From Ashes To Billions

Chapter 19: A Doom Greater Than Doom.

Felix knocked on the door gently and upon permission to enter, he stepped into the broad room with a tray containing coffee.

“Is she okay?” Felix asked, placing the tray in front of Adrian. His brows narrowed at the sight of Paige asleep on the large bed.

“She had a panic attack,” Adrian replied slowly, but the anger in his voice was thick. “She had a f*****g panic attack!"

Felix shifted closer, his hands reaching out to touch Adrian, as if doing that would flush away the reality of the situation. “She'll be fine…”

“She's been talking in her sleep too and crying,” Adrian said, a bit of trembling in his voice. “They broke her,”

“She's safe now,” Felix whispered. “We have to bring her to accept that she isn't on the run anymore,”

“How about the trauma she faced in the hands of that b***h? How long would it take for her to heal?” Adrian said, shaking his head. “it could take years,”

“As long as you're always by her side, then it wouldn't take that long. You have to give her the affection she's been craving for years. The love. The support. You owe her that,”

Adrian nodded as he willed himself to believe those words. “Thank you, Felix,”

Felix smiled in response. “Layla is on the news right now. Do you want to listen? I sent out reporters to the conference as you instructed. They'll suffocate her with questions and she won't be able to escape from the public's wrath,"

“Save the recording for later. Right now, I have to make sure Paige is okay and won't be having any more of those bloody episodes,” His voice lowered into a whisper. “I have to keep her safe,”

Felix sighed at the conviction in Adrian's tone. He stood up. “I'd be at the office. Call me if you need anything,”

“Sure,”

*******

Layla sank her teeth into her lower lips and the metallic taste of blood filled her tongue. If only the floor would open up and swallow her whole. If only she could vanish into thin air, away from the excruciating stares of these mother f*****g strangers.

If only…

“How could you be so wicked as to spread false rumors about the president of Nilean Group?! And now you're saying you had a hand in Ms. Paige's kidnap?! Where is the logic in your statement?!” A male reporter shouted.

Layla sighed. More f*****g questions again? Ugh! She had already given her public confession just as Adrian requested, so why won't these damn reporters stop tormenting her with unexpected and suffocating questions?

“Mr Adrian's contribution to the country in the last few weeks has been very impressive, but you painted him as a monster and made people skeptical about him and Nilean Group? What was your motive for doing that?” Another questioned.

“Why did you kidnap Paige and proceed to blame it on someone else?!”

“Mrs Layla, the news that you tried to scam foreigners is all over the internet and there are several petitions regarding your transparency. Why add kidnap to your list of crimes?! Don't you have a conscience?!”

"Don't you feel remorseful for your actions?! You look shameless,”

Layla swore under her breath. It was becoming increasingly difficult to relax with the way this f*****g conference was going. What would they even gain from taunting her with unnecessary questions like she was some five year old freak?

There was no place to hide from the clicking camera lights and the embarrassing questions from these hungry reporters. She wanted to run, but wouldn't that be the most shameful thing to do?

Fear clawed at her and her stomach tightened at the thought of Adrian watching the conference. She had carefully hidden the fact that she was the mastermind in Paige's kidnap. She had also hidden the fact that she tortured and forced the innocent girl into drug trafficking.

She had only exposed a little truth mixed with a lie —not the whole truth. She wouldn't dare expose the whole truth and risk these people starting a riot against her.

Clearing her throat to hide her anxiety, she spoke into the microphone. “Let's call it a day, shall—?”

“It is said that you and Mr Adrian were once married, but you became selfish and used obnoxious means to throw him into jail, accusing him of rape and assault. There's also the rumor of a long standing feud between your families. Is that why you caused Mr Adrian’s unjust arrest? Is that why you're bent on destroying his image? Is that why you connived to kidnap his sister” A male reporter said, ignoring the pale expression on Layla's face.

“That's not true!” Layla glared at the reporter. “Watch what you say. I and Adrian have a past that is private and I do not wish to talk about it,”

“But that's what this conference is all about, isn't it?” The reporter interjected with an evil smile. “Unfolding the truth about Mr Adrian and his sister. Why do you seem worked up? Is there something bothering you? Or is there something fishy you're hiding?”

Layla's hand clenched into a fist as sweat formed on her forehead. She forced a smile even though the last thing she wanted to do was smile. “This conference has taken more than an hour, and if you don't mind, I'd like to take my leave,”

She paused to glare at the reporters, a sign that they should refrain from asking further questions. “I apologize for any misunderstanding that I might have caused and I promise to be more conscious of my actions moving forward,”

“That's it? How do you expect the public to forgive you after listening to such a half baked apology? You shouldn't even bother apologizing, Ms Layla. It'd only make things worse,” A petite female reporter frowned and a few heads nodded in approval.

“It looks like you're trying to cover up your crimes by running away,” Another reporter added, causing whispers from the crowd. “You're so full of tricks and it's irritating! A fraudster? Now accomplice to a kidnap case? What other crimes have you been committing in secret?"

“I wouldn't condone insults from any of you,” Layla gritted, hating the fact that she wouldn't have been in this tight spot if not for Adrian.

“Are you worth any respect?” The reporter fired, causing Layla's face to whiten like she just swallowed poison. “You're so shameless and I wonder how long your company would survive with you as a leader. Next time, instead of planning a press conference for the purpose of spilling unreasonable words, focus on being more genuine and authentic,”

“Poor Mr Adrian. He had to experience betrayal in the hands of the woman he trusted the most,” Somebody said.

“Ma, it's time to end this, or I'm afraid it might affect the company further,” Layla's secretary whispered into her ears and without a second invitation, Layla turned around and ran out of the hall backstage.

The reporters rushed forward, running after her with their cameras and microphones, but they were stopped by the bodyguard.

Layla slumped to her knees in the back room as her heart pounded. Tears slipped down her cheeks as the voices of the reporters replayed in her head like a mantra.

“Adrian, you f*****g bastard!” She yelled, bringing down the mirror in the center of the room. When it shattered, she shuddered. “No…I... I won't go down like this. If I go down, I'll drag you with me, Adrian, you bastard!”