Chapter 2

Chapter 2

"You've finally gone insane!" Mallory spat out loud, her well manicured fingers in the air as she yelled into the tensioned filled air. The news she was hearing straight from her daughter felt like a death sentence. In fact, she thought she already died.

Across her in the living room was Suzanne, standing with her head bowed. She'd just broken the news of the delayed divorce to her. And her reaction was cringing.

"Please, mother. Hear me out. I didn't make this happen, Davey doesn't want me anymore. What was I supposed to do?" Suzanne's voice quivered as she asked.

"You're a brilliant girl, Suzanne! You're a genius. How could you not know what to do when your husband proposes a divorce? You should have dropped on your knees and begged! Rather you asked him to keep you around for two months!" Mallory thundered loudly, and paced desperately.

The thought of going back to cleaning the glass doors, the hallways and the rest of the company's spaces at Hawthorne enterprise was devastating. All the plans. Everything she had done to set up her brilliant daughter with the only son of the influential Hawthorne family was about to go down the drain.

No. She won't let that happen.

Turning abruptly, she marched towards Suzanne, a defiant look on her face. "You will have to go back and beg him. Kneel and lick his boots if you have to. Two months? What are you hoping to achieve in two months?"

Suzanne stared at her mother, her lips parted in more disappoinment and shock. "All this while, I didn't tell you what I was going through in that house because I knew you were not going to understand me. I can take any other person treating me like trash, buy you? No, I can't it..." Before Suzanne could finish her statement, a stinging slap landed on her face with a sharp smack, colliding with the soft skin of her cheeks.

"Shut the hell up and listen to me!" Mallory scolded, risking another slap. "Do you know what you're about to lose? Do you know how many girls out there are waiting on a queue to be the next Mrs. Hawthorne? After all you've contributed within a short period of time? You want to just leave everything behind, and allow yourself to be discarded like a piece of trash?"

Suzanne, with the back of her palm, wiped at the stinging skin on her face before turning to look at Mallory. "Is...money all you care about? What about me? What about my own life?"

Mallory gave a short frustrating laugh, and waved Suzanne off. "Spare me all that, Suzanne. Don't act as if you didn't partake in the plan as well. You played your roll well, and that was why we got the old man's attention. You liked Davey, young lady. Don't act as if you were forced into this."

Suzanne stared at her mother, and memories of how the woman had come up with the plan to attract Arlan Hawthorne's attention played before her eyes. She had been nineteen then, and in her second year at the University.

"Exactly, mother. That is why I asked for two months. Within these months, I'm going to forget I ever loved Davey and make him almost regret ever bringing up the divorce talk."

"And how are you going to do that? Do you even know how powerful this family is? How can you go against a family that has it all meanwhile you have nothing?" Mallory retorted, and looked away with desperation in her eyes. She needed to do something to stop this separation from happening.

Suzanne smiled at her mother's statement, and folded her arms neatly under her breasts. "You're wrong, mother. I do have something, and that is my brain. My skills. My hacking skills, my knowledge for finance. I'm a genius when it comes to finance management. This is my weapon, and I'm going to use it wisely this time."

"I don't care what you say young lady, I won't allow you send me back to being a cleaner." Mallory replied flatly, turned and left the living room.

As soon as her mother left, Suzanne picked out her cellphone from her handbag, and dialled a line. As she placed the phone over her ear, waiting for the call to get connected, her eyes blazed with fury. Revenge. Determination. She would make him pay for this humiliation. She would make him shake with uncertainty on the day she scribbles down her signature.

"Naomi Campbell. S&C Investment services. Who am I on to?"

"Naomi, it's me. Suzanne." Suzanne spoke into the receiver.

"Suzanne! Why are you calling my work line, you bitch? What's up?"

"Because it's a business talk. Can we meet up? I mean, right now." Suzanne demanded.

"Well, my lunch break is in an hour. Meet me at Kevin's pickup."

"See you there," Suzanne replied curtly. She ended the call, and realized her cheeks were wet. God, she was in tears.

Angrily, she pulled out a Kleenex tissue from her bag, and cleaned her face before walking out of the apartment.

****An hour later****

"What???" Naomi's big round eyes popped wide over her mocha latte coffee which she almost spilled on herself. Did she hear her friend right?

"I need you to set me up with your boss, Michael O'Connor." Suzanne repeated, and with the defiant look on her face, and deep in her gaze, anyone could tell she meant every word.

Naomi blinked rapidly, placing her coffee back on the table. She looked around, and back at Suzanne. "Are you insane? I should set you up with...with...the CEO of S&C Investment? With the mighty Michael O'Connor? What the hell, and how am I supposed to fucking do that!"

Suzanne smiled at Naomi, and looked into space as she quickly revised her plans all over again.

Who is Michael O'Connor? The CEO of S&C Investment limited, and most importantly, Davey's rival in the business world. Infact, both companies are currently after a billion-dollar contract, and this was what made Suzanne realize how perfectly she could scheme out her revenge.

