2. Liam Powell

Liam knotted his golden tie with haste as he bent to pick up his grey suit jacket. He was getting late for the office as he had a meeting concerning his newly acquired property in a secluded neighborhood.

He took his briefcase and stepped out of his room taking the stairs in two to the sitting room where his driver was waiting for him.

“Williams. Are you going to work?” Liam didn't need to turn to know who was speaking. His grandfather was the only one who refers to him with his full name, every other person knows him as Liam.

“Yes, grandpa. As you can see, I'm running late” Liam answered, turning to smile at his grandfather who was coming down the stairs from the other side of his room with a cup of coffee in his hands.

Liam wasn't aware that his grandfather was around as he had come in late yesterday after his late-night with one of his nightstands.

“Hmmm” Mr. Powell sighed, walking down to meet Liam who was on the other side of the room clutching his briefcase tightly like he couldn't wait to leave the room.

Mr. Powell took his seat on one of the three-setter couches and motioned, Liam, over the one opposite him“ Sit down. There's something we need to talk about before you leave for the office” 

Liam reluctantly took his seat as he saw that no amount of argument was going to change his grandfather's mind. He held his breath and waited for what his grandfather wanted to say while briefly glancing at the wall clock across from him to see that it was past eight.

“I'm going to sell Powell's Homes and Properties” Mr. Powell acknowledged as he sipped his coffee, not in the bit fazed by what he had said but that was opposite of Liam who had shot up from his seat the instant he heard that.

“What? Sell? But why?” Liam inquired, his grandfather shocked from hearing that. Of everything he had to imagine him saying today, he wasn't expecting his grandfather to want to sell Powell's Homes and Properties. That was his inheritance. His grandfather can't do that to him.

His grandfather overlooked his question but rather crossed his legs and dropped the teacup on the table opposite him. He ran his hands through his short curly grey hair before turning to watch Liam with solemnity on his face “That should be of no concern to you. The reason I want to sell my company should be my problem, not yours”

“ But that's my inheritance we are talking about here. I have every right to know why?” Liam opposed firmly. His father had willed the company to him before his death. He can't have his grandfather take it from him even though he was the founder and chairman of the company.

Mr. Powell continues with his words ignoring whatever protest Liam was giving“ I'm yet to sign the contract, that's why I wanted to see you first”

Liam sat back down on the couch, “there's still hope” he mutters to himself as he waits for his grandfather to continue.

“I'm going to leave the company to you only on one condition and if you fail to meet it, then I will be forced to sell it as planned,” Mr. Powell concluded his speech as he waited patiently for his grandson's response.

Truth is, he wasn't trying to sell the company but that was the only way he could get William to accept his condition. He knows how much Williams cherished the company and would do anything for it, he plans to use that to his advantage.

Liam sat shocked and unmoving on the couch. A part of him was confused as he didn't know what the condition was and the other part of him would do anything for his company. 

“ What is the condition? I will do anything to protect my company” Liam vowed confidently causing a smile to spread across the face of his grandfather who seemed happy at his response.

“ That's great. I'm happy you are interested in the offer. I will be waiting for you with the attorney, so you can sign the contract when you get back home. Now, off you go to work” Mr. Powell waved him off with a broad smile on his face as he took out his phone to call his attorney.

                                                             ***

Liam arrived at the office some minute past nine. His secretary was carrying his briefcase as they both walked side by side in the hallway to the conference room.

“ Call Mr. Barnett to the meeting. I'm in a hurry” Liam barked to his secretary who scrambled out to go call Mr. Barnett after making sure that the boss was settled on his seat.

Liam was a well-calculated man. Everything that was going to happen, he has always planned ahead. And when things don't go as planned, it always leaves him feeling bitter with himself.

He definitely hasn't planned for his conversation with his grandfather that morning. And he also hasn't planned for his heart to skip a beat as he saw the lady walk in, her heels making a clicking noise on the floor. 

He was shocked as that was the only time his heart as ever beats for a woman. She looks familiar, Liam wonders where he has last seen her. He wouldn't forget a face as beautiful as hers.

He knows she knew that he was gawking at her which was why the moment their eyes met across the table, he was expecting her to smile and give him a sign that she was interested in him but rather she frowned at him and averted her gaze.

Liam has never been rejected by a woman before which was why he couldn't help being annoyed with the lady who was sitting across from him. Who does she think she is? Liam glared at her but even as he said that his mind couldn't help smiling as he had accepted the challenge of making her his.

“Mr. Powell, meet Miss. Bank, my secretary. She will be taking over the presentation for today” Mr. Barnett's voice pulled him out from his thoughts as he turned to stare at the lady he had been introduced to.

Her eyes were huge as they nearly bulged out of their socket“ Nice to meet you, Miss Banks. Can we hear what you've to tell us” Liam urges her, his voice giving no room for nonsense? He takes his company seriously and wasn't going to back down for this woman.

