The Embarrasment.

Chapter 4.

Reina’s Pov.

It’s been three days since I made the mistake of hooking up with my boyfriend’s brother… the one man who I could have conveniently worked under in his company without the fear of being ruined by my father. Yet these past three days have been nothing but the worst moments of my life. Every hour of every day, I find myself thinking about the size of Ronan, the way his nails had dug into my hair while he shoved his length deeper into my mouth… and that just threw me into a state of grief.

After so much grieving and thoughts about what to do with my future, I decided to pick my poor ass up and find a place to work regardless of the impossibility. It's been a book and three days since I graduated from college and I am just a 23-year-old lady trying to build her life without her father’s help.

I stood by the roadside hailing taxis after managing to escape the tight security that my father had mounted right in my compound.

He had sent in security to guard my mansion, but I do not believe in the power of sitting idly by and waiting to be saved… that is not the lady my mother raised.

Against all odds, today, I have chosen not to be Reina Rhodes… the unknown daughter of one of the richest man in New York City. But a determined young lady who has chosen not to relate with her promiscuous, vile father, but to build her own life and name from scratch.

After hailing five more taxis, I was able to get one.

The drive to my desired company took 20 minutes, and I spent that twenty minutes staring at the city as it moved in blurs while subconsciously cursing my father for stealing my ability to drive today.

When the car pulled in front of the company, I tucked some bucks into the driver’s palm before stepping out.

The cool air of the morning brushed against my skin, leaving me in complete awe as I stared at the building before me.

Long and tall in ways that left me giddy. The building was elaborate, and the beauty of it was all it took to wipe off every displeasure I had from my father’s reproach.

I was still lost in my thoughts when my phone suddenly buzzed.

The sound of it pulled me out of my trance and I hurriedly retrieved it from my bag, taking it to my ear while smiling at the caller.

“Hello, sister.” Draven greeted, and the smile on my face stretched wider.

“After raking across the continent, you are choosing a very busy Monday to call me, huh?”

A deep chuckle filled my ear, and that just made me happier.

“If there is one thing I can’t do around mother, then you should be certain it’s rake. I do wish to rake… only when I return to New York.”

Right. Draven and mother have traveled to Malta for a business idea that they wish to invent. Only when the idea yields progress can I work under my mother.

Draven is the oldest child of my mother. Not by birth, but by relation. He is my cousin… the kind that feels more like a blood brother.

His mother died giving birth to him, and she had left him in my mother’s hands after his father swore to never take responsibility for him.

Draven and I grew up in the same household, and we have loved each other deeply like we were siblings born of the same parent.

“How are you doing in New York? I hope nothing is troubling you?”

I blinked gently at the sound of his voice, contemplating whether to tell Draven about my father or let him be, but the Draven I know would worry himself to death and that would just place mother in a state of disarray.

“I am fine.” I lied, forcing a smile to my face.

Silence settled on the line and for a brief second it felt like he was trying to believe me. At the end, he exhaled a sigh then said, “See you in a month’s time.”

“See you too,” I said, dropping the call and exhaling a deep sigh.

That was one hell of a distraction from reality. Now that I am back, I brushed a palm on my neatly ironed white shirt which I had carefully tucked into my black skirt before walking into the company.

Instantly, I was led towards the office of the HR where I would submit my documents then proceed to my interview.

When I got to the door, I took an encouraging exhale before planting a knock on the door.

“Come in.” The voice came almost immediately and I walked in without hesitation.

“Good day, sir.” I greeted the HR but he barely spared a glance my way.

“Documents.” He requested, and I presented them with so much enthusiasm even if he didn’t bother to look my way.

The man shot my file a glare, then proceeded to input the names on the computer before him.

As his fingers moved against the keyboard, my heart swelled with excitement that I would finally start working. Not under my lying father, but at a place where I could build a name for myself. Soon, his brows twitched, and they slowly began to pull together, like he was confused.

