Torn between two billionaires

Chapter 4: I will make you pay

“You are…not my type…of woman!!!!” His voice was steady, yet every word seemed to have carried weight that sent a stern warning to Aria's brain.

Aria went down on her knees and began to beg for forgiveness, she was wrong to have questioned his character without being sure.

“Keep your sorry to yourself, because Derek Hale will make you pay”. His eyes locked onto hers, the anger which buried deep inside flooding to the surface.

He continued.

“It wouldn't take me less than 5 seconds to fire your ass out, now having to know that you are the same Aria Kingsley who owes my company a good amount of money. I can't easily let you go like that”.

Aria raised her face to him, flooded with surprise.

An overwhelming sense of panic gripped her chest, suffocating her with its intensity.

What now? Will Derek also use this as a p**n to make her suffer more?

Aria tried to alter a word but was interrupted by Derek again.

“Take this worthless flower and get out of my office now!!!”. In a serious tone

He didn't finish his last word, Aria stood up immediately, took the flower from his table, and ran out.

On reaching the door Derek reminded her not to forget to be present at the board meeting tomorrow.

He was definitely up to something, but what could that be?

*

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*

Everyone was present in the luxury hall for the board meeting, including the head manager, Alex.

Again, Derek kept everyone waiting. Attending to some other issues of the company.

Suddenly, the giant door of the hall opened. A tall, slim figure walked in, and everyone, without a word, stood to their feet.

The place was eerily silent, the air feeling sterile and devoid of any warmth or comfort.

Everybody could feel the aura the young man carried, and the rest of the team that hadn't met him before sensed that he could be the CEO-Derek.

“Good morning, Sir”. Everybody in the room greeted him with so much respect.

Derek stood at the front center of the table, steady and emotionless as he answered.

“Good morning....., without wasting much of your time. Please have your seats, let's talk about the promo filming”.

He got interrupted by Alex.

“Why don't you introduce yourself properly bro? Everyone here has been wishing to meet the CEO of Helix Hotel”.

Derek looked at him with resentment.

Although he said a lot of people's minds.

“Introducing myself wouldn't increase the stock price of the company; instead, strategizing on our promo video for Valentine's Day, will”. Derek responded.

He continued

“Well, I will make this meeting brief. The filming is going to be a live stream section and also an interview at our Mexico studio. I will be the guest and the interviewer will be……”

He paused, his eyes scanning through their faces. Until he found his prey.

“Aria Kingsley will be the interviewer, since she is so good at questioning people's character, she will suit the role perfectly”.

He gazed at her with much resentment.

The hall all of a sudden became noisy, some didn't know that an employee was bearing such a name not to talk more of knowing her.

Aria's face drained of color, and she shot a quick, anxious glance at Derek. Holding her necklace, which her late mother had gifted her, she was ready to do everything in her power to pay all their debts and be free.

Head manager, Alex, was worried that his plans were not working out as he had planned. He can't believe that after the hassle of planting the letter situation, Derek was unable to fire her.

If Derek had a fallout with her, he will fire her, which will make Aria have no other option but to accept his offer. Only Derek, as the CEO, had the power to fire her.

Derek slammed his hands on the table to bring everybody back to order.

“What's the commotion all about? I thought she was one of the best employees we have here?”.

Aria bowed her head to the table. Anxious

“Besides, if she fails to deliver well and her mistake affects our stock market price……” He paused for a while and added

“She will be fired immediately”. He looked in her direction, his lips curved into a slow, mocking smile.

No one wanted to raise any question against his decision but Alex did.

“Do you think it is only your decision to make, without asking for our own opinion, huh Mr Derek”? Alex questioned Him with his face looking expressionless.

Derek ignored him; he would put him in his place soon.

“The PR team should send the interview scripts to Miss Aria as soon as possible, and if anybody has an opinion against this meeting, they should drop it as a letter in the suggestion box”.

“Have a nice day,” he concluded and walked out. Mr Michael went alongside him, carrying his suitcase.

His level of arrogance was at its peak. Alex would do anything in his power to make him suffer and to fail in any of his plans for the company.

All the tasks bestowed on these two sons of the chairman are to evaluate who's going to be the successor.

Alex chuckled mischievously, knowing that he could use Aria to achieve his aim again.

Killing two birds with one stone.

*

*

*

PR team and the filming team flee to Mexico a day before the filming, the company has already booked a place for everyone to their comfort.

Early in the morning, Derek got a call from his father.

He picked it and said hello without adding dad. He has developed a very cold relationship with his father over the years.

“Hello son, hmmm… I'm here to remind you once again about the promo video. The video is not only going live all over the world but it will also determine our stock price, so please be careful and do everything well. This is your first project for the Helix company, your brother has been handling this well, but I hope you will do better. Good luck son”.

Mr Smith cut the call, knowing he wouldn't get back any responses from Derek.

Everywhere in the studio were symbols of love. It was beautiful and unique because the shot was situated at a lakeside. Everyone was amazed by nature.

Aria was sitting ready in a pink dress with full makeup on her face, looking like a Barbie. Going through the script again, making sure that she got every line correctly.

One of the PR team members walked up to Aria and demanded her script in exchange for another.

When Aria asked why

The lady told Aria that the script that she was holding had errors and she brought the correct one from the head office.

Aria innocently agreed and took it, but she noticed that there was a huge difference from the previou

s one.

The lady from the PR team went to a corner and made a secretive call.

“Sir it is done, she has the wrong scripts now”.