CHAPTER 5 - CROSSING HER PATH

As they jogged towards the house, MG led the way, heading to his room on the same floor as Emris, using the elevator for convenience. Entering the bathroom, she bathed him tenderly, then blow-dried his hair before guiding him to her room.

She entered the familiar, pristine room, enveloped in a soft, hazy light seeping through heavy white and black drapes drawn across the windows. The walls wore a soothing shade of olive black, casting a serene ambiance, while the plush carpet underfoot absorbed any noise, creating a tranquil atmosphere

In the heart of the room stood a grand king-sized bed, adorned with a pristine black duvet and plump pillows. Its majestic headboard boasted an ornate wrought-iron design, gleaming in glossy black, complemented by bedside tables adorned with matching lamps. Adorning the walls, framed photographs captured cherished memories, while a sizable ornate mirror elegantly reflected the room's essence

In one corner, a lengthy shelf showcased an array of trinkets collected from travels abroad. Every soft furnishing and piece of furniture exuded the same serene black hue. The room emanated a cozy tranquility, a true sanctuary from the tumultuous world beyond its walls.

As she tapped her hands twice, the lights flooded the room, illuminating it beautifully. MG made his way to the bed, sinking into its comfort, while Emris headed to the bathroom to begin her day. Inside, she filled the bathtub with cold water, enveloping herself in its embrace. White bubbles filled the tub, partially concealing her figure, leaving only her collarbone and elegant shoulders visible. Like a fairy, her ethereal beauty seemed to float in the air. After indulging in the soothing soak for half an hour, she emerged feeling refreshed. Drying off and applying skincare products, she then moved to her walk-in closet, conveniently connected to the bathroom through a glass door, allowing her seamless access without stepping out.

Entering the walk-in closet, she was captivated by the sight of the dressing mirror adorned with gold and diamond inlays, which reflected her graceful figure. Her copper-red, waist-length curls cascaded over her shoulders like seaweed, complementing her fair skin and lips as red as peach blossoms, enhancing her ethereal beauty. Her hazel cat eyes shimmered like a galaxy, embodying the essence of a truly stunning woman. With a quick shake of her head, she refocused her attention on the array of clothes awaiting her selection.

In this section lay an array of garments, footwear, and handbags from the latest season's collections of premier luxury brands. The predominant hues were shades of black, with occasional sightings of white and dark purple, albeit in limited quantities. These pops of color were primarily reserved for accessories such as bags, shoes, and coats.

Emris prepared for the occasion in a sleek ensemble: a tailored black shirt, three buttons undone, coupled with a meticulously crafted custom suit that hugged her form exquisitely. Completing her attire were black high heels, adding a touch of sophistication and professionalism to her ensemble. The suit's tailored silhouette cinched at her waist, enhancing her already graceful figure.

She adorned her wrist with a limited edition Rolex diamond-designed wristwatch, elegantly paired with a delicate silver bracelet. Adding a touch of refinement, she accessorized with a unique silver miniature angel diamond necklace, boasting at least 7 carats, resting gracefully upon her décolletage.

The diamond necklace, accompanied by a pair of matching diamond earrings, was a heartfelt gift from Xavier. Designed to be a cohesive set, they were a testament to their shared bond and impeccable taste.

Glancing towards another part of the room, where the dressing table stood, Emris approached and opened its drawer, filled with luxury brands of women's skincare products and cosmetics. She retrieved her makeup tools, opting for a light application, consisting of just a base and an eyebrow pencil. With a deep red lipstick applied, she gathered her hair into a neat high ponytail, revealing her smooth forehead, untouched by highlighter but radiating a natural, full glow.

Pleased with her appearance, she emerged from the walk-in closet, meeting MG's gaze with a smile.

"How do I look, boy?" she asked.

Noticing his approving expression, she sensed he liked her outfit. He was a snow wolf with silver-white fur, standing at half her height. Bringing him along to Armenia, she left him in his room last night while she attended the banquet. The thought of going without him unsettled her, prompting her to make it up to him today.

