4

   He groaned as he loosened his tie. The business proposal was due in a few days and he still had nothing.

 “Sir?” Martha peeked her head through the door.

  “Come in,”he said drily. 

It was way past closing time but he still had a lot to do.

  “I’ve spoken with some of the shareholders at the shopping complex. They agreed to the new business plan with the condition that they regain their shares even after reconstruction” Martha reported

 Nate nodded, things were going according to plan even though he was yet to get the proposal out of his way. 

  “Notify shop owners, they have a week to evacuate, construction commences the week after”

  “One more thing sir,” Martha said. “The business proposal is due in….”

   “Of course I know” Nate frowned as he brushed her off.

Martha bowed her head loyally and left his office.

   

   He picked up his pen again as he searched for the right words, this was something he had done countless times but now, he had difficulty.

He clicked his tongue, racking his brain for what to do next.

   “If only I had one worthy person from the interview” he muttered

 He was a perfectionist, he never settled for the bare minimum. After being thrown into business at an early age of eighteen after he lost his father, he had to learn the ropes in order to be the successful businessman he was. He didn’t mind being referred to as cold or cruel, their opinions weren’t good for business.

The quick clicking of heels resonating from a short distance alerted him before the voice.

  

     “Nate!”

He shivered at the sound of the familiar voice, it meant trouble for him.

    “Nate Jacobin!” She yelled, her eyes narrowed into slits as she barged into his office.

  “Mom, what can I do for you? It’s late already” he groaned 

   “Of course it’s late!” She frowned as she took the seat opposite him. “Why can’t you stay out of drama for a split second?”

     Nate raised his brows quizzically, he had successfully stayed out of reporters radar for months.

 “I received a message from a popular blogger today” she pushed her phone towards him.

     Nate sighed, he was sure the reporters were up to no good, it was surely fabricated stories. He took the phone slowly as he stared at the picture on the screen.

   The familiar brunette and her Harry Potter looking glasses. His fist curled into a ball, the annoying lady had shown up once again.

In the picture, they looked like they were about to tear each other apart, it was taken at the restaurant.

   “I don’t know this lady, we met only once” he said defensively, his face in an uptight scowl 

  

  “You have the biggest business deal in a couple of days” she reminded him. “Do you want to mess it up with all this bad news? Do you know what they’ll have to say about you?”

    Nate sucked in a sharp breath, just thinking of the brunette and her smart mouth made his skin crawl.

  “You have to find a way to get rid of the bad news, this picture can’t get out” Mrs Jacobin warned.

    Nate sucked in another sharp breath, he instantly regretted agreeing to Adam’s plan. At first, he pictured that he would have a peaceful date with the lady and they’ll go their separate ways. Women scandals were never good for his image, he knew better as he had had so many scandals in the past.

   Everyone knew him as the billionaire playboy and he was associated with every drama on the blogs.

When it came to his business, he skillfully pushed aside everything that would do him no good.

   

  “I have an idea” Mrs Jacobin smiled devilishly, leaning forward. “How about we tell everyone she is an obsessed fan girl who wouldn’t let go of you”

    Nate shook his head disapprovingly, his mother always had a cunning trick up her sleeve.

  “That would do the lady no good” he mumbled, drumming his fingers on the table.

  “And why do you care what is good for her?” His mother shot at him.

  “Of course I do not care what is good for her” he shot back heatedly 

  “Clean up this mess, Nate” Mrs Jacobin warned, wagging a finger at him as she rose to her feet. 

  He let out his breath as he watched her leave. 

  Mrs Jacobin was a fourth generation businesswoman, she was feared by other business owners as they knew how strong she was. She taught Nate almost all the business tactics he knew.

  Not only did he have to deal with the proposal, now, he had to deal with the fact that a reporter could spread a rumor that would put his business on the line.

He ran a hand through his disheveled hair as he concluded he would deal with the reporter later.

  He picked up his pen again as he struggled to find the right words for the proposal. He had done it a thousand times but this time, he was at a total loss even after looking up different references.

  He sighed as he spotted the envelope Ruby left on his table earlier. He rolled his eyes in defeat as he reached for the paper and opened it. He couldn’t believe his last resort was to open her paper. Gosh, she was so annoying.

  His eyes widened as he read through her business proposal, it was written meticulously with words that would capture the soul of any business partner. She was without doubt, the person he had been looking for all these while.

  He swallowed the lump in his throat as he frowned. Why was she this good? He wondered. Did she really have to be unbearably annoying?

He tapped his feet impatiently as he thought of what to do next. He wasn’t the type to give up easily, at least not without putting up a very good fight.

Contacting her would hurt his ego and pride but he was taught to do only what was best for business.