Deceiving Dimitri

~Hazel's POV~

Darkness befallen over the hall before a tiny flame flickered, illuminating all that was present in the room. A dozen pairs of eyes broadened, taking the shade of amber, and in a hubbub, everyone yelled, "Happy Birthday, Lauren!"

As instructed, John switched the lights back on, and I approached the coffee table, setting the strawberry cake in the middle; a customized candle shaped as the numbers seventy-six centered the top. Chuckling at the hungry expressions, I clapped my hands. "Come, come, everyone. It's time."

Like a swarm of aged bees, forty people rushed forward, huddling around a flushed Lauren who, even at this age, looked almost like a fairy tale princess in her pink fluffy gown.

"Cut it, cut it, Laurie. I ain't getting any younger," Ben urged, bouncing his frail body as much as his age let him, and everyone burst out laughing.

Handing the knife to Lauren, I walked backwards a few feet and angled my camera in the air. "Ready."

As the birthday girl blew the candle out, the room erupted into another round of happy birthday songs while I took my desired pictures. One more happy moment to add to the memory keeper.

She cut out triangle pieces of small cakes and fed all the craving mouths until her soft eyes drove to me. "Hazel, what're you doing there, dearie? Come here." She stretched out a relatively large slice of the cake in my way.

"Yes, yes. You go. I'll take the pictures," Joseph offered, taking the camera from me.

"Alrighty!" I nodded, smiling and walking in the middle of the crowd. The smile radiating off of Lauren's face, showed all the happiness and gratitude that oozed from her heart.

"Thank you for everything, Hazie!" She pulled me in a motherly hug. "I don't know if I'll be here to celebrate my next birthday, but I'll die in peace, knowing you're here to take care of all these oompa loompas." Her voice cracked at the end.

Pulling out of the hug, I wiped the tears staining her wrinkled cheeks and fixed the party hat over her gray hair. "Don't say that, lady. You're living at least a hundred years with all these wonderful oompa loompas wishing for you," I said with a giggle and lifted her hand containing the cake, lightly pushing it to her thinned lips. Then she repeated my action, and I took a bite of the delicious fluffy delicacy, my taste buds dancing in delight.

After the whole cake was devoured, it was time for the presents, and one by one everyone delivered theirs. When it was my time, I pulled out the flat, red-wrapped gift and extended it to her.

"Thank you, darling," gratifying, she began ripping the decorating paper slowly. All the eyes around watched curiously, holding their breath. They were definitely going to be satisfied I could say. I had been thinking about this present for the last two months.

As the last casing was undone, and the velvety covered book was out, frowns formed in every forehead. Eyeing the flock, Lauren proceeded to turn the cover.

Three, two, one!

Gasps echoed throughout the walls of the old-age home as everybody hovered over the photo album, turning pages after pages, awning and laughing at the memories. A lone tear escaped my eyes, and my heart fluttered with heavenly bliss to see these elderly people so happy. I had taken weeks inserting pictures that I had been collecting ever since my mother introduced me to this place. She wasn't here anymore, but I had the people she called family, the place she called home.

A pat on my shoulder made me wipe my eyes in a haste, and I looked up at Joseph, his eyes held the same glee. "Your mother would be so proud of you, kid."

"Thanks!" I draped my arm around his hunched shoulders and sighed. "I'll never leave you guys ever again."

"Hey, whatever you do, don't make us your burden, eh?" His hand ruffled the brown locks on my head.

"Correction." I glanced at him, ruffling whatever hair was left on his head. It was our thing since we knew each other. "Y'all are my strength, old man."

A gasp snatched our attention towards the crowd. "Oh look, it's a picture of Joseph picking his nose!"

Oops! My eyes widened, and I bit my lip, trying to stop the cackle threatening to come out. Of all the elders, Joseph was the one man who liked to come off as the cool, composed guy, never showing a flaw. But at my younger age, I had been on a mission to expose him, finally capturing a picture that would ruin his perfect image on a lazy summer morning.

The hall burst out in laughter. "Hazie, you did it!"

