After Daniel had finished his quarterly tour around the various departments, he went back to his office.
Nicole, who had been listening from the corner, murmured to herself. ''Hmmm. So Chelsy actually graduated from Wolverton university. I am sure my cousin Kate should know her. This crazy girl must have some baggage back in Wolverton.''
She gave an evil smile and tugged her hair behind her ear.
Kate Smith, one of Philippa's minions, was Nicole's cousin, and they had grown up together.
Daniel's secretary placed a call to the Public Relations department, asking Chelsy to come to the CEO's office.
Daniel's office was on the tenth floor. When Chelsy arrived, Daniel's secretary directed her to the CEO's office. His office was warm and welcoming. When he saw Chelsy, he smiled and said, ''Welcome Miss Powers. Please have a seat.''
Chelsy nervously walked over and sat on one of the chairs opposite his desk. ''So you actually work here in my company. What a small world. I don't know whether I should term this fate or a coincidence.''
When Chelsy heard this, she gave a warm smile and said, ''Mister Rivers, thank you for giving me this opportunity to work as an intern in your company. I really appreciate it.''
Daniel looked at Chelsy and couldn't help but smile. He cleared his throat and responded. ''It was all you, Miss Powers. Your grades and your brains got you this internship. By the way, I wanted to personally thank you for assisting me last time. My grandmother really loved the scarf.''
When Chelsy heard this she replied in a timid tone. ''Oh my. The scarf was meant for your grandmother? Wow. I am glad she loved it sir. You don't have to thank me, Mister Rivers. I just did what any human being would do.''
As she spoke, Daniel kept staring at her. My goodness. She is so beautiful and seems so kind and gentle. I think Hank will not be able to resist her charms. She really seems like a nice person. She might just be the one to heal Hank's broken heart, as well as take his mind off of that mountain fairy or whoever she is. Daniel thought to himself as he was trying to match his cousin Hank and Chelsy in his mind.
''Mister Rivers. Did you hear what I said?'' Chelsy asked. Daniel, who had been absent-minded, cleared his throat.
''Oh sorry Chelsy. Is it okay if I call you Chelsy?''
Daniel asked. Chelsy was a little stunned, and then said, ''Sure sir.''
Daniel gave a little smile and asked, ''How are you enjoying the new city? Is it so different from Wolverton?''
Chelsy nodded. '' Sir Rivers, it is way bigger, way noisier and full of opportunities. But it is still not home.''
Daniel gave a warm smile and said, ''That is London for you. But I believe home is where the heart lies.''
When Chelsy heard this, her countenance changed and became a little sullen. She remembered her heart actually had nowhere to call a home. She felt like a wanderer with no idea where she was going to. Even the pastoral nomads walked along with their families. But here, she fell all alone and lost.
Daniel saw the slight change in her expression and asked, ''Chelsy. Are you okay? Why has your mood suddenly changed?''
Chelsy, who just realized what had happened, quickly snapped out of her mood and gave a fake smile. She stuttered and said, ''Ehm, sorry Sir Daniel. I just remembered I had a task I was working on.''
Daniel knew something was up, and decided not to pry her privacy. He cleared his throat and said, ''Okay then. Let me not keep you here longer. Thank you once more for coming to see me, and welcome to Rivers Holdings. If you ever encounter any problem, don't hesitate to come to me for help, okay?''
Chelsy nodded and thanked him for his time. She stood up and left.
When Chelsy returned to her department, she could overhear her colleagues discussing what had happened earlier on. When they saw her, Cleopatra walked up to her, and held her by the arm.
''My oh my. Chelsy. You are finally back. Girl, you are so lucky to have been in the CEO's office. So tell me, how is his office? And what did you guys talk about? In fact, how do you guys even know each other?''
Chelsy felt as if she was going to have a migraine with the incessant questions coming from Cleopatra. She has never been one to discuss her private life, most especially with colleagues from work. As much as Cleopatra and Erica were kind to her, she still didn't trust them because of their blabbermouths and gossipy tendencies.
