Chapter 8

“So, how is she doing?”

SJ looked up from the construction drawings he is reviewing and looked at Brian coldly on a busy Tuesday morning. He then looked back down and continued his checking. He never said a thing and waited for Brian to continue.

“I heard she got into an accident at the food hall last week,” Brian continued casually as he placed down the drawing he is reviewing as well. “No one even helped her up. Poor girl then has to suffer through some tantrums of some bitch she accidentally bumped into.”

“Anything else?!” SJ sneered.

Brian gave him a wry look.

“Just letting you know that your wife is not having the time of her life in your company,” he commented dryly as he returned the drawing to SJ and made some notes on his Ipad. “On my way up in the elevator, there was this group of women snickering and gossiping about her. Presumably, your wife was discovered by one of the janitors having her lunch in the broom closet yesterday.”

“You always like listening to gossips, do you?” SJ countered.

“What I’m trying to say, dude is, why the hell are you allowing these people to treat her like that?” Brian pointed out firmly. “She’s a Kincaid for crying out loud and you’re doing nothing! Is this still part of the arrangement your family decided? That girl’s from the country and she’s isn’t even 21.”

“She has to learn to be the Kincaid wife she will be,” SJ said firmly.

His friend only looked at him wryly before resuming his review on the drawings silently.

“Mr. Kincaid, there’s a call for you on line three,” his secretary, Debra said formally over the intercom. “It’s from the office of Grande Holdings, Inc.”

Brian looked up abruptly at the news.

Grande Holdings, Inc is known all over the world as one of the top hotel chains, running over 100 branches across the globe.

“This is SJ Kincaid speaking,” SJ said formally after picking up the receiver.

“Good day, Mr. Kincaid,” a female voice greeted calmly. “I’m Katherine Jacobs from Mr. Elliot Grande’s office. His office would like to set a meeting with you this coming Thursday. Will 10 in the morning be possible?”

SJ looked at his computer screen, checking his schedule.

“Yes, Ms. Jacobs,” he affirmed. “10 on Thursday will be good. Is there anything or anyone here in the office that Mr. Grande needs to attend?”

“Your Design and Engineering team, if possible,” Katherine answered. “Thank you for your time. We will see you Thursday.”

“We just got an appointment with GHI!” Brian exclaimed. “Bloody hell!”

SJ remained silent for a while, absorbing the news. He clenched his fists gently. This is it! The one thing that he has been targeting on for years ever since he became the CEO and Vice-President of his family’s business, he had been setting his eyes on GHI to get them as clients. Fate seems to be going his way after all the years he had work so hard to become what he is now.

“Your dad will be thrilled to hear this,” Brian continued.

“I’ll let him know once we have the meeting,” SJ concluded. “I don’t want to pre-empt the excitement.”

The two returned to their work in silence for the next few hours until they heard the door of his office opening. Carmela came striding in wearing a leopard print pencil skirt, topped with a plain white silk sleeveless top and a black leather jacket. She paired it with black stilettos, dangling diamond earrings and red lips.

“Hey, guys!” She greeted flirtatiously.

Brian turned to SJ with a cold look to which his friend returned with a warning look.

“Hey, babe,” SJ greeted as he stood up and meeting her halfway. His face was then pulled down by her and gave him a hard kiss, slipping her tongue in his mouth for a few seconds. “Photoshoot already done?”

“It took a while,” she replied as she walked towards his desk and sat on the corner of his desk, looking at Brian sideways. “Antonio really had these stupid assistants in his studio. Not to forget in being so slow in doing their job. If I was the one who hired them, I kick them out immediately.”

“I’ll be taking my leave,” Brian interrupted stiffly. “Just call me up for updates and I’ll see you on Thursday.”

Carmela looked at Brian’s back coldly as he went out before looking at SJ with a pout. “He never likes me since we started going out,” she whined dramatically. She followed him towards the couch and sat beside him. “Is it because he desires me as well and hated the fact that I choose you?”

SJ studied her appearance and could feel his desire rising up. He run a hand up her legs and she flashed him an encouraging smile, her eyes getting excited.

After staying in his office for the next hours, SJ and Carmela went out, looking happy and satisfied as they headed out for lunch. They took his private elevator down to the lobby and driveway where the car he had given her a few months ago is waiting, driven by a driver he hired as well.

“Where do you want to eat?” He asked as he got in beside her. “You deserve to have the best after that contract signing yesterday. My apologies for not being able to make it.”

“Let’s go to Sky Garden,” Carmela said with a smile. “I want to show off this earrings you gave me.”

SJ grinned as he bent down to give her a kiss. Just before he closed his eyes, he caught attention of Ellisande, hurriedly walking up the driveway with several bags of take-out food, more than enough than she can handle. No one bothered to help her. She stopped for a while, putting the bags down and gently rubbed her arms. He watched as she answered her phone and saw her winced slightly at whatever the caller is telling her.

“Ugh! Look at that,” Carmela commented disgustedly when her eyes spotted Ellisande, lifting up the bags again and walking in hurriedly. “With the way she is dressing herself, it’s no wonder that’s the job being offered to her.”

He remained silent and what Brian had told him a while ago came back into his mind.