Gulping, I released him and ran, but so did he, limping behind me with his walking cane held high.

"W'ere you goin, kid? Ye can't 'scape me today."

"Not my fault. Donald challenged me," I spoke between laughs.

"Wat? Nay!" came Donald's wide-eyed rejection. Apparently, everyone feared Joseph except me for I had known him in a way no one else did.

Suddenly he stopped, his hand lifting to his chest, but it felt like my heartbeat stopped as I rushed to him along with the others. "Joseph! Joseph, are you alri-?"

Without warning, his arm wrapped around my shoulder, and his pained expression turned into a mischievous one. "Gotcha!"

I gasped, realizing he tricked me, and my eyes shut tight as his hand lifted.

Everything went silent.

A second passed.

Two seconds passed.

When nothing happened, I opened my eyes to see him smirking, and his hand landed on my back but in a gentle manner, patting. "You got me, kid."

The tension dangling over the room cleared, and everyone erupted into another round of laughter.

"You got me, too, old man." I laughed.

That very moment as I saw all these happy faces who once forgot how to even smile, my heart poured with warmth. I felt complete for the first time since my mother died six years ago.

Suddenly the sound of the front door slamming against the wall startled everyone. What was that? Frowning, I turned around and marched out of the room, down the hallway to the reception area, my eyes widening. A group of men forayed inside, baseball bats in their hands and started smashing the furniture and the decorative pieces mom organized with her own hands.

Jeremy, the guard of this old-age home came, standing before me. "Hazel, you stay behind." He pulled out his gun, pointing it at them. "Stop it, or I'll shoot!"

"Jeremy, boi. There's no need to get so violent now," a familiar voice spoke, snapping my head towards the direction.

Ryan, my father's- well, step-father's head of security walked through the door, his smirk broadening as his eyes drove to me.

No, he didn't.

My jaw clenched, and blood boiled like lava through my veins. Pushing Jeremy out of my way, I stalked forward. "Stop this right now!" I yelled at the top of my lungs.

As expected, the men stopped hitting and turning over things. Then I directed my enraged gaze to the suited man. "Ryan," I gritted out, "what the hell is going on?"

"Chill your panties, princess. Boss's order. Have to vacate this place."

"What the hell are you talking about? This is my mother's property."

"Not anymore. This is the perfect venue for a lucrative resort."

I swirled my head around. All the elders had gathered in the corridor, eyes widened in fear. The way my heart glided over the highest sky before, now drowned into the deepest pit of the ocean. He couldn't do this to me, to my mother, to these people. This is the place we held the closest to our heart, and he knew that very well, yet he decided to betray us like this. I vigorously wiped the tears off my face. I couldn't let him do that. Never.

"I'm gonna talk to him. Take your dogs out of here." I looked at Jeremy. "Take care of them until I'm back," saying that I started walking to the exit but stopped and inclined my head to the side, fear still gripping my heart. "Ryan, if one hair on their body is harmed, you'll have your wife coming after you." I smirked. I had the pictures of him cheating, and I knew that he feared his gangster of a wife.

Without wasting one more second, I hopped into my Tesla and drove straight to the Montero Inc. Seeing me, the guard greeted and opened the door. Greeting him back, I climbed up the elevator to the fifteenth floor and stomped towards his office when his personal secretary blocked my way.

"Miss Green, wait! You can't go in there. Sir's in a meet-"

Before she could finish her sentence, I barged inside, my nostril's fuming and eyes flaring. "Mr. Montero!"

Three pairs of eyes turned to me, two widened and one pissed. Well, the feeling was mutual.

"Sir, I tried to stop her but she-"

"Out." He gestured to the men and the secretary, and they were gone in a heartbeat.

The six feet build of Daniel Montero rose and strolled around his desk. "Looks like abroad has queered your manners."

My teeth grinded against each other. This was the first time I was seeing him after he forcefully sent me to Canada. That time I wasn't mature enough for the world to defer against his decision, but time had changed. I was twenty-four now. He couldn't force anything else on me anymore.

