Chapter 28 - Magia

I arrived late to my meeting and Alex didn't let me forget that. When I walked into the boardroom all eyes were on me, I regained my composure and apologized for coming late, there was a lot of stares, but nothing else. I sat through the meeting and managed to put in as much input as Alex would allow. Nicholas was right about the board members being on his side. They seemed to hang onto his every word like he was their mini god.

After the meeting and they all cleared out, I stayed a bit because I wanted to talk to him, he must have gotten the memo because he walked straight towards me.

Money was slowly making him unrecognizable. He was already looking like a snobby  millionaire who had tons of daddy's money to spare. And it all came from the new attitude he had acquired.

He was already wearing nice designer suits and styling his hair the way my father used to. And he walked around with a chip on his shoulder.

Unbelievable!

He scowled at me as he stopped in front of me.

"You seem to think that because you own the place you can waltz in at anytime."

He said as I got ready to walk out of the boardroom. I grabbed my purse as I gave him a tense smile. Nicholas's warning echoed in my head. I had to play it cool. I didn't want to annoy him. He was a killer.

"You're the chairman. Not me." I said with a sugar sweet saccharine smile.

"Besides, I was preoccupied." I added.

Alex raised an eyebrow, probably surprised by my sudden demeanor.

"I heard the police came by this morning . I hope you're not going to be putting us in any trouble."

I tensed as he said that. I had no doubt that Michael had told him that. I was going to have to deal with Michael very soon, he was becoming more annoying than the gossip blogs.

I narrowed my eyes at him. A small smile on my face. I couldn't hide my apparent irritation.

"Why don't you just stick to what you know and stop sniffing for gossip? I'm sure you have lots to do."

Alex's eyes travelled to Jace who had followed me to the company and stood outside the boardroom the entire meeting. I couldn't blame him for noticing to be honest, Jace was wearing black clothes again and boots. He looked very obvious in the office. I could have asked him to change, but I didn't remember to.

"And who is that?"

He asked and I ignored him.

"When are the interviews for the next CEO commencing? I want to be a part of it."

"Why? Why should you?"

"This is still my father's company, seeing as you've decided not to reveal your true identity. Important decisions like these should be made with me present."

Alex looked like he was about to argue with me, then he shrugged.

"Fair enough. I'll send you the candidates we have in mind concerning that."

I nodded.

"I want them now."

Alex shrugged.

"I'll have my secretary send it to your assistant."

I nodded.

"I'll text my assistant to get them from her immediately."

I brought out my phone and started texting Lisa.

Alex scoffed, but when he realized that I wasn't paying attention to him anymore, he left. 

........

I told Jace to drive me, I had fired Crowley. He begged and he begged, but no one else could have known that I was meeting Dawson except him. And Dawson had been in the private investigator game for years and he died when he took on my case?!

I was already getting paranoid enough, I couldn't stand having staff that were against me. I was already up against Alex and Michael, I didn't need the people on my payroll working for him either. So I fired him.

In the car, Jace kept staring at me and I could tell something was on his mind.

"What?!"

I finally asked and he sighed.

"You haven't really said anything about the package."

"What's there to say?"

I answered as I looked out the window.

"Someone messed up thinks I'm Arcani scum. How's that my problem?"

I muttered.

"You should ask your husband."

I rolled my eyes.

"You suspect him?"

I asked and Jace nodded.

"He knows something. He knows and he's Itzam. They know that he has a reason for marrying you. They probably found out already."

"You're telling me they don't think that we could have just fallen in love and gotten married like any normal couple?"

I asked and Jace nodded.

"I don't think you fully grasp or understand how horrible Nicholas Moretti's clan is. They are self serving righteous bastards who think they're above every other clans. And they only do things that benefit them."

I rolled my eyes.

"You certainly don't miss any opportunity to dunk on them...."

"But it still doesn't make any sense you know? If they hate me, why would they want me?!"

Jace nodded.

"Good question. You know this saying about jealousy being love and hate?"

I shook my head.

"No I don't."

"Anyways as much as they fear and hate you, they also secretly want you. There's a lot of high society clan members secretly obsessed with the idea of mating with the Arcani to see what powerful combo they can make."

"Your husband is one of them."

I was quiet for a while.

I folded my arms with a frown on my face.

"And how do you know that?"

I asked and Jace sighed.

"I told you. I have eyes and ears everywhere."

"Nicholas Moretti is a special kind of breed. He's obsessed with perfection. He only dates high end women from the high end magical clans. They said he takes special care in selecting women that are supposedly not compatible with the Itzam. He's very devoted to his clan but he's also known for his crazy views when it comes to intermarrying. He must have been obsessed with your kind."

"Why are you telling me all these things about him?! Especially now?!"

Jace shrugged. 

"I just want you to know more about the kind of man you married."

"And I want you to know that he might be the one putting you in danger."

"Enough."

I demanded. I couldn't take it anymore.

"I have an headache."

...............

"You're back so soon?"

I asked as I looked up from my dinner. Nicholas nodded. He looked exhausted. He had taken off his tie and he had rolled off the sleeves of his shirt.

He looked tired.

“I was told you were here. Can we talk?”

Since Alex and Michael were in the house I started eating my dinner upstairs in the second family room. It had a generous view of the garden and I could sit with my meal and eat. It was a better place for me to eat. I even told Nicholas about it so he could have his meals up there in solitude.

“Yes. What’s up?”

I asked and he looked around.

“Don’t worry. Alex isn’t home yet. And Michael left shortly after coming back home.”

Probably to go meet Selena and stuff her face with his I presumed.

“Okay. I found out something… I’m not sure you’re going to like it.”

My ears perked up.

“What is it? I hope it’s not bad news.”

Nicholas shook his head.

“It’s not. It’s about Alex.”

“Well… spit it out!”

I urged him.

Nicholas groaned.

“I was doing some digging on him. On his mother. I just found out she is from a high magical clan.”

“She’s from the Magia clan.”

I shook my head wearily.

I guess my dad really had a thing for women who weren’t in his clans.

“And apparently Alex knows about his clan history because there’s a picture of him from two years ago where he attended one of his clan society meetings.”

“The changes things…”

I murmured and Nicholas nodded.

“Alex might know my true clan.”

Then I remembered the threatening package I got.

Could it have been from him?

Jace probably didn’t think so.

“Before your father died, we spoke extensively on the topic, I don’t think your father told him about you in that regard, but you mentioned that he said something about a deadly family secret that you’d like to hide. I wonder if he was referring to this.”

I shrugged.

“It has to be this right? This is what he has against me?!”

I scoffed.

Nicholas shook his head.

“Now let’s not decided too hastily, but it could be true…”

I sighed.

Just great.

The one person who shouldn’t know about me might know.

But could it be Alex?

Could he have sent the package too?

Playing mind games with me wasn’t his style. He was always direct in his approach.

Besides, I had a gut feeling that the package was sent by someone completely different.

I didn’t know who it was yet, but I knew that I had my work cut out for me.

“That reminds me…”

He pulled me out of my thoughts.

“What?”

I asked and Nicholas hesitated at first.

“My mother’s birthday is coming up this weekend. They’re inviting us to her birthday dinner. I think it will be a great way for you to meet my family.”

“Hmmm..”

I murmured, contemplating his words.

“It’s just one night with them. No more. What do you say?”

One night with a room full of Morettis who happened to be part of the supposedly volatile Itzam clan.

What could go wrong?

“Sure!”