Yes, Mistress!

Chapter 5: Sweet desserts

Scarlett frowned, tightening her grip on her phone, "What do you mean you don't have any data on her?" 

The man on the other side baffled, "Ms. Sinclair! She is Cattleya Kir. " 

She hissed. As if that was supposed to be a valid excuse! "I don't care. We pay your agency to provide us with background checks on our clients! It's important!" 

He frantically explained, "We can't provide you one because we don't have one. If you check with every other agencies, you'll get the same response! Please, understand."

She ended the call, huffing to herself. She should tell her boss, Gabriel that they needed to switch services. Clearly, this one wasn't doing a very good job.

TheOne always went through third party agencies to get a detailed background check on their clients. This was their way of identifying the red flags. If they saw a suspicious or dangerous one peeking, they would reject the client instantly. At times, they even had to get the police involved when abusive signs were evident among suitors. 

They valued safety above all. No one was exempted from this check. No one... except the billionairess it seemed. She groaned. 

“Should I get started on your order, Ms. Scarlett?” 

A waiter asked, breaking into her line of thoughts as he popped in the private booth she has booked in advance. She glanced at the time in the corner of her laptop. How did it go so fast? She had been waiting at this four-star restaurant for two hours now. 

She often brought high-end clients here. They loved the attention she gave them and seemed more keen to open up to her after an exquisite lunch. It was at this point that she would extract valuable and intimate information that helped her narrow down her search for the perfect match.

Normally it was supposed to be like that. She glanced at the empty seat opposite her, internally seething.  

He prompted her, "Ms. Scarlett?"

She shook her head in response, running a hand through her hair, feeling slightly bothered that she has been tricked this way, “No, Derek. Thanks.”

When she said nothing else, he hesitated before casually dropping, “Seems to me your date is running late…” 

She sighed. Earlier, she had realized that the businesswoman had no intentions of showing up when half an hour had passed. Why had she even felt hopeful? She grimaced, correcting him, “Seems she stood me up.” 

In the two years that she had been at this job, it was the first time that this has ever happened to her. What kind of power move was that? That would not do. She would not let that arrogant heiress tread on her this way and let her get under her skin.

He sympathetically said, “I’m sorry.” 

“No, it’s alright. I had a hunch she wouldn’t come.” She gently closed her laptop, slipping it in her bag and the man’s eyes curiously lit up, “I had no idea you were into women, Ms. Scarlett!” 

He instantly clamped his hand over his mouth, going pale as if he said something that he shouldn’t have. 

She let out a soft laugh, standing up from her seat, “I wish this was a date but she is a client who is a no-show apparently.”

“Her loss.” 

Well, this was a waste of time… and money. Technically, it would all be added to Silas Kir’s matchmaking fee. The waiter walked by her side, accompanying her as she headed out, entering the bustling main dining area.

An idea flashed through her mind. Maybe she could actually salvage something from this fruitless night. She knew exactly how to deal with the billionairess. She needed to get her to warm up to her. If games were what she was playing with her, then fine. She would play them too. 

“I supposed there aren’t any desserts I can take home with me?” 

“Oh miss. We do have a fine selection. I’d be happy to walk you through them.” 

“Lead the way, Derek.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cattleya shook hands with the government officials and some foreign ambassadors that have been with her in the conference room since the past six hours. She walked along the corridors with them, making casual conversation, stopping when they reached the bank of elevators.

She greeted them a last time, letting her bodyguards escort them further out as she and Dana returned to her office on the top floor. 

She has sealed a 9 billion dollar contract just now after some final negotiations. These highly confidential meetings have been going on since the past year. The government was planning on launching four highly advanced satellites over the coming few years and Kir Tech would start production as from next week.

Dana flexed her fingers, feeling the strains from writing a lot, “I think I need a raise, Cattleya. I’m dead tired.” 

Her boss nodded, “I’ll see to it.” 

She laughed softly. This woman was exceptionally shrewd and she still could be so dense at times. “I was joking… I already have a more than generous salary.” 

Cattleya passively gave her secretary a good look, noticing the dark circles under her eyes, “I’ve been overworking you…” 

Dana felt touched by the attention. She could almost imagine the concern in her boss’ mesmerizing eyes but unsurprisingly, they were void of emotions.

