Don extended an apologetic hand. "I'm deeply sorry. I had no idea. Bygones are bygones. I'm willing to sacrifice anything it takes to get you back." But his words fell flat.
Her face hardened, her eyes burning with a fierce anger as she recoiled from his touch.
"You think a shallow apology can erase the pain you've caused?" she spat, her voice venomous.
"That it's enough to make everything okay?"
Don felt the crushing pressure of her resentment, but he stood firm, his voice trembling. "I know I can't undo the past, but I can make the present and future more better. I'm just asking for a chance to make it right."
"There's only one way to move forward, focus on your work and forget the past. Glue it into your mind, we will never reconcile." With that, she spun on her heel and swept out of the room.
Don stood frozen, paralyzed for a moment.
His anger boiled over, and he slammed his fist on the desk, sending papers scattering across the floor.
He groaned, his mouth parched, and his palms slick with sweat.
When he finally found his voice, it emerged in a rough, strained tone.
"Tyson!" he bellowed, summoning his guard.
The sound echoed through the hallway.
Just as the stillness was becoming unbearable, the sound of pounding footsteps shattered the calm.
Tyson burst through the door, his face flushed with concern, his eyes wide with alarm.
He took in the scene before him, Don's ashen face, the overturned desk, and the scattered papers, before fixing his gaze on his employer.
"What's wrong, sir?" he asked, his voice trembling. "You sounded like you were in distress."
Don's voice dropped to a menacing whisper, his anger growing stronger as he took a step closer to Tyson.
Tyson instinctively counted his steps backward, his eyes darting nervously around the room.
"How did she find out?" Don asked, his voice a similar growl to that of a wolf.
Tyson swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "I-I don't know, sir. I swear I was careful. I followed protocol to your instructions."
A nagging sense of self-rebuke lingered deep within him, acknowledging that he had made a critical mistake earlier by grasping the door handle on attempt to get a better hearing.
But now, as he faced his boss's withering glare, he found himself rationalizing, attempting to deflect his own mistake.
Don's voice calmed a bit, but it was still showing how angry he was. "Our next move demands absolute secrecy. I must stress that discretion is paramount. If you're compromised, I won't hesitate to make an example of you. Trust me, you won't withstand my wrath."
Tyson dropped to his knees, bowing his head in submission. "I understand, sir. I won't fail you. I'll do whatever it takes to ensure this mission succeeds."
Yet, even as Don spoke the words confidently, his mind was consumed by the turmoil of his past.
Had she truly been carrying his child? Had he driven her away irreparably, forfeiting any hope of forgiveness?
"Argh!" he bellowed, slamming his foot into the table with a resounding crash.
"Is everything alright, sir?" he asked, concern written on his face.
________
.........
Katrina felt suffocated, regretting what she said earlier.
Had she made a mistake by revealing her secret? Was it too soon, or too much to share?
What would be the consequences of her confession? She had vowed to take the secret to her grave, but her emotions had betrayed her.
She thought if it would keep him at her arm's length, then it's worth saying.
Her thoughts was interrupted by a knock at the door.
Selena, her secretary, poked her head in, breaking the silence. "Ms. Kat, your next appointment has arrived."
Katrina's brow furrowed in confusion. "I didn't have any meetings scheduled for today," she said, taking the appointment book from Selena's outstretched hand.
She scanned the pages, her expression growing increasingly perplexed. "This wasn't on my schedule...but apparently, it's been updated."
Her eyes widened as she read the name.
"BROCK!!!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with shock and disbelief.
The room seemed to freeze, with Katrina's gaze fixed on the page. She tore the paper immediately.
She finally broke the silence, her words tumbling out in a rush.
"Is he coming here to see me, or did he choose a different location?" The urgency in her voice was noticeable.
"The messenger left a card on my desk with the location: Rambling Rose Cafe restaurant," Selena replied.
Without a word, Katrina seized her handbag and hurriedly exited her office. Her high heels clicked rapidly on the floor as she hastened toward the elevator.
As she stepped inside, the elevator felt oppressively small, like a cramped, suffocating cell with the presence of Don.
Don's voice echoed in the confined space, his words low and menacing. "Please, come inside. I won't make any rash moves." His tone seemed trustable.
As the elevator descended, time seemed to slow, stretching each second into an eternity. Katrina's heart pounded in her chest, and her breathing grew shallow.
Finally, the doors slid open, and she rushed out into the lobby. She sprinted to her car, her heels clicking wildly on the pavement.
Fumbling with her keys, she unlocked the door and slid into the driver's seat.
The city streets became a blur as she sped away, her mind racing with every possible scenario.
She had to pack her car roughly on the right path.
Brock's face lit up with a sly grin as he watched Katrina approach. His eyes gleamed with a sinister intensity, his gaze following her every step.
He exuded an aura of menace, a predator sizing up his prey.
Katrina's voice trembled as she asked, "How did you find out about my pregnancy? Are you planning to blackmail me?" Tears welled up in her eyes as she awaited his response.
Brock's expression turned glacial, his eyes glinting with calculation.
"You're wise to have grasped the meaning behind 'just a picture,'" he said, his voice dripping with malice.
"But your memory is short. Didn't I mention that I own a broadcast company? I know whatever I decide to know. And I'm not blackmailing you, merely manipulating you to meet me here. Which, I might add, you've obligingly done."
His chuckle was a cold, mirthless sound that sent a shiver coursing through Katrina's veins.
She shot him a withering glance, but he merely smiled wider, his eyes glinting with triumph.
"Why am I here?" Katrina asked, her voice barely audible.
She took a sip of her coffee, the bitter flavor a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing inside her.
The hot liquid provided a fleeting sense of comfort, but it did little to calm the frantic racing of her heart.
Brock's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "I'm about to share a secret with you, a priceless one."
His eyes sparkled with malice as he produced a photograph from his pocket. "Recognize the men in this picture?" he asked, his gaze locked on Katrina's.
"It's Don, and Khan, your former billionaire client who withdrew his investment, nearly bankrupting your company." He continued.
Katrina's heart pounded as she stared at the photo, her mind racing.
"What does this have to do with me?" she stammered, her voice trembling.
Brock's smile grew wider.
"Not only did I uncover this photo, but I also stumbled upon documents showing that Don took out a substantial loan, using his company as collateral." His eyes narrowed.
"What's peculiar is that he could have easily repaid the loan with the investment he made in your company. So, the question is... why did he do that?" Brock's gaze bore into Katrina's, awaiting her response.
"I have no idea," she admitted, frustration creeping into her voice. Brock's expression turned grave.
"Based on my research, I believe Don's actions were deliberate. I think he paid Khan to withdraw from your company, and then drove his own company into bankruptcy intentionally." He explained further.
"All part of a grand plan to reunite the two of you," he added, but it seemed like an assumption.
"So, this was all a setup? Was I a fool to fall for his staged plans?" she asked, her voice tinged with a mix of anger and surprise.
A sinking feeling settled in her stomach as the pi
eces fell into place.
Had Don truly orchestrated this elaborate scheme, or was Brock manipulating her to destroy Don's reputation?