"You can't do this."

"As per the testament, I can do whatever I want."

"The testament is rigged." Mom died before she could write her will, regarding her properties, so he prepared one as per his wish.

"And that place is gold. Situated at the center of the city, it will be the most profitable of all my resorts."

"How can you be so heartless? Where will those people go? They're shelterless for God's sake!"

"That's none of my concern. Now if you're done, you can go help to escort your friends out of my property," he spoke in a tone of dismissal, amplifying the last two words and turning away.

Fear clutched its deathly tendrils around my heart, washing away my valiant attitude. If he really did demolish the old-age home and constructed a resort there, where would those elderly people go? On the streets? My heart pounded in my chest like it would come out of my mouth. I had to protect them, that's what I promised to my mom, and so I swallowed my pride and let out my true vulnerable self. "Please, don't do this. Please."

He faced me again, a smile on his face, then it disappeared like smoke in thin air. "No. You know the loss my business is going through because of those Kingstons. How can I simply let go of such a beneficial site?"

"I'll do anything. Please," the words rolled out of my tongue so low even I couldn't believe that I said those.

His brow arched. "What?"

My eyes shut tight along with my shaking fists. "I will do anything you ask if you don't harm the place and the people."

His smirk only grew. "Anything?"

I nodded. I didn't know what I was doing. I was in a panicked trance, and all that mattered to me was those people.

"On second thought, I might leave that place alone. I'm not so heartless, you know." The evil smirk occupying his face hinted of a storm coming my way. That greedy man wouldn't spare something big without gaining an even bigger profit.

I gulped, holding onto my breath. "What do you want me to do?"

He padded closer to me and leaned down. "I want you to bring me information."

I frowned. "What information?"

"From the Kingstons."

My frown only deepened. The Kingston Corporation was his rival company who owned more than a hundred successful hotels, motels and resorts around the world, whereas Daniel Montero owned only sixty-five with half of them bringing nothing but loss.

He straightened up, went around his desk and poured himself a glass of wine. "Their plans, their strategies, their projects. I want you to bring me everything."

"What? How?"

"By working in their company, of course. You'll be my little spy."

I cringed at his nickname. "Th-That's a crime."

"It's not if you don't consider it one. Rather it's a favor from daughter to father."

"You're not my father," I snapped.

His jaw clenched. "Little girl, you need to watch your attitude if you want to keep your old friends well-fed and sheltered."

I swallowed my temper once again, helpless. If this was the only way, I could do this. I'd have to do this for them. "How? They won't give me a job just like this."

"Oh, they won't. Someone else will." The smirk playing on his lips only indicated that he already had everything planned.

"What will be my position? I can't get information without being on an important one." Which I hoped he wouldn't be able to arrange.

"Oh, you'll be in a very, very important position," he uttered, taking a sip of his wine. "You'll be the secretary."

My heart sank. How could he possibly arrange that? "Secretary of whom?"

"Dimitri Kingston."

My eyes widened to the size of saucers. "What!"

***

This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this book are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

***

I stared at my reflection in the mirror. The eyes stared back were pavid, and lines of stress dwelled in-between my brows. Not an ounce of sleep blessed my eyes last night, but the concealer did a fine job hiding it. I sighed, only one name echoing through my head.

Dimitri Kingston.

The name that I had been hearing everywhere since I came back to Chicago. He was the unexpected billionaire who pulled his father's sinking business out of the water and established it on the highest ground above the clouds. No wonder why all the other similar companies were slowly falling out of the race.

But it wasn't what had me shaking like a dried leaf in the wintry wind, it was his cruel, merciless conduct, his rumor of being the most dangerous tycoon in the city. He was so heartless, he didn't even spare his own mother from going to jail. Once his eyes were casted to something, he'd have it one way or another; no one dared faltering him.

That and so many other things I had heard about him in this past month, now I feared for my life. Working so close to such a man and leaking information from right under his nose seemed as impossible as bringing the dead to life. How was I even supposed to do that? If, by any chance, he found out, I would be as good as gone. A tremor ran down my back at the thought.

