From Ashes To Billions

Chapter 15: Beating Her To The Game.

Layla curled her fist so hard that she could feel the sharp tip of her nails digging into her flesh. Her mouth felt dried as if she swallowed acid. Desperate, she tapped her ear buds vigorously, trying to connect to her staff.

“Turn the bloody protector off!” She whispered fiercely, but it was as if no one heard her. The video replayed instead, causing the goosebumps in her skin to prickle even more.

Fuck!

Who could have done this to her?

“How many times must I repeat that this bloody video be turned off?!” Layla screamed angrily, rushing to the projector. “I swear it won't be funny if I find out who did this!”

However, before Layla could get to the projector, the video had turned off and the whole hall suddenly went quiet. Layla stood in the middle of the room, chilled to the bones at the glares directed at her.

The damage had been done and now she was screwed.

Cold sweat broke out on her skin, intensifying her horror. That was when she saw him —the eye of the tornado. He was sitting so calmly at the end of the hall, his eyes fixed on her like he could see right through her.

Adrian!

“Motherfucker!” Layla hissed, running a finger through her hair. How dare he do this to her?

As the investors stood up to leave, she summoned a shaky smile and hurried to speak. “Please everybody, I can explain what just happened! This is a misunderstanding and I believe I was framed,”

“Pathetic!” Someone scoffed from the audience. “Be prepared to receive a suit from my lawyer!”

“You're such a joke! How can you think of conning people without shame?! And what? You're trying to escape your crimes through some shallow begging? There's enough evidence, so quit the bullshit!"

“I'll do everything within my power to ensure a b***h like you goes down!” A man yelled.

“Wait…listen, it's not what you think!” Layla stammered, but the sound of approaching sirens interrupted her. Before she could blink in understanding, police officers had stormed into the building.

They walked towards her, their cuffs glistering in the light. One of the officers lifted his tag. “Ms. Layla, this is a warrant for a search and seizure. You are also needed at the station for questioning,”

Layla frowned. “Did…I do anything wrong? You can't just barge into my—”

“Anonymous tipped us off to the possibility of dangerous and illegal drugs in your possession. Not only that, you're suspected of conducting national fraud,”

Gulp! Beat!!

Layla bit her lips to control herself from cussing. Her eyes shifted to Lucian and she saw him smirk at her. This was all his doing.

Their eyes locked and she masked her burning anger with a chuckle. This bastard had played her dirty, but damn, how did he know? Her business was strictly conducted in secrecy and she had fired all her employees that day, so how…?”

“Everybody, please leave now!” One of the officers shouted. He turned to Layla. “Move before we make you,”

“Don't lay a hand on me. I'll walk myself,” Layla gritted in irritation. Gosh, the urge to scream out loud was so great, almost overwhelming.

Watching the audience she had struggled to gather walk away just like that made her heart sink to the pits of her stomach. The feeling was similar to s**t being splashed on her face.

In the midst of the chaos, from the corners of her eyes, Layla could see Adrian put on his sunshades before walking out of the hall.

That dirty bastard! Did he know how much this event cost her to put together? Did he know the expenses she had procured just to convince those foreigners? Damnit, she had hoped to recover her loss after they signed the contract. Now what? She had lost everything in the blink of an eye.

It hurt.

It hurt so much that she wanted to cry.

“Search everywhere!” A female officer barked and upon the order, the rest of the officers scattered into different directions.

“Use the backdoor to secure the drugs fast!” Layla whispered fiercely to her guards via her earbuds. “If the police find out, I swear you'll pay for it with your life!”

“The drugs have been cleared already, ma'am. Their search would be in vain,” A reply came almost immediately.

“Good,” She managed a smile as the police escorted her out of the building. The police wouldn't be able to detain her without evidence. She would fight her way out of this.

*******

“Young Master, did you see the look on Layla's face? It was comical!” Felix said with a glee as he sat opposite Adrian in his office. “Layla wouldn't be able to escape the burning fire this time,”

“You think?” Adrian replied. “Layla is a damn snake and she must have already hidden the drugs from the police,"

“But how...?"

“My focus wasn't on the drugs, but on revealing her fraudulent and dishonest character. When the news gets out, anyone with a brain would think twice before considering her a suitable option for business. My aim was for her to experience helplessness, and I did it,"

Adrian smiled as he remembered how Felix and his men had gone around the past few days to gather evidence of Layla's crime; trading illegal drugs. That was when they found out about her ongoing project scam.

He couldn't believe that she would stoop so low to scam people of their hard-earned money. It was like she derived pleasure in seeing others in pain while she enjoyed. Such a self-centered brat.

“How about your sister? We know Layla has a hand in her disappearance, but we can't prove it. She hides her crimes so well and we were only lucky to find out about the drugs. What do we do?”

Adrian picked up a pen and flicked it expertly. “How about we introduce her to a game of chess?"

As Felix hesitated, Adrian smiled. “Don't worry, I'm best at beating people at their games,”