"Jenna, are you alright?" Kelly was the first to reach her. She wasn't one to attract attention in any way therefore, it was a surprise for everyone, except those who didn't know her closely because they weren't from the same department. Max smiled deliciously. The genius Queen was embarrassing herself in front of both the old and new CEO. She wasn't special after all. Since Jenna had proved hard to get, his attraction towards her had turned to loathe.
Jenna was tight-lipped, enduring the pain upon realization that the man didn't recognize her. Instead, she nodded her head in the affirmative, clenching her teeth stubbornly and refusing to access the level of the damage caused. From the sipping pain, she knew she was going to have blisters if she didn't immediately apply first aid but she didn't want any more attention."Get the janitor to clean this mess," the deputy CEO said to Kelly before turning to Jenna again."Do you need to go to the hospital?" Jenna glanced at her leg sharply, then at the man who looked like a supreme ruler. If he was the old man's grandson, then how could he have been left alone in the hotel in that condition? No, perhaps it was just a coincidence. It can't be him. It was even more scary to know that Cathan was this man's bodyguard. After a quick analysis, she relaxed but felt it safe to avoid the man at all costs. Now she had to make a good comeback for her first impression. She couldn't disappoint Cathan and shook her head. "Alright, if you say so," the deputy CEO withdrew and walked back to his seat. He saw the reddening and her legs had begun developing blisters but if she didn't want to be helped, he couldn't force her. He only hoped that more damage wouldn't be caused by the time the meeting ended. "If the drama is over, can we continue now?" The old man's deep but calm voice rang through the room. Everyone stiffened as he continued to speak. Not a slice of his words could fall on the ground without yielding fruit therefore, he was the most feared. "Meet my grandson Casper Blade. He is taking over the company from today but I will still be involved because he is still undergoing training." It was a nice way for Grandpa to inform Casper that he was still waiting for the last part of t training. Aside from Casper and his bodyguards, no one else understood the meaning of the old man's words. Meanwhile, the old man's real intention was making Casper CEO temporarily, while he found means to bring his illegitimate son. "We will have a staff dinner on friday and the announcement will be made to the media. Does anyone have any questions?" He started and ended circumspectly, knowing that no one would have the courage to ask any question. Among Casper, his bodyguards and the old man's bodyguards, everyone wore black. Only the old man shone in white, which made Casper uneasy around him. White disturbed his eyes a lot. As expected, no one asked anything. The old man gave Casper a glare before the latter spoke. "I would like each head to give a brief introduction about their various departments." Hearing his voice for the first time, everyone sat on the edge. His voice was a rich blend of graveness, sophistication and allure. It was unique but so scary. they began to direct their fears towards him. Casper might look young but he was something else. Something they didn't have a word for but some people at that moment, nicknamed him 'a demon.' One by one, the department heads gave their presentations carefully. No one wanted to offend a demon. When it was Jenna's turn, her voice had turned hoarse which she apologized for having lost earlier in the morning but her presentation was spot on. Her teammates were shocked by the lie she cooked up because her voice was perfect just before she came to the conference room. By the time they were done with the meeting, blisters had formed on her leg, where the hot coffee splashed. "You are so stubborn Jenna. Go to the hospital and get treated, the deputy CEO insisted and this time, she obeyed since the meeting was over. When she was about to step out of the door, one of the old man's bodyguards stopped her. "No one leaves before the bosses," he said sternly, in a deep domineering voice. His all black appearance was frightening. Jenna was slightly embarrassed, thereby waiting at the door. She had forgotten her manners due to the searing pain she had been enduring all this while. Grandpa passed, followed by his bodyguards before Casper. As soon as Casper reached the door, his neck turned to her direction and instantly moved away. It was so swift and hardly noticed but Cathan caught it. After escorting grandpa to his car, Casper and his bodyguards returned to his office. Two bodyguards stood in front of the door but Cathan and Caleb were with him. "You gave the girl a second look. Do you know her?" Cathan was curious. The Blades were trained to never give a woman attention. "I think she smells familiar," Casper confessed thoughtfully. His senses were stronger than the ordinary man. That night when she hovered over him, checking his temperature with the back of her hand, he caught her body scent but Cathan thought it ridiculous. "Her scent? What do you know about a woman's scent?" He asked curiously. Since Jenna was Kate's best friend, he was slightly protective of her for Kate's sake. "She smells like the girl who saved my life. Is that how she talks?" He asked intently. He recalled that the girl who saved his life had a honey sweet voice. Even when nervous, her voice sounded sweet in his ears. It was the melody he