Chapter 13

Once the photoshoot concluded, Nathan walked up to Alejandro and flashed his best fake smile. "Hey man, I've got to say, you did a great job today. I was doubtful at first, but you are definitely model material."

Alejandro studied him carefully and raised a brow. "Thanks," he eventually muttered.

"So we're going to need you to sign some confidentiality forms for the photoshoot, just for until the photos become public," Nathan continued. "Let me grab the forms from my bag."

Nathan walked over to where his bag was and carried it over. He then pretended to dig through it and faked a frown on his face.

"Oh shit, it looks like I forgot to bring them here. Would it be alright if you come over to our office today?"

"Sure, I suppose," Alejandro frowned. Although he felt suspicious; something definitely felt off. Nathan was being weirdly nice to him.

Natham smiled. "Alright, that's settled then."

As Heather and Alejandro walked to their dressing rooms to change out of their outfits, Nathan pulled Sierra aside.

"Sierra, later when Alejandro comes to the office, can you take him to the kitchen for a bit after he signs the forms? Give him some food or something, and keep him occupied. He's had a long day at the shoot today." Nathan politely smiled at Sierra. He knew that Alejandro didn't trust him, so he needed Sierra's help with his plan.

Sierra frowned and placed her hands on her hips. "Uh, why?"

Nathan felt exasperated, but he took a deep breath and maintained his calm. "Sierra, if you do as I say and don't ask any questions, I'll give you Cody's number and his address."

Sierra's eyes instantly lit up like a child being offered candy. "Really?! Alright, we have a deal." She turned to start walking away.

Nathan smirked. This was way too easy. He then suddenly remembered something else.

"Sierra, wait, one more thing," Nathan called out. Sierra turned back around. "I also have some baby photos of Cody from Illuminate's Christmas Party last year that I'd be happy to throw in the deal if you make sure you don't tell Heather about our conversation."

"Hmm," Sierra said as she rested her hand on her chin. "I would absolutely love to add Codykin's baby photos to my collection so yes, deal," she nodded.

A sly grin formed on Nathan's face. Perfect.

***

As Heather sat in her office, she couldn't bring herself to concentrate on her work in front of her. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to think of something else but all her mind kept trailing back to was the image and sensation of Alejandro's hand on her chin and around her waist. And most of all, his lips - his ridiculously perfect lips and how they had almost brushed against her own.

An hour had now passed since the photoshoot, but Heather felt that with each passing minute, the tangled web of emotions within her only kept piling up and that she was going to explode anytime now.

Alejandro, Sierra and Nathan were currently in one of the meeting rooms sorting out the confidentiality forms, but Heather had excused herself and said she had an urgent work matter. She didn't know what she was going to say to Alejandro. At least not yet.

She sighed as she spun around on her office chair and then bit her lip. Ugh. I'm literally such a mess right now. Maybe I should just cave in to my feelings...

Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a knock on her office.

"Heather, I need to talk to you, it's urgent," Nathan began as he walked inside.

"Everything okay?" Heather spun around to face him.

"The product designs for the Red Velvet jewellery collection are missing," Nathan answered matter of factly.

Heather looked at him and raised a brow. "Don't you have another copy?"

"I mean, the physical copies are missing. They were sitting on my desk but they're now missing," Nathan faked a nervous tone. "It's my fault- I shouldn't have left them on my desk like that."

Heather frowned. "You mean someone took them?"

"I think so. And I suspect it was an outsider job," Nathan responded.

Heather swallowed. "You mean Alejandro?" She hesitated for a moment. "I- I don't think he would take them."

Nathan took a deep breath and smiled. "Maybe it's just a misunderstanding. Let's talk to him."

Heather walked out of her office with Nathan, her mind racing. She saw Alejandro talking with Sierra outside and Cody also standing nearby, a seemingly nervous look on his face.

"Alejandro, the product designs for the Red Velvet jewellery collection are missing from my office - you wouldn't happen to know where they are, would you?" Nathan calmly said as he walked up to him.

Alejandro glared at him. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"That's fine, but we just need to do a quick search of your bag just to make sure," Nathan replied. "You don't mind, right?"

Out of the corner of his eye, Alejandro felt Heather also staring at him. "Go ahead," he eventually answered through gritted teeth.

