The Devil's Love For The Heiress

Chapter 7

Chapter 7: The Girl He Left Behind

Taking a deep breath, Carlos tried to control his emotions. He shut his eyes as he took the lift to CSK Apparel, a company he founded with his friend, Alexander.

That day would mark the beginning of his soon–to–be relentless pursuit of the girl, the girl he left behind; Kate Wright.

“Relax, friend. This is the moment you have been waiting for,” Alexander reminded him, and that made Carlos nod.

“I hope I made the right decision,” Carlos expressed. The plan was to see Kate after the end of the French Open, when he was confident everything was safe. However, Alexander convinced him otherwise.

“No one will find out. We just need to be… discrete about your real relationship with Kate,” Alexander suggested. “Besides, your assistant is still in France, covering for both of us.”

Carlos nodded. He knew that he needed to make it clear to his directors that no one must know of his visit too.

At the thought of Kate, Carlos smiled. He was a few minutes away from finally seeing her up close.

It was during his birthday when Carlos last saw Kate. When he noticed her familiar frame walking out of the Four Seasons Hotel‘s grand ballroom, it was too late. That was when he finally understood Hailey‘s objective – her reason for stealing a kiss from him in front of all the guests.

Kate saw Hailey kiss him, and he could only imagine what went through her mind. After the party, he ordered his assistant to have one of his security team follow her. When he learned she got stuck at the airport, Carlos pleaded with JetSuite to arrange a charter flight for Kate.

In the days that followed, Carlos ended his management contract with William Mckenzie. It was inevitable, and William was starting to lose control of his daughter, Hailey. Carlos could not have that. Besides, the only reason he held on to William was due to his contract‘s terms.

William was supposed to manage him for ten years, including the initial years of his training, where he only participated in club matches. Carlos paid the price and canceled the contract with a hefty five million dollar termination fee. Still, freeing himself from William felt good. Carlos ultimately had complete control of his life now.

“Mister Jenkins. Mister Ronaldo. It‘s good to see you.” A woman with glasses greeted them when they stepped outside the elevator doors. Carlos remembered this woman to be Catrina‘s assistant. “Right this way, please. The directors are eager to meet both of you.”

Catrina‘s assistant was already made aware of the conditions of their visit. They took a route through the back of the cubicles where he and Alexander were not visible to the rest of the employees.

Finally, standing in front of the conference door, Carlos sucked in a breath. He gulped, knowing he would eventually see Kate again. Carlos let Alexander enter first, giving him the time to collect himself. When he walked in, he scanned the room in search of Kate. She wasn‘t very hard to find

There she stood, in a beautiful white three–fourth sleeved dress. Her brown hair cascaded down to her chest, and her eyes were glued to his.

Immediately, she took his breath away. Despite how many years had passed, Kate remained to have that charming and youthful glow on her face. It took everything in Carlos not to go over and hold Kate in his arms. Only the heavens knew how much he missed her so.

Before he could decide what to do, Catrina introduced her. Then Kate quickly replied, “It‘s nice to meet you, Mister Jenkins and Mister Ronaldo.”

‘Okay, I probably deserved that,‘ Carlos said in his head. Even if Kate‘s actions drove him away, he knew she deserved an explanation. After the store director was introduced, Carlos welcomed the team of executives. He made sure they understood their importance to the company‘s success. The CSK Apparel was very significant to Carlos, for Kate‘s dreams would come true through this company. Her dream was his altogether. He loved her that way.

While Alexander was talking, Carlos thought of a plan. He had to extend this meeting one way or another. Later on, he would get his chance to have a decent talk with Kate. If not a personal one, at least they could cover work. The goal was to take it slow, let her know he was already within her grasp. After the French Open, then his problems would be over. The said tournament was a few days away.

Having a lightbulb moment, Carlos proposed, “Shall we all have dinner as a team? Somewhere, private?”

Everything was going smoothly until Hailey walked in, declaring her presence, “Oh good! I made it!”