“Yes, Mr. Powell” She replied as she stood up to tidy up her dress before going over to the front to begin her presentation. Liam was lost as all he could focus on was her voice.

Damn! Her ass was doing things to his inside that he couldn't' help thinking how turned-on he would be if she used that voice on him in the bedroom. And that ass, he will bury his face and suck them with his tongue.

The bulge in his trouser was the evidence of how turned on he will be. Liam sat up on the chair to adjust his penis and forced himself to concentrate on whatever she was saying. 

“In conclusion, I think this will be a bad idea if you purchase that building” Maya concluded as she turned to look at the one man who had put her heart in turmoil. 

It was a miracle that she finished her presentation well with the way he was undressing her with his eyes. But she wasn't going to fall for him even though she was attracted to him, she knows his type. They change women like they were properties, not human like they are.

Liam finally caught on her last word and shot up from his seat, his blazing hot with anger and when he speaks, his voice was void of emotion but rather with venom“ How dare you disregard my business strategy as unethical. I am going to buy that building and pull it down to build a condominium. Do you know how many people will be willing to pay a huge amount of money for a condominium in that neighborhood?” Liam barked, ignoring Mr. Barnett who was trying to calm him down. 

He has never been so annoyed with a woman like he was right now.  He knows he wasn't annoyed because she asked him not to go ahead with the contract but he was mostly annoyed that she rejected him. His ego was hurt.

Maya holds her stand, she returns his glare. How can someone be so selfish? And to think she was attracted to him a while back“ I'm sorry Mr. Powell but I think that's selfish of you. Do you know how many poor people will become homeless because of your selfish dream of building a condominium?” Maya asked him with her hands folded across her chest.

Instead of calming down his anger, she only fueled it. Liam watched her with hatred in his eyes“ And who told you I wasn't going to compensate them. I was going to make sure that they all get a house of their own elsewhere” 

“ I beg your pardon sir but these people have lived there most of their lives. Building a house for them or compensating them with cash wouldn't bring back the memories that they have found in that house. I suggest you find another place to build your condominium” Maya concluded gently ignoring the fierce look from her boss who was staring at her like who was she to argue with the big boss. 

Maya wasn't going to back down on this, she doesn't care if she lost her job for this. She won't let another person go through what her mom and she went through. She knows how it felt to be ripped off from a place you've spent all your lives in because of a selfish businessman like Mr. Powell.

Liam paused. He wouldn't deny that she was right in her arguments but he was a businessman, not a charity foundation“ But what to do Miss Banks. I've already signed the contract and as I'm talking to you right now, my lawyers are there to serve them the letters” Liam smiled at her when he saw the defeated look in her eyes. Though he appreciated her kindness, he wasn't going to back down on millions of dollars deal.

“But sir_____” 

“ That will be all Miss Banks. Thank you for your thoughts and contribution” Liam replied, cutting her off as he nodded to his secretary to take his things out. Maya Turned to follow her boss out who was annoyed with her.

                                                            ***

Liam got out of the shower and dressed with haste to go meet his grandfather who was waiting with the lawyer. He took a cold shower as soon as he got home to calm his dick which was surprisingly still hard after everything.

“Come over here, Williams” Mr. Powell called to him as soon as he saw Liam step out of the room. He was dressed in brown Louis Vuitton shorts and a matching tee shirt.

Liam smiled at him and went to meet them in the dining room. He couldn't wait to get this over with so his grandfather could return to Luxembourg. It was because of him that's why he couldn't bring in a call girl to rid him of this hard-on which was still on even after bathing twice.

“So?” Liam asked his grandfather with such calmness that he didn't know he had it in him after he had settled on his seat beside his grandfather at the head.

“ So, my condition is that you find a wife in the next one month. And after the marriage, the company will be yours” Mr. Powell concluded, causing Liam to snarl at him.

Liam shudders from the thought of having to spend his life with a woman, he hates them. They are only good for sex nothing else“ And if I reject the condition?”Liam asked his grandfather, even after knowing what his response would be.

“ Then the company will be sold. I'm sure your father will be happy in his grave when the company belongs to another person” Mr. Powell remarked sarcastically. He couldn't help wishing in his heart that William accept his condition as that was the only way to get to marry.

Liam paused. He was caught at a crossroad with no solution“ Okay, I accept the condition” Liam mumbled to his grandfather who smiled in excitement.

“ That's good. Now, sign the contract” Mr. Powell motioned to the paper which the lawyer was thrusting at him. Liam collected it and appended his signature after glancing through the first paragraph.

“ That's all. Right grandpa?” Liam asked him. His grandfather nodded in happiness“ Goodnight” Liam called out to him and ran up to his room to retire for the night.