"Heh, isn't this proposal way too good for your side? I will sign this without a problem only if you are my wife," Reginald Zachary Xanders, the owner of the most successful realty firm in the country remarked arrogantly with a smirk dripping with sarcasm.
He sat crossed-legged in the wide couch of the hotel room.
The look in his eyes was one of annoyance as if having a guest here had been too much of a bother; when in fact, he was the one who called me here.
'Ugh! This arrogant bastard is doing it again!'
Getting irritated, I cannot help but curse him.
I am Mika Minerva Allen Brooks --- 32 years old, married, and a career woman.
I am the CEO of a company my husband and I worked hard to put up ever since we graduated. Meanwhile, my husband, Tristan Brooks, had become the President of our company.
Our business was just a small company affiliated with hospitality and tourism at first; until, we also ventured into construction business when we got interested in it after building our own hotel and resort.
It was not an easy feat but we managed to pull it off together.
Tristan is also 32 just like me and I feel so blessed to have him in my life.
Because of him, I believe that you can achieve anything in this world as long as you are with the right person.
Contrary to this brooding and moody tycoon in front of me, Tristan is a gentle, kind, and loving man.
Unlike other men who preferred their wives at home, Tristan fully supports me pursuing my career. Thus, we are great partners.
Meanwhile, this CEO is always frowning whenever we meet as if just the sight of me annoyed him.
Yes, he was like this every single time I came to speak with him about a newly proposed project. Rather, he's always like this.
I always brood the times I have to speak with him but I have no choice but to do it since he's the biggest in this industry and he was more successful than we ever were.
Likewise, we needed this deal to be successful to achieve our long-term goals.
In truth, Mr. Xanders' firm kept pressuring us and other construction related businesses to bend and be acquired by them to lessen the cost of buying price of properties they bought and sold.
Those who refuse either end up bankrupt or lose most of their partners and suppliers in fear of making an enemy of Mr. Xanders.
My husband and I didn't want to give up so we chose to be partners with his firm.
It was a hard battle but we succeeded in just becoming partners instead of becoming a subsidiary.
It was the only way they would not not acquire us. Thus, we are now partners of Mr. Xanders' firm.
We have worked together on several projects and I made sure all of it was a success so they would have no reason to try to acquire us again.
And this time, I am speaking with him about our largest project ever since we began working together.
Since I am the CEO of our company, I have to be here in person since this is a major project that could change me and my husband's future.
Once Mr. Xanders approves of this, my husband and I may be set for life. This is a deal worth several billion.
My husband was with me during our first four meetings with Mr. Xanders for this project. But now, he was busy with other projects so he had to fly to another country.
This was already the fifth meeting but Mr. Xanders was once again saying another comment and asking for revisions completely unrelated to the ones he formerly asked for.
It was as if he did not want to agree to this project. But I am here still trying to persuade him since this could set us for life.
My husband and I can finally have children once we are sure of our future. We had been delaying it for too long since even though we have enough finances, we still have to save more for the future since having children costs a fortune.
Yet, it seems Mr. Xanders may have other plans.
Still, I cannot simply give up on my dream future with Tristan so I will keep doing my best on asking this man to approve of this project.
Mr. Xanders looked just fine in public interviews but rumor has it that he's super strict, cold, ruthless, and difficult to speak with.
I don't doubt their words one bit since I have experienced it myself every time I spoke with him.
He looks like he's always angry at something. Or he's angry at the whole world.
There's not a time I met him that he wasn't irritated.
His words earlier did not at all mean he wanted me to be his wife.
He merely meant that investing this much and agreeing to this proposal was something he would only willingly do if it was with someone important related to him.
Mr. Xanders was actually asking why he should invest in this project.
I believe I have already explained it to him and his staff repeatedly and I thought they all understood.
At this rate, it can only mean one thing.
He did not want to sign this at all.
But how can I allow that after all the effort we have put into this?
No way! This project will last for more than ten years and will make money flow like a river.
I need to convince him somehow no matter how many times I have to revise this.
Glancing at his face to ensure he's not in the worst mood, I decide to try to speak with him again. Who knows, he might change his mind.
"Mr. Xanders, it's true that our company will benefit from this a lot but I believe it's the same for yours.
It's a matter of mutual benefit.
Likewise, I have revised everything according to your suggestions last time.
Which part, specifically, do you find inappropriate for this deal?"
How infuriating is that? I have already revised it more than five times according to his words. Yet now, he was talking like he had no intention to sign it all.
I won't allow him to back out after he made it seem in his message that he would sign this.
He had sent his people to inspect the last time and they had a favorable response.
His assistant was the same in his messages as well. He even spoke like Mr. Xanders would sign it today.
"If you cannot even identify which part I am talking about, then you should reread you proposal before meeting with me again," Mr. Xanders glared, as if even more irritated.
'Because there's nothing wrong with this proposal!' I almost screamed but held it in.
It was incredibly hard to stop myself from glaring back so I closed my eyes for a few seconds and took a deep breath to calm myself.
I haven't slept for 30 hours and I still have jet lag from flying here so my nerves were on edge.
'I need this contract for the future. I need this contract for the future,' I repeatedly chanted in my head to stop myself from talking back to him.
This meeting with Mr. Xanders was supposed to happen in my home country, Diamond where we are both based.
However, several days ago, Mr. Xanders secretary said we had to change the venue to a neighboring country, Emerald.
It was because Mr. Xanders had an urgent meeting in Emerald for his other businesses.
However, when I was there yesterday, his secretary once again updated me and said the location of the meeting was changed to another country, Ruby.
Once again, I had no choice since they were the bigger firm who could acquire us once they put their mind to it.
Thus, I flew all the way here since his secretary said Mr. Xanders would likely sign the contract so I should be a little more patient.
But now, Mr. Xanders is acting like this.
'No! I won't take a no for an answer. This is for my future!'
I refuse to give up now that I'm here. I have to keep bothering him until he finally signs it even if it's just to shut me up!
"Mr. Xanders, please consider-"
I was about to explain things once again but he lifted his hand with his index finger in a silencing motion.
"Mrs. Brooks, what are you in a hurry for? You are just staying in the next room anyway. Let's talk about this again tomorrow. It seems you haven't had enough rest after staying up all night long."
Mr. Xanders eyed me as if I'm not in my right mind right now. I bet it wasn't out of concern that I haven't had enough sleep.
And what did he mean by staying in the next room?
It's way too costly to stay in this hotel so I'm staying in a cheaper one, and I'm not with my husband.
"I wish. But I'm not staying in this hotel, Mr. Xanders," I corrected.
"You don't?" Mr. Xanders frowned and tilted his head in confusion. "You must be kidding me. I clearly saw your husband enter the next room. Ah, you must be feeling embarrassed. No need to be shy now after making me hear all those sounds for two nights in a row."
It was my turn to frown.
My gut felt like it was wrenching.
I suddenly had a bad feeling about this conversation.
"I don't understand what you are saying, Mr. Xanders. My husband is in another country for another project," I clarified since he seems to have had a misunderstanding.
***
a/n: To avoid any issues, all countries will be named based on gems or precious metals so lets just say this is NOT Earth but something like a parallel world that functions just the same. Haha.