Three

It's 4pm and Natasha went home early to prepare for her meeting with Howard. She wore a sophisticated red seductive dress and head to the venue by 7 pm. She let her blond curl medium length hair loose beneath her shoulder and colored her lips with red. Her thin straight nose matched well with her daring brown eyes and her delicate womanly scent lingered as she walked around the venue.

The meeting is set in a fabulous restaurant in New York City and a staff greeted her when she entered.

"Do you have any reservation tonight, ma'am?" the staff smiled.

She returned the greetings and speak with her soft voice while still maintaining her classy posture.

"Yes. I am with Mr. Howard Clemente."

The staff recognized the name immediately and guided her to her table.

"This way, ma'am."

She followed the waiter until they reached the second floor of the restaurant. She led her to a table on the right corner where the magnificent view of the city lights can be seen. She was impressed by his choice of place, it has a wonderful view.

When she turned to see the table, she saw a man in a blue long sleeves polo waiting for her. She noticed his black tidy hair and got mesmerized by his blue eyes when his gaze suddenly locked to hers. She flashed a smile and he stood up to pull the chair across him for her. She did a little research about him so she already knew what he looks like. She is also impressed by his achievements, he have helped a lot of foundations and participated in charity events. He also have a lot of rewards and has been held as one of the most successful CEO in the country. He is a billionaire that can just easily get whatever he wants.

"Thank you." She said and sat down.

"We'll deliver your orders in a few minutes," the staff said and turned to leave.

"I hope you don't mind that I have already ordered food for us," he started.

"Oh, I don't mind. Not at all." She said, waving her hand.

She didn't expect that he is this handsome, she is attracted by his sweet fragrance and wanted to sniff him but stopped herself from doing so. She only saw him in pictures on magazines, billboards and internet, this is actually her first time meeting him in person. Natasha can't help but to notice the slight similarities of the man in front of her with Jacob, they looked like brothers. Now that she thought about it, she remembered Jacob telling her that he has a brother he really despised but he never introduced him to her. He never even mentioned his name. They have known each other for eight years but she never saw Jacob meeting his brother or addressing him publicly whenever he’s getting an award.

She starts to wonder what Howard Clemente needs to tell her urgently.

Howard kept on staring at her with a smile and she is not so comfortable with it.

"So why do you want to meet me?" She said when she can no longer bear the silence.

He leaned closer to her and reached for her hands. It's soft like fabric. He slowly held it and played with her fingers. He never saw the day when he can finally held her hands, but now, it has been so easy and he don’t want to let it go but Natasha was the first to move her hands away and smiled at him uncomfortably.

“Let’s proceed with the meeting, Mr. Clemente. What do you want from me?” she asked firmly.

"I just want.." he said, cutting his words for a while to move his face closer to her.

His straight thin perfect nose is close to hers and his scent is seducing her to pull him much closer. She almost thought that he's going to kiss her when she felt his lips brushed to her ear.

"I just want to spend this night with you." he mattered huskily in her ear and turned back to his seat as if nothing happened.

She was stunned with what she heard. She doesn't understand how a man as successful as him have noticed her and ask for an urgent appointment just to spend a night with him.

She was about to speak when he suddenly let out a laugh.

She raised her brows and looked at him unbelievably.

"Don't take it seriously, Ms. Lucero.  I was just kidding." He said between his laughter, but he knew that deep inside him, all he wants is to spend all of his nights and days with her.

Natasha can't help but notice the way his eyes shrink when he laughed, Jacob was like that too. She stared at him and thought of her intentions of coming here tonight. This man should be able to help her on bringing Jacob down. Her life is ruined now, the man whom she cherished the most cheated on her for a worthless secretary. She have imagined and planned her future with Jacob, but now that he have betrayed her, she must do everything in her power to make sure that he will regret leaving her.

Just right when Howard finished the remaining laughs inside him, a waiter came and served their food.

Howard poured her a glass of wine and Natasha suggested that they should eat first before finally starting the meeting. 

Once done, Natasha was the first one to start the conversation. 

"So, Mr. Clemente, can you tell me the urgent matter now?" she asked.

Howard grabbed his table napkin and wiped his mouth before speaking.

"Ah, yes. My company needs a partnership with Anderson's corporation, but it's really hard to get on their good side. I did a little research and found out that your brother is married to this woman named Alexine Anderson who is the daughter of the company's CEO."

She remembered Alexine, she's a sweet girl who got married to her brother just few days ago abroad.

"What do you want from me, then?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

"I want you to introduce me to this Alexine and endorse me to her so I will leave a great impression."

Truth is, Howard can take care of the partnership between Anderson and his company but he used it as an excuse so he can get closer to her. Though he has his doubts that she won't agree with it but it's worth trying.

Natasha crossed her arms in her chest, "That's an easy task to do, and it's a deal if you will agree with my condition."

Howard didn't expected it. He can't deny that he was a bit confused when she agreed to meet him, and now he understood why, she came to negotiate a deal.

"Spill it," he said.

"You know Mavro's company right? I heard that the CEO have been trying to bring you down since you established your own company."

Howard has an idea where the conversation is going. He nods as an indication that he knows what she's talking about.

"I am thinking of ruining Jacob Mavro's reputation--"

"But, Ms. Lucero--" he tried to interrupt.

"Please, let me finish first." She said, raising her hand to stop him from talking.

Howard stay still in his seat and listened.

"Jacob Mavro treats you as his number 1 rival in the business industry, and we do not know what else he can do to drag you down. So, if you think about it Mr. Clemente, it will be a win-win situation for the both of us. You will help me to tarnish his reputation and you will be at ease because you will lose a tight competitor, plus you will have your partnership with the Andersons."

Howard considered it. He doesn't really care about the partnership, he can handle it on his own way. He don't also need to drag his brother down, that will only start a war between them but he had enough of his nonsense. He have always been understanding towards him, maybe now is the opportunity to end it. He should think about himself now and stick with his plan on building relationship with Natasha and settle down. Or maybe, he doesn't have to do it, maybe he can convince Natasha to just let his brother be and continue to live her own life.

"Why do you want to destroy him?" He asked after a long silence.

She smiled, but he could see a shade of sadness in her eyes that she's trying to conceal with her bright pretty face.

"In case you haven't heard about it, he was my boyfriend and I caught him naked with his secretary."

He did not know that she is this straight forward."Then, why not just move on?"

He heard Natasha heaved a heavy sigh and he also noticed her exhausted eyes. She looks like she’s about to cry but restraining herself to do so. It makes him adore her more for she’s not letting others see her in vulnerable moments. He wants to embrace and console her right now, he wants to assure her that everything is going to be alright but he should not. He don’t know what kind of reaction he would get from her.

“Just move on, Ms. Natasha Lucero,” he whispered but loud enough for her to hear him.

"Would you? Can you do that if the person you loved and have given your all for the past years made you look like a fool and hurt you?" She can feel her eyes watering and she is preventing herself from tearing apart. Crying is the last thing she wants to do right now. She does not have time for such weaknesses.

He stared at her tired eyes and realized how badly she wants to get over all of this. She doesn’t deserve this and it makes him want to go straight to his brother and punched him on the face.

“You know what? Never mind. I should not have wasted my time coming here. What was I expecting from a man like you?” she said and was preparing to leave when Howard held her by the arms to stop her.

"Deal. It’s a deal." He said absent-mindedly while getting lost at her eyes.