Chelsy gave a faint smile and replied, ''It is nothing serious guys. We just met by chance, and I did him a little favor, that's all. I didn't even know his name before today. We are not close, neither are we friends.'' The girls didn't buy her explanation. ''Then why did he call you to his office? If you claim you both don't know each other. I am sure you went there to seduce him. News flash loser. He has a girlfriend, and you are nowhere close to competing with her.'' Nicole, who had been quiet all through, snapped back at Chelsy.
Chelsy didn't seem bothered at what Nicole had said. She looked at Nicole and gave a little chuckle. Her voice was low, but carried so much weight.
''Coming from someone like you who tried attracting the attention of the CEO earlier today. Don't you think it is hypocritical? Nicole, you really need to seek help.'' She spoke and went back to her desk without uttering another word to anyone. Nicole sat down dumbfounded. She didn't know how to respond. She felt so embarrassed that she couldn't say a single word. Chelsy's clap backs came chiseled with fire. Chelsy had indeed metamorphosed out of her naivety.
Back in Wolverton, Ken had become a shadow of himself. It had been five months since Chelsy left. His wedding with Helena had been called off, and the baby she was carrying wasn't his either.
Flashback to some months back. Emilia Roberts had asked Damian, her private investigator, to carry out an investigation on Helena's pregnancy and the night of the merger between Starlink Conglomerate and Roberts corporation.
''Ma'am, I have the full details about Miss Helena Richards. How would you want it delivered?'' Damian asked Emilia.
''Meet me at the Luna country club in the next two hours,'' Emilia responded.
Damian, went to the Luna country club, where Emilia was already waiting. He took out a brown envelope, and said, ''Ma'am, inside this envelope, are the complete details of everything you asked for. Her records with her family Obstetrician, shows she is about four months pregnant. But I carried out some findings and found out that she is actually five months pregnant. Six months ago, she was in a relationship with French designer Louis De Leon. They separated about two weeks before the merger between Starlink and Roberts Corp.''
When Emilia heard this, she clenched her teeth and said in a low and dangerous voice, ''That spoiled brat. Ride on.''
Damian cleared his throat and continued, ''On the night of the merger, Helena had planned with one of the servers to spike Ken's drink. That was how Ken was brought to one of the rooms in the hotel where they had the after party. I questioned the server, and she said, Helena's mother had actually sent two of her guards to take Ken to the hotel room.''
Emilia's face grew even colder. ''That would be all Damian. Thank you.''
Damian handed Emilia the file, and left. Emilia picked up her phone and called Ken. ''Kenneth, I would like to see you and Helena at home tomorrow. Can you both come for lunch?''
Ken, who was in a bad mood that Chelsy had left, asked, ''But mom, why would I come home with Helena?''
Emilia in a gentle voice said, ''Listen son, it is for your own good. Just take her home tomorrow and then you will find out.''
It was the next day, and Emilia had invited Helena's parents as well. They were all seated at the dining table having lunch. Helena, who was so clueless, and happy that she was having lunch with both families, said, ''Mother-in-law. I am so happy to have been invited for lunch. I just can't wait for us to eat more like this in the future. Next week seems so far. I can't wait to become Ken's wife and the mother of his child.''
As she spoke, she caressed her growing belly and looked at Ken so affectionately. Ken didn't even spare her a glance. It seemed as if his mind was somewhere else. For the past few days, his mind had been all about Chelsy. He was searching for her everywhere.
Emilia could not stand Helena's hypocrisy anymore. She shouted and raised her voice. ''Helena. Can you just shut up already?''
Everyone on the table was stunned. Simon Robert, who was astonished by his wife's outburst, asked, ''Honey, is everything okay? Why are you sounding so rude towards Helena?''
Helena, who was surprised as well, asked, ''Missus Robert, did I do something wrong?'' Her eyes were already shimmering with tears.
