Tamed

Chapter 14.

MARIANNA

"Yes! Yes! Oh my God, Marvin. Yes, I will marry you." I squeal in excitement as he slips the ring on my finger. I really did not expect this.

He regains his standing posture and circles his hands around my waist before dipping in for a kiss.

"I love you." He says, sending a smile my way.

"I love you too." I reply him. I lift my hand to admire the ring on my finger. It looks so perfect and fits so damn well.

"Congratulations, Marianna." Lucy, who is the Head of programs here and also my best friend says while giving me a hug and nudges my shoulders with hers.

"Thanks, Lucy." My smile is so wide right now. My other employees congratulate me and head back to continue their work once the break is over.

"Hey, Judy. You said you have something for me?" I ask the head of marketing who has been waiting for me. Her response is a slight nod of her head.

"Can we discuss it here or you would rather we be more discrete?" I ask her.

"In your office, if you don't mind." She says, a slight frown on her face.

"Alright, then. Wait for me there." Once she's out of sight, I close the entrance to the conference room and walk back to Marvin.

"So, sweetheart." I smile, swaying seductively. He smirks and draws me to him, caressing my waist gently. I bite my lips slowly and hear his sharp intake of breath.

I gently push him on the chair and sit on his laps. I tug on his collar lightly while my hand goes to the back of his head and I dip mine to capture his lips in a kiss.

"See you later, darling." I smirk, sashaying out of the room, laughing quietly at the effect I have on this man. I could hear him groan and let out a low whistle at my antics. I chuckle slightly and close the door behind me.

The moment my office is in sight, Judy stands up immediately and follows me in once I get there.

"What do you have for me?" She sighs, giving me a puzzled look. I watch as she turns on her iPad and tap on the screen for a few minutes before circling around my office desk to show me it's content.

Xynony releases another new set of steaming lingerie collection. That is the header for the article. My eyes widen as I see all our exquisite designs that were drafted and are supposed to be launched in the next two weeks. Every single design was not left out.
Everything has been duplicated by our biggest competitors. All our hardwork, gone. Just that like. Shit!

I cannot sue because there is no proof for my claims. I need to get to the root of this.

"Get me the head of the legal team. This has to stop." I am beyond pissed.

"Alright, ma'am." My assistant says and I end the call.

"Thank you Judy for once again bringing this to my notice. I'll get the design team updated." After she leaves, I request for the lead designer to be sent for.

"Emiliano, I need your best guys on board. We are making a new set of designs from the scratch as our collection has been leaked." At this point, the mole better hide their tracks well because this has become unbearable. This is the third time in two months and if care is not taken, there might be a fourth.

"Also, make sure the team you come with are your most trusted guys. Any slip this time is on you."

"Alright. I will do that." After that, he exits my office in a haste, leaving me all to my thoughts. I have no idea who the mole could be. I am tired of this crap.

After having a long and exhausting day at work with the only bright aspect being Marvin's proposal, I close for the day and head home to rest.

The next day, I instruct for the selected members of the design department to have a meeting with them.

Emiliano already gave them heads up on what to expect so communication was not really difficult. I really hate the fact that we have to go through this process again. Don't get me wrong, designing has always been fun for me even when I didn't work here. I just don't like the fact that we would be forced to discard these designs just because someone sold out out to Xynony.

"Don't you think you're working yourself too much, babe?" Marvin asks me during our lunch date later in the day.

"I am left with no option, Marvin. The invites have already been sent. Everything has been put in place for the launch. We can't go back now." I state, clearly tired. Marvin looks at me and releases a deep sigh.

"This is not good at all." He finally says.

"I am honestly tired of this shit. It's the third time now." I am definitely getting this thing investigated.

"Sorry, babe. I really wonder who could be doing this. I mean, you're a great boss and they love you which is why this is strange." That's what also makes me baffled. I thought I had a good relationship with them, so what's the problem?

"For now, I'll just focus on the launch. I'll think of what to do afterwards. I just need to be more careful." We finish up our food and he drives me back to work where I continue for the day.

At home, Lucy was already waiting for me.

"Hey, babes. What's up?" You remember her right? Well, she's here to pester me as usual.

"Lucianna." I call out her full name to which she glares because she doesn't like being called that. She prefers Lucy.

"What's up?" I add.

"And one would think we work at the same place." I shrug, hitting her with a pillow, playfully.

"Where do you get all your energy from?" I ask her.

"Let's go clubbing. Pleasseeeee." She puckers her lips upward, in a bid to convince me.

"No." I state curtly.

"Why?" She asks, hands akimbo and standing in fronr of me.

"For the simple reason that I am tired." I shrug in response.

"And today is Friday, meaning you have Saturday and Sunday to rest." She huffs, reaching down to my hands to wiggle them.

"I am still not going. You are free to go." I state, not moved by her tantrum.

"I hate you." She says, rolling her eyes.

"I love you too." I say in a sing-song voice. Well, let's just say I didn't go to the club with her. What? I am not up for that right now.

"Be careful at the club." I say before giving her a tight hug and locking the door after her.

I let out a yawn, clearly tired and head for the kitchen to pour myself a glass of juice and pick some eclairs on my way to the sitting room. Even though today was nothing better than yesterday, I am glad we are making progress on the aspect of the launch.

We drafted the first set of designs today and by Monday, some others would be added. Also, I have taken it upon myself to keep all records of the drafts; there's no room for a mess up this time.

After streaming two episodes of FRIENDS, I finally give in to sleep.