Chapter 12: Chapter 12

"Two can't play Cupid's game"

" This...This and this"

Nathan nodded absentmindedly as Adriana threw files at him. His mind was still transfixed to what had happened earlier.

The words Boulderfist which he had erect on top of the building for the price of a thousand was tossed down like it was nothing. Nathan remembered Thomas' smile as the words Tower were reconstructed in its place.

"Are you even here?" Adriana quizzed seeing he was lost in thought.

"Nothing..."

Adriana questioned no further. She instructed him on what he had to do even if he knew it all. It was part of her torture.

The conference room had been refurbished to meet her standards as it was her new office.

"Don't just stand there...Go and get something done." Adriana spat, irritated.

Nathan nodded in submission and went out.

The door opened an hour later and Adriana grumbled wondering who that was.

Nathan's ugly face reared up.

"You again!"

"Are you done with the files?" Adriana asked with an eyebrow raised high.

"Yes," Nathan answered, mentally exhausted.

That was fast!

"Well...There's more..."

Before Adriana could finish her statement, Nathan spoke.

"I want to say something. What do you have against me? I know your father hates me for betraying him but you... Why?"

Adriana picked a pencil from her desk, tapping it lightly on the wooden board before her.

"I don't owe you any explanation!"

Nathan was disappointed. He just wanted to know why she had this much hate against him.

"It started five years ago, a couple of months after my father met you. I— used to have a twin brother. His name was Adrian and he was the most cheerful boy you'd meet. Unlike me, his twin, he was very outgoing and even defended me when I was being bullied. When my father began to pool his money into the Enterprise you both planned, our household began to suffer. He wouldn't give money for anything we needed. He was obsessed with being affluent.

My mother took over his responsibilities, catering for us alone despite being married.

When you betrayed my father, my bother fell sick. My father was too agitated by his loss that he couldn't see how worse he was faring. When my mother got enough money, she took him to the hospital where he was diagnosed with pneumonia, it was too late to be managed so he died."

Adriana sobbed, his beautiful face now ruined.

"I blamed my father after his death. I hated him. My mother couldn't live with him anymore so she moved out with me. Over the years I came to realize it was all you, if you had never come into our lives, we would be fine. You destroyed us. I return to my father at eighteen and we began plotting your downfall. It took years but when your mother arrived in Mexico, we knew it was time. A little gossip and that was it. Your mother wanted you married and I showed up, your savior. It was worth it."

Adriana spewed with disdain.

Nathan could not believe his mistake had caused her family such huge trauma. He was beyond sorry.

"I— am so sorry..."

"Save it, Nathan! I got what I wanted in the end, to see you feel the same pain, to watch you lose everything one by one until you break."

Adriana was like candlelight, beautiful to watch until you touched the flames.

"Well since I told you what I have against you Nathan, why don't you tell me something. Why did you betray my father? You were born rich, why the trickery?"

"I had a business mogul for a father."

"When Tower was being planned, I shared with my father what big dreams I had. My father mocked me for thinking of sharing the Enterprise with a lower class. I listened knowing I would never face backlash or prosecution. I regret it now."

"Would you have been if you were still whole Mr. Nathan?" Adriana quizzed.

"No!" Nathan admitted.

***

Claire detected Nathan approaching her. She wished the ground would open to take her whole.

"Hello, Claire." Nathan greeted, almost like his regular self.

"Hey!" Claire said still refusing to face him.

"I wanted to talk to you."

"About what?" Claire demanded using her anxiety as an excuse to keep her face transfixed to the monitor and her hands tapping the boards of her keyboard.

" Its about the company papers."

"I'm sorry Nathan. I was being blackmailed into doing it. You know I wouldn't do anything like that just to hurt you." Claire blurted, her voice shaking with regret.

"It's ok Claire. I don't blame you for any of this but I need your help."

Claire remained catatonic almost like she was thinking of something else.

"Is anything wrong?" Nathan inquired.

"I quit Nathan. I just could not bear that you lost all this because of me."

To say Nathan was shocked was an understatement. He was upset.

How could Claire make such a step without involving him? He knew she was going through a ton of guilt but her quitting had just ruined the perfectly detailed plan he had orchestrated in his head.

"You have to take your job back," Nathan begged.

Claire nodded her head in disapproval.

No! No! No! She kept saying.

"Please Claire if you are my friend you will..."

"No!!" Claire yelled, standing up and holding her head tightly with her hands.

"I'm not your friend Nathan! I could ruin whatever you have planned just like I have ruined you." Claire wept, curling into a ball on the floor.

It was slowly gain the attention of coworkers and it won't be long before what was happening spread to the high authority who happened to be Thomas and Nathan did not want that.

"It okay Claire. Thanks for trying." Nathan announced and let the poor girl be.

He would have to figure out a new plan, one that was fireproof and would not fail him but also he had to be quick with whatever he was plotting.

***

Claire opened the door slightly and peeked in.

People were found to doing that here. Where were the manners?

Adriana made a mental note to tell Claire but first, she had to hear what she had to say.

"A woman is here to see you, Ma'am."

Adriana has no fixed appointment. Her father had made sure of that. It got her curiosity waxing.

"Tell her to get an appointment." Adriana made known, unwilling to let a beggar come and bother her.

"I think you should talk to her."

Claire seemed disturbed which meant she knew something more but Adriana would rather find out than ask.

"Very well, let her in."

A woman in her early forties came in dressed in a flowing black gown, the type one would wear to a funeral and a white veil. Her hair could not be seen as the veil hid it. She had a round face Albeit with gaping cheekbones.

"May the good Lord bless you." She said taking her seat opposite Adriana.

"What do you need sister?"

"I—don't want to sound ungrateful" the woman began," Your company has helped the St, Nicholas Orphanage but I learned you've cut off our budget and would not be giving charity to the Orphanage anymore."

The woman slowly began to sob and it brought Adriana who had a heart of steel down to the point of tears.

"Who told you that?"

"The CEO."

What!! Why would her father do this? There had to be something off somewhere.

"Could you return tomorrow, I'll see what I can do."

"Oh thank you! The children would also be delighted to see Nathan if he can make it." The woman appreciated.

Adriana could see she wasn't aware of the new development and saw no need to shatter the good woman.

The woman left the room, turning back when she was at the door to thank Adriana again.

"You know, you and Nathan would look good together."

Adriana's cheek reddened. She was about to flare out disapprovingly at the woman but the woman was long gone when she found her tongue.

Why would she even think that?

The question remained though. Why her father had cut an orphanage of the money they relied on to survive. It was barbaric and unheard of And who knew Nathan gave charity? Did monsters have a soft spot too?