TERMS REJECTED

MILENA'S POV

The next day, I was sitting in the conference room, my glasses shielding my eyes from the rest of the board members as we waited for Damien to show up.

Late.

Ugh, I had things to do.

My gaze flicked over to the clock on the wall then back at the door that seemed to mock me. What the fuck did he think I would say to that stupid document he had sent to me? Oh yeah, you could take 40% of my say in the company just so you could wave around a hefty sum in my face?

My heels tapped against the floor. One. Two. Three. Over and over.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open and Damien walked in, looking like he had just run a mile and almost immediately, his eyes landed on me. I'd be lying if I said my heart didn't skip a beat by the way he just…stared.

Everyone else stood up and greeted him but I remained seated, my legs crossed as i watched him collapse on his seat on the other end of the conference table.

“You're late” I pulled off my glasses, setting it on the glass table.

He still had his gaze fixed on me and his lips quirked into an apologetic smile. “There was traffic. I apologize for the delay” He immediately said.

Blah blah blah.

Back to the point.

“Who do you think you are, Damien Hale?” I asked, the entire room falling silent at my blunt words.

He blinked confused then cleared his throat, his gaze flickering to the woman standing by his chairㅡ Miss Samantha.

“What does thatㅡ” That was as far as he got before I raised a hand to shush him and nodded to Dora standing beside me.

She nodded and immediately pulled out a file from the suitcase she was holding and she started reading aloud while I tapped my fingers on the table, my blood boiling as I listened to her recount the words that I had read in a fit of anger the previous day.

“...for the sum of 4 million dollars… we demand a 40% say in the company's work throughout the time of our deal” She paused and looked around the members of Damien's company who were sitting closer to him on the table.

Damien seemed to have collected himself and he nodded. “Ah yes, that's a condition that we're hoping you would consider. It's a huge project and I think my team has every right to be worried about you ditching us in the long run and bankrupting us which is why we're asking for legal safety. Legal safety is after all…very important” He drawled out his last statement, his head tilted slightly as he stared at me.

Legal safety was important? For some reason, that sentence seemed to have more than one meaning and I hated the fact that he was bringing that up here.

Fuck him.

“No. I think trust is a big thing in every business arrangement. I like to keep my autonomy in everything” I shrugged, leaning back. “I made myself very clear yesterday and I intended to go ahead with the deal but here I am, listening to all this”

Someone from his team piped up. “Because you're trying to prove you can live without Mr Hale?”

My jaw tightened at his words and Damien shot the man a glare. “Shut up, Henry or I promise you that I'll fire you”

I gave him a mocking glance. “Is this the team that you expect me to trust with 40% of my company?”

The table was silent. “I'm not supposed to be here right now but I wanted to clear this up and I assure you this is the last time we'll have this conversation” I looked around, pausing for effect. “I am not giving a single percent of legal say to this company. Sign the documents or leave it as it is. I have better prospects”

Damien didn't argue like I would have liked. Infact, he seemed too calm and the fact that he had called out “Henry” or whatever for what he said to me only served to make me more mad. I wanted him to do something stupid. I needed more reasons to fuel my anger against him but insteadㅡ “You'll have the signed documents by noon” He assured, ignoring the sharp glances from his team. “I think we can make the deal official, Miss Carter”

My brow lifted at his words and I stood to my feet, adjusting my silky shirt that had creased at the collar. “Lovely doing business with you” I nodded at him and walked out of the conference room with Dora trailing behind me.

“Is the therapist still with Theo?” I asked as we neared the exit.

Dora swiped through the iPad in her hands. “Yes, she confirms the progress with him, they're still in the hotel room”

“Good” I placed my hand on the door to pull it open when I heard a voice approaching.

“Mia”

Mia. The name made me freeze.

Dora immediately turned around simultaneously, cussing under her breath before quickly leaving just as Damien got up to me.

“What do you want this time?” I asked bluntly.

He suddenly grabbed my wristㅡ Not hard. Just firm enough. And pulled me into an empty office by the door.

He looked me over, his expression desperate and I couldn't help but feel unease as we were alone. “I just wanted to uh… say my proper greetings to my new partner”

“Cut the crap” I cut him off and he paused then his expression fell into one of seriousness.

“Fine. I spent my entire yesterday trying to see if I could bypass the legal red tape”

I blinked. Once. Twice. He was still on that?

For some reason, I couldn't deny the anxiousness and curiosity that I felt at his words. “And?” I tried to keep the anxiety out of my voice.

He peered into my eyes, his expression soft. “6 months, Milena. That's enough for everything, give me six fucking months and I swear you can leave and I won't stop you but let me save my son's life”

I bit the inside of my cheeks and looked away. “I'm gonna be honest. I'm putting you as a last resort because it's not that serious right now” Lies. It was that serious. I didn't know when next I would have to rush him to the hospital. “If there are other options then we can talk about this again but… it's a last resort for me. Tying him back to you legally is the last thing I want to do. Tying myself legally to you is the worst decision I could make again”

If I was being honest, it wasn't really about that. I had a lot of ego but I wasn't that stupid to let it get in the way of my son's health. It was more about what I planned to do when I was here with his company.

Damien's company wasn't that special. Why would I want to merge Haven with it? Simple. Revenge. Right now, he was falling right in my trap.

His expression didn't change. “We need to talk about that day” He started but my gaze flicked outside the window and my heart caught in my chest at the sight of the person who just walked into his company.

Sienna. My sister. The bitch. Of course he was still seeing her and yet…yet he wanted a contract marriage when he was still with the person he betrayed me with.

Seeing her again after so many years did nothing but piss me off as I reined in the urge to go meet her and talk to her. Let her know that I was here again for her and the man she wanted so badly. She already had him but I wasn't done with the two of them.

Damien wanted legal safety with his company but giving him that? That would ruin my plans to tear down this company.

“It seems your girlfriend is looking for you” I poked the insides of my mouth with my tongue as I scoffed.

He followed my gaze and I swear, I could feel him tense. “WaitㅡNo, it's not what you think. I swearㅡ”

I wasn't waiting for another word. “Good bye, Mr Hale” Then I was out.