God, please, help me.

The ringing of my phone snapped my eyes to the bedside table. Trotting there, I picked it up and stared at the caller ID until the last ring, then received the call.

"Your appointment is at 10:00 sharp."

"Hmm."

"Hazie, don't try to outsmart me because if I know and I will know, then your gray friends won't even get to say goodbyes."

My hold around my phone tightened. "If any of them is hurt, I swear, Mr. Montero..."

The line went dead.

Fucking bastard!

I glanced at my wrist watch. It was 9:27, and I was already dressed up, waiting for that call. Mastering up all my courage, I picked up my documents and climbed into my car, driving to the Kingston Corporation. The closer I got, the faster my heart pounded; anytime now it'd explode out of my chest.

Why does life have to be so hard?

On spotting the high-rise office building of the Kingston's, I parked my car in the parking lot and got down. My hand roamed over my knee-length skirt and blue shirt, flattening all the creases. Taking deep inhales, I steadied my breathing somewhat and walked through the entrance, climbing an elevator right to the top floor.

The devil's lair.

As the door dinged open, I stepped out, wiping my clammy hands in my skirt and took in my surroundings. It was an elegant combination of white, gray and black with bits of colors in the antique vases adorning the corners.

"Miss Hazel Green!"

I turned to my right to see a suited man, in his late twenties perhaps, walking down the hall to me. His face occupied a smile as he extended his hand forward, and I shook it.

"Milton Cortez. Manager of Kingston Corporation. Come this way." He pushed open a door to a cabin and led me in. "Sit down."

I did as instructed and scanned my eyes around; a small, black security camera at a corner of the ceiling caught my attention, and I sucked in a sharp breath. If the manager's room was under such observation then it could be perceived the whole floor was as well. Now it just made my task a bit harder than impossible.

My hand reached up, rubbing the side of my temple until I remembered I was in the bounds of someone's vision. I glanced up to see his hawk-like eyes watching me, as if trying to calculate any means of risk.

"So, you are Sarah's cousin willing to work as a substitute till she's done with her treatment abroad," he stated but it came out more as a question.

"Yes." I nodded. Sarah was the previous secretary of Dimitri. I wondered how Montero convinced her to assist on his plan.

"Your mother is ill, so you need a job ASAP."

"Yes."

He leaned back in his seat, crossing his hands in front of his chest. "Tell me, why should we give you the position?"

So I can save those innocent people. But I couldn't say that outloud. "Because I believe a good secretary makes the job of their boss easier and more pleasant, and I'm confident I can be that good secretary if you give me the opportunity."

His lips curved satisfyingly, and he straightened up, glancing down at my documents. "You've the necessary degrees and experience." Stippling his fingers, he gazed at me again. "Ms Green, do you think there's something you should inform me about?"

My stomach churned inside, and fear clutched onto my heart. I used my real documents because none of them were ever associated with Montero to even spark a doubt. Even my last name was from my real father. But did he suspect something? The helpless faces of the old-age home members surfaced in my mind, and I brushed down all my fear, acquiring back my confidence. "Sure, I'm a bit nitpicky."

Suddenly he stood up and extended his hand. His expression, however, gave no indication of his decision. I smiled which never reached my eyes. Please, God, let me have the job, or Montero will do something wrong. Praying in my head, I copied his motion and shook hands.

"Congratulations, Ms Green. You got the job."

I gasped. "Thank you!" For the first time in my life, I was both elated and frightened at the same time. Because I could help my family and because I would have to betray a devil-like man.

Mr. Cortez reached into his drawer and drew out a folder. "Here's your job description. You will have to sign here."

Nodding, I went through the instructions and signed in the required sections. Then he escorted me to my cabin beside the CEO's and told me to wait till Mr. Kingston came back from a meeting. Surreptitiously, my eyes darted towards the ceiling and as expected, the small camera right behind me at the corner, added to my stress.

It was as if someone dropped me into the ocean and tasked me to snatch food from the sharks.