"Suzanne? Are you listening to me?" Naomi whispered.

Suzanne returned her gaze to Naomi, and moved forward in her chair. "You asked me how you're going to set me up with your boss? Listen carefully to what I'm about to say..."

***************

The black sleek car stopped in front of the luxurious fancy restaurant at the Hilltop estate, and Michael stepped out in his brand new black tuxedo suit. He swirled around on his knees, letting his Italian shoes shine bright under the cool afternoon sun. He turned, found Naomi already standing behind him, hands clutching some office files against her chest.

"Did you say the manager of Hong Chan fabrics came all way here and is waiting for me in there, and he specifically said he wanted to see me in person?" Michael asked in his smooth baritone, his well shaped beards moving slightly under his lips.

"Y...yes. Yes....sir," Fuck. Naomi cursed under her breath, praying this would not be the end of her job as the assistant secretary of the S&C boss. She knew how hard it took her to get here, and if by any means, she losses her job, she'd already promised herself to kill Suzanne and send her head to the...

"What are you scowling about? Why are you stuttering even more today? I asked you a question, and all you just do is stare."

"I'm... sorry sir. Yes, the.... manager is waiting for you...he said... You're going to see him as soon as...

Michael turned around before Naomi could finish, and stared heading towards the slid doors. Behind, two of his security guards followed swiftly.

They got into the cozy quiet restaurant few seconds later. Michael glared down at his wristwatch before taking his gaze around the room. Since it was a very exclusive private place, few customers were present, eating while some only sat, having cocktails with their partners.

With a growing impatient scowl on his face, Michael looked towards the table at the extreme end, and that was when his eyes fell on her.

Suzanne.

As soon as she saw him, ste stood up on her feet, waved a hand.

Michael, now confused beckoned to one of his guard, and nodded towards Suzanne.

"Is she waving at me?"

"Yes, boss."

"What the hell? I didn't know their manager was a woman," Michael scoffed, and walked closer to Suzanne, ignoring the admiration that was constantly thrown his way.

"From Hong Chan." Michael muttered, running his gaze over Suzanne like an overspending truck.

"No. I just had to use that name so you will agree to see me. I'm sorry for the audacity." Suzanne replied, her eyes staring straight at Michael. This time, she wouldn't allow any sort of intimidation. Not even from this gorgeous tall man that was standing in front of her.

"What? Who are you?" Michael thrust his hands into his pockets, took another good look at Suzanne before asking.

"I'm Suzanne. The soon to be ex-wife of Davey Hawthorne."

"The same Davey Hawthorne?" Michael asked, his eyes beaming with small curiosity.

"Yes."

"What is this deceit for? Why did you use Hong Chan Fabrics to lure me here?" Michael demanded.

"Because I know how important it is to you. Because I have the information of the contract you are pursuing with Hawthorne enterprise. And most especially because I can help you get that contract with HCF. Additionally, I'm here to offer you my abilities."

Michael scoffed, seemingly uninterested. "I'm too busy for stuffs like this. Your level of audacity is alarming. What abilities of yours do you think will worth my time?"

"I can bring you different business strategies. I'm a genius when it comes into hacking of websites, recovering lost data, and other things. I won't be here wasting your time if I'm not capable." Suzanne let a soft smile appear on her lips as she replied.

Michael stared briefly at her with a thoughtful look in his eyes. He sat down, crossing his long legs under the table. "Listen to this," he spoke up flatly, "there's a Japanese construction company that has climbed up the pool by 5% above S&C. What do you think the strategy team should do? Should they approach the construction company with an alliance strategy or compete against them?"

Suzanne stared at Michael, and slowly, she smiled. A soft knowing smile that reflected her brilliance. She could tell that he was testing her thinking faculty. She sat across from him, getting ready to answer his test.

"In such situation," she drawled, placing her arms on the table, "an alliance strategy would be better, and why? The construction company will be forced to share the secrets of their success, and that will automatically boost your success rate." Suzanne answered confidently, and relaxed back in her chair.

Michael stared at her, slightly taken aback by her intelligence and fluency. Never had he seen such a young lady filled with boldness and audacity. Just the way he liked them. What the hell was Davey Hawthorne thinking? Divorcing such a gorgeous being?

"Did you say you can help me get the contract with HCF?"

"Yes. All you have to do sir...is do one thing for me. I know how important you're and how powerful and popular you're as well, that's why I'm also offering you something that will worth your time."

"Let me hear it."

"A fake relationship for two months. Can you...be my potential lover...for two months?" Suzanne requested softly, closing her eyes in embarrassment at her stuttering. How could she stutter after all the rehearsals she's had?

"Potential lover for two months? You want me to stalk you...call you...show interest in you? You want me to feign crazy feelings for you for two months." Michael repeated.

"Yes," Suzanne nodded, her heart beating fast and hard against her chest.