Damsel in Business

5. The Accusation

Andrei Romanov

I had changed out of my suit from last night, replacing it with another one. Luca stood over my shoulder as I sat opposite of the filth, one leg over the other as I observed the pacing man.

"Fucking pick up!" Seeing Edmund Pierce stressed to this extent generated warmth in my icy being.

"Stop playing games, Edmund," Luca sneered, stepping closer, "you're just trying to protect your daughter."

"Protecting her is the last thing on my mind." The animosity in his tone was followed by him throwing his phone on top of the table between us.

"Cut the act, Pierce." This was the first time I spoke in the hour we had been in his office, getting impatient myself. "Your daughter stole for me," I spat, pointing a finger at him to accentuate the blame.

"She would not-"

"Information regarding my business is out there," my voice boomed across the room, cutting him off before he could further defend his daughter, "your daughter put it out there. Do you know how much loss I have to bear for this?" The hatred for him and his offspring clung to every word that came out of my mouth.

"First of all-" Edmund's rebuttal was interrupted by the ringtone blaring from his phone and he wasted no time in answering the call. "Eleanora you have fucking ten minutes to get to my office!"

My ears picked up the meek response from the other side but Edmund didn't let it continue for long, "Do you think I fucking care? Get here now or I swear to everything I own I will fucking do something to you!" With the end of his threats, he ended the call before meeting my gaze once again, "Andrei," he sighed, trying to compose himself, pressing a finger to his eyes before opening them, "I don't know how this happened but-"

"There are no buts here, Edmund, " Luca spoke for me, "the main point is, you and your daughter stole from the company."

"I didn't-"

"Your daughter did." The firmness stiffened my claim, not allowing him the chance to complete his useless attempts to clear his name. "She's a Pierce."

The sunlight gleaming through the window highlighted the frown lines that marred his features. The tension was evident on his face, no matter how hard he tried to put over a mask of composure.

This was only my second visit to his office and I hated it much more than the last time I stepped foot in here. The light-coloured wood of his desk, the over-the-top sofa set in one corner, and the big bookcase filled with books I doubt he'd ever read among other things all got under my skin because I was well aware this was all a facade to fool people coming in for meetings here. Everything in here warned me that the man sitting across from me was obsessed with his business, an obsession that blurred all lines in sight.

As the minutes ticked by, the annoyance coursing through my veins intensified. "I don't have all the time in the world, Pierce." My movements were dragged as I stood to my full length. "You'll be hearing for my lawyers-"

The abrupt push of the door ceased my promise before I could seal it, the erratic breathing of the new company begging for attention as I looked over my shoulder to find none other than Eleanora Pierce.

I turned my head back forward but not before noting her being, from the hair that was now tied up into a messy bun on top of her head to the same red dress she had on last night. The hazel orbs held the tiredness she might be feeling from last night's event but her head was held high nonetheless.

"What's wrong, father?" She stepped forward with each word, the confusion wrapped up in her stance as she stopped next to me.

"What's wrong is that sensitive information regarding my business has been leaked." I couldn't help the venom that seeped out, my skin crawling at the close proximity between us.