Sighing, I walked towards the window and looked down at the bustling city outside. All my life, I had been known for loyalty everywhere I went, but look where life threw me into. It was a test or bad luck, I didn't know. All I knew was that I had to bury my virtue and do what it took to save my family.

Moments passed before the telephone at my desk beeped, signaling the call from the CEO's office. My hand shot up, rubbing the spot over my throbbing heart as I paced around the room. "I can do it. I have to do it. Deep breaths, Haze, deep breaths," I told myself, inhaling and exhaling like a lunatic.

The phone beeped once again, snapping me out of my panic trance. Picking up the tab, I hustled out of my cabin towards the CEO's and knocked.

"Come in," came a sharp reply.

Clutching the tab to stop the trembling in my hands, I entered the room, my eyes widening in amazement. It was five times the size of my cabin, even bigger than Montero's. A floor-to-ceiling window occupied an entire wall, giving a magnificent view of the skyscrapers of downtown Chicago and before that stood a man towering over six feet, hands in his slack pockets. His dark vest hugged his broad shoulders and firm back perfectly.

"Sir, you cal-"

"Since you're new-" he spoke in a deep voice, cutting me off, "-you should know three things about me. One-" He slowly turned, "I do not like tardiness. Two-", His dark eyes gazed straight into my lighter ones, "-I like my deals private. Three-" A blazing fire seemed to take over his vision as his jaw clenched dangerously, "-I detest liars."

The words came out of his mouth with such venom, it rendered me terror-stricken since I stepped foot in this cabin. I sat across from him, listening to his schedules and noting them down, my fingers trembling over the keys on the iPad. But my heart, however, pounded from only fear I couldn't say for my eyes were glued to the hazardous beauty before me and ears to his silvery voice.

His looks were something that stopped people in their tracks, urging to look once more, to devour the handsomeness to the eyes' content; features so sharp and defined as if molded out of granite, midnight hair so thick and lustrous my hand etched to run through them, and those catastrophic gray eyes if wished could bring out even the darkest of one's secrets with one glance.

But I had to control myself, yet I couldn't until he looked up from his laptop. Tearing my gaze, I peered down, my ears burning like it took a visit to the Sahara desert. Fear, fascination: so many incompatible emotions ran through me that my head felt dizzy, and breathing came out short.

"Here."

I looked up to see him pushing a bottle of water my way, and I took it, bringing the container to my lips and gulping down half of its content.

"Thank you," I replied, timidly, pushing the bottle back to him, and he thrusted it aside with one long finger, his eyes, all the while, never leaving mine.

He then grabbed a manila folder from the pile of files beside him on his fuscous desk and stretched it to me. "Read it, analyze it and prepare a presentation for tomorrow's meeting."

"Yes, sir." His smooth, insistent voice drew out a reply from me without even my command.

Then in a dismissive manner, his finger moved, and he went back to tapping the keyboard of his laptop to destruction.

Nodding, I stood up in my wobbly feet and walked out of his office. What was wrong with me? Why did I feel that way around him? Shaking my head, I breathed deep, trying to remind myself of my god-forsaken mission. The faster I did my task, the sooner I could get out of here. But the question was could I do it with every fibre in my body consenting against it? Could I really sacrifice my morals?

"Miss Green."

I jumped, startled, the folder slipping from my hand and papers scattering around the hallway. Great!

"Oh, did I scare you? I'm sorry, Ms Green." Mr Cortez rushed to me, and began picking up the papers.

"No, no. No problem. I was just in another world," saying, I bent down as well and gathered the rest of the papers.

On standing back up, he glanced at a paper. "The IL land project." Then his eyes met back mine as he handed me the folder. "You can ask me if you need any help with it." He smiled. "Or anything at all," he added quickly.

Unlike his boss, this man was nice and polite. Dark brown curls and soft blue eyes gifted him a stern yet friendly look whereas Mr. Kingston possessed an aura of sterling authority and danger. If I wasn't in such a mess, I'd definitely consider befriending him. "Thanks! I will."