Hailey had that mischievous look as she turned to Carlos, her hands clinging around his arm. She giggled and said, “I wasn‘t so sure if I could make it, but I‘m glad I did. I missed you, Carlos.”

Hailey rubbed it in, and Carlos could only speculate what Kate assumed of them. He tried to show Kate how he disliked Hailey‘s touch, but unfortunately, Kate looked away. Carlos pulled his arm off Hailey‘s grasp, asking with a full frown on his face, “Hailey, what are you doing here?”

Alexander was equally stunned by Hailey‘s arrival. He also sought, “Yeah, how did you get here?”

“Well, Kendra mentioned you would be here, so I came! I flew all the way from New York!” Hailey replied. She sounded jolly and unaffected by how Alexander and Carlos were showing their disappointment in her.

Swiftly, Carlos squinted at Alexander. Kendra was Alexander‘s girlfriend, and wistfully, the woman had formed a bond with Hailey. Kendra was all in for Hailey, and Carlos knew it. Alexander‘s girlfriend had, on many occasions, set him up on a surprise date with Hailey.

Grabbing Hailey‘s arm, Carlos said, “Let‘s go to the office and talk.” He gestured for Catrina and Alexander to follow him, and they all left the conference room.

***

Inside a private office designed explicitly for Carlos and Alexander‘s occasional visit, Hailey was trying to start a friendly conversation with Carlos. She said, “So this is your company. It‘s nice. You should really consider me being one of your business partners. Come on, let me invest.”

“No. I want this business all to myself,” Carlos curtly answered. He huffed, trying to control his anger at that point.

“But you let Alexander be your partner?” Hailey pointed out. She pouted her lips, walking closer to Carlos in a seductive way.

Behind them, Carlos saw the sneer formed on Alexander‘s face. Next to him was Catrina, looking all confused. The stand–in CEO asked, “So, Miss Mckenzie is not your girlfriend?” “She is not and will never be,” Carlos answered Catrina, and he also saw how his reply made Hailey frown.

Hailey tried to cover it with a giggle. She turned to Catrina, suggesting, “He can be amusing sometimes.”

with his jaws clenched, Carlos grabbed Hailey‘s wrist and said, “Hailey, this is the last time that you try to get involved in my life. I warned you after you kissed me at my birthday party, but clearly, that did not get into your head… I tried to be nice and be respectful for all the help your family gave me, but if you

cannot accept that we can only be friends, then I suggest you stay out of my way!” Carlos‘ head snapped in the direction of Catrina, his stand–in CEO. He ordered, “Do not let this woman enter my company ever again. Do not entertain her calls and do not forward any messages coming from her.”

“But Carlos –”

“Alex, escort her out,” Carlos ordered without listening to any more of Hailey‘s cries. After seeing Alexander and Hailey go, he dashed out of the office, returning to the conference room. Unfortunately for him, the room was nearly empty. It was his HR director who remained to wait for him. Arman said, “Miss Wright left, sir.” He gulped. “She looked agitated. I wanted to stop her, but she just… would not listen.” “Arman, take the team to dinner without me. Alex will join you, but I have somewhere I need to be,” Carlos said before turning on his heel and walking away.

“Understood, sir.”

***

Heartbeats later, Carlos was standing in the living room of the Wright Mansion. Kate‘s mother first walked down the long staircase. Her eyes quickly became filled with tears. While taking her steps toward him, she softly called his name. “Carlos?” “Aunt, Sam. Long time no see,” Carlos weakly replied. He took a deep breath and said, “I‘m sorry, I –”

Before he could finish his line, Samantha embraced him tightly. Carlos hugged back, recognizing the unspoken longing from the woman he considered his second mother. Samantha kept crying while securing Carlos in her arms. Her cheek rested on his chest. As she sniffed away her tears, she asked, “Was it worth it? Was it necessary to leave?” With his voice breaking, Carlos replied, “For me, aunt. It – it had to be done.” Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“Carlos.” Samantha and Carlos turned to find Ethan standing by the foot of the staircase. Ethan‘s eyes were looking lethal. He said, “In my office. Now!”