Nathan walked over to where Alejandro's bag was placed and unzipped it. The next moment, Alejandro and Heather's eyes both widened when Nathan took out the documents located in Alejandro's bag. Alejandro instantly knew he had been framed and internally cursed at himself for letting his guard down.

"I did not take those," Alejandro firmly retorted as he clenched his fists. "I was either with you, or Sierra the whole time. So unless I have a secret double, how could I logically have had the opportunity to take anything?"

"Well, it's obvious you're just lying and trying to get your way out of this. You're the only outsider here. Who else would've done this?" Nathan sneered.

"If you're so sure, where's your proof? Why don't you check the security cameras?" Alejandro argued.

"As a matter of fact, I already have. And for some reason, the footage for the past thirty minutes has been completely erased."

"Well, you obviously tampered with it, I don't even know where the footage is stored and again, as I said, I was either with you or Sierra. I know you framed me," Alejandro spat.

"I don't know what you're talking about, you're just deflecting," Nathan sneered.

"Besides, I have an alibi. After I left the meeting room, I was with Cody the whole time. In fact, Cody and I were just talking about giving him a very well deserved promotion and pay raise as well as buying him and his family holiday tickets to Hawaii. Isn't that right, Cody?" Nathan smoothly added, before turning to glare at Cody with a threatening look on his face.

Heather and Alejandro both also turned to look at Cody at the same time.

Cody felt his heart pounding faster, as the events of what had happened earlier replayed in his mind.

***Rewind to 15 Minutes Ago***

Cody was holding a box of supplies in his hand when he noticed Nathan suddenly walk out of the surveillance room. "Uh Nathan? What were you doing in the surveillance room?" he asked.

Nathan's eyes widened. He immediately dragged Cody inside the room and then peered outside to make sure no one else was around, before slamming the door.

"You did not just see that, Cody," Nathan smiled sweetly and then he instantly changed his tone as he aggressively grabbed Cody by the collar of his shirt. "If you say a word to anyone, I will immediately fire you. I will also get your address from HR and then I will hurt you and your family. You got it?"

Cody was shaking in fear and he managed to let out a tiny nod.

"Use your words," Nathan growled.

"Uhhh y-yes, Nathan," Cody nervously stuttered, almost dropping the box in his hand. Admittedly, he was terrified of Nathan when he got all angry and aggressive.

"Good," Nathan smirked as he let go of Cody.

***End of Rewind***

"U-uh, yes, that's correct," Cody nervously gulped, as he felt the pressure of everyone staring at him.

Nathan let out a satisfied smirk whilst Heather and Alejandro's eyes both widened once again.

Heather felt like the room was spinning around her. She didn't know what to say or think. Memories of her and Alejandro together flashed before her eyes, and the words of what he had previously said to her echoed in her mind.

"To the young woman who was left disappointed by a man - what would you say to her if the man realized he was an idiot and never wanted to hurt her?"

"What if he wanted to let her know that he has feelings for her and has never felt like this with anyone else before?"

"Believe me Heather, the only woman I want to look at is you. I meant every word I said to you at your launch party."

So in the end, was it all just a ploy for him to get close to me and dig out insider information?

Heather felt conflicted. She admitted that she did have a weird feeling about this in her stomach. A part of her wished that this was all just a sick joke; that it was all just a misunderstanding. But she had been inside her office the whole time earlier and hadn't been there to witness what had happened. She knew that Nathan had a crush on her, but she didn't think he was so desperate to the point that he would actually do something like this...or was he?

"Heather-" Alejandro began, as he finally turned to her.

Heather squeezed her eyes shut and then reopened them again. This is all too much. I need time alone. "Alejandro, it's probably best if you just leave," she eventually sighed.

"You heard her," Nathan smirked.

"Heather, I'm not giving up," was all Alejandro said, his voice soft, as he gazed into her eyes and left the room.

Heather watched his retreating figure, a lump forming in her throat and an empty feeling taking over her stomach. Have I made a mistake?

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A/N - hang on tight dear readers - the chapter you've all been waiting for will be here very soon ;)

Also, this week is a double update so chapter 14 will also be out :) Thanks for reading!