Chapter 8 STRICTLY BUSINESS

Natalia's POV

It had been a week since I took over as CEO of Diamond and the numbers in the reports still didn't look better.

There were still a lot of things to cross and despite my hard work, things still didn't add up.

"Oh God, this is bad..." I sighed as I stared at the papers before me.

I was sitting cross-legged on the floor of my father's study, the velvet carpet beneath me covered with printed reports, balance sheets, and HR audit trails. The entire place had the scent of old books and aged whiskey clung to the walls.

And even though there was a desk we could share, I found it too stiff, the chairs too cold. So I ended up on the ground, surrounded by paperwork and silence.

-Well, silence excerpt for my father's voice each time I sighed.

"You're doing great, Nat," he said from behind his glass of scotch.

"Oh dad, you said it yourself, great doesn't mean safe. Especially not in this business." I groaned, scanning the reports once more.

"My dear child, leading a company like Diamond in the future doesnt require brainpower," he said, dragging himself to his feet.

He dropped the glass in his hands on the bar and continued; "Just make sure your nose clean. No scandal. No distractions. Make sure your skeletons stay buried. This way, you will always stay in business no matter what the numbers say."

Buried... The word echoed in my head, sinking deep into my thoughts as my vision blurred on the papers in my hands.

"Okay, dear. I have to go to bed now. Don't stay up too late." He placed a kiss on my forehead before walking out of the study.

As he left, my mind returned to his words. They were a direct hit to the secret I'd shoved in the back of my closet- the one with Ciara's name on it.

The one that could burn evrything I was trying hard to revive if it ever got out.

I had the files. The proof that Ciara had signed off on child labor in the foreign mines. That she diverted funds meant for safety upgrades to a private offshore account.

I had used that knowledge to force her to step down, to keep her quiet. I had told her that she would be the one to suffer the most...

But the truth was If those files ever saw the light of day, I'd be the one left holding the match.

Because I didn't expose her.

I used her. I wanted her to pay for ruining my marriage- even if technically, it was all on Robert. I just needed someone to punish directly and she was the victim.

But hiding this from the public, made me just as guilty as she was and now, I had to find a way to cover up.

Yet everywhere I looked, nothing seemed right. Everything wad a mess.

Payroll delays. Suspended accounts. Cancelled vendor contracts.

The company was bleeding- no, dying.

Ciara didn't just lie and steal. She drove Diamonds straight into a financial grave.

And now, I was the one tasked with resurrection.

But the only thing I could think of to fix the first problem on my hands- the child labor issue- was to build an orphanage in the mining communities Diamond used.

It was the perfect project that could clean the stain.

-A corporate responsibility front that would cover the mess and help real kids while we were at it. But the numbers in my inbox made one thing clear:

I couldn't afford salvation. Not without a miracle.

As if on cue, my phone buzzed beside me and I checked to see that it was an automated reminder for me to reply a message that I had ignored for too long.

A proposal from Green Energy Industries.

With a sigh, I clicked on the message and downloaded the document.

At first I barely scanned through the document with no anticipation of finding anything that could interest me. But the deeper I went, I realised that this could actually lead to something.

My pulse quickened as I took in the details.

Sustainable luxury. Lab-grown stones. A new public image built on ethics, elegance, and green tech.

It was bold and risky. But if it worked... if it got accepted, it could save us. It could revive Diamonds.

I sat there for a long time, rereading every line. And then, I did something I hadn't done in days.

I smiled.

****

By morning, the first thing I did as soon as I got to the office was extract Wesley's personal line from the email and I called him.

The phone only rang twice before his voice picked up.

"Good morning, Mr. Wesley. This is-"

"Miss Natalia," Wesley's voice cut through the speaker.

My cheeks flushed, wondering how he recognized my voice so fast.

"I was starting to wonder if you ghosted me." He chuckler, cutting through my mind once again.

"You think too highly of yourself," I said, trying to sound bored.

I wasn't.

The truth was, I was more than interested with his offer. Yet I couldn't afford to sound desperate.

The soft sound of his laughter dragged me out of my thoughts as he added; "I get that a lot. And yet, here you are."

I wanted to hate the confidence in his voice but I found myself liking instead.

Focus Natalia!

"I read the proposal," I quickly added, slipping into CEO mode. "It's impressive."

"That's the word I was going for." He paused. "Though I must confess, I was hoping for- brilliant, or life-changing, or incredilously attractive."

I rolled my eyes at his comment. "You really think sweettalking your way with me helps your case?"

"I think honesty helps. And I have plenty of that to offer..."

My breath caught for a second, hating how his wods seemd to take a different meaning in my head. Damn him.

"Well, keep your thoughts productive. I'm calling to schedule a second meeting- a proper meeting."

"Seeing that you took the trouble to do this yourself when you could have assigned someone else to do it, I'll take it," he said smoothly. "I'm free whenever you are."

Again, my heart skidded at his comment as if this wasnt just a business call.

"Tomorrow. 10 a.m. Diamonds' HQ. Bring your people if you want. I'll have mine ready."

"Deal. We'll be there," he replied and I could feel the smile behind his voice.

Somehow, this formed an hesitation in my mind. And just before the call ended, I quickly added; "This doesn't mean I'm saying yes."

"I know. But you didn't say no either. That's a win for me..." he countered.