Natasha POV
Mr Gilbert called me over for a meeting and since I had decided to do the music, I had to go. When I got into the office, I could see the curious stare from the lady I had met only once and I wondered why she was here.
I glanced over at Russeli who flashed me a smile, but I didn't smile back, I wasn't going to act friendly anymore. I shook hands with Mr Gilbert who has a goofy smile on his lips. "Gilbert Ryan, it is a pleasure to meet you again," I said with gritted teeth.
I wish I could punch that smile off his face, would he even smile this way to me when he discovers who I am. I doubt that. After the compliment, I sat down and looked at Russelli. "It has been a while Russeli," I said professionally without any smile on my face.
I had decided to give him the cold shoulder. Maybe this way, he would not think of falling in love with me, I have to stop the past from repeating itself.
"Meet Yvonne Horace." He introduced me to that lady who I was sure told Mr Gilbert about me and Russeli's plan to flee. I had figured it out in the past and it makes me despise her, she wants my man to be hers. I won't ever forget the way she treated me, even if it was only that first time we met.
"Nice to meet you, I have heard a lot about you from Russeli Ryan," I told her as we shook hands and she smiled, glancing over to Russeli like a girl ogling after a crush she can never have.
"I have also heard a lot about you." She turned to me with a half-smile. "You kind of make me remember someone." She said while looking at me closely and my heart skipped a bit as I clenched my fist under the table, holding her gaze, I could see the other's staring at me, but then she made a little chuckle. "But, you look different." She finishes and looks away with a smile.
I should have kept my mouth shut, but I didn't want to hold back anymore. I smile coldly and open my lips to say the words that want to force their way out. "That means that person would be a very pretty woman to have taken after me." Her face changed drastically and I smiled and turned my focus to Gilbert. I was not here for Yvonne, but she will get her thirst for the sour lime soon.
"Let's get to business," I told him, even though I could feel Yvonne still staring at me, perhaps trying to figure out if I was Malinda or someone else, I was not scared at this moment, I am sure that as Gilbert lied to me that Russeli was dead, he would lie to everyone that I too was dead.
Mr Gilbert hands me a settlement form and I glance through it. "This is also a budget list." He handed me another form and I looked at it and handed it over to my assistant who was with me and he looked through it as Gilbert continued. "I want our company to produce a hit before the main song."
"A hit?" I tightened my brow and looked at him, we had not discussed something like this before, was this a means for him to keep me here and keep making his money.
"Yes, and I was thinking if it was wise to combine three voices." He continued. I laughed in my mind, was that why the money was huge and was that why he wanted to bring up a hit, to include someone else and also benefit from that person while using me to lift that person and make that person popular.
I already know who he wanted to include because she was right here in our midst, but I still needed to hear him say it. "And that would be?" I raised my brow, leaning back to my chair.
"You, my son and Yvonne Horace." He told me and I looked over at Yvonne, just as I expected, It was her. I scoffed, it was time to pay this despicable person back, also I wouldn't want to lift someone so proud of herself.
"I can't sing with a novice and you know that," I told him, but my eyes were still on Yvonne, I wanted to see all her reaction and sure there it was. She looked just like a troll! "I choose experts." I turned my focus to Gilbert, I was tired of watching her face turn ugly.
"I am only accepting Russeli Ryan because he is the male soloist." I glanced at Russell and I could see that his face had turned sad. I knew he was very good at his music and singing, but as I told myself before, I would give them the cold shoulder and not lose my guard until this was all over.
"Also, I never signed a contract involving three singers," I told him icily. I won't let him play me like a fool this time too. "If it is the hit song, I need only one person and also the main song requires the same, so you choose who it will be." I tilted my head to the side and looked at his confused expression as he looked from Russeli to Yvonne.
"If you are against that then, we have to terminate the contract here," I added. This was killing three birds at the same time, just now I have also put him in a tough position and my heart was leaping for joy.
There was silence in the office for quite a long time and the air felt tense. I tapped my finger to my lap waiting for him to make his decision, but his next words didn't come as a surprise to me, this was Mr Gilbert. "It was just an opinion." He said softly.
I was also not ready to lose to him, so I put on my poker face and my brow knitted as I looked directly at him. "You still don't understand what I said earlier, do you?" I glance from Russeli then back to him. "I went this far to develop Russeli's music feelings, do you want our song to be at the bottom or the top?" I asked coldly and he was speechless.
"Yvonne Horace." I pointed at her. "I heard her songs and it didn't move me, it was like an empty can making unnecessary noise." I didn't look at her to see her reaction, but I could tell that she was frowning and looking more ugly than ever, but I didn't care, it was time for her to taste the sour lime so I continued.
"And maybe you don't know why the last album that was sung by her and Russeli didn't come out among the top ten, then I will let you know that it was all because of Yvonne, and why? She has no emotions and no tone, her voice was lingering, but the song she sang was more like jealousy!"
I faced Yvonne and I could see her glaring hard at me. She was so angry, but my heart was dancing with joy. I didn't want to glance at Russelli, but I knew he was also staring at me with uncertainty.
"Okay, I will leave that to you to decide." Mr Gilbert said after a long silence. The truth was always bitter, I looked at Yvonne's eyes and they were wet, but she was holding it in so well.
"It has already been decided, I will sing that hit song and the main song with Russeli Ryan." I turn my eyes and stare right into his penetrating eyes. "If that is all, then our meeting here is over.
I got up and my assistant got up with me before I left. I turned to Russeli. "You should be prepared and meet me tomorrow at my apartment, we will stay there to do our practice," I told him and then flashed a smile at Yvonne, who looks like she could strangle me at this given moment.
As I walked out of the office I could hear her complaining to Mr Gilbert and Ryan and her voice was so loud and angry, this was what I wanted, to make her feel frustrated and angry that she would lose her humanity and her reserved self.
I wanted to show her that I could also be horrible when I have power, but the only difference now was, she thinks I am someone else.