Seduced By The Competition

Chapter2

A couple of hours later, it was as if things could only get from bad to worse. Her day which had begun on what she would like to think of as a good note had taken a s**t dive into craptown. The analysis of the two serums had come out. It was worse than they thought. The contents and formula weren’t just similar. They were identical. That was not possible unless they had somehow gotten their hands on the formula she made. Which only meant one thing; they had a mole. She almost crumpled at the news but she steeled herself for her employees. Employees who among them was someone who wanted to ruin them.

Laura headed up to her. Morgan could tell by her face that she had more bad news to deal.

‘Just spit it out.’ Her voice reflected how tired she felt.

‘Well…. Somehow, word got out and the investors are pulling back their funding. It’s a mess.’

‘s**t! What did Legal say?’ She knew there was a high probability that it wouldn’t be anything good but she wanted to hope.

‘No, they said without any evidence, it would be an arduous battle and even if evidence turns up, we will be in debt long before the final ruling was made.’

Morgan shoved her trembling hand into her pockets. This situation was getting way too sticky and she needed help. ‘Have you been able to reach Carla?’

Laura shook her head ‘No, her cell is still switched off. She must still be on her flight back from Barcelona.’

Morgan nodded absent-mindedly. She didn’t envy Carla walking into the storm that had blown in. She still had no clue who the mole was. The only people the security system had recorded having access to the formula were her and Dan. It couldn’t s have been Dan. He was her right-hand man and he had put in as much work into creating this serum as she did. But there was no one else on her suspect list. Her ship was sinking fast and there was little time to patch the holes as they came. At that moment, Damian Bellini’s message that his offer still stands slithered into her mind. If he bought her company, she could maybe salvage what was left of this mess. Her employees could have somewhere to go to. She shook her head. She wasn’t giving up that easily. Selling will be her last resort. She try to hold out till Carla’s plane lands and they could figure out how to save their company.

‘You have to eat something,’ Laura chastised Morgan as she got off the phone with the bank in charge of their finances. ‘It has been five days since you had any rest. I ordered you wonton soup from that Chinese place you love.’

Morgan let out a heavy sigh. She had no appetite, but she knew she had to keep up her strength. ‘I will have some.’

‘And on a side note, Alex from the reception just texted me that Clara just came in.’

Morgan’s tired senses suddenly became alert. Clara’s absence the past few days had started to raise her suspicions about her involvement in this whole mess. It didn’t take long for Clara to walk through the doors of her office. Clara Sinclair had always been one of those women that brought the word magnificent. Missing six feet by two inches with platinum blonde cut in a chic bob cut, piercing green eyes, and impeccable style, she had that look of someone who dominated high school, college, and life. She probably did. They had met when Morgan was fresh out of grad school, had failed to land her dream job and Clara had agreed to help a random down-on-her-luck biochemist with a crazy idea. What started as a project ended up creating a company that launched off her series of bioluminescent makeup that gave the skin an ethereal glow. GlowLuxe was what they decided to call it. Without Clara, there wouldn’t be any Glow. She thought Clara loved this place as much as she did, so why?

Clara walked up to her desk and dropped an envelope onto it. ‘I thought it was more appropriate to hand this to you than HR.’

Morgan looked down at the envelope. It was Clara’s resignation letter.

‘Did you do it?’ She looked straight into Clara’s eyes and those green eyes stared back unapologetically.

‘I think you already know the answer to that question.’

Equal parts grief and anger welled up inside Morgan. She tried to keep her palms from turning into fists. ‘Why?’

Clara hesitated for so long that Morgan thought she was not getting an answer. ‘This company has always been just yours. There was never any room for me. Everything was always your call. This place took years of my life and no one even remembers I started it with you. You’re all everyone want to talk about. I just want a fresh start, Morgan.’

What? Morgan’s thoughts knotted in confusion as she thought back to all their late nights and brainstorming, their phone calls. All the times they drank in celebration whenever Glow made a breakthrough or when Clara consoled her whenever Morgan’s projects were a failure. Where was the lie? When did Clara start to feel this way? Had she really bulldozed over her? Had she taken all the credit for their successes? But even though...

‘How could you do something like that? Something this cruel, knowing that there are employees that rely on you? For that pathetic excuse of a reason?’ Morgan could hear her anger spilling into her voice. ‘Because no one paid you enough attention? God, that’s some preschooler shit.’

