Illicit Touch (English. GxG)

To Ruin a Billionaire

It had been two years since I'd left Aunt Gilda. But at least I understood why I was being maltreated — we weren't connected by blood, not even by a single drop of it.

It took months for the truth to sink in my head but now I was able to accept it. She'd always think of me as the little loser and the concrete reminder of her husband's betrayal.

I didn't want her perception of me to affect my current goals. So, despite my lack of expertise in the newspaper industry, I applied for a job as a utility girl, who would be responsible for keeping the entire floor spotless. I also used to serve coffee for everyone, something I knew I was good at.

Stanley, the Editor-in-Chief, recognized my dedication and began assigning me office responsibilities with Hogue as my mentor. He must have been so impressed by my drive and gut instinct because he hired me as a copy girl after a month. Not bad for a girl from a tiny town who didn't even graduate from high school.

“I'm sure your book will be a smash hit in the future.” As he sat across from me, Hogue spoke up. We were taking a fifteen-minute break in a cafeteria.

The majority of the newspaper's employees took advantage of the leisure time to take a nap. I, on the other hand, used my spare time to write about anything that came to mind.

“Thanks.” I put my laptop down on the table and raised my head to look at the most attractive manly face I'd ever seen. “However, I have no plans to make this available online or in print. I write solely for my enjoyment. This one is like a regular diary."

"But if the opportunity ever knocks at your door, babe, you'll be thinking twice." He took my hand and pressed it against his palm. "By the way, the chief has requested your presence."

My brows raised. "Now?"

The hazel-eyed Hogue winked at me. "Uh-huh."

"Why would he want to see me in the first place? Am I out of the job?"

He stood and walked around the table, chuckling. "If the chief wants to fire someone, he doesn't have to go to his office. All he needs to do is walk away when he gets the notice. Now, get up, beautiful.” He took my laptop as well as my hand. "Time to get back to work."

"That sounds exciting." I smiled but a little tension was trembling in my voice.

o0o

The next thing I knew, Hogue and I were seated in front of Stanley's wide table that was littered with documents. I couldn’t help but get a bit edgy. My mind was wandering to all sorts of places as I watched his rage over the phone. This wasn't probably the best time to see him.

During my months working for Stanley, the first thing I noticed was his constant impatience. Some reporters found him irritating, especially when he tried to snag a hot and controversial story. But, even though his guards were always on duty, Hogue claimed that the chief was only doing his best to assist employees he thought would best suit the tabloid newspaper.

"Now you listen, shitbag, I want the photos of Senator Dela Vega's new mistress on my table before quitting time! If you fail to get anything for me, don't fuckin' come back!”

I was alarmed as the chief slammed his fist on the desk.

"What would I do with that i***t, anyway? His brain simply won't work the way it should!” He continued to grumble as he typed on his keyboard. But then when Hogue cleared his throat, the chief came to a halt and peered over the top of his laptop “What are you two doing in my office? Who the hell let you in?”

My heart was doing an impossible sprint as he stared at me. Had he forgotten that he was the one who allowed us in?

Hogue tapped my lap and gave me an easy sidelong glance as he handled the response to Stanley. "You have requested me to bring Charley Olsen here, chief.”

“Oh, right!” Stanley looked at me with those dark, inquisitive eyes. "I've got something for you, Olsen," he said, spinning the monitor in my direction. It was displaying a file video of a lovely and sophisticated woman. She was refusing to talk to the reporters chasing her. "Do you know who this woman is?"

I shook my head slowly as I continued to watch the video. The woman in an elegant white coat and dark shades was obviously not comfortable being interviewed. "No?"

"Her name's Maria Natalia Johnson, the founder, and CEO of Illicit Touch Cosmetics..."

Stanley continued to present the young CEO, and I simply nodded in agreement with all he said.

"...and she will be your first assignment, Olsen."

"O-okay," I said absently. However, when his last statement finally registered in my mind, I gaped at him as if he were a ghost speaking to me. “M-my first assignment?”

Stanley gave me a stern look. “Olsen, this is your damn break. So, you must provide me with a juicy report on the country's newest female tycoon.”

My hands trembled as I laughed. It was certain that the chief was only messing around with me. Or he might be just exhausted as he mistook me for one of the reporters.

“This is what I want you to do, Olsen — uncover something dubious about her past that can potentially destroy her reputation.”

“Wait, what?” I frowned at his instruction. “You want me to... ruin someone’s reputation? Is that even legal?” I glanced ​at both of them. “Why me? And why do we need to write bad things about—" s**t!

I was startled when Stanley slammed his hand on the table. Great. I think I've just upset him even further.

"Since you are still naive, I'll waste my effort to enlighten your mind, kiddo!" he huffed, pointing his finger to my pale face. "Natalia is the most controversial public celebrity at present. And if we write something 'interesting' about her—whether good or bad, but I prefer bad—it means more sales in the business! Now, time to get serious, Olsen. I'm gonna give you two months. Two fuckin' months or I'll fire you in an instant if you don't finish that fuckin' project! You get that!?"

"C-crystal." I took a deep breath and swallowed. My stomach churned and every cell in my body shuddered with anxiousness at the terms he had just stated. For God's sake, he was forcing me to leap off a building without even a harness! Unfortunately, I had no choice but to obey him if I wanted to stay on the job.

“Charley, this is the world of journalism," Hogue murmured in my ear. "People deserve to know the truth so we have to deliver it to them. Don’t feel bad about the chief's assignment to you, alright?” He winked.

I nodded and stared down at my feet. I wished the floor would eat me now for I felt like I just brought myself to embarrassment.

o0o

When Hogue and I arrived home, I went straight to the PC and did some research on Natalia Johnson. I needed to get to know her better before I delved into her darker side—if she had it.

After reading an article on her for a few minutes, I couldn't help but be impressed by her history.

Natalia Johnson—the dark-haired, fair-skinned, and blue-eyed woman—wasn't born into wealth and privilege. When she was eighteen, her family had only got small cosmetics stores.

Unfortunately, she lost both of her parents in a plane disaster, but she used her strong self-confidence and aggressiveness to market the products, asking every financial organization she came across to invest.

After agreeing to sell a fifty-one percent interest to beauty conglomerate Crimson Inc., Illicit Touch Cosmetics was valued at $1.2 billion in 2021. Crown Magazine had labeled her the newest and youngest self-made billionaire at the age of twenty-five.

“Okay, at least you need to eat before you get sick.”

I was gaping at Hogue when I closed the laptop. “This is sick, indeed.”

“H-huh?” He frowned, placing the two bowls of mac and cheese on the table. “Are you getting tired of work? Is that what you mean?”

“No. Definitely no," I said, shaking my head. “I mean this is cool. She is cool and amazing.”

"Oh, yeah?" He shook his head and shoved a spoonful of macaroni into his mouth. “Babe, no one is perfect. Natalia Johnson must be concealing something. Who would get insanely wealthy at the age of twenty-five?”

I narrowed my eyes. “So, she can't be richer than you just because you're a year older?"

"That's right," he said, grinning. “She'll have to wait till I buy an island."

“Whatever,” I said with a chuckle. “You are only jealous of her.”

That night, after we finished eating, Hogue went straight to bed. I, on the other hand, continued my Natalia Johnson homework. Although I admired her, there was a part of me that envied her status because she was twenty-five years old and already living life to the fullest.