Chapter 42

"How did it go?"
This question, I did not answer the secretary's greeting when I entered the office when he spoke again.
"Why didn't you call me last night Lineah? I was worried!"
I winced as his voice rose on the other line. I moved my ear a little away from the cellphone.
"Calm down, Denard. I'm fine. I didn't call because when I came home I fell asleep right away," I said and put my bag on the desk.
I sat down in the swivel chair. I glanced at the things on his desk. You look at the picture frame on the side, it's a picture of the two of us in Canada. We're smiling ear to ear in the photo.
"Are you sure about that Lineah?"
"Of course. What else can I do last night but rest?"
"I don't know, you tell me."
My forehead furrowed at Toni's voice with suspicion. I lower the holding frame.
"Don't tell me you're jealous?"
"Who wouldn't? Maybe later that stupid Montevero will fool you again!"
"Are you out of your mind? You know I'm completely angry with that animal so why would I fool around again?"
"He's tricky and handsome ---"
"Oh come on, Denard! You're hilarious. Stop being jealous. If I feel anything for him it's not intense attraction but intense anger."
I was swayed by my senses.
Why is he so suspicious of me? I didn't lie to him. Why should i? It's true that I went home after that night. I was tired from the trip because it was far away so I fell asleep right away when I got home.
Maybe he's just jealous. He knew that Theron had abused my innocence before but I never mentioned the threesome to him.
What if he found out that we had a threesome? For sure he'll be furious. Maybe he won't continue our marriage ... But that won't happen. The wedding is still on because I won't tell him anything about the threesome with Theron and Thander.
It’s probably scary for me. I knew he was just worried but he had nothing to worry about. I can handle everything.
It's true that Theron is still handsome, I won't discriminate against him but I don't feel the slightest attraction for him anymore.
"I'm just making sure everything will go according to our plan. I don't want that stupid Montevero to fool you again. Remember what he did to our parents ... Especially to you."
I rested my head on the back of the chair.
"I can't forget Denard," I said.
"Good."
"So tell me what happened? Did he see the watch on you?"
"I'm certain about it."
"Did he touch you?"
"What?!"
My voice rose.
"What I mean is did he hurt you? Did he do something stupid?"
"No... Nothing happened. It's just small talk. After I showed the watch I left. How's Thander? Did he say something we can use?"
"Nope. He's just glaring at me. He doesn't answer me every time I ask him."
I sighed. I hope that's what Thander will do. His only contribution to the plan was that we kidnapped him.
"How's the office? Do you need help? I'll go there right away just tell me ---"
I cut him off.
"Everything's fine, Denard. You don't have to come here anymore. Just keep an eye on Thander. Make sure he can't escape his guard. Has Tito Ephraim gone there yet?"
"He will, later. He still has something important to go," he said.
My gaze shifted to the office door as it opened.
"Good afternoon Ma'am."
"The secretary's here, I'll call you later."
I couldn't wait for what he would say. I put down the cellphone and addressed the secretary.
"Ma'am, these are the papers you need to read."
It drops the thick folder on the desk.
"That's a business proposal of Ramoz. That's what Sir Denard has to sign today. Since you are the representative, your signature on the contract is valid. Sir. Denard also agreed to this proposal, signature. That's all that's missing. "
"All right. Give me a minute to read this," I said.
It's out of the office. I am the healed representative of the Bornefelds today and next week because Tito Ephraim and Denard are busy with the international client who needs to be convinced to invest. But of course that is not the only reason why they're not here. Denard had to keep an eye on Thander. While I am here and taking care of their campaign. If the Monteveros hadn’t just taken over Salvatore Corporations I would probably have been busy running it.
"Ma'am---"
"I told you to give me a minute ---"
"I-I'm sorry Ma'am. Someone is looking for Sir. Denard. This is one of the big clients that the campaign has been chasing for a long time."
My head tilted. Denard has never mentioned to me about a large client before.
"Really?"
"Yes ma'am," she said.
"Did you tell him Denard's not here?"
"Yes ma'am but he insisted on talking to someone in charge in the company."
"That's it. Let me in," I said.
I first set aside the business proposal to be read on the side of the desk. So maybe I'll finish that later. I need to get to know this big client first, maybe it will even help with my plans.
"Mr. Montevero." I said, a ghost of a smile crept on my lips.
Whatever the reason Theron is here today, I’m sure it’s about the watch he saw yesterday. He couldn't wait a few more days before talking to me. I was expecting him to wait for days to investigate and think about his counter plan but it looks like he has nothing to come up with in a night. So here he is in front of me now.
"Is there anything I can help you with?" I said with so much enthusiasm.
His face remained dark and serious.
"Nothing."
"Infact, I will be the one helping you." he smirked.
"But I don't need any help Mr. Montevero. Why would I even need your help?"
"You went to Canada to study business right?"