"Let's go boy."

They headed to her study to review some information before heading to the office. Entering her password, the study door opened automatically.

"Welcome, Madam; welcome, MG," greeted a feminine voice as the room lit up the moment they walked in. It was Keevan, the AI intelligence installed in Emris's study.

The walls were painted in the same olive black hue, while antique side lights mounted on them cast a warm glow, illuminating the delicate carvings of the ornate ceramic furniture. A large bookshelf dominated one wall, crammed with well-worn novels and leather-bound volumes, a testament to a lifetime of erudition and learning. Nestled in one corner was a wingback armchair, its cushions invitingly soft, beckoning for a reader to sink into its embrace.

On the opposite wall, a portrait hung in a gilded frame, depicting a stern-faced man with a piercing gaze. The painting appeared to follow one's movements, its eyes unwavering, as if daring the viewer to come closer. In the center of the room, a large transparent glass desk sat, adorned with a laptop and some files. It was a place of quiet contemplation and intellectual pursuits, where ideas were born and great works created.

"Thank you, Keevan. Open the file on the recent developments of the company," she commanded.

Receiving a beeping response, she leaned back in her chair while MG rested in the armchair.

"Ma, everything seems fine except for the emergence of rivalry from Kaczmarek Enterprise, which led to the unfortunate sinking of one of our ships at sea."

She narrowed her hazel eyes, a dangerous aura emanating from her. "Did we lose anyone?" she asked, her gaze fixed on the visual screen before her."

"No Ma, all your men are accounted for. Only a few got injured."

Her lips curled into a smile, yet her eyes remained icy as frost. "The Kaczmarek really made quite a mess this time, didn't they, MG?"

"Howlll...."

Her eye darkened, "Keevan you know what to do right?"

"Yes Madam."

"Alright, also gather all available information on Chaya Smith, keep track of her, and secure lucrative contracts that could enhance her popularity. Remember, the higher she rises, the greater the potential for a dramatic downfall."

"Yes Madam."

"Very well then."

As she left the study with MG, she checked her surveillance camera on her phone and noticed everyone was at dinner except for Dawson and herself.

"Have your breakfast and be here in two hours," Emris's voice was low and frosty as she instructed her assistant before ending the call.

Emris crouched in front of MG, her long, slender palm instinctively patting MG's head. "MG, how about we head over to Dawson's floor and got with him for breakfast?" Her familiar, calming voice softened as it reached MG's ears.

Seeing him wag his tail, she stood and stepped into the elevator, heading toward the third floor.

'The elevator came to a stop with a 'dingggg' echoing through the air.

Her face lit up with a smile as she knocked on Dawson's door.

"Who's there?" Suddenly a low and icy voice, devoid of any warmth came from inside the room.

Emris wasn't surprised to hear his voice. Despite her brother's jovial nature, he cherished his personal space. She leaned in, gently urging, "Dawson, shall we go down for breakfast together?"

As soon as he heard his sister's voice, his own softened, and he spoke in a gentle, affectionate tone. "Come in, Princess."

She went forward to embrace her brother as she entered the room "Thanks for last night D."

A smile graced his lips as he observed her gestures. Dawson shared a special bond with Emris, one that allowed her to confide in him. "You're welcome, Princess. Did you manage to get enough sleep last night?"

At the question, her thoughts drifted back to the previous night. Despite taking the pills, she had only managed a scant two hours of sleep. Ever since the incident two years ago, she had struggled with sleep.

She had tended to some unfinished tasks until dawn before heading out for a jog with MG. However, she chose not to divulge these details to Dawson, wanting to spare him any worry.

"Yeah, and I owe you for that." She deceived her brother

"Really?" Dawson narrowed his eyes as he asked

"Yes, although it wasn't that long but I had a good night rest."

