The Blackmail Bride

Chapter 10

Insults

When the door opened for the 32nd floor, I was quick to forget what I heard. Not because I was forgetful or anything but because of the sight that greeted me. As soon as I came into the floor, the raised voices were all you could hear.

"Jace, you can't keep doing this! You were the laughingstock inside that boardroom!" The forst voice growled out. It was Michael Black. Jace's father's face was red in anger, even using his arms to display his obvious frustration.

And on the other hand, there was Jace Black who stood looking half-stoic but most definitely bored, "If they don't listen, that's they're problem."

"Close down Sand Castle, El Nido?!" A hand went to Michael Black's nape and for a second, I thought he was going to faint.

But before I could witness the father-son encounter, another person stepped into my line of sight, blocking the view.

A woman in her early twenties, with brown hair in a practical ponytail smiled at me, embarrassed. "Miss Isla Porter? This way please." She held an open palm to the left and I looked up to the door she was directing me to.

She knew who I was.

"Okay." I nodded.

The inside of the room was dominantly of blacks and grays. A great wooden desk, a comfy-looking swivel chair behind it and a computer monitor to one side of the table. A receiving area was placed to the side closest to the door, a settee, coffee table and the tiniest succulent in a metal pot in the middle in professional welcome to anyone who wished to visit.

"I'm very... sorry for what you had to see. My bosses aren't... usually like that." I turned back to the lady who awkwardly clutched a folder to her chest and shrugged.

I nodded understandingly, not wanting to drag on this conversation, seeing she was clearly embarassed for the two men's behalf.

I smiled, "Okay."

"I'm Sierra Cruz, Sir Jace's secretary. I already know you're Isla Porter, his fiancée." She offered. I took in her appearance then. A chic gold-rimmed glasses on top of an upturned nose, bangs that fell right to her eyebrows, all of which detracted from unassumingly attractive green eyes and a clear oval face. A quick inspection gave me the impression of a sweet personally, but with the pencil skirt and heels, there was a sharpness, an edge to her posture that spoke of knowledgeability and experience.

I nodded again. Sierra looked to want to say something but even before she could say more, the door we came into banged against the wall.

"Don't walk away when I'm talking to you! I'm still your father!"

Jace was entering the room and on his heels was Michael. There was obvious surprise in his eyes as he saw me but he was quick to mask it. He stopped just inside the door, prompting his father to stop in his steps behind him too. When the older man saw me, he stood a bit straighter and cleared his throat.

The four of us were thrust into silence.

It felt like my responsibility to break it, "Uhm, hello?"

How awkward.

Sierra settled one hand on her waist. "As I was saying, Miss Isla Porter is here." She rolled her eyes with that statement before walking out and leaving us with an exasperated sigh.

Jace raised an eyebrow at me questioningly. I held out the bag in my hand silently in return. He nodded, quickly striding to my side.

"Were you standing long?" His voice, as usual, held a chill to it. But his hands, taking the bag from mine was gentle, and he set it down on the coffee table behind us.