She watched as some sadness seeped into Clara’s eyes. ‘It might have childish and petty but I guess I wanted something to hurt when I left.’

There was so many things Morgan wanted to yell at her. This betrayal was finally feeling real and she wanted to hurt her back. To tell her that she would get her back even if karma didn’t. That she would regret this decision for the rest of her life. That she wishes her misery and that she was a horrible excuse of a person. But Morgan was tired. These past few days had been hard on her to deal with alone and whatever strength she had left, she wanted to save it for fixing this mess.

‘You know what? Just leave my office. Laura would give you your stuff on your way out. And pray to God you left no evidence because I will dealing the same hand you dealt me.’

Clara looked resolved as she walked out of the office and Morgan wondered what kind of nerve gave her the audacity to remain unshaken after pulling something like this. Just this confrontation had left her feeling a little weak.

As Clara left the office, Morgan took a minute to regain her composure, then picked up the phone and called Damian Bellini.

Damian sat in his conference, his fingers tapping impatiently on the large desk. He hadn’t been surprised when Morgan Reed had called him. In fact, he had expected her to call sooner but knowing how stubborn she was, she probably wanted to hold out till he was the only choice that she had. He knew she could hold out for longer, but it would only cause more damage. Just thinking about her brought a smile to her lips. Her tenaciousness and heart made him want to get to know her better. To make her his. Maybe now they wouldn’t be business rivals, he could explore these emotions and see where it leads them.

‘Ms. Reed is here.’ one of his secretaries announced.

‘Let her in.’

Morgan stepped in wearing a green pantsuit that matched her lovely green eyes, her red hair pulled into a chic bun at the base of her neck. She didn’t look like someone whose company was in crisis. In fact, the look she gave him made him feel like she was here on a favor to him instead of the other way around. It amused him endlessly and he was not one to find pleasure in things like these. But something about Morgan always excited him. It was as if all their interactions were just a prelude to something bigger.

‘Mr. Bellini, I am happy you agreed to our meeting.’

He leaned back into his chair. ‘I was surprised to get your call. I thought your answer will always be no.’

He watched her eyes turn fiery when he used her own words against her, but her lips turned up into a smile. ‘Well, everything is susceptible to change. So, is the deal still on the table or did you just call me here to gloat?’

Fierce was a sexy look on her. ‘That depends on you. Sell me on why this buyout would be a good idea. Buying Glow means inheriting your debt and let’s not dismiss your lawyers filed for a suit against Covet Beauty. Your company is now a giant red mark. And while I admit GlowLuxe is revolutionary, its profits is not enough to cover the risks of taking you on.’

‘You are right,’ she responded. He was a little surprised that she agreed so readily. He was only planning on goading her just a little for fun. GlowLuxe might be a little niche but a little tweak to the formula and using that to elevate several of their already existing products would definitely be a hit. ‘You shouldn’t buy us out. What I want to propose is a merger.’

The laughter was spontaneous, ‘What?’ Whatever he was expecting her to say, it definitely was not that. ‘Morgan, why on earth would I want to merge with you? Even if your ass wasn’t on fire, Bellini Cosmetics is an institution.’

‘Because you get me.’ She looked so poised and controlled while Alessandro’s mind went to all the dirty places it usually visited. He imagined her in his arms, those auburn waves cascading down her bare back. Her wearing nothing but… ‘I am the brains behind GlowLuxe and The It Look despite what Covet would love to claim,’ she continued, dashing his fantasies. ‘I have a Ph.D. in biochemistry and I have an amazing project that would make The It Look resemble a college project. What I need now is time and I promise you might make cosmetic history.’

Now, he was intrigued. He knew that Morgan Reed always delivered. The businessman in him was definitely interested.

‘So, what is this big idea?’

She smiled slyly. ‘Project, not just an idea. And it’s confidential. If you want to find out, then I guess my lawyers will be meeting your lawyers.’

‘What if you are just blowing hot air? I am a businessman. I only invest in tangible plans.’

‘Then, make that a stipulation in the contract you will sending to my desk.’

‘Well, I am intrigued. But just your word won’t fly in convincing the board to agree to a merger. Send me a project charter to me and if it is as enticing as you make it sound,

then I guess you will be seeing my lawyers.’