CHAPTER 5

Ashley takes my coat as I approach my baby. "Hi baby! Did you miss mommy?" I say as I carry him out of his stroller. I place kisses all over his face as I hold him as tight as I can. He smiles, his tiny teeth visible. He places his hands on my breasts and I chuckle. Louis was almost 1, but he still drank milk from me, and oddly, I was still lactating.

"Ashley, tell the cook I'd like to have blueberry cheesecake ice cream and shepherds pie for dinner. I'll put him to bed.” I say as I head for my bedroom. Louis has his own bedroom, but he still had his corner on my room. He had a crib in my room, but tonight, he would sleep on my bed. I'd been scared to let him sleep on my bed because I didn't want him rolling and falling on the floor at any point. Louis safety and well-being are my top priority.

I begin to breastfeed my son, as he latches on to my other breast. I take out my phone from my pocket and there's a new mail.

JenniferWill@CarringtonIndustries.com

Hello, Ms Richardson. I'm from the HR department and I've been assigned to you as your new secretary.

Here is your schedule for tomorrow;

1.Introductory meeting with the board members tomorrow at 9 am.

2. Tour around the company so you can get to know and understand your bearings.

3. Analyzing proposal documents.

Have a great evening,

Jennifer Will

Did Lucas just plant a mole to watch me and report my every move back to him? Because I couldn't recall asking for a secretary. At this point, I had to tread carefully, because now, I knew that he was capable of anything, and if what Kelly was saying was indeed true, he was also capable of murder.

After putting Louis to sleep, I inform Ashley that I want my snack brought to my study. I turn the lights on as I enter the room. I turn on the air conditioner as I feel hot.

As fast as I can, I turn on my laptop and wait. As soon as it boots, I hit in the link. The page loads, but it asks for a password. "Password?" I murmur. Kelly didn't say anything about a password. I type in her name, Kelly, in capital letters. It is declined. I open my drawer and take out my reading glasses. My pregnancy had affected my vision softly, but the doctors had assured that with time, it would be corrected. "What could the password be?" I wonder as I rack my head, trying to figure out why the website was password protected when she herself had given it to me.

"Thank you very much." I say to one of the cooks as she drops my food on the table. If I was trying so hard to hide something from someone, where would I hide it? Then it hits me. I'd hide it in plain sight. Nobody would suspect a thing. The password had to be Luke's name, his last name. I type it in, hoping that I was right. The page opens, and access is granted. I sigh in relief, a smile on my face.

I begin to munch on my late night snack as I go through the page. There are notes, PDF documents, and most importantly, a video. I click on the video. It opens. Luke is standing, alongside another, who I presume to be Caleb, his right hand. They are in a type of factory? Warehouse? They're facing each other, talking. They're dressed in tuxedos, work appropriate tuxedos. There's audio, but not audible. I try to move closer to the computer, an effort to try to make out what exactly they were talking about. Luke brings out a folded piece of paper from his jacket and hands it over to Caleb. Caleb doesn't open or look at it, he just takes it and puts it in his jacket. He turns to leave.

"What the hell does this even mean?" I wonder, as I replay the video.

After watching the video for the umpteenth time, the only thing I'm able to decode is that; Caleb is very trusted by Luke, and two, Caleb was meant to carry out something for Luke. It was as though Luke was giving him instructions. The only question was, was Luke ordering Caleb to murder Kelly's father?

I close the video and open another tab. I go to the Carrington industries website. I click on staff. I needed to find out more about this Caleb, and know exactly what he looked like. I never saw him while I was married to Luke, nor did I ever hear Luke mention any Caleb. I go through the photos of Carrington staff and I pause, as soon as I see 'Caleb'. However, there are two Calebs. I click on the first. Apparently, he's Caleb Dartmouth, a staff in the engineering department and Caleb Davis, the chief of staff. Apart from their difference in skin tone, it was pretty obvious who Luke's right hand man would be. Caleb Davis. Same hair color and style noted in the video.

"Who exactly are you, Caleb Davis?" I say, as I google him. There's little or no information of him. He has no Wikipedia page, just a few pictures of him on google images. I'd have Lee Martins find out more about him.

**

"I can't remember asking for a secretary." I say as I enter my office, Jennifer behind me.

"Good morning, ma'am.”

"Good morning to you too. I really don't like it when people follow me around, Jessica.” I say intentionally.

"Jennifer, ma'am."

"I don't give a bloody hell what your name is, love, I just want you out of my office."

"Understood. I'll be right outside your door, should you need me.” She says and I get further irritated as soon as I realize a desk and a chair had been stationed opposite my office.

I massage my head, trying to calm my nerves. I was unable to sleep properly the night before. In addition to trying to decipher what Luke and Caleb might've been plotting in the video, Louis constant crying didn't help matters at all. I had a feeling I would have a terrible day, and Jennifer getting on my nerves was confirmation enough.

A few minutes later. . .

"It's time. The meeting starts in 5 minutes." Jennifer states.

I get up, adjusting my turtle neck chiffon blouse and my peplum skirt. "Lead the way.”

*

Arriving at the boardroom, I can see that although I'm right on time, members of the board are already seated.

"Good morning, gentlemen." I say as I take my seat at the head of the table. "Did you lot just ignore my greeting?" I ask, as I hear no response. It was not a secret that these men hated me, for reasons best known to them.

"Good morning to you, Mrs. Carr— I interject, before he can finish the sentence. "Miss. Richardson. I'm no longer a Carrington, good sir."

I turn to the remaining board members, seven in number. "As I've been informed, this is an introductory meeting, but I can't seem to find the Chief Exec?”

"He's indisposed at the moment, I'll be standing in for him.” I hear a voice speak from behind. He's walking forward, so I wait to see who this person is.

