chapter 12

"I've had enough of this!" Archie bellowed, yanking the door open and slamming it shut behind him. Phoebe, who was hot on his heels, didn't have time to react, and the door clipped her as she followed close behind.

"Archie!" She called out, rushing after him. It had been days since the tension between them had escalated, Archie's cold demeanor a stark contrast to his usual self. He'd been coming home late, rejecting her cooking, and shutting her out whenever she tried to talk to him.

Archie quickened his pace, determined to shake Phoebe off. He reached the parking lot and swiftly got into his car, but Phoebe arrived just in time to grab the car door, holding it open with a desperate grip.

His eyes flashed with annoyance as he shot her a deadly glance, but he remained silent. He tried to force the door shut, but she held tight, her determination evident. Finally, he relinquished his grip on the door, and it swung open, creaking in protest.

"What do you think you're doing?" He demanded.

Phoebe's face contorted in distress, her expression a poignant mix of sadness and pleading, as if she was on the verge of breaking down. "Why are you treating me like this?"

Archie's expression remained neutral. "How am I treating you?"

Phoebe's voice took on a desperate tone. "Archie, you've changed. My daughter and I need your attention. Please make time for us."

Archie's demeanor softened slightly, and he looked at Phoebe with a hint of exhaustion. "Phoebe, please let me be," he implored. "I have a lot going on in my mind right now. Stop disturbing me, please."

"We're now a disturbance to you?" She said, her voice rising in incredulity. She crossed her arms over her chest, her body language screaming defiance. "Archie, if you don't want us anymore, we can go, she said, Should we vacate the house?"

"That will be; " Archie began, but before he could finish, his phone rang, shrill in the tense silence. He snatched it up, his eyes flashing with irritation as he barked into the receiver. "What!"

His expression changed in an instant, his eyes widening in shock as he listened to the voice on the other end. He pulled the phone away from his ear, his mouth hanging open in stunned silence. The phone slipped from his fingers, falling to the seat with a soft thud.

His fist crashed down on the steering wheel, the sound of his anger echoing through the parking lot. "Fuck!" The word was torn from his lips.

"Is everything okay?" Phoebe asked, her voice soft with worry. She reached out to touch him, but he was having none of it. He pushed her away, his eyes blazing with a fierce intensity. 

"Leave me alone!"

Phoebe stumbled backward, her balance lost, and fell to the ground with a soft cry. She watched in shock as Archie roared out of the parking lot, the tires screeching in protest.

***

Archie burst into the company, leaving the car door wide open behind him. Jacob rushed to his side, concern etched on his face. "Good morning, sir."

"What's going on?" Archie demanded, his voice laced with anxiety.

"We lost the Switzerland and America project."

Jacob's response hit him like a ton of bricks, making his eyes widen in shock, and he struggled to catch his breath. "That's not possible!" He bellowed, his voice echoing through the office. 

His lips trembled with rage and disappointment. The project had been his ticket to millions, and he'd invested everything to secure it. Losing it would be a devastating blow; potentially bankrupting him.

"Which company won the contract?" Archie ground out.

"Azel Organization." Jacob replied, his voice somber.

Archie's face contorted in disgust. "Again!" He spat, stunned. This was the thirteenth project he'd lost to Azel since their new president took over. Azel's sudden interest in the project was suspicious, and Archie's mind was racing with questions. 

"But they said–" his voice trailed off in disbelief. 

He'd been assured by Dominic that Azel had no interest in the project. Now, it seemed that assurance had been a lie. Archie's anger and frustration simmered, ready to boil over.

"Why... Why is this happening to me?" His voice cracked. He suspected Dominic's hand in this, retaliating for Phoebe's behavior at the funeral. "I must make a move!" He decided, determination etched on his face.

As he turned to head out the door, his phone rang. He halted, his eyes narrowing as he picked up the call. "Hello."

The voice on the other end was formal. "Hello, Mr. Archie. This is Chairman Michael's secretary. I called to inform you that you lost the project," the secretary said, her voice devoid of emotion.

"What!" Archie shouted, his heart sinking. "Why? I did everything you guys requested."

"Yes, I'm sorry about this. But the chairman has decided to award the project to Azel Organization." She announced, and the line went dead, leaving Archie staring into space, his mouth agape.

The words echoed in his mind like a death knell. "I'm doomed!" He gasped, his legs buckling beneath him. He fell to the floor, his eyes wide with despair.

"Boss!" Jacob cried out, rushing to Archie's side. "You shouldn't be doing this. I think the best solution now is to ask the Azel Organization for help. Meet with Dominic and beg to let you meet with the new president."

"I'd rather die than run to them for help."