?" Luke says, our eyes one one another. I look away, uncomfortable. I felt as though he was peering into my soul. Last nights events were still very fresh in my memory.

**

"I say, we put out some percentage of stocks in the market. Make it public. I'm confident that at least 50-60 percent of people will purchase within one to twenty shares." Luke says.

"We can't make our company public just because of one failing product, can we?" Mr. Keats responds.

"Why not? I agree with Mr. Carrington. We can make the market price drop by more than half after they purchase. The stocks will hold little or no value in the market. We'll tender an apology and I'll buy back the shares for a measly amount as compensation."

"The profit would be enough to cover the cost of compensation." Another board member responds.

"Still, if this somehow gets leaked to the press, we're all done for." Mr. Keats says.

"If that happens, we know it's one amongst us, and rest assured, it will never be me. This is nothing but diplomacy, Mr. Keats." Mr. Keats looks away, almost as though he was disgusted or irritated by me. His behavior angered me, but I wouldn't show it. I would rather deal with him behind closed doors.

"You're a very tactful woman," Mr. Combs says. He continues, "However, you'll be solely responsible for the outcome of this."

"Does that mean you think this will have a negative outcome?" I ask, chuckling softly.

"Positive or negative. You either get the glory or you take the blame." Luke says.

"We'll see about that, Mr. Carrington, Mr. Combs." I say, as I get up to take my leave.

***

I make a call as soon as I reach my office. "I need one of you to get dressed, right now. Look fancy and rich, but not too much. I'll text you where to meet me. Take a taxi and don't waste even a second." I say and hang up. I look at my watch. It was almost 12. I take my sunglasses from my bag. I pick my coat from the coat rack, and I head down, carefully scanning the area for Mr. Keats. I couldn't loose him.

"Have you seen Mr. Keats?" I ask a staff walking by.

"Yes, ma'am. He just left the building." She responds, and I race to the exit. Luckily, I see him enter his car. I enter my car, and I begin to follow him.

I place my phone on the phone holder. I call her again. "Are you dressed? Good. Get a taxi, and come to 291 Croydon. Keep moving straight down."

**

Mr. Keats stops at the Seldson Meester restaurant-hotel. I chuckle dryly. "How stupid. How do these men always play directly into my hands? I didn't even have to lift a finger." I say, as I make a call again. "Seldson Meester. I need you here now. I'll be watching, so when you get in, I'll send you a picture. Find him, you must do everything it takes to ensure you end up in the same room with him. I don't care, lie to him or something. Just get him to a room, and make sure you have him butt naked in five minutes. Five minutes. I'll come in afterwards." I say. I come down quickly. I adjust my hair, so that it's covering a good part of my face. I enter. I see Mr. Keats heading for the lobby. I try to act calm, so as to not raise suspicion. He stops. He receives a call. I hide, watching him. He turns around and it seems he's heading out. Bloody hell! Just in the nick of time, she shows up. I point at Mr. Keats as soon as she sees me. She nods and heads his way. I hide again.

**

After almost eight minutes, I receive a text from the red haired woman from the brothel. She had sent the room number she was in with Mr. Keats. I find my way there, and I breathe in. I open my phone camera, just to be ready.

I barge into the room and I take as many pictures as I can. Mr. Keats is on the bed, the red haired woman beside him. He's naked, his tie, around his neck. He looks as though he'd just seen a ghost.

"Shocked, Mr. Keats?" I ask, as I keep my phone in my coat. I chuckle. I begin to clap. "I like this! I told you before that I was looking forward to seeing your face like this again, and oh my, I am glad I didn't miss out on it.”

"W-what? Why are you in here? Did you set me up?!" He yells.

"Keep shut, you pig. Don't you dare raise your voice at me, ever again." I say, as I snap my fingers at him.

"You set me up."

"Yes, I did. I have photos to prove that."

"That's revenge porn, you'll be prosecuted!" He says, surprising me. I didn't know Mr. Keats could be so talkative and fierce, kind of.

"Not I, Mr. Keats. I don't think you know, but I have a knack for getting away with things, plus, it's her word against yours. She could say you tried to molest her or worse, accuse you of rape, and your life, legacy will all go down the drain. Your family? I wonder what they'll think."

"No-no, please, no. I'll do anything. Anything!" The man begs me. I smirk, as I see him cower in fear.

"You derive pleasure from looking down on women, don't you? I hope you begin to fear women now," I bend down, covering him with the sheets. "Because, some of us can be quite dangerous." I whisper. I get up and turn to leave. "I'll let l you know what I need from you." I say to him.

As I exit the hotel, I bring out my phone. I quickly e-mail the photos to my company mail. I needed to have them kept somewhere, just incase anything happened. I look up, heading for my car when I see Rocky. I look away, trying to ignore him as I continue to my car. He stops me.

"Hey, hey, hey. Natalie. You're here."

"Of course, I am. I told you to stop following me, Rocky. I was serious."

He chuckles. "I wasn't following you. This is my family's hotel, if you don't remember."

It had skipped my mind. Rocky's family owned a chain of hotels. He was a hotelier and Seldson Meester was one of their hotels scattered around London. I look away. "I'll be forced to call the cops if you don't stay away from me. I have nothing to say to you, please." I say, as I move.

"Wait." He says. I sigh, irritated. He brings out a box from his trench coat. "I was going to give you this after your birthday." He says.

"What's that?" I ask, somewhat curious.

"Here. Open it. See for yourself." He says, handing the box over to me. I take the box and open it. I gasp, breathing slowly as I look at the box. It was a ring.

"When will you stop?” I ask, putting the box back in his hand. I rush into my car. I hit the steering wheel, annoyed and almost frustrated. It was at times like this I was grateful for my tinted windows. I begin to cry, I can't control it. My life was perfect, perfect before Luke. I'd have been saved from all this anger, pain and bitterness if Luke hadn't come to my life. I would've been happy with Rocky. "I hate you so much, Carrington. I hate you!"