Chapter 5 My Achievements

[Blaze]

I saw her exit the taxi and enter the inn's lobby with her head held high. She was very good at masking her feelings by acting tough. I wouldn't have involved her in my grand plan if it wasn't for necessity.

My phone vibrated for the umpteenth time, so I gave up and picked it up from the seat by my side. It was an incoming call from Darcy. There were tons of missed calls from her. I was about to turn off the gadget when it vibrated again, indicating an incoming message.

I opened it and saw a picture of her in a very revealing evening gown. She smiled seductively at the camera. 'Come home and open your present. We need to celebrate our achievements today,' she typed.

Our accomplishment. She did nothing but begged me to come back to her. How dare she say all my hard work was her achievement, too. What a strange woman. She wasn't sad at all to see the company she led go under.

"Let's go home, James," I told my driver after turning off the phone.

"To the apartment, sir?" he confirmed.

"No. We're going home," I replied.

"Yes, sir," he replied obediently.

The first place I went to was the hostess's chamber. Everything was in order. There was no longer any sign of anyone inhabiting this room. Her usual cell phone and tablet were on the nightstand, but now there was only a lamp and a digital clock. The sideboard and table decorated with flowers in glass vases were vacant.

I glanced at the walk-in closet. I knew nothing inside, but I walked over and looked at the state of the large room. The sight before me shocked me. She had only brought her personal belongings.

All the beautiful and expensive dresses, bags, and shoes I'd given her were there. Curious about the other more expensive items, I opened the special vault containing the jewelry. I couldn't believe it when I saw everything intact inside, including her wedding ring.

"Sir, have you called for me?" asked the butler who came in after I rang the bell.

I glanced at Heather's wardrobe. "When will the rest of the items be picked up?"

"Madame said, ah, I mean, Miss Bailey said they were gifts for your new wife," he said with trepidation.

"She said that?" I asked incredulously. The man nodded slowly. "Okay. Get some rest. I don't need anything anymore."

"Um, sorry, sir. What about your wedding photo and Madame's picture? Do we need to keep them in storage?" he asked quietly.

"No. Leave the pictures there," I said without thinking.

"Yes, sir. Good night."

I didn't expect her to leave the things I'd given her. I thought she'd throw them away or sell them and keep the money. Even though she already had her own business, she would need money for funds. I knew she intended to open a branch of her shop.

Poor girl. She lost the big store she built from scratch. I could help find the perpetrator or discover what happened, but she was no longer my responsibility. Let the authorities take care of it.

She was gone, so I could return home freely. This place was more comfortable to live in than an apartment. I had to avoid her all that time because I couldn't be around her for too long.

"Good morning, sir," greeted the butler as I entered the dining room that morning.

"Good morning." I sat down and let him turn the cup over for me.

"Coffee as usual?" he asked, indicating to the teapot he was holding.

"Yes." I took a slice of sandwich and took a bite. The chef's cooking at home was indeed better than the one serving in the apartment.

"Um, sir," the butler said nervously.

"What? Just talk straight, don't be so nervous," I encouraged.

"It's time to buy the daily groceries. Madame used to take care of it, but she's no longer around-" he replied reluctantly. "Then I'd also like to remind you that in two days, it's payday for the workers at home."

"Okay. I forgot about that. My secretary will take care of everything again. I'll tell him to contact you about the details. Thank you for letting me know. Don't worry. You'll get your salaries on time," I said, calming him down.

"Okay. Thank you, sir." He smiled with relief.

Heather used to take care of the house after we got married. I never heard any complaints from the servants, so I didn't think about that detail anymore. With two companies to tend to, I couldn't handle the house, too.

Seeing that there was still a crowd of reporters in front of the office building, James drove the car to the parking lot upstairs and didn't drop me off in front of the lobby. It looked like things would continue this way until they were tired of chasing me.

I didn't want to get dragged into Bailey's problems. My divorce with Heather didn't need to be public, either. The less the media knew about me, the better. I couldn't take any chances after painstakingly making it to this stage.

"Finally, I meet you here!" Darcy exclaimed happily. She stood up from one of the couches in the waiting room near my office. "Good morning, dear! Look, I brought you breakfast." She lifted the lunch bag she was holding.

I didn't stop but kept walking towards my office. "Call security. Did you forget my order to you yesterday?" I stared at Kyle.

"Ah, o-okay, sir." He looked at me and Darcy in turn before picking up his cell phone.

"Blaze? Why did you tell Kyle to call security?" asked Darcy, feigning ignorance. She tugged on my jacket sleeve, stopping me in my tracks. "Don't ignore me, or you'll pay the consequences."