Dawson sensed Emris was deceiving him, but he felt powerless to confront her. Despite his suspicions, he replied, 'That's reassuring.'"

"So how does this big brother of yours look?" Dawson continued

"You look stunning," Dawson remarked. Emris breathed a sigh of relief when he didn't press further. Despite detecting doubt in his eyes, she wasn't prepared for another interrogation; she had a mountain of unfinished work awaiting her attention.

"Come on, let's go. I'm sure we're the only ones not at dinner," she urged, pulling Dawson along with MG following closely behind.

"How are you, MG?" Dawson inquired, receiving a nod from MG as they entered the elevator.

"That's good. Will he be joining you at the office?" Dawson glanced at the wolf trailing closely behind his sister. His parents remained unaware that the pet Emris had brought back was actually a wolf; they all mistook it for a Samoyed.

"Yeah," Emris replied, stepping out of the elevator as soon as it reached the ground floor.

Heading to the dining area, Dawson pulled out a chair for Emris before taking a seat beside her, with MG settling on a cushion mat beside Emris's leg.

"Good morning, everyone," Emris greeted as her dad signaled for the maid to begin serving them.

"Good morning, Princess. How was your night?" her dad, David Yales, inquired.

"It was fine Dad." Emris beamed with smiles

Eldora Yales gazed at her daughter with affectionate eyes before inquiring, "Are you prepared for your debut at the office? You positively glow."

"Thank you, Mommy." Emris replied, her smile still beaming.

"Please serve his meal; he'll be joining me." Emris directed the maid with a glance.

"Yes, young miss." The maid replied attending to MG.

"Hey, will MG be accompanying you to the office? Won't he be a distraction?" Xavier inquired.

"Of course not, he's always helpful, not distracting," she replied, her gaze fixed on MG, who was already eating.

Dawson requested, "Can I take him out for a walk tomorrow?"

Emris quickly retorted, "No way, not my MG. Go buy your own pet."

Dawson scoffed, "Ahh, you and I know he's not supposed to be kept as a pet."

Emris's countenance changed. "What did you just say?"

Dawson wanted to say more but quickly swallowed his words when he saw her expression. He immediately knew he had gotten on his little sister's nerves, which wouldn't end well.

"It's okay, let's eat," David Yales said, making them stop and start eating. He knew if he didn't intervene, they wouldn't be able to have breakfast peacefully.

"We'll see," Emris said to Dawson with a sinister smile.

From her smile, Dawson knew he was finished. He just hoped she wouldn't be too hard on him.

Halfway through the meal, the TV in the dining room showed the news channel airing some reports.

"A few minutes ago, the parent company of the Kaczmareks exploded, leaving it in ruins. Experts speculate that there was no sign of bomb detonation in the company, so we're left wondering how it could just explode."

Within two minutes of the confirmed explosion, another report emerged featuring a journalist at the seaport.

"Three minutes ago, confirmation arrived that both the ships at sea and those docked at the port, owned by the Kaczmarek family, suffered tank leaks, resulting in the port explosions. The vessels at sea began sinking abruptly, without warning. Thankfully, all workers have been safely evacuated, prompting speculation: 'Who could they have offended?' Or was it merely a coincidence?"

It was evident that the Kaczmarek shares had plummeted to an all-time low. Observing these developments, Emris felt a sense of satisfaction. No one dared to cross her path and assume she would overlook it.

Reflecting on the events of yesterday's banquet, she regarded Chaya as a petulant individual, displaying a rather unpleasant demeanor.

'What if the Smiths were to endure a fate similar to the Kaczmareks?' Emris pondered, contemplating the retribution she would mete out.

She loves the feeling of trampling on those who think they could outsmart her.

But she quickly dismissed her thoughts about the Smith family, knowing she couldn't blame the daughter's sins on her parents. Instead, she resolved to make her suffer until she wished she hadn't crossed Emris's path.

"Who have the Kaczmareks offended this time?" David asked, glancing towards his children.

