Chapter 26

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RAQUEL

"The greatest revenge is compassion," that's what some wise individual once said. A Saint in my opinion.

I'm not a Saint, neither do I aim to be one

Besides that act of mercy only applies to people whose soul can still be saved.

That's why I was here, in the same room where he tore me down. The same room I was reduced to nothing but an outline of my former self.

These four walls used to taunt me, shun me to crumble to the floor.

Instead of crumbling to the floor, I meet his hard glare head on. Taking a seat across from him, his eyes never left my movements, calculating each twitch as if that will reveal my weakness. I had called him wanting to discuss something.

And I had no issue walking into his territory...

I fought the urge to punch the smirk he wore on his face, choosing to maintain whatever calm I had.

Time is precious, still I had no problem gambling with it and neither did he it seems as both of us had yet to say anything.

Letting each second pass to fall aimlessly in the space of nothing. Nevertheless, he grew tired to let this silence go on and given the next set of words he said I knew he just decided to blurt out whatever came into his head.

"You're sitting on a chair," he stated.

I narrowed my eyes on him wondering what exactly he was alluding to.

"Any time you were in my office, you always had this habit of sitting on my desk. Out of every piece of furniture." he chuckled whilst rubbing his stubble.

"You were always so comfortable in my space and do you know what I found so funny?" he inquired smiling; I knew the question was rhetorical but I came here prepared for anything.

"What?" I mumbled.

"Serena likes sitting on my desk too, wrapping her long legs around me," he laughed, no doubt the arrogance sickening," And believe me," he paused leaning back in his seat," We once went to the couch but out of all the pieces of furniture in the room she always preferred the desk."

"I didn't call you here so that we could reminisce?" I said, having lost whatever ounce of interest I had in his walk down memory lane.

He smirked raising his hands in mock surrender," Fine let's move this along then. I have a meeting to attend in a few. I just felt like voicing out the irony of the two women I laid with...in as much as you both hate each other. You both shared similar traits in a number of things."

"Like in our distaste of you," I stated keeping my expression neutral. He turned his eyes onto me, his brows quirking holding a question of their own. Opening his mouth I'm sure to voice out the reason in my choice of words. He was interrupted.

The clicking of heels distorting the rhythm of whatever pace we had set was music to my ears. I didn't need to turn to see who it was, the slight whiff of perfume, and a particular scent holding a uniqueness of its own let me know who the visitor was.

"Apologies for being late, Raquel." She said plopping herself in the seat next to me," You have no idea how frustrating it is dealing with incompetent subordinates," she smirked crossing her legs, from her posture and poise she was the least bit apologetic.

"Its fine, the party hadn't even started."

His face momentarily paled as his eyes shifted frantically between the both of us. I had to bite my cheeks to hold in the laughter dying to spill as I observed his brain mulling over what was going on.

"What the hell..." he mumbled.

"Unlike you I'm not going to cushion this entire ordeal with some mention of the past. I just want you to call off the engagement and release Alex." I stated as if it was the easiest thing to do.

He reacted the way I anticipated. He laughed as if he had heard the most ludicrous or rather absurd thing.

So predictable.

"What?" he shrugged carelessly," Did you think that bringing her," he gestured towards Serena," Would make me nervous and crumble? You know me better than that Raquel; I could care less whatever union you two have."

"Don't misconstrue anything. And you're right," he stopped laughing looking puzzled. It was rare now to ever see me agree with him, especially so easily," the two of us aren't prone to make any damage. Lord knows the actions you've displayed require an army of people to lead to your destruction. By the way how was your boys' night? I heard things went crazy," I smirked. He clenched his jaw, tightening his fists.

"Well will you look at that," Serena chuckled in amusement, the bitch is agitated."

"And to think I once loved you," he spat in Serena's direction. The elation across her face turned into a sour expression.

"Men who love give flowers and chocolates, you gave me STDs and a broken heart so don't you dare pretend you were a victim," her voice had risen significantly. I chose to remain quiet the real poison infecting my life, wasn't in this room. I continued to idly listen to her rant, his face contorting in rage. I could see the internal battle he had to not lay a hand on her. The beast inside him lurking.

She stopped mid-rant, she was a good judge of detecting anything and I guess she could sense his drastic change of shock to genuine rage," And to think," she shook her head in disbelief," If you even showed just an ounce of sympathy for what you did..." she stopped. She closed her eyes briefly, I knew if I laid my hand on her to comfort her she wouldn't forgive me for it, and she hated being pitied so I left her to gather her thoughts.

"I came in here wanting to gain some form of closure, some glimpse that maybe-just maybe you could change, but," she sighed refocusing her attention on his face," You really aren't worth wallowing over."

She stood up, retrieved her purse off the floor and set her eyes back on me.

It was now or never.

I glanced back watching her retreating form but just as her hand touched the knob she stopped and turned briefly to reconnect her eyes with Derek's, the edge in her voice gone to be replaced with ease," It's a shame you think that Armani on your skin will protect you. You give too much credit to these brands in hiding the truth that you're still a piece of shit." And with that she left.

After the sound of the door shut, he stared me down, his entire stance tense," I'm guessing its your turn to bitch and moan on how I ruined your life," he snarled.

I could leave him with some clever play on words to reply him. I knew he wanted me to say something.

Sadly for him, I wanted to keep this short.

However, I took my time to analyse his face, relishing in him being oblivious to the fact that this was his last moment of being a boss, the golden boy of the company.

Silently I stand, pull out the ring and place it on the desk. I figured I might as well do him a favour, who knows the next time he will ever be this up close to real diamonds again.

And without looking back, without looking back at the past I walk out ignoring his snide comments, mocking me.

I found Patrice sitting at her desk acting as normal as she ever will be, nonetheless I could see the smile begging to be accepted by her lips as she gives me a nod.

I set my eyes upon Marcus who gives me a subtle nod, his lips revealing a small smile to let me know everything was in place.

I always knew Marcus was never loyal to Derek, in a twist of fate he came to me

He caught on to the plan at hand after his date caught us in the bathroom. He had been intrigued in finding Serena and I in the same space not biting each others heads off. He had no care for the background specifics. All he saw was an opportunity.

I wanted to be free; he just wanted fewer obstacles in the way for the promotion.

We found equal ground, a mutual understanding. He provided deeper evidence of the insider trading Derek was doing and as I walked out of that office I left the rest into his hands as I greeted the two police officers walking in the same direction I came. Angie was casually leaning against the wall beaming.

"I'm heading off to the car," I said, she briefly glanced in my direction.

"I'll be down in a minute. The chance to see Derek go for his last ever meeting is way too tempting to give up," she snickered as she moved off in the direction to where Patrice was.

Stepping into the elevator just the slight glimpse I caught of the scene before me gave me satisfaction, feeling a massive weight get lifted off my shoulders.

Money and arrogance, hand in hand even though they led to this predicament, I can only thank them for being a smoke screen to my enemies eyes.

Thank them for becoming a weakness in fooling men like him into thinking they could never get caught.

Yes. my black little heart skips a beat,
Aligned with every step of my feet.

"You will never understand the damage you did to someone until the same thing is done to you. That's why I'm here" - KARMA

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