I pulled my arm from her grasp before turning around and facing her. "Was what I said to you yesterday not clear enough?"

She gasped. "You can't do this to me. I divorced Cullen to be with you. What happened that you want us to split up?"

"Since when are we together?" I asked in a bored tone.

"Wh-what?" She laughed in surprise. "You said we would get married if I divorced my husband."

"Have you forgotten my motto? An ex will remain an ex. Darcy, try to recall it. Who proposed your divorce and our marriage?"

"Wh-what?" she asked incredulously. "You came to see me and spent the night while Cullen was out of the city. Are you going to deny it? You married my sister to get close to me again. Didn't you?"

"You said it, not me." I turned to Kyle.

That man understood what I meant by standing before Darcy, blocking her from talking to me. While she was still surprised, I took advantage of it by entering my office. Hopefully, she wouldn't try to speak to me again after hearing all that.

The door to my office suddenly opened, and she walked in. "Don't tell me you regret divorcing that ugly woman and want to go back to her! I won't let you treat me like trash you can throw away at will, Blaze. I'm not my sister!"

"Did the security guards in this building suddenly disappear? What took them so long?" I asked Kyle, who was standing behind Darcy.

"They'll be here soon, sir," he replied with a pale face.

"You think that after destroying my marriage and my father's company, I'm going to stay quiet!? Dream on! If you don't keep your promise, I will expose all your secrets!" she threatened with reddened eyes.

"Exposing my secrets is tantamount to destroying your reputation and your father's. Go ahead. I dare you to do so." I smiled casually. "There are many reporters outside. Talk to them all you want."

"You think I'm scared?" She crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Just watch. You'll regret messing with me. I won't rest until you kneel before me, begging me to get back to you!"

"Good morning, sir," greeted a security guard who entered my room. He came with two other men.

"Remember her face well. She cannot enter the premises of this building. If you fail to do this simple task, I will fire you," I threatened the three men. "Get her out of here!"

"No need." Darcy glared sharply at them. She turned back to me. "I can get out myself."

Kyle closed the door, leaving me alone in my office. I took a deep breath before sitting down and unbuttoning my jacket. This matter wasn't over yet, but I wouldn't give up and stand idly by. I had to disappear again so she couldn't interfere with my life.

I checked my email, looking for the urgent news I was waiting for, but nothing. They hadn't finished their assignment yet. Although there were still a few days left, I couldn't wait any longer. Unfortunately, pushing them would only ruin their work.

Once Kyle entered my office, he read out my schedule for the day. After listening and changing a few things, I discussed home affairs with him. I didn't want the workers at the mansion to feel like I was showing favoritism between them and the employees at the workplace. So, I didn't want their salaries to be transferred late.

"I just took care of it," my secretary said as I mentioned the message from the butler. "I've also arranged for the timing of the transfer of all the workers' salaries in your house and apartment."

I looked at him in surprise. "How can you do that? I haven't told you what you need to do," I asked in confusion.

"Miss Bailey gave me an envelope yesterday. It contained a card and account book, the account numbers of all the workers, and a detailed schedule of all the payments that need to be transferred to the butler within a certain period," he replied.

"Good. I don't need to explain anything else to you," I remarked casually.

"I'm sorry, sir. I can't do this." He placed an envelope in front of me. "I'm already overworked and not up to the task. Besides, I'm not your wife."

"Are you mocking me?" I challenged him.

"I dare not, sir, only speak the truth," he replied without flinching. "You hired an executive secretary to tend to your two big companies running in different fields. That alone takes up a lot of my time."

"Okay. You may return to your desk."

Adding an employee to handle the house and its workers' needs was a waste of money. But Kyle was right. I had given him so much responsibility. There was no way he was taking care of the mansion and apartment matters.

The cell phone with my personal phone number vibrated. I glanced at the screen. Reading my lawyer's name, I answered it immediately. He must want to talk about my divorce proceedings.

"Good morning, Mr. Knightley. Can you come to my office today? There is an important matter I need to discuss with you about your prenuptial agreement with Miss Bailey," he seriously announced.

"I told you, fulfill everything on it. I don't care," I retorted.

"I understand. But Miss Bailey had changed some things on her divorce papers with you," the man said again.

"What do you mean?" I asked in confusion.

"She just left after changing a few points on the document."

Those two sisters were both troublesome. I stood up and walked out of my office. What points did that woman change? After refusing the compensation money, did she change her mind?