The contract we signed in hate

Chapter 4

The door creaked louder than everyone expected

They froze, every eye snapped to the door

Liora shifted slightly

The door eased open

Board members eyes shot wide

Liora let out a deep breath, a grin tugging at her lips

Mira's hand clenched around the paper

Manson's mouth hung partly open, his unfinished words stock in his throat

Jea stood at the doorway, eyes sharp, with a stern smile on her face, the kind that killed something human inside of Mira

Mira looked at Jea's smug expression, the pride that surfaced when things went exactly Jea's way

She slowly coiled the paper into her fist, traping it, as if it would trap Jea too

"Making such a big decision without me"

Jea broke the stillness

The entire board including Mira scrambled to their feet to met Manson who was already standing

Jea finally walked in, each step heavy against the marble floor

Liora hurried to pull out her seat

Jea stood for a while longer before sitting

They rest followed after her, heads bowed in shame

"I'll join from where you stopped"

"I can catch up from where I left out"

She said, her voice steel

The entire boardroom shook, her words were not as light as it seemed, they carried a threat

She paused and swept her gaze over each of them

Raising a brow for them to continue

No one wanted to speak first

"Say something"

Jea ordered

One of them cleared his throat

"W."

He stuttered

"The crisis is building, ...."

He managed to say before the door creaked open again

A panting worker rushed in

Everyone turned to him

"Ma'am, the stocks are increasing, SEC stopped investigation and the asset unfreeze"

He blurted in one breath

Jea's brow furrowed, thin lines drawing across her forehead

The boards mouth widen

"Is that why you cut the board short"

She asked

"My apologies ma, I thought it was best to inform you immediately"

He explained

"You thought?"

Jea repeated

He bowed his head

"I'm sorry"

"Come on"

Liora said leading him out

Jea's eyes returned to the table

"With that,"

She started

"The discussions end here"

She concluded

She gave Manson one last glance before walking out, leaving behind a half confused board

Once the door closed behind Liora, the whispers began

"How was it handled?"

Was the question no one could attempt

_____

Mira's fists were clenched tight, her eyes burning red. Heat radiated off her entire face and body.

Manson paced the room, one hand on his forehead, the other on his waist.

"Who did this?"

he muttered.

"Who?"

he demanded, voice rising.

Mira shot her eyes open.

"She must have done this."

"It's not possible without her."

"We just need to know how."

"HOW?"

she hissed, voice hoarse as she struggled to steady her breathing.

Manson turned to her.

"Handle this."

She nodded and left the office.

On her way out, she ran into Jea coming from the opposite direction. Her eyes locked on Jea the entire time. But when Jea drew close, Mira lowered her gaze and stepped aside, head slightly bowed, so Jea and the important guest behind her could pass.

As Jea walked past, she didn't spare Mira a single glance.

Mira's eyes kept following her. Then she smiled and lifted her head.

Turning in Jea's direction, she whispered

"Just one day."

"I want to watch you cry."

"Even if it's just one day."

"You've watched me do that a lot."

She swore under her breath before storming out of the building.

_____

Jea's silk nightgown pooled around the chair she sat in, both hands resting on the table.

The entire room was dark except for the single lamp on the table.

The brown envelope lay there.

Her index finger brushed the edge of the envelope, then jerked back like it burned her.

She leaned back in the chair, stared at it, and finally reached for it. She pulled out the contract and studied it.

Her fingers traced the letters on the paper, then lingered on the signature.

She looked up from the page, took a quiet breath, and slid the contract back into its envelope and back into the drawer.

She stood, turned off the lamp, walked to her bed, and lay down, staring up at the ceiling

_____

"Donnis market has opened," the reporter began.

"But the question the public keeps asking is, how?"

"We’re hoping the Donnis Group will release a statement. For now, there are no updates."

He continued.

Jea dropped the tablet face-down on the empty seat beside her.

Liora noticed Jea was free and began reading out her schedule.

The black Maybach pulled up in front of the Donnis Group tower. The entrance was flooded with reporters from different media teams.

The moment the car came into view, they surged forward, jostling to get closer.

Liora rushed out and opened the door for Jea. She stepped out and walked through the path security had cleared for her.

As she moved, the media pressed in behind her.

"How did the Donnis Group pull this off?"

"Was there another bribe?"

"Sources say you bribed government officials!"

The questions came rapid-fire, microphones shoved toward her face.

The giant glass doors slid open. She walked in with Liora close behind. The doors shut, and the noise outside faded slowly.

____

Mira sat opposite the TV in Manson's office, arms and legs crossed as she stared straight at the screen.

"News that Donnis Group bribed the government to halt the investigation is spreading across every network,"

"Donnis Group has yet to release an official statement regarding the allegations,"

"We await their response in the coming hours."

Mira's lips curled into a triumphant smile. Her dad walked over to her and gave her a light pat on the back.

"Good job," he said, his voice cold.

"Let’s see how she handles this."

"She hates press releases. But she’ll have to do one now."

Her smile turned sharp, almost cruel.

"You didn’t leave any loopholes, did you?"

Manson asked

"It was an anonymous donation. No one will ever trace it back," she said, triumphant.

"Her father was accused of bribery. Now it’s her turn."

"Poor Jea," she added in a fake-sympathetic voice.

Then the news anchor’s tone shifted and caught her attention.

"Vale Industries will be holding a press conference tonight."

"We’re waiting to see what it entails. Invitations have gone out across the board."

He concluded.

Mira shot up from her seat.

"Vale Industries?"

She repeated.