Chapter 24 : In the centre of two powerful men

"Mara, Mara, guess what???" Paloma burst into her room, her eyes sparkling like diamonds. "You won't believe the amazing news I have to tell you!"

"Not today, Paloma," Mars said as she groggily lifted her head, her hair a tangled mess.

 "I'm sure this will brighten your day if you hear me out," Paloma said as she pulled the pillow off Mars's head.

"There is no brightness for me. I'm stuck in the night," Mars said. "Forever," she added as she slumped back onto the bed.

"Guess who is in town!" Paloma said, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Your period? I'm happy for you, at least you know you're not pregnant," Mars said.

"Come on," Paloma said with a chuckle as she rushed to a huge picture frame Mara had hanging in her room. "It's Liam! He's back in town!"

 "Your idol is in town," Paloma said, and Mara immediately jumped off the bed.

"How... How did you find out?" Mara asked, her jaw dropping with excitement.

"Let's just say I have my ways," Paloma giggled.

"There is no way he is here," Mara said as she quickly grabbed her phone. "Why haven't I seen anything about it on his page?" she asked, briskly scrolling through her phone.

"I heard it's only been a week since he returned, so it will take time for him to at least upload something," Paloma said.

"Well, you are right," Mara said, then jumped up happily. "I can't believe Liam is actually back!"

….....................

"Mr. Warren, the files for the project we will be working on are ready," Mr. Moon said as he handed them over.

"Alright, Mr. Moon. You can leave them here. I'll go through them after I finalize the details," Mr. Warren III said as he leaned back in his chair. His mind kept wandering to her. Mara was all he could see. He couldn't believe it.

He was getting distracted, and it was by a woman, unbelievable. He rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. Why was he having these feelings? He didn't have time for this. He had a company to run and a legacy to uphold.

As he sat there, frustrated and unable to control himself, he crumbled the paper in front of him, tearing it into pieces. "Ahhhh," he exclaimed, quickly standing up and pacing around the room.

He sat back in his chair, trying hard to focus on the work in front of him. His phone buzzes with a new notification. He grabs his phone, and glances at the pop-up notification, annoyed that it interrupted him, but the message catches his eye.

The message reads, "If you want to win a lady, try getting her what she wants. Gift and be nice to her."

With an eye roll, he lets out a deep sigh of frustration. He stares at the message for a moment and imagines himself acting nice to Mara.

''What an eye saw'' he said as he quickly shook his head, trying to dismiss the thought. But after a few seconds, he can't help himself and clicks on it almost instinctively.

He sat back in his chair, trying hard to focus on the work in front of him. His phone buzzes with a new notification. He grabs his phone, and glances at the pop-up notification, annoyed that it interrupted him, but the message catches his eye.

The message reads, "If you want to win a lady, try getting her what she wants. Gift and be nice to her."

With an eye roll, he lets out a deep sigh of frustration. He stares at the message for a moment and imagines himself acting nice to Maira. He quickly shakes his head, trying to dismiss the thought. But after a few seconds, he can't help himself and clicks on it almost instinctively.

…......................…

Sitting alone at the cafeteria during lunch break, she scrolls through her phone, waiting for her idol to make a post about his stay in California.

Suddenly, she felt a splash of liquid on her shirt and lap. She quickly stood up and looked up to see three coworkers, led by Kate, who had her arms folded and was looking at her with a smirk.

"Oh, clumsy us," Kate crowd, looking at Mara from head to toe. "Looks like someone needs to wash herself," she said as her friends behind her started to laugh.

"Total mess," Cleo added, and they burst into laughter.

Mara looked at them with fury in her eyes, her clothes stained with soup and sauce. "You did this on purpose! Now you've messed up my whole outfit," Mara said, her voice burning with embarrassment and anger.

"What if we did?" Kate said, her smirk growing wider as her friends snickered behind her.

"You're going to regret this, Kate, each of you," Mara said, pointing her hand at them.

"I'm shaking in my heels, Mara. What else can you do other than give empty threats?" Kate sneered.

Mara's eyes stung with tears as she gathered her things and walked away.

….......

As she hurried down the hallway that led to the washroom, she collided and fell with someone she least expected. Her heart raced as she found herself staring up at him, their faces inches apart.

"Are you okay?" His voice was low and husky as he stretched his hand out to her, his eyes locked onto hers, sending shivers down her spine.

Mara nodded, her voice caught in her throat. She couldn't believe this was happening. Her idol, the man she had fantasized about for years, was standing in front of her, stretching his hand out to help her up.

"Oh my, oh my, is this a dream?" she muttered to herself as her face lit up with excitement. But her excitement was quickly replaced with embarrassment as she remembered her stained clothes. She tried to hide the stain with her hands.

The man's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze flickering on the stain and back to her face.

Mara made a forced smile.

"Let me help," he said, his hand brushing against hers as he helped her up.

"What are you doing here?" Mr. Warren III's voice was sharp as he approached, his gaze fixed furiously on Nicolas.

"I came to see you," Nicolas responded calmly, though his hand remained intertwined with Mara's.

Warren's gaze lingered on their clasped hands before returning to Nicolas's face.

"A golf play doesn't make one close enough to start visiting," Max said, his expression hardening as he stared at them.

"Well, you are right," Nicolas admitted, his tone calm.

"And you, why are you wandering around during work hours?" Max's gaze shifted to Nicolas, though his question was directed at Mara.

"I-I was going to the washroom to clean up," Mara stammered nervously, feeling caught in the middle.

"So why aren't you there yet?" Warren's gaze seemed to drift for a moment before returning to Mara.

"I will get her new clothes. If you don't mind, I will take her away for 30 minutes," Nicolas offered with a slight smile directed at Mara.

"What makes you think you can just come to my workplace and claim my employees?" Mr. Warren III's voice was firm, his gaze unwavering.

Mara, sensing the tension, tried to pull her hand free, but Nicolas held it firmly.

"I want to claim this one," Nicolas declared, his voice resonating in the room.

Without another word, Mr Warren III walked closer and held Mara's other hand. "I will get her a new dress myself," he said, his tone challenging.

"I already requested that," Nicolas retorted, holding firmly to Mai's other hand.

Mara found herself the center of both men with Max firmly grasping her hands and refusing to let go.

After 2 minutes of both men tugging at Mara's hands, Nicolas let go. "I will let you have it this time," Nicolas said, smiling, but Mr. Warren dragged Mara's hands along with him, paying no attention to Nicolas.