listened to in his unconscious state. Casper was extremely smart. The only reason why he didn't question her further was because of grandpa. If he did anything to show the slightest interest, grandpa would begin to investigate. "She said she lost her voice this morning," Cathan reminded him but Casper felt strange. "I will like to see her when she returns from the hospital," Casper announced. "Don't waste your time. That girl is a best friend to a flight attendant I took interest in on the plane from San Francisco. I even encouraged her to apply for the job here," he explained without adding details of himself and Kate. It wasn't the right time. "Oh," was all Casper said. He was disappointed but it didn't show on his face. Somehow, his guts insisted that that was the girl but he would just be patient till friday. "We will find your girl, I promise," Cathan assured him. After Jenna went to the hospital, she took the rest of the day off from work. She was too scared to qface Casper again. He was very different from the man she saved but he looked a lot like him, which scared her. Unfortunately, she wouldn't be able to escape the dinner party and fate seemed to be playing a silly game on her. ****** In a VIP hospital room in a secluded area, a man laid unconscious on hospital bed. He had been in the state for months. A woman sat at his bedside and held his hand in hers. "You have to fight Pascal, you have to see your daughter again. She is stronger than I thought and is working in a place you wouldn't like but I've got her back. I will try my best to keep her from harm's way." "Your useless wife took everything from her. I told you to get married and be happy but I didn't expect you to go for someone your daughter's agr. That was terrible, Pascal. That night, she ended up in Casper's room. The old man had put him to another test again and your best friend couldn't do anything about it and neither could his cousins.""I know that you don't want to hear it but it's important because they have been searching for the surveillance, which I destroyed the moment I saw her there." "You know what Pascal, when I saw her drinking like a fish, I wanted to be there for her, to tell her who I was but it would only endanger her the most. I love my daughter just as you do Pascal but it's the demand of my job. It is better to keep my family away from the life of a spy. It's even better for them to think that I died but Pascal, you must live because for as long as your daughter works in that company, Casper will know. I don't know what will happen next. Will he try to get rid of her to protect his image because she saw him at his worst state or will he favour her? Your bestfriend's son is like the old man and nothing like his father. I've seen him fight and even I, wouldn't stand a change against him. He's killed so many people without regret.""I have to go now. There is a dinner party on friday. You know that I can't take a flight without a new identity so I have to set off early. The media will be there so I have to protect my daughter from the shadows but please wake up. I want to hear your voice again, please wake up before I return Pascal, bye for now."The next day when Jenna entered the elevator, disdainful gapes followed her. Her greetings and usual morning courtesies got no response. Even the deputy CEO and her team mates gave her the cold shoulder. She couldn't think of anything she must have done to deserve this till Kelly, the company gossip arrived. "Jenna, the new boss, was raging this morning. Why did you do it?" She asked in a worried tone. Jenna was even more perplexed. "Do what?" She asked with innocent eyes."Are you denying it?" Kelly asked, but politely. "Jenna, Mr Blade will see you in his office, don't keep him waiting," the deputy CEO said in a warning tone, interrupting their conversation. His usual warmth around her was all gone, which made her understand that something was wrong but Kelly wasn't ready to speak about it anymore. "You should go," Kelly urged her on. Jenna couldn't ask anymore, following the direction to Caspers' office with so much confusion. She still hasn't been able to ascertain what
Cathan was getting worried. Casper must be hallucinating about that girl he claims to save his life, taking her for Jenna. "Casper, have you asked her? You were unconscious when we brought you to the hospital. It's possible that your suspicions were inaccurate," he said carefully. They were cousins and best friends but he was still his bodyguard. "What are you implying?" There was agitation behind Casper's calm tone but Caleb has been busy with something on his ipad, paying them no attention."That you ask her before showing appreciation to the wrong girl," Cathan advised. He still felt that Casper was mistaken but his next words gave him assurance that he was well aware of his words and actions. "I'm not stupid Cathan, and I won't do anything till she admits it. Who knows, she might know about the surveillance too. Do you think that the old man will give up just like that?" "Ahhh, at least you are still in there. I was beginning to think that you lost your mind," Cathan said casua
