Chapter 36 – She’s not dead, silly!
Colton was seated in his office when his phone chirped. He didn’t feel like speaking to anyone. Heck, he didn’t feel like speaking to her and that was it.
As though the heavens were against him, his phone continued ringing. She just couldn’t take a hint. He couldn’t bring himself to act normal around her. Not after how terribly they treated Emma. Not after Emma’s death.
In a bid to distract himself, he silenced his phone and submerged himself in the pile of files seated on his table, each and everyone pending his attention.
It was going to be a long day. He was just getting started but he felt exhausted. Looking at the job, he didn’t know where to start. It was at that moment he realized just how much he’s been lagging behind in his duties.
The fact that his lagging translated to losing more money also didn’t go down well with him. It was time to let bygones be bygones and focus on the business that actually paid.
Meanwhile, Talia was in the lobby. She entered Colton’s company building after millions of calls were left unanswered. She hated using the main entrance as she felt it was too disrespectful.
As the future Miss of Colton, she expected to be regarded with as much respect accorded to him if not more. As she strolled by, people casually greeted her, not bothering to acknowledge her in any different way.
They literally regarded her like every other person and she was not pleased. On getting to the lobby, she walked past the people with her nose in the air and headed straight for the private elevator made for Colton.
Due to her aura and general outlook, she turned quite a number of heads during her walk over. No one said a word and continued in their business but looked over at her figure once in a while.
One of the security details, having noticed her continued attempts at getting into the elevator, walked up to her with a kind smile.
” Good morning ma’am, kindly make use of the other elevators, this is reserved for the CEO only.” He said, directing her towards the other free-to-use elevator.
Talia, already feeling some type of way from being tapped by a lowly security, responded with a resounding slap to his face.
” How dare you?! Do you know who I am? What gave you the right to touch me or even speak to me?!” She bellowed, feeling disgusted and causing a scene in the open area.
” I-I-I’m so s-sorryy..” The man stuttered out, still struggling to understand what he did wrong but apologizing nonetheless.
” If sorry fixes everything, there wouldn’t be a need for police!” She screamed at his face and once again, dialed the number of Colton. This time around, with a twinge of desperation.
She needed to get out of the situation as soon as possible.
While the fiasco was going on, a woman, who attended the engagement party kept looking, trying to ascertain the exact place she’d seen the familiar face from.
It didn’t take much while before she fixed the puzzle and with a surprised tone, she called out to her..
” Ms. Talia Steele? ” She asked aloud, trying to be sure she wasn’t seeing things. Talia turned sharply confirming she truly wasn’t seeing things. ” Oh my goodness! It’s the boss’s fiance!” She said, walking towards her with a big smile.
” I’m so sorry for his nuisance, he’ll be relieved of his duties right away! Turn on the elevator, she’s equal to the Boss.” She said and in minutes, the elevator was ready to be used.
Upon hearing it was the boss’s fiance, everyone was eager to take a look at the supposed bride while others had a lot to say about her character, having witnessed her deal so treacherously with the security man.
To make matters worse, the man was to be relieved of his duties because he tried to be kind and helpful.
Talia didn’t acknowledge the lady but instead, entered into the elevator with huff, not the least bit pleased and eager to get to Colton. He had a lot to explain to her on the reason why he was yet to pick up her calls alongside the poor hospitality offered by his company.
She knew the level of respect she got from Steele Shoes and refused to be treated any lesser than she was used to. Matter of fact, she expected a smooth transition and recognition as the future first lady of the corporation but everything managed to be a huge fail.
Although the impression was later corrected, she was determined to see to a more conducive system and mode of operation for the company. That was going to be her first task after the wedding procedures were done and dusted.
On her way to the utmost floor of the company building, Talia thought of the wedding that was pretty much behind the corners. Due to the situation with Emma, herself and her mother jointly came up with a decision to postpone the wedding for a while.
They weren’t about to entertain any sudden mishap on the wedding day and believed it was best to tie up every loose end before throwing the grandest wedding in history!
Talia was totally on board, she was sold on the idea of successfully throwing her wedding when everyone was free from distractions. She wanted the spotlight to herself on that day. Not Emma, not any bizarre situation, herself.
By the time she got to the floor, she adjusted her fitted gown and strutted out of the elevator with her sharp red pointy heels reflecting on the mirror tiles. The floors were pristine, clean and vast; definitely flaunting its position as the CEO’s office floor.Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.
Talia trailed through the familiar path and in no time, she came face to face with the secretary who was walking out of the office and had a cocky smirk plastered on.
” I’m sorry ma’am. Do you have an appointment? ” The secretary asked, using her most professional voice laced with a subtle shade.
” Do I have an appointment? Don’t tell me my fiance’s secretary is another non-entity.” Talia replied with a mocking tone, outrightly being rude.
” Um…sorry but the CEO requested that he was not to be disturbed.” She said, flaunting her slightly opened shirt buttons with a barely innocent little smile.
Talia was ruffled. And as always, she pinned it to the fact that her fiance didn’t think to do right by her. The security man aside, if his supposed secretary didn’t have an idea of who she was, it was a problem.
One she couldn’t take lightly.
Ignoring the bimbo, she pushed past the secretary who had a lot to say and immediately walked into the office of Colton, meeting him having a phone call conversation.
” Oh! So you can actually use the phone! Huh?!” She said angrily, closing the door with a bang. One that nearly damned made his ears ring.
” Sorry, can I speak to you in a minute?” Colton said with a tone that didn’t suggest a request and hung up immediately.
” I shouldn’t stop you darling, go on with whatever it is you’re doing. It’s already clear I don’t matter to you.” She lashed out and made to leave the place.
Afraid and confused, Colton reached out to her and drew her back to himself. ” What’s going on, sweetie? Don’t go.” He spoke with his face dangerously close to her lips.
He could only seduce her now. His plans to avoid her were pretty much down the drain and he wasn’t courting death. He was on a mission to recover and pacify!
” What’s going on? What’s going on?! You must think I’m stupid! Do you even have any shred of respect for me? Why did I even ask? It’s clear how much disregard you’ve shown me for the past two days!” Talia pushed him away from her, not the least bit affected by his previous closeness. She was way too upset to care about that.
” That’s not true. I’m so sorry I’ve made you feel that way. It’s just that I’ve been busy. Way too busy these days and needed to sort out some things. Is it because of the calls? I promise I planned to return them. It’s just that you showed up here unannounced and beat me to it.” He explained with the most humbling voice he could muster. Not failing to highlight the fact that she showed up unannounced.
” So what? You now sleep with the secretary? I’m no longer enough for you? Are you tired already? Did you get bored of me like you did Emma?!” She attacked, her voice rising at every question.
At the mention of Emma, Colton shrunk. So much that it was obvious to a seething Talia.
” That’s it? It’s all because of her huh? Really?!”
Colton didn’t have a reply for her. Of course it was because of Emma. How couldn’t he avoid her after hearing of her supposed sudden death?
” L-listen.. She’s dead, you don’t”
Before he could finish his sentence, she , removing her ring and throwing it at him.
” She’s not dead, silly! I wish she though, maybe then, our relationship wouldn’t be dead.”