My forehead furrowed. How did he know I was going to Canada? I was unable to ask him to speak again.
"You probably learned nothing in your studies because you had no idea what's going on in this company."
"You put men before business. You're so busy with your boyfriend. You should set aside private life on your business."
"So you came here to talk about my private life Mr. Montevero? How ironic of you to talk about business ethics."
He glared at me. Glare all you want, Theron. I have your sister so you can do nothing but be orphaned like what happened to me when I did not know the real Mother.
He had the courage to come here to experience my personal life. Yes I'm avenging him, but I don't care about his personal life with his women. Not like he does now. Instead of looking for the brother, drowning comes first.
"My private life is not your concern Mr. Montevero, and If you don't have anything good to say about Bornefeld Holdings you can leave now," I said.
I headed back to the desk. I stopped when he spoke so I leaned on the desk.
"Its clear to me that you can't understand anything about this business. You don't even know this company is close to bankruptcy. I'm doing a favor for this company Ms. Salvatore."
"And you expect me to believe that? Bornefeld Holdings is filthy rich. If it's not, I won't be here signing major projects abroad. Bankrupt your face, Mr. Montevero." You can't be fooled stupid.
"I didn't expect you to believe ---" I cut him off.
"Maybe you're the one who's losing money? Especially now that your brother can't be found. It's definitely hard to take care of your businesses alone. How was it? Is it hard for you to be alone in all the hardships?" I smirked.
His face darkened.
"I'm sure you can relate to it, Ms. Salvatore. You, yourself went through with it."
My smirk faded. I tried not to bury the nail under the desk I was leaning on now. I took a deep breath before standing up and approaching him.
"It's part of the process of becoming who I am today, Mr. Montevero. Without those people who pained me and made my life miserable, I wouldn't Lineah Salvatore. If they didn't hurt me enough I would be stuck as the naive innocent and poor Leigh. " my meaningful promise.
His face softened a little. He came even closer to me.
"Lineah---"
I was forced to close my eyes when he mentioned my name again.
"My private life is not your concern, Mr. Montevero. If you have nothing good to say, leave this office. Rest right in your mansion. Didn't you have an accident? It's good that you survived. Thander was unlucky because he was not immediately abducted, which--- "we kidnapped him.
But of course I won't say that.
His head tilted and his eyes narrowed. "Continue, Ms. Salvatore."
"She's missing now." I fake a sad smile to convince him. I'm sure he knows I'm faking it ...
That's good. He needs to know I'm faking everything. The clues are in front of him. It was impossible for him not to know that I had taken his brother.
"We already talk too much, Mr. Montevero. I have a lot of things to do. You can leave now... Since you only came here to waste my time," I said and gazed at my watch.
His gaze followed there. Its face darkened again.
"Isn't it beautiful?"
I lifted my wrist and showed it in front of him.
"Do you like it? It's actually customized. Only made for two."
My eyes found the watch on his left hand.
"Oh look! You have one too! We're the same."
A smile crept on my lips when he noticed the red stain on the lid of the mirror.
"Ohh there's a stain of blood, gross. Sorry for that. I've been hurt through ---"
I gasped when he captured my wrist.
"What did you do to my brother Lineah ?!" he asked emphatically.
I raised my eyebrow at him. It’s so close to me. It's only a matter of time before the tip of our nose gets closer. In this position I inhaled the smell of his masculine perfume. Even the heat of its body seemed to move on me.
"Rumors are true, you're really aggressive Mr. Montevero. But I'm sorry I'm already engaged. Im not the kind of girl you can just kidnapped and kept in mansion for your sleepless lonely nights ---"
"Where is Thander? Answer me Lineah. What did you do to him ?!" its voice rose.
"I didn't do anything to him..." I paused, my eyes remained on him. "Because I don't know where he is. I don't know what you're talking about Mr. Montevero."
"Don't fucking fool me Lineah. This watch is his. What did you do to my sister ?!"
His grip on my wrist tightened. I winced.
"If you don't let go of my wrist right now, I'll call bodyguards to drag you back to that nauseating mansion, Theron."
It met my gaze before releasing it. I quickly grabbed his wrist as he released. I glared at him.
"This is all part of your revenge right?"
"You made the mistake we made before--" I cut him off.
"I don't know what you're talking about Mr. Montevero."
"You planned to kidnap both of us but you didn't succeed." He emphatically promised.
He walked closer to me. "The game is over, Lineah--"
"I'm calling the guards," I said.
He moved a little away from me. He sighed. "Lineah, tell me what you did to him? Is he okay?"
"Don't you understand english Mr. Montevero? I don't know what you're saying!"
"I know you kidnapped him to revenge us."
"Your hiding him ---"
"And so?" I said then approached him,
"What if I kidnapped Thander? What can you sacrifice for him?"
"What do you want Lineah?"