Not wasting another moment, I got back to my desk and began reading the file. From the look of it, he was buying lands from some real estate company and planning to build a private resort for some big shot aristocrat. All I had to do was point out all the strategies, state the cost analysis and give a lucid conclusion on why he should give us the deal.

Such an easy task to do on the first day of a job. -note the sarcasm-

It was already 12:20 on the clock. Even if I skipped my lunch, I wouldn't be able to finish it before the meeting tomorrow morning. Letting out a huff, I got to work until my phone vibrated beside me, and I glanced at the caller ID, almost jumping out of my seat to block it from the camera.

What did he want now?

Clutching my phone, I rushed out of my cabin and checked the other cabins beside mine. Thankfully, both were out for lunch, so I walked to the bathroom in the hall, closed the door and received the call.

"I can't do it. Please, find someone else to do it."

"Congratulations on getting the job! I believe you have some information for me," he stated, completely neglecting my plea.

"Can't you hear? I can't do it!" I snapped.

"Oh, sorry, I can't hear a thing over your loved ones' agonies," he spoke with such rejoice, it grated at my nerves, and my heart squeezed painfully.

"You monster..."

"Time's ticking away, Haze. Tick tock, tick tock..."

My head fell back, hitting the wall behind, and a frustrated sigh left my mouth. "He-He's working on... making a deal with some..." My fingers bent into a fist, "...Mr. Vancouver," I gritted out.

"Good. Now get close to Kingston, find out his new projects and inform me." Then he hung up.

I slid down the wall, warm liquid rolling down my cheeks like waterfalls. This was a fight between my conscience and fear, and looked like fear was overpowering everything else. Why did it have to happen to me? All I wanted was to give those vagabond people a happy place for the little time they had left. But look what happened...

Mom, why aren't you here when I need you the most?

On the ringing my phone once again, I glanced at the screen. It was the reminder I set for Dimitri Kingston's conference call with a client. Sighing, I stood back to my feet and fixed my smudged eyeliner and hurried to the conference room. He was already back and on a call on the huge screen hung on the wall across him. Noticing me, he put up one long finger, signaling me out, not even sparing a glance my way as he dismissed me.

"Sorry, sir." I nodded, exiting the room, and his previous speech came to my mind. 'I like my deals private.'

Please, by all means, make everything private, so I don't know a thing.

I had already wasted a lot of time, even skipped lunch which my growling stomach made damn sure to remind me every minute of the hour, but by the end of my office period, I had the presentation typed and ready. Now only it had to be printed onto papers and made into some copies which I hoped could be done in the morning because my eyes felt strained and hips ready to hit the bed.

I dragged myself to the CEO's office and knocked.

"Hm," came his reply, indicating he felt no better than me.

Entering, I walked to his table. He was staring at his laptop, apparently, still having the energy to work. In sheer concentration, his brows knitted slightly and jaw twitched. If the situation was different, I'd actually be drooling over this man right now, or perhaps I did already.

Wait! Where did this come from?

Shaking my head, I cleared my throat in case he forgot I was there. "Sir, the presentation's done." And thanks for making my first day at work a day straight from hell. Which I deserved honestly to say.

"Hm."

I breathed deep, crossing my fingers behind my back and praying in my head. "Only the printing and copying is left that hopefully can be done in the morning?"

"Hm."

"Huh?" I blinked at his answer. It wasn't much of a word, but it was still in my favor. He was actually letting me off?

A smile spread across my mouth when he finally looked up, and his hand lifted, tapping on the small device on his ear and unattaching it. "You were saying?"

The smile vanished from my face as fast as it came, and my jaw hung slightly. He was on a video call or something while I kept blabbering like an idiot? He could have just warned me like he always fancied, putting up his darn fine finger.

Before I could repeat back my previous lines, another knock sounded at the door, and on the boss's approval, Mr. Cortez rushed in, his expression was one of urgency and stress. "Sir, we got a rival bidding on the IL project as well."

Mr. Kingston's brows furrowed, nonchalantly. "Who?"

"Daniel Montero."