"And you are?" I ask.

"Caleb Davis, ma'am. Mr. Carrington's personal assistant and Chief-of-staff."

I grin internally. Speak of the devil and he will show up unannounced. "I'll allow it." I say as I take a proper look at him. So, this was Luke's right hand man and supposedly, his hit man, in flesh and blood.

"I see no point in this, if you're going to blab all day." A man murmurs.

"My opinion too. Some of us have pressing matters to attend to." Another says.

"Shall we begin?" Another says.

"I have no quarrel with the lot of you, so I find it really odd that you all dislike me. I mean, from your body language and behaviors, it's quite obvious. Is it because I'm a woman? The first woman to have this chair? The first woman to preside over you?"

"Why do you think so, Miss. Richardson?" Another says, looking up from his glasses. He was a bit elderly.

"Please, spare me the theatrics, even a fool can smell the misogyny oozing out of this room. How dare you look down on me?" I say, anger surging through me as I look them all in the face. They look shocked but not surprised. Caleb is standing behind Luke's seat, observing the situation, no doubt in order to report back to Luke. "I am here to stay and you better get used to it. You might own shares in the company and play a part in the decision making, but you will always, always, answer to me, because I call the shots. You better get used to having me around, because you will grow sick. . .of seeing this face." I say, in the calmest tone I can muster. I'd had enough of men ordering me around, dictating my life and above all, I was tired of being the puppy who could be kicked around so easily.

I am furious. Walking to my office in anger, I notice Jennifer keeping a safe distance from me.

"What's next on my schedule?" I ask Jennifer, still walking.

"The tour round the company, ma'am."

"Is it necessary?" I ask.

"Well, not exactly, but you should get familiar with— Jennifer keeps talking, but I freeze, as I watch the couple headed towards me. Luke and Laurel. I keep walking, trying to feign ignorance. They halt as soon as I pass them. I'm exactly two feet's past them. I pause, waiting to hear the rubbish they have to spew.

"What is she doing here, Luke?" She continues, "What are you doing here?"

I turn, a small smile on my face. "Is this the reason why you couldn't make it to the introductory meeting?"

"I asked you a question, why are you here?!" She yells.

"Don't you dare use that tone with me," I look at Luke, "Control this thing, will you? This is not your home, or marketplace where she may shout as she wills."

"Let's go, Laurel." Luke says, turning to leave.

"Is this a habit of yours? Bringing your women to the company? Forgive me, but you did bring me here once." I say, a smirk on my face, as I see Laurel turn red.

"I'm not here to exchange words with you, Natalie. You may leave.”

"No. On the contrary, she may leave. You, get out." I say, looking at Laurel.

"Luke owns this place! If anyone is leaving it would be you!" She yells, again. She grabs my hand and begins to drag me away. I jerk my hands off, and she stumbles.

"For lovers, your partner surely does keep a lot from you. Luke might own the company, but I own more of the company than he does. He answers to me, not vice versa. Get out, before I have security throw you out."

Luke is still standing, watching everything unfold. "We might not be married, but I demand that you show me respect! Do not bring that woman here ever again, or you will see the worst of me." I say, as I leave, silently begging the tears not to fall down my eyes.

I close the blinds as soon as I enter my office. The tears begin to fall down my face. I didn't cry as much as I needed to after my breakup and divorce with Luke. I didn't mourn my marriage properly because I was too busy mourning my father and taking care of my new born. Now, it was as though those emotions came rushing back. What did I ever do to Luke to deserve such humiliation and disgrace? I feel immense hatred for him in my heart as I remember the night he threw me out of the manor, pregnant, stranded, all in the dead of the night.

I couldn't forgive Luke, never. Luke had tarnished my dignity by accusing me of adultery when I was innocent and he, guilty of kidnapping, raping and probably murder. Even if I did go to bed with Rocky, Luke would've still been no better than I was.

Crying would do me no good. It was a waste of time. Again, and as always, I wipe my tears. I bring out my makeup mirror from my bag and check my face. My makeup is still intact. I pick up the intercom and place a call to Jennifer who's right outside my door.

"Come in." I say, and in a few seconds, she's in my office.

"Go to HR, Engineering, PR and every other department in the company. I want everyone gathered at the ground floor. All the staff, managers, heads of departments, everyone. I want everyone present there in an hour. Go." I say to her.

She nods without saying a word and scurries off.

With what happened earlier at the board meeting, I knew that majority of the staff disliked me, if not all. As far as I knew, the reason why Lucas and I split up was not known to the public. However, the court proceedings during our divorce made it to the media, and blogs. Some might have labeled me a gold-digger, saying I married him for the luxuries and riches I would get. If only they knew the real story behind the relationship I once shared with Luke.

I receive a text. I take my phone out and check. It's from Lydia, updating me on the party preparations.

Lydia: Party's in 4 days. Are you ready? Can you pull it off?

I respond to her text; I've never been more certain about anything, Lydia. Do not forget to send Luke an invite. The earlier the better. He mustn't decline.

55 minutes later.

Jennifer arrives. "People are assembled there. Others are on their way."

I nod. "Thank you. Would you give me a moment?" I say to her. She leaves. I get up from my chair and adjust my skirt. I go to my bag, and take out my purse. I open it, and I take out the photograph of my father.

"You were strong when you were here, dad. You weren't a weak man. Give me the strength I need." I say. I drop the purse back and begin to walk out of the room, but I pause. I take a look at the flower vase, and then I leave. Luke would definitely know about the meeting I'd just called for, because he'd have heard it from the voice recorder he planted.

Jennifer and I walk to the second floor, just above the ground floor. I halt as soon as I reach a position where the crowd can see me.