“It’s alright. You work way more than me. I sometimes wonder how you do… you never look exhausted.” She chuckled, the elevator chiming and they stepped outside, “I assure you I am… I just don’t let the signs show. Not when I’m in the office anyway.” 

Dana nodded. Her admiration for her would never falter. Though she admitted her boss could be a workaholic sometimes. Did she really have a choice though? Kir Tech was a huge corporation. 

“That’ll be all for today, Dana. You may already head out.” 

“Really? I can?” 

“Of course. Excellent work.” 

She was already walking to her own office when her secretary called out to her after a few seconds, “Oh! Something came in for you.” She extended the small rectangular chic black box towards her and Cattleya caught sight of the famous French brand; Ladureé.

She had not seen those since a good while now. She lifted the cover, finding some of the most delicious looking macarons she ever saw. It evoked a forlorn warmth in her heart. And she didn’t like that. 

Dana’s mouth watered, “Wow.” 

She laughed, “Look at you drooling. Take it home, love. I’m not fond of them.” 

Her assistant stared at her as if she was mad, “What? Why?!” 

She murmured, shaking her head, proceeding to her office, “They’re too sweet for me.” 

“Oh there’s also a note, Cattleya.”

Cattleya held it with two fingers, reading the neat handwriting: 

I’m disappointed you didn’t show up. It must have been amusing for you to set me up like this. I’m starting to think you’re scared of me. Are you? I hope you love these macarons. The praline one is particularly exquisite. See you soon and I mean it, Ms. Kir.

Bold message. The note wasn’t signed but she already knew who wrote it. Was she trying to provoke her with her words or coax her with those desserts? She selected the praline macaron from the box and asked with a grimace, biting into the dainty and succulent dessert, “You said she left my father's ring signet here? Let me see it.”

“Right away!” 

Dana hassled to her desk, grabbed a card from her drawer, crouched on the floor before a safe lock. She swiped the card across the small screen and entered the twelve digit code she knew by heart. It smoothly opened with a click and she reached for the ring box, placing it before her boss on her desk.

Cattleya finished her macaron, letting the pleasant dark caramel flavor linger over her tongue. She pulled off her handkerchief, considerately wiping her fingers clean before opening the velvet black box, taking out the gold jewelry. She walked to the window, observing it under the natural light. The depth in the detailed family crest was correct and so was the placement of the blue diamond. Women in her family had it on the left side. Men, had it on the right side. 

She slid it along her finger, not surprised to find it loose. She frowned, placing it back in the box, realizing there was no way a woman like Sinclair could acquire that. Why would they even entrust it to a random stranger? This could be a forgery. 

She couldn't have been hired by her father. It was simply preposterous. Yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to it than just a simple lie. That matchmaker... she was venturing into forbidden territory, one that she had locked away for good. She asked, just for certainty, “Did she mention who sent her?”

Dana could feel the sudden edginess in the air, “Oh, she only told me your family sent you. Didn’t mention who exactly.” It was rare that Cattleya would sound tense. She heard her muttering something under her breath and Dana hesitantly suggested, “Maybe it’s your grandfather or a cousin… it must be someone close. Do you want me to run a check on potential members of your family?”

Cattleya coldly reminded, “You know the rules, Dana.” 

Dana stiffened, “Ye… yes, I’m sorry.” 

Rule number one; Cattleya Kir’s family life was none of her business. Asking or talking about them were off-limits. Cattleya's previous secretary got fired for trying to be too nosy. She didn't want the same fate. She knew nothing about her family. She never met them, not even during the company’s annual conferences or in the most inclusive private parties her boss threw. It seemed she had deliberately distanced herself from them.

Even after three years, there was so much she didn’t know about the woman she worked for. She guessed Cattleya was estranged from them. That was the only reason she could think of. Not that she would ever dare confirm with her. 

"Till I decide what to do with her, I don’t want to see that matchmaker anywhere in my office.” 

Dana bit her lips, knowing better than to question her, “Yes, Ms. Kir.”

Cattleya clasped the ring box, walking back to her office.  She had to get in touch with a specialist to verify the authenticity of this ring. “And Dana, get me a background check on her.” If the jewelry was genuine… then the matchmaker was more threatening than she gave her credit for. How bothersome. She had to get to the bottom of this and deal with her... appropriately. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~