8 A Threat

Jeannie's mind was working at full speed as she tried to assimilate what the Prince was trying to do. As she took the folder with steady hands, what the prince said almost made her tremble.

"You are a non profit organization. You have worked hard to help countless women to move on and stand back on their feet. For this you have received millions of dollars in charity by conducting events like the one from that night.. But what will happen if it is revealed that there has been embezzling in your organization? And the Vice President has taken millions of such dollars for her own personal use? The people who had all participated in these events will not be the only ones wo will have felt cheated. And then there will be countless other investigations from trafficking of drugs to money laundering."

"How dare you? Prince Christopher!" Snapping the file shut, Jeannie burst out, "Who do you think you are? I have never taken a single penny from the organization other than my salary! Are you saying that you are going to file false allegations to have your way! I think I have been polite enough to try and reason with you. If you are offended over me ordering you about that night to take off your clothes, and this is your idea of petty revenge, then I am still willing to get on my knees and apologize like you wanted.!"

"Interesting that you would make such a claim, Miss Jeannie! I was just testing you to see if you were a part of the big scam. Let me tell you if you are then you deserve an Oscar for your acting. But if you are not, then you need to give up your fancy management degree! Your head accountant has been using your name to siphon off money from the organization. Open the file and there you will the proofs! I can see this has come as a shock. But Princess Jeannie, let me tell you I will not back away from using this to execute you and your organization's reputation if you don't agree with what I want. And then no one is going to give your organization a single penny in the future. Also all those women who are depending on your work? They will have to look for some place else."

Jeannie took the file with trembling hands. How was that possible. Her accountant was one of the first women that this organization had helped to get back on her feet. She had lived first hand the circumstances that the women who came for shelter went through! Ni Na had been part of their struggle when the organization had been unable to pay her anything. But now that they were able to pay some of their volunteers, Nina's salary had been quite fair. Also, she had offered Nina a better paying opportunity in the past but the woman had refused adamantly, claiming that she wanted to help women like her. How could she have done something so despicable...

Grabbing the file back from the man's hand, Jeannie leafed through it carefully. The proof was there. The files had proof of Nina's extravagant life style and some of the vouchers had also been marked as fake..

Jeannie felt her brain spin and her bodu swayed lightly as if she would fall any second. A faint buzzing sound seemed to be taking over her brain and she knew that she needed to get out of here. She was in shock.

Composing herself, she looked at the Prince. She could see it in his eyes. The determination. The ruthlessness. The man would not relent even if she begged. He had an ulterior motive in seeking her out and he would do anything.. even destroy all those women just to get what he wanted. And Nina.. no her own stupidity had made them play right into his hands.

"Please give me some time to clear my head.."

Prince Christopher nodded. Since he had achieved what he wanted for now, he was willing to be magnanimous in victory. "You have time till our date to decide. But let me repeat myself just once, Miss Jeannie, you will either marry me or be ruined. So I hope you will choose wisely."

Without a word and with a simple nod, Jeannie walked out of the room, clutching the file to her chest. She had come here with the intention to shock the Prince and let him know that she would not give in to blackmail. But now.. the tables had been turned. It was not just about her anymore.

As Christopher watched the door that had just closed behind the woman, he went to sit on the couch with a sigh. He had not expected to feel bad for the woman. In fact he should have been happy that she had made such a foolish mistake and now he would be able to use it against her.