Chapterfive
1204 Words
Ruben's POV
The morning of the gala began badly. I experienced it when I entered Titan Corp. The air was tense. People whispered. Heads turned. Something was off.
I walked directly to my floor, and, as I was going to my office, I perceived Mila standing close to her desk. Her face was pale and trembling, and she was holding her lost ID badge.
I hurried over.
"Mila? What happened?"
She looked up fast. "I... I don't know. My badge isn't working. No longer is it in the system, they said.
"What?" My voice dropped. "Who said that?"
The security desk, she mumbled. "And... look."
She indicated her workstation.
I froze.
Her screen was smashed. Her drawers pulled out. Papers everywhere. Everything was ruined by someone.
"Who did this?" I growled.
She shook her head. "They think it's me. One of them told me I had corrupted files relating to the accounts of Titan Corp.,Files I never even touched."
My jaw tightened. I hated the fear in her eyes. In my building,she should never be seen to be afraid.
Mila, hearken unto me, I said, going up to her. "You did nothing wrong."
"But everyone thinks--"
"I don't care what they think."
Her eyes were a notch bigger, as though she had not expected me to come to her defence so promptly.
"Come," I said softly. "You're staying with me today."
She hesitated. Darling, I do not want to trouble anybody, Ruben.
You are not giving me any trouble, I said. "Someone wants you gone. I can't allow that."
The senior executives were already waiting in the boardroom. Twelve of them. Everyone was looking at Mila as though she were filthy beneath their feet.
Van Doren stood first. Mr. van Lorne, we must get rid of this girl. Immediately."
Another man added, She has poisoned high-level financial files. "This is not a small mistake. It's sabotage."
Mila looked down. I stepped in front of her.
"No," I said simply.
Everyone froze.
Van Doren frowned. "Sir, this is a serious matter--"
"And I said no."
"But the evidence--"
"Is fake." My voice was ice. And should you again touch her, --should any of you speak to her with disrespect--then you deal with me.
Silence.
Pure, shocked silence.
I had a clue what they were thinking.
Why is Ruben jealously guarding a mere intern? Why does he care?
I was indifferent to their inquiries.
I was only interested in the expression that Mila gave me, bewildered, thankful, and frightened simultaneously.
But sir, Van Doren, making a second effort, which was weaker, she is only--
Under my protection, I intervened. "That is final."
No one spoke again.
I turned to Mila. "Let's go."
She was walking in my footsteps, little steps and trembling hands. She halted when we arrived at my office.
You did not need to defend me in such a manner, she said under her breath.
"Yes, I did," I said. "You're not alone here."
Slowly her eyes went up to mine, warm and full of unasked questions.
But I felt them.
Why me? Why is he like this? What does he want?
Not answers that she was willing to hear.
Three senior managers came again to argue later in the afternoon. They begged me to reconsider. They tossed me numbers, charts and security reports.
I didn't budge.
On one occasion, one of them said, Sir, your reputation--
I said, My reputation, you know, is mine. Not yours. Not anyone else's."
They left the room defeated.
When they had gone, Mila looked in. Would you be sure this will not get you?
"It won't."
"But people are talking--"
"Let them talk."
She swallowed. "Why do you trust me so much? You don't even know me."
I stepped closer.
"I know enough."
Her breath caught. I saw it.
I also noticed the little flush on her cheeks, then quickly stared down at her shoes.
That response... it caused a warm feeling inside me, something that I could not explain but could not reject.
Luca entered my office at around evening without knocking. His features were drawn, even by his standards.
"Ruben, we need to talk."
I looked at Mila, who stood by the desk sorting files. "Later."
"No," Luca said. "Now."
Mila froze.
I sighed. "Fine. Speak."
He lowered his voice. "I found something. About her."
My stomach tightened.
Luca reached into his pocket and took out an old, crumpled photograph and put it on my desk.
It depicted three individuals many years back, two men in suits and one smiling lady standing next to them.
My heart sank when I realised that one of them was one of the men.
Bram Vermeer.
Titan Corp's co-founder.
My father's rival.
And the woman--
I stared at her face.
"She looks like..." My voice faded.
"Yes," Luca whispered. "She looks exactly like Mila."
Mila stepped closer slowly. "What is that?"
Luca stammered and then muttered, "Your mother.
Her hand flew to her mouth.
"My mother? But she died when I was little..."
Luca shook his head. "No, Mila. She didn't vanish. She was erased."
My world shifted.
Questions, danger, secrets--all of that, all that, all entangled around Mila like a net, which was closing in.
Somebody did not just want her to be gone.
Somebody was afraid of what she could find out.
When evening arrived, the gala was not quite an hour away.
I got out of my office in a black suit. Mila was waiting in a plain yet fine-looking dress, and her hands were fiddling.
You are beautiful, I said before I could help myself.
She blinked fast. "Thank you. I'm... still not sure I should go."
I said, Come with me, said. "No one is hurting you tonight."
Her eyes softened. "Okay."
We left Titan Corp together. We had just stepped out of a car in the gala when cameras flashed. People whispered instantly.
"That's Ruben van Lorne."
"And the girl with him?"
"Is that his assistant?"
"Why are they together?"
I ignored them all.
The candelabras were glittering within the ballroom, where the lights were so bright. All the strong folks in Amsterdam appeared to be staring at us.
I put my hand on the small of the back of Mila. She stood ajar a moment and then a little relaxed. I felt her breathe in.
People are watching, Ruben... people are watching, she whispered.
"I know."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Because you're safe with me."
She didn't speak again. I could feel the rapidity of her heart. Mine was too.
Then--
The lights suddenly dimmed.
The stage was illuminated with a huge screen.
People turned.
Whispers began.
Then the video started.
It showed and Mila.
Together.
Inside my penthouse.
Her eyes widened. "Ruben... we didn't--how--?"
Gasps filled the ballroom.
Victoria was at the rear, smiling like a snake.
I reached out to face Mila in defence of her.
Chaos erupted around us.
I grabbed her hand.
Mila, be close, be close, I said, in a dangerous undertone. "This is only the beginning."
The video continued to run--and the following frame depicted something much more dreadful.
Some dark person is coming into my penthouse.
And behind him and alive is Mila's mother.
- Writer