Jenna woke with a startle. Checking the time, it was almost midday. She could feel her heartburn with fear. "I'm so sorry Cathan. I found it difficult to sleep before...." "Casper has limited patience, don't abuse it," Cathan spat before the call ended. Jenna was deflated. She didn't intend to oversleep. Next time, she would have to set her alarm. She had a quick shower and put on a simple office dress, rolled her hair up into a bun, securing it with a hair clip, slipped on her nerd glasses, then her less than two inches shoes. In less than ten minutes, she was panting in her office. She checked her handbag for the videotape to give Casper as proof when a knock was heard on the door. She jumped with both shock and fright when she saw Casper standing there with that emotionless mask. "Come with me, Miss Nova," the calmness in his voice scared her, recalling what Cathan had told her. The man was both attractive and dreadful. Somehow, she began to think of perfect revenge on Drak
Casper left Jenna in a state of confusion, as she walked back to her office. The two bodyguards at the door couldn't take their eyes off her, wondering what had happened in Casper's office. Jenna had entered as a nerd but came out looking like a superstar. They couldn't draw a link between their cold and aloof boss with this manager who had gotten into trouble just yesterday. She felt their curious gazes on her back but couldn't care less. She had faced the worst gaze ever and survived, thereby being grateful for the relocation of her office; if not, voices would have accompanied the gazes, as she felt different from her usual self. That frosty Casper had a knack for beautiful things which was unexpected. Jenna couldn't comprehend how she felt over what he had just done to her, having admitted that she was the least dressed in the company but her look now, only brought back memories of her past she wasn't pleased about. When she opened the door to her office, she was met with her te
Casper was testing her. All along, he watched how she fringed with fright, increasing the distance between them. Her behavior betrayed her. As expected, Jenna began to speak without thinking. "It was you?" Her brows were lifted in both shock and panic. All this while, she succeeded in convincing herself that Casper's resemblance to the dying man was a mere coincidence. Casper nodded his head in the affirmative, her heart rate erratic. "But how did you know? That man was unconscious. Even when he opened his eyes, the room was dimly lit. There's no way he will recall and there's no way he could be you," she ranted on, then stopped suddenly as if recalling something. "Wait, he said his men were going to send him to the hospital in the morning. Are those your bodyguards?" She asked but more of self-realization. Casper kept on nodding. "Well, I wasn't sure before but I am now," he maintained the usual calmness. Jenna felt like a fool. She should have denied it but went on blabbing. Wh
Confusion apprehended Jenna, her mind went blank. Casper knew all along that she saved his life so that explains all his kindness towards her but right now, she didn't know what to do. He was attractive but what next? They were both single anyway so did it make it right for him to get into her pants? What about Eve and even Drake? And oh, the hit and run driver who was never caught, her father's body which was also not found. "I..." "Before you speak, I have something else to tell you." Casper didn't want to leave any stone unturned. He was very honest. "What is it?" Jenna was getting more bizarre. What could be worse than what he just said? "We can't have anything to do with each other afterward. Grandpa has a woman arranged and I have to get married in six months. Therefore, I can't promise you a stable relationship but I promise to keep you safe and do anything you want, so what do you say?" Why did those calm words hurt her so much? She needed him to make Eve and Drake jealous
Cathan left the interrogation of the old security team in the hands of Caleb. He drove as fast as he could to the staff quarters to send Casper's message across. There was also that hidden desire to see Kate because he missed her. What she didn't know was the fact that she was his first. That was the reason why he lost it and kept spitting secrets mindlessly. He understood why grandpa was against loving one woman. Love could make one act senselessly. He encouraged being with different women but the three Cs never had time for women. As soon as he arrived, Kate went to open the door. Jenna had gotten tired of waiting and gone to sleep. At the sight of Kate, Cathan’s desires rose again. Without any formalities, he plastered his lips on hers in a deep passionate kiss. He was rough, just as Kate liked it. His strong right hand gripped her hair tightly while his left hand wrapped tightly around her waist. She yelped with pain, from the wound on her waist as the painkillers had begun to wea
"Jenna, I have to go shopping." Kate had foraged through her things in the closet and didn't see anything presentable for tonight. "We are almost the same size. Just pick anything from my closet."Kate shook her head, her face gloomy. "Aren't they gifts?" "Pick anything you like,” Jenna insisted. Kate has given her more than she's given. Even after inconveniencing and forcing her to live in the staff quarters, Kate never expressed any form of displeasure therefore, whatever Jenna had, Kate could freely have it. After Kate picked an outfit that was hand-designed by the famous Vetta Hart, similar to what Jenna wore, they took turns making each other up. When they were halfway through, they heard a knock on the door. Jenna went to get it and was amazed to see a middle-aged man at the door, neatly dressed in a dark brown suit. Before she could ask any questions, he introduced himself. "I'm Justice Ford. Mr. Blade sent me to be your chauffeur for the night." Jenna almost choked on lau