He knew what his children were capable of, even though they might appear quiet. When they decided to punish someone, they didn't back down. He just hoped their attitude wouldn't influence his darling Princess.

If Emris could hear her father's thoughts, she would have choked on the food she was eating.

"I don't think it's any of us, Dad," Emris started to say, but she was interrupted by the sound of her phone. Glancing at the screen, she saw a text from her personal assistant informing her of her arrival..

Emris elegantly retrieved the handkerchief beside her and dabbed her mouth before swiftly grabbing her bag, signaling to MG that it was time to leave as she excused herself from the dining room. "I've got to go. Let's go, boy," she said, standing up and departing before her parents could respond.

Approaching her car, Emris noticed Cheryl Nesby engrossed in her phone.

Seeing the boss approaching, she bowed respectfully.

"Ma'am, is MG coming to the office with you?" Cheryl glanced at the majestic snow wolf, admiring its well-proportioned frame, smooth fur, and absence of stray hairs. It seemed to shimmer in the light as if adorned with the glow of a star.

"Hmm, let's go," Emris said, her expression turning cold, a stark contrast to her previous gentle demeanor. She settled into the back passenger seat with MG, while Cheryl got into her own car and followed behind. Emris cherished her personal space, so Cheryl had to drive separately. A sleek Ferrari stood guard at the front, protecting Emris's car.

"Ma'am, the Kaczmarek family declared bankruptcy this morning," Cheryl informed Emris via the screen on her dashboard.

"Of course they did," Cheryl heard the boss chuckle. She knew Emris was behind the downfall of the Kaczmareks.

'Well, they shouldn't have crossed her in the first place," Cheryl thought.

"Anything else?" Emris Yales asked, not raising her gaze from the laptop she was operating.

"I conducted a background check on Miss Chaya Smith and found out she's an A-list actress represented by the Skylight Group. She seems to have climbed her way up through unconventional means," Cheryl paused, stealing a glance at her boss.

"Oh, this is going to be fun." Emris said smiling

Cheryl sensed the inappropriateness, yet sympathy for Miss Smith welled within her. The boss rarely smiled during business discussions; her smiles were reserved for moments of reprimand. A shiver ran down Cheryl's spine as Emris's warm expression turned icy. She marveled at the boss's ability to shift from bubbly to frigid in an instant.

"Are you deaf. Why are you keeping silent?" she growled

"I'm sorry, Ma," she said, her attention slightly elsewhere, so she didn't catch what Emris was saying to her. All she could manage were words of apology.

"It seems you're weary of your duties. Leave the Chaya Smith affair to Keevan; she's capable of managing everything. Focus your attention on our international operations," Emris stated, abruptly ending the call.

'Did she just mention Keevan?' Cheryl pondered. Emris typically reserved her AI for trivial matters. This revelation could only signify one outcome: Miss Smith's fate was sealed.

>>>>>>

Arriving at the private underground car park, a company guard opened the car door for the person inside.

"Welcome Chairman Ems." the company guard bowed respectfully

The Chairman didn't spare him a glance as he strode towards the elevator.

They all sensed the Chairman's foul mood, so the guard brushed off this action. However, his shock and fear surged when he noticed the creature beside the Chairman. While others might mistake it for a Samoyed dog, he recognized it as no ordinary pet, but a wolf.

The personal assistant couldn't help but smirk at the guard's reaction to the Chairman's pet. She pondered what his response would have been if the other pet of the Chairman had been present.

The personal assistant and the Chairman's personal guards swiftly headed for the elevator designated for the top floor and reserved for the Chairman and CEO. Upon reaching the top floor, they discovered they had arrived before the Chairman.

'That's good' The personal assistant thought breathing a sigh of relief.

She wasn't entirely sure what she had said or what transpired, but on their way to the company, the Chairman began emanating a chilly aura. Cheryl could only hope that no one would provoke the Chairman for the rest of the day.