The excitement in my heart stilled and I took a step forward, wondering what could have caused him such confusion.

“You are Reina Rhodes?” He asked, finally raising his gaze to meet mine.

My heart skipped at the hatred in his eyes but I managed to nod my head amidst the discomfort. “Yes… I am… I am Reina Rhodes.”

He closed the file gently then pushed it forward to me. “A restraining order has been made in your name. I am sorry but you cannot be hired in our company.”

The words echoed in my ear and I stood back still, trying to suppress the scoff that was threatening to spill past my lips.

So this is it? My father would rather have me blacklisted from the industry than allow me to work?

My chest tightened at the disappointment and I just stood there, unable to talk or walk.

For the longest time, my father has deprived my mother and I of everything.

After cheating on my mother, he had expected her to stay, but she chose to leave… and not only did he ruin her image, he took everything they had both built away from her, leaving her penniless.

I had grown up without a father… without his presence, and I had learned to live with it. But recently, he suddenly couldn’t find a decent heiress amongst all the nuisances his mistress had birthed him… aside from me.

But I do not want him. I do not want his money, I do not want his name, and I certainly do not want to be a part of his stained reputation.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I clutched my bag gently, hoping that would help ground me from crying.

“Young lady.” The man called again, and I sniffed back, directing my gaze to him.

“You cannot work here.”

“I assure you, sir. It’s not what you think.”

The man leaned into his chair, like he was giving me a chance to speak, and that genuinely felt like a relief.

I took a step closer, pressing some fingers to my files which were on the table.

If I want him to believe me, if I want to get this job, then I would have to inform him about everything that happened.

“The man who filed the restraining order against me, Mr. Rhodes Lincoln, is my father… all of this is just his way to throw me back into his sleeve.”

Silence fell after my words and I thought… really thought that he had bought my words, only for him to trail his eyes from the head of my body to the sole of my feet, looking at me like he had just been disgusted.

My chest tightened, and I tried to speak again, but the loud sound of laughter filled the air and that left me stunned… on my tracks.

“You….” He mocked, scornfully, snorting in the most ridiculous of ways. “You mean you? Someone as cheap as this is claiming to be his daughter?”

My lips parted, but they closed back as I stared at him in disbelief.

He was saying I was wrong. “It’s all in the paper.” I countered, unwilling to accept defeat.

The man stared at my paper then back at me and his eyes went from mischievous to cold.

“There are so many people with the last name Rhodes. Besides, the man only has a few daughters and Reina is not a part of it.”

My lashes fluttered and I scoffed.

Right. His illegitimate children did well showing themselves off.

With a sigh of defeat, I dragged my file off the table and made to leave, but his voice came up again.

“After all the drama you have created, you do not possibly think I would let you go that easily, huh?”

My legs halted and when I tried to turn, he had already screamed on top of his voice.

“Guards!”

Two giant men barged in and my heart skipped once.

“This lady here has impersonated a noble family. Throw her out of the company and have her embarrassed.”

My eyes widened in fury and dread filled me up as they surged forward.

“Don’t touch me.” I warned, trying to slip away, but they grabbed both of my arms, dragging me out while I struggled for my life.

The tears I had been trying so hard to hold slipped down my cheeks and I began to wiggle my body, screaming at the top of my voice while they dragged me down the stairs, drawing the attentions of many.

“I am not an impersonator.” I wailed, struggling to get out of their hands but their grip was firm.

The tears on my lids rolled away as they made to throw me out, but a voice suddenly filled the air.

“A second attempt at that decision and I will have you both wiped off the planet of this earth.”

The air in the company stilled and the guards paused, tilting their heads in the direction of the very familiar voice.

When I looked through the haze of my teary eyes, a man so familiar stood like a devil in suits.

Ronan fucking Sinclair.

6’5… tall with a hot, reckless aura and eyes that pierced through the air like they were aiming to melt steel.