Chapter 8

"Are you sure you're actually doing this?" Courtney asked Heather as she was getting ready for her date with Nathan.

Heather sighed. She admitted she had only agreed to it in the spur of the moment because she needed a distraction after what had happened with Alejandro.

"Yeah, it's really no big deal," she shrugged and rolled her eyes. "Besides, I need to take my mind off some things."

"Is everything alright?" Courtney asked in a worried voice.

"Oh yes, I'm fine, it's nothing important," Heather quickly replied. "You know, just the usual stress from work and running your own business," she added as she flipped her hair.

"Ok, so let me get this straight, you're trying to take your mind off work by going out on a date with someone who you see at work everyday?" Courtney studied Heather carefully.

"Uh, yeah? Sure why not?" Heather faked a laugh.

"Alright, if you're so sure," Courtney frowned. "I just thought Nathan wasn't exactly your type."

"Court, relax, it's just one date," Heather chuckled. "And speaking of which, what do you think should be my type anyway?"

"Well, I'm thinking, someone who's basically like a king to our ice queen," Courtney teased. "Someone who's charismatic, smart, fun and interesting, and who will constantly keep you on your toes and grounded, but also someone you can be vulnerable with. I don't know, Nathan just seems too vanilla for you."

Heather bit her lip and stared down at the floor without saying anything. Great, why did I have to ask Courtney that?

"Heath, are you ok?" Courtney asked gently.

"I'm fine," Heather nodded absentmindedly.

"Remember our conversation from last week? Just be careful, and text or call me at any point if you need," Courtney replied.

"I know, mom," Heather rolled her eyes.

At that moment, the doorbell of their penthouse rang, signalling that Nathan was here to pick Heather up.

"Well, guess I'll see you later," Heather said as she walked over to open the door.

Courtney nodded and smiled at her.

***

"We're here!" Nathan smiled, as he opened the car door for Heather. They had just arrived at their date location.

Heather slowly walked with him and then she instantly froze as she turned her head up towards the restaurant sign to see where he had taken her - they were at a Spanish restaurant. Great. Just as she was trying to do everything to not think about Alejandro. She sighed as they walked through the doors.

"Here, let me help you with your seat." Nathan pulled her chair out once they arrived at their table. "Also, this meal is on me."

"Thanks," Heather muttered, as she sat down and straightened her dress.

They both stared at the menu for the next couple of minutes in awkward silence, until a waitress came over to their table.

"Oh my gosh, Heather Kasuga, founder of Illuminate? I'm such a big fan of your brand!" she squealed when she saw Heather.

"Why thank you," Heather smiled. "Would you like my autograph?" she added, half joking half serious.

The waitress squealed once more and handed Heather her pen and notepad. Heather rolled her eyes and quickly signed the notepad. "Here you go."

They both then made their orders.

"So Nathan," Heather began once the waitress had left. "We've obviously known each other for a few years now, and I don't think I've ever heard you talk about your family before. Do you have any siblings?"

Nathan flinched for a slight moment. "No, it's just me," he eventually answered.

"Well, you must be lucky then," Heather replied.

"I'm not exactly close with my family," Nathan said. "I think we might be quite similar in that sense."

Heather raised a brow.

"I mean, you've only ever mentioned your dad before back in college so I assumed you weren't particularly close with your mom. I apologize if that came across the wrong way," he quickly added once he noticed Heather's expression.

"It's fine," Heather eventually said.

She then gazed around the room - all around were couples, friends, and families laughing, smiling and eating. She suddenly wished she could teleport herself back to her penthouse and just have a cozy night in with Courtney instead. Maybe she could just leave right now...

"You know Heather, I've been learning Spanish lately in my spare time," Nathan suddenly said, changing the topic and distracting Heather from her thoughts.

Heather couldn't believe what she had just heard. Ok what is his sudden obsession with everything Spanish?

She leaned forward and studied Nathan carefully. "Really? How come?"

"Well, Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world after all, so it would be very useful for Illuminate once we expand worldwide," Nathan smoothly replied.

"Well, that's probably true," Heather muttered, as she played around with the napkin on her side of the table.

"And I will do everything in my ability and power to ensure that Illuminate continues to grow and get the recognition we deserve," Nathan continued. "We have been doing so well, and I think we have a great shot at being nominated for the Annual Canadian Jewellery Business Awards this year."

The Annual Canadian Jewellery Business Awards was the most prestigious event of the year in the jewellery business industry. Each year, the award sponsors select five finalists, and the winning company receives a cheque prize of $1,000,000 for their business.

"Thanks Nathan," Heather smiled. She felt that it was nice she could at least count on someone.

"Anything for you, señorita."

Heather's eyes widened as she took a sip of her water and nearly choked and spat it out.

What did he just say?

She found herself thinking back to a certain someone. Admittedly, Alejandro's voice was annoyingly smooth when he spoke Spanish and tried to flirt with her, whilst Nathan's attempts sounded like something off Google Translate. Ok, why am I still thinking about Alejandro?!

Heather picked up her napkin to wipe her mouth. She decided she needed a break.