''Helena, listen to me. You are such a cheap cheat and liar. You will never get married to my son. You and your mother, right here, plotted and drugged my son. You planned on making him take responsibility for another man's child.''
Helena's mother was so furious that she hit the table and tried to defend herself and her daughter.
''What the hell are you talking about, Emilia? Don't you dare slander my daughter and I. Simon, you had better talk some sense to your wife. I wouldn't sit here and watch you taint my reputation and that of my daughter's.''
Helena sat down and was so anxious in such a way that she couldn't speak. Ken was so shocked that he turned around and asked Helena. ''Is everything my mom said true?''
His hands were clenched in a fist. ''Ken, it isn't what you think. I can explain.'' Helena spoke with tears streaming down her cheeks.
Emilia stood up and gave an evil cackle. ''What a great performance from you and your mother Helena. You both deserve an Oscar for that. Kenneth, you remember telling me some days ago that you don't remember how you got to the room with Helena, right? I asked my private investigator to investigate the night of the merger between Starlink and Roberts Corp. He found out that Helena had planned together with a server, and they had you drugged.''
Emilia went ahead to recount everything that had happened. ''And to make matters worse, the baby Helena is carrying is not yours. It belongs to her ex-boyfriend, Louis De Leon. She and her mother right here set you up so that you could take responsibility for a child that isn't yours.''
When Ken heard this, he couldn't believe his ears. ''Helena, is it not this same Louis De Leon you told me was your designer? So he is actually responsible for your pregnancy.''
Ken gave a wicked laughter and said, ''Helena, you are the most evil person I have ever come across. This wedding has been called off. I don't want to see you ever again.'' He spoke and stormed out of the house.
Oliver Richards was so disappointed with his wife's and daughter's behavior. He knew this was going to cost his company a lot. ''How could both of you be this shameless and wicked?'' Oliver asked his wife and daughter. He looked at Simon Roberts and said, ''Simon. Please let us sit down and talk things out.'' Emilia Roberts stood up and said, ''Oliver, I guess your wife and daughter are no longer welcomed here. This whole wedding nonsense has been called off.'' She turned around and left the dining room.
Helena, who was still in shock, looked at her father and cried, ''Daddy, please do something. Ken can't call off this wedding now.'' Her face was filled with uncontrollable tears.
Back to the present, Ken was sitting in his office, looking lost in front of his computer. Larry walked in and said, ''Sir Roberts, here are the files you requested for.'' He placed them on the table.
Ken lifted his head and spoke in a sullen voice. ''Larry, you still haven't found Chelsy? Not even a single clue?''
Larry shook his head and said, ''No sir. I have searched with every resource I have, I couldn't locate where she went to. I even tried tracking the train she had boarded out of Wolverton. Unfortunately, it was the trans-European train which had no specific destination. She might have gone to a different city or different country.''
The Trans-European train was a train that traveled across Europe, and Wolverton was one of its stop points. It had no specific destination as it kept going round a few European countries. So it was difficult to track anyone taking that train.
''Sir, the only person I think can help us now is either her best friend, Rachel, or her elder brother, Leonel Powers. We could ask them.'' Larry suggested.
Ken knew these two people Larry had mentioned wouldn't even grant him an audience. He just waved Larry to leave. He sat down and leaned on his chair, and spoke with a broken voice which sounded as though he was struggling to hold in his tears.
''Oh Chelsy. Where are you, my love? I know I treated you so badly and I regret it. I didn't realize how much you meant to me and how special you are to me. I wish I could turn back the hands of time. Please, wherever you are, just come back home. I miss you so much baby. I am willing to do anything to have you back.''
As he spoke, he reminisced about the good times they spent together, and all the romantic gestures Chelsy had made towards him. Tears started rolling down his cheeks like a river. He remembered the numerous times Chelsy had told him how much she loved him, and he never responded with 'I love you too.'
Ken's heart was broken and shattered. He felt so lost without Chelsy.
Will Ken ever find Chelsy? And will he be able to win her love back if he ever finds her?