''I met with two shareholders of the company two days ago. I bought their shares so technically; I qualify as the CEO and not you. Because now I have 57% shares while you have 55% shares''
Leo chuckled, shaking his head. This move of Priscy was something he had anticipated with Nesli last night but he just didn't know that she would be so desperate to actually take that move. But, in any case, she was going the direction they wanted her to go so in the end, the one to lose entirely would still be her.
''So, are you asking me to leave the CEO position to you?'' he asked a cocked brow.
''Well, since we've known each other for a long time now, I can't say that you should leave the CEO position for me. But, you must leave decision making up to me from no onwards. I get to decide who stays and who leaves this company. I will also have the final say on who gets to do what kind of job and with what qualification''
''So, in short, you want me to be a paper CEO and allow you to boss me around?''
''You don't have to put it so cruelly like that. I am doing this for the sake of the company. You have been losing focus lately because of that woman and it's affecting the company in the wrong way''
''I see. It's that why you've been stealing money from the company without my knowledge?'' Leo asked, his gaze never leaving Priscy as he took in her flustered expression which she covered up immediately with a dry chuckle.
''Sun, what are you talking about? Are you accusing me right now?''
''We will see whether my words are just mere accusations or not when the evidence is brought before you. But before that, I should thank you for opening my eyes to realize how blind I was in trusting you''
Leo looked at her flustered gaze and went out of the office.
Priscy clenched her fists tightly and her face distorted. She had an uncomfortable feeling rising from deep within her. She took out her phone from her jumpsuit pocket and dialed Ray's number. She screamed into the phone as soon as it connected.
''Just what have you been doing, Ray? Leo has caught up to our plan. He knows that I have been stealing money from the company. He is up to something''
She furrowed her brows when she didn't hear any response other than a rattling sound coming from the other side.
''Ray, are you there?'' she cussed and ended the call.
….
Nicole wiped her hands against her wine dress as she walked out of the ladies' washroom. She saw Carlos standing at a distance.
''Nicole, you are finally out. I thought you were going to sleep in there?'' Carlos said walking up to her.
Nicole looked at him nonchalantly not saying a word until he got closer to her.
''How have you been, Nicole? I missed you'' Carlos said and stretched his hand forward.
''Get lost!!'' Nicole said and walked away and he ran after her. As she curved towards Leo's office, Carlos caught up with her and held her hand.
''Nicole, wait''
''Won't you ask me why I am here? I came here knowing you worked here''
''I don't want to know your reasons for coming here, Carlos. You and I have no business together so coming here, whatever reason it is, I do not want to know. Keep your reasons yourself''
''Nicole, can I ask you something?''
''What is it?''
''That man… what kind of relationship do you have with him. You two seem close''
''The kind that I don't have with you and can't have with you. Are you satisfied with my answer, can I go now?''
''I am serious. There is something that I didn't tell you all this while. Give me the chance to explain things to you. How about dinner tonight at your favorite restaurant?''
''She won't be available'' Leo walked to them. He took Nicole's hand away from Carlos and added, 'for that dinner. She already has plans with me''
''I get that you are the big boss around here but isn't it an abuse of your power to do this? You weren't even the one I was asking'' Carlos said to Leo.
''Nicole, who are you going with, this man or me?''
''You'' Nicole answered and turned to Carlos, ''my apologies but I already made plans with Leo''
''Are we good now?'' Leo asked Carlos.
''Sure. I will see you later, Nicole. I won't give up that easily'' Carlos replied and walked away.
...
''What were you doing with that man? Were you… having a reunion or something like that? You seemed rather relaxed talking to him'' Leo grumbled when they got his office.
''A reunion? That didn't look like that to me. Also, I am usually more relaxed when I'm talking to someone I don't have feelings for'' Nicole said and glared at him.
''Really?'' he looked at her and she went over to her desk and nodded her head.
''It has been a long time since I last saw him. I don't have feelings for him, I don't need to be nervous or act coquettish with him. Uh, don't misunderstand me, I am not the type to act coquettish when I like someone either'' Nicole blushed and looked away.
''What about me?'' Leo looked at her intensely.
''Huh… what…about you?''
''Do I make you nervous? Have you ever felt nervous around me?'' Leo continued to look at her as he walked over and placed his hands on her desk, lowering his face closer to her.
''Why do you ask?'' Nicole asked in a soft tone as her cheeks and ears turned red.
''I am curious. I want to know whether I make you nervous or not. Lately, I've been getting nervous around you'' he leaned even more closer to her face.
''I think I left my phone in the washroom earlier on. Ha ha, I should go for it right now'' Nicole was about to stand up when Leo placed his two hands on both sides of the chair, trapping her. ''You… what is… wrong with you? Why are you suddenly acting this way?'' Nicole stuttered.
''I don't know either but I can't seem to see anyone else but you. Even when I'm about to be laid off from my own company''
''Huh?'' Nicole looked at him in shock and exclaimed, ''you are about to get laid off? Why? Who is going to do that?''
''Who do you think it is?''
''Priscy?''
''Darn it. That bitch really knows how to bite the hand that fed her''
''Relax, little tiger. She is moving according to plan. Thanks to the shredded papers that you found; I was able to file a report at the City's Audit Unit. Tomorrow by now, they will be here to take everything and start the auditing''
''You… wait. Then, that means that getting laid off was the ultimate goal you were aiming for?''
''Bingo. I've already frozen all the movable assets including the money at the bank. I anticipated this move from Priscy. The shareholders she met are my people''
''So, in the end. After the audit is completed, with the many evidences against her, she will be deemed not fit to handle the company. Even though your first intent was to flash the company completely, now it can be saved when the audit team finds the accounts that Priscy put all the money into, she won't be able to touch it. In the end, you will have your money and the company back'' Nicole looked at him with respect.
''This is all thanks to you. Because of your help, I was about to come up with such a plan''
''This is going great then?''
''Exactly''
''If we are able to kick Priscy out, it will be left with finding evidence of Ray's involvement in Lizzy's death. After solving all two cases, I will have enough time to solve the rest of the cases then I can attain my redemption. I can finally go back to my body after paying off my sins'' Nicole said excitedly.
''What redemption are you talking about?'' Leo asked and Nicole pursed her lips.
''Nothing. I was just speaking rubbish. I feel hungry, let's go and get something to eat, Leo. If you are going to get fired, it should be on a full stomach'' Nicole stood up and started walking to the door. As she was about to open it, the door was pushed back and her body slammed against the door.
''Do you know what I've noticed about you, Nicole?'' Leo asked, turning her body to face him.
''What?''
''You blink a lot when you are telling lies. Just now, you blinked more than five times and you are still blinking''
''I don't know what you are talking about''
''You've been acting strange since that night. A lot of things happened that day and till now I still feel that something is going on with you. You know why your body is changing, right? You have all the answers already. Tell me, what are you keeping from me?''
''Leo, why are you like this? I am not keeping anything from you''
''You shouldn't be alive. Why aren't you dead already?''
A voice rang in Nicole's ears and she heard a screeching sound as flashes of images came to her mind. She saw the hospital bed in the real world where her body laid with the machines connected to her. Someone's hand was outstretched towards the oxygen mask connected to aid in breathing. Nicole's face paled as she fell into Leo's arms, losing consciousness.