"Excuse me for a moment, I have to use the restroom," she said as she stood up to leave and grabbed her phone.

Nathan nodded and gave her a smile.

Once Heather had left, he leaned forward over the desk and grabbed the napkin Heather had just used, carefully folding it and placing it in his pocket.

Inside the restroom, Heather called Courtney, who picked up immediately.

"Court, SOS," Heather muttered into her phone.

"Oh no Heath, what's wrong?" Courtney sounded worried.

Heather burst out laughing. "No, it's fine, it's just a bit awkward at the moment and I need a distraction."

"Do you need an excuse to leave?" Courtney asked on the other end.

"It's alright, he's harmless and he's paying for the meal anyway," Heather responded. "I'll text you when I leave the restaurant."

"Alright, let me know if you change your mind. Love you," Courtney smiled.

"Love you too."

Once the call ended, Heather let out a sigh of exasperation and made her way back outside to their table.

As she sat down, she frowned as she noticed the napkin she had previously used looked like it had been replaced with a different one. No, it must just be my imagination.

***

At the same time, Alejandro, José and Javier were gathered in Javier's study room. His father had convened an 'urgent meeting' back home. Javier tossed Alejandro and José each a set of papers.

"I trust that you both have already seen the latest market reports," Javier sternly said as he looked at the both of them.

"As you can see, our sales and market share have not been as great compared to previous quarters. The market research team has put together a list of our top three competitors and threats at the moment. One of them is a new entrant," Javier continued.

As Alejandro looked at the printed sheet in front of him, the words of the other two businesses listed as J&B Co's top competitors immediately blurred out and one brand stood out: Illuminate.

Heather.

Alejandro felt a wave of tightness in his chest and a lump form in his throat. He knew exactly what his family would be capable of when it came to business and it would not be pretty.

"I want us to be in an optimal position for this year's Annual Canadian Jewellery Business Awards," Javier continued. "As you both well know, we've won this award for the past five years and I would not like us to lose our streak. It's time we must strike and make our move."

He paused and then grumbled at the sight of Alejandro. "Alejandro, are you even listening?"

Alejandro was still lost in his thoughts. "Oh, yes I'm listening, Papá," he nodded absentmindedly.

"Well I hope so," Javier muttered. "So, I can trust you two to act on it, sí?"

"You can count on me, Papá," José quickly responded.

"Good to know at least one of you is on it," Javier grumbled, as he glared at Alejandro again. "Alright, the both of you may now leave." He moved in his hands in a waving motion to shoo them both off.

Once José went back to his own room, he immediately dialled a number on his phone.

"Hello, this is José Burromuerto, I need your help with something..." José spoke into his phone, as he gave the person on the line instructions.

"Not a problem, Mr Burromuerto. I will get onto it this week," the man on the other end replied.

"Perfect," José smirked as he hung up.

He rubbed his hands in anticipation and glee. Oh, this was going to be like killing two birds with one stone.

***

Nathan parked his car in his driveway once he arrived back home from his date with Heather, and then whistled as he took out his house keys and made his way inside.

He logged onto his computer and opened a folder on his desktop titled 'H'. He then clicked on one of the photos - it was an image of Heather and Alejandro laughing and smiling together at the hotel pool at the Chris McLean program. That should've been me instead of that Spaniard. He felt just as much jealousy and anger looking at the photo again compared to the day he had been secretly lurking at the hotel and witnessed them together.

He had carefully done his background research on every attendee at the Chris McLean program, including Alejandro. He knew exactly what kind of people the Burromuerto's were - greedy and power-hungry manipulators. And more importantly, he knew that mailing the photos of Alejandro and Heather together to Javier Burromuerto would throw Alejandro off. He grinned to himself, feeling an immense sense of satisfaction knowing that his plan had worked.

Heather's 'weakness' was similar to Alejandro's - it was also her business. And whilst Heather had told him at the end of their date today that it was still best they keep things professional, that didn't bother him. He knew that Heather trusted him for his work at Illuminate and he just needed to keep using that to his advantage. She'll turn around eventually.

Nathan opened Photoshop and then proceeded to trim out Alejandro's face, instead photoshopping his own face in. Now that's much better. Once he was satisfied with his 'masterpiece', he printed it out and then opened a box in his closet, taking out a large scrapbook.

He browsed through each page, slowly and carefully running his fingers through the sheets, whilst admiring the content within. Each page was full of cutouts of photos of Heather - from her social media, public appearances for Illuminate and a few from college. There were also a couple of other photoshopped images of Heather and him together.

He then took out the napkin he had taken from Heather during their date today and flipped to a fresh page in his scrapbook. As he glued his latest two additions to his most 'prized possession', he began softly humming a tune.

"Here comes the bride..."

--

A/N - So it's confirmed that it was Nathan who had spied on Heather and Alejandro and sent the photos to Alejandro's dad - for once José actually wasn't lying when Alejandro confronted him :P (Chapter 6)

And Nathan's psycho nature is revealed (although there were definitely hints that he's not who he seems haha).

What do you guys think will happen next and what is José planning?

Thanks for reading and brace yourselves for the next chapter...

Have a great week!! :)