Chapter 4 Fifteen minutes to zero

"Mr. Frank will see you now, miss."

Katherine gave a tight smile to the secretary as she stood, smoothing the wrinkles on her dress.

After returning home that night, she and Tiffany exhausted every possible option to raise the money. They compiled a list of her father's acquaintances, people who once knew, admired him or owed him favors that they might be willing to help her. The following day, she set out to meet these people but every one of them had either given polite excuses or simply refused to help her.

She came home shattered, barely able to explain how their plans failed miserably. Then a single hope flickered to life: the diamonds.

On her college convocation day ten years ago, her father gifted her a diamond bouquet, an extravagant display of wealth that made headlines. Though he wanted her to keep it on display, she insisted on storing it in his treasury.

This decision proved to be wise when his business collapsed, then his health declined. Over the years, she sold off most of the diamonds over the years to cover his treatment expenses, then his funeral.

But a few remained, thus they were all she had left.

As she stepped into the office, she held a desperate hope that those last few diamonds would be enough. Enough to get the money, enough to slap the check on Damien's stupid smug face.

"Mr. Frank, good day. I'm sorry to meet you in such a short period of time."

The older man stood with a small nod, offering a cautious smile as he gestured her to sit.

"It's no problem, Miss Katherine, I assume the matter must be quite urgent."

She placed her hands on the table, her fingers drumming lightly on the polished surface of the table.

"I need to sell the remaining diamonds in the treasury. As soon as possible" she stated, then Mr. Frank's eyes lit with understanding.

"I need the money before noon". She didn't want to explain details, but Mr. Frank must have known the severity by the weight of her voice.

Mr. Frank exhaled, interlacing his fingers over the desk. "This is quite the situation."

"It is also short notice. You know the withdrawal process takes time alone before the diamonds can be placed on the market. Normally, a few days."

Her throat tightened. "Please sir, I don't have that time."

He studied her then nodded. "I'll see what I can do. Let's begin the withdrawal process. "

Katherine breathed a sigh of relief, as he pulled his laptop closer and began typing away. Her gaze went to the clock behind him.

11:15 am.

Minutes passed by, then Mr. Frank's brows furrowed. His fingers hovered with uncertainty over the keyboard.

"Huh? This can't be right..." he muttered.

A chill ran down her spine. "What is that sir?"

Mr. Frank didn't respond immediately, his fingers moving over the keyboard. Finally, he exhaled sharply.

"According to this, there are no diamonds left in your father's store."

Her blood ran cold as her fingers stiffened against the desk. "What?"

"It appears...." He hesitated, scrolling through the screen. "The diamonds were withdrawn months ago."

"That's impossible," she muttered, her voice wavering. "By who?"

"Let me check with my staff." Mr. Frank said, already reaching for the phone. Minutes later, two employees entered the room, their faces pale.

"Well?" Mr. Frank demanded.

"A-actually sir, a man had come a few months ago to withdraw the remaining diamonds" one of them stuttered.

"He claimed to be her uncle, informing us she had fallen terribly sick, and she needed the diamond to fund her treatment abroad."

The words slammed into her like a physical blow. Her uncle had stolen from her.

"And you just-" she started, sucking in a long breath.

"You let someone walk in here and take my diamonds without confirming with me?" She thundered loudly, causing them to flinch.

"He brought a signed letter of attestation from you ma'am" the second worker mumbled.

Katherine stilled. "What?"

Silence reigned in the room as Mr Frank clicked away at the keyboard again. He then turned the computer screen towards him.

"It is true. The letter is in our system."

Her eyes locked to the document. It was truly in her handwriting and signature.

Her uncle had forged the letter.

A cold hollow weight settled in her chest, Damien's voice whispered in her mind.

"I assure you that no one will help you."

Mr. Frank's voice was distant, muffled by the roaring in her ears.

"Miss, we can file a case against your uncle, but legal proceedings will take time"

Time she didn't have.

Her gaze snapped at the clock, 11:30 am.

Katherine stood up abruptly, barely registering Mr. Frank's apologies as she walked out of the office and the building. A sharp ring cut through her haze outside.

She managed to take out her phone from her bag and place it on her ears.

"Kat, where are you?" Tiffany's frantic voice crackled through the phone. "The demolition crew are already setting up the crane!"

Her fingers felt numb, as panic surged through her. She ended the call without answering. For a moment she stared at the cars passing by.

"How far are you willing to go to save your father's museum?" the silent question whispered through her mind, quiet and relentless.

Then Katherine began moving, her legs carrying her faster, until she ran to the bus stop.

She couldn't let this happen..... She wouldn't let this happen.

She reached the stop, her chest heaving as she climbed the bus. She was barely aware of anything, other than the ticking clock in her mind. She had just thirty minutes to arrive there and meet Damien before it was too late.

The bus ride felt agonizingly slow. By the time she reached the stop close to the museum, she glanced at her phone as she alighted.

11:45 am. Fifteen minutes left.

The entire area had been barricaded and a crowd gathered. As Katherine began shoving her way through, her phone rang again.

It was another call from Tiffany, and she answered it, speaking before she could.

"Tiffany, I'm here! But the security is not letting people through. Please come get me."

The call ended, and she tapped on her feet impatiently, glancing at seconds passing away. Then,finally, Tiffany appeared at the barricade, exchanging words with the security guards. They hesitated, then finally aside to allow Katherine pass.

"Girl, where have you been?" Tiffany yelled over the commotion. "The crew is ready and that snotty Damien drove in-"

Katherine turned sharply to her. "Where is he?"

"Inside the museum, but.... Hey!" Katherine didn't stop to listen as she veered towards a different entrance.

11:55 am. Her mind was a countdown, her pulse pounding rapidly.

The crane roared to life. She increased her speed, she needed to get to him now.

She sprinted through the corridors of the museum, but just as she reached the exhibition hall she was grabbed by two hefty men.

"Let me go!" She cried desperately, struggling against them. "I just need to talk to your CEO!"

Her voice rang through the exhibition hall, then her eyes found him. Damien walked towards the main entrance, his steps slow and deliberate.

It was as if he didn't hear her voice, or he did, and didn't care.

"Damien, please stop!" Katherine's scream cut through the air, thrashing wildly against the guards.

Then her voice rang out, desperation coating every word.

"Damien, I'll marry you! Please just don't do this!"

The room fell silent. The guards froze. And Damien stopped walking.

For a moment he said nothing. Then he glanced over his shoulder slowly, speaking with a maddening calm voice.

"Leave her."