Chapter 7

“Like I said, I am Laura, the president of Lovelies Group of Companies, and I would like to have a word with you as the CEO of TT Companies,” she said after sitting.

“How did you find out about that?” he asked, not surprised she was the one who had been trying to dig out information about him.

“Things like that are very easy in this industry,” she answered.

“Why are you making so much effort to get my identity?”

“Your company just got a huge deal, and I know you need the partnership of a much bigger company to execute it,” she answered.

So she wants to work together with me? he thought, and stopped one of the waiters, picked a drink, and gulped it down his throat.

“So you are asking us to work with you? But why would a big company like yours be interested in working with us?”

“Hmm... the thing is, we actually showed interest in the deal first but we lost it to you. I personally have a great interest in it and would love to work with you,” she explained.

“I have other companies willing to work with us already,” he said, turning his face away.

“Lovelies is the best company you can get to work with you,” she retorted.

“What will I get if I choose your company?” he asked after keeping quiet for a few seconds.

“We will offer you the best resources we have,” she answered, happy that he seemed to be yielding.

“I don’t think the resources are enough,” he told her, picking up another drink.

“Anything you want,” Laura quickly said without thinking.

“Anything means nothing. How about we do it like this: I will give the deal back to your company and you will grant me whatever I want,” he said, expecting her to think about it for a while before getting back to him, but Laura literally yelled okay into his ears, grinning with a smile, and he almost dropped his glass.

“You are not joking with me, are you?” Laura asked to be sure.

“Hmm.”

“How about an official appointment then?” she requested.

“Let’s meet up on Tuesday at the office by lunchtime,” he answered, and Laura felt relieved.

She couldn’t believe that he would offer to return the project to her and squealed with excitement, then stood up and without thinking grabbed his hand and shook it.

“Thanks a lot, see you then,” she said and hurried away before he could change his mind, making sure to record every bit of their conversation.

Chris smiled and watched her leave, feeling amused for unknown reasons, but even more so to see her so excited despite not knowing what his intention was.

He hadn’t expected her to approach him so casually and even refer to him as a friend; maybe he wasn’t all that invisible in her eyes.

Josh came back to talk with Chris but paused when he saw him talking to a very pretty girl and even saw him raise the corner of his mouth in a smile.

Knowing how rare it was for him to smile, Josh guessed whoever it was must have some skills. Except Mira, who loved to follow him around like a puppy, he had refused to get closer to any girl and saw them as annoying.

Josh waited for her to leave before he walked up to Chris and tapped him on the shoulder. The smile on Chris’s face immediately disappeared and Josh couldn’t wait to tease him.

“You don’t have to pretend, I already saw you with her,” Josh said and sat beside him.

“What do you mean?” he asked like he didn’t understand.

“You seem to like her, don’t you?” Josh answered instead.

“She is the CEO of Lovelies Group of Companies,” Chris told him, and Josh stared at him in disbelief.

“Are you pulling my leg? Why would someone like her approach you?” he asked while taking a seat.

“How would I know that? She wants to work together with my company,” Chris answered, confused to see him get excited.

“Really? I can’t believe you got the mighty Laura to speak to you. She is known to ignore every guy and even rejected the little prince of the Brooks family.”

“She is that popular,” Chris murmured.

“But wouldn’t Mira get upset? Remember what she did to the last girl that approached you,” Josh queried, picking a drink for himself.

“She is not someone Mira can afford to offend,” he said nonchalantly.

“You sound like you know so much about her. Is there a secret you are not telling me?” Josh asked curiously.

“You said it just now — that she is the mighty Laura,” Chris reminded him.

“That’s true, but why would she care to work with you? I guess her company isn’t doing well, like the rumors say,” he muttered to himself.

“What about the company?” Chris questioned. He had tried not to concern himself with anything of hers, but couldn’t help getting curious now that she had approached him herself.

“Don’t you know about it? Everyone says that she is not capable and there are rumors that her stepbrother will soon replace her.”

Chris nodded quietly as he listened to Josh, understanding the reason behind her overjoyed act. That meant the contract meant a great deal to her then.

“Are you really interested in her? What about Mira?” Josh asked, seeing that he was lost in thought.

“I told you I am not in a relationship with her. I am leaving,” Chris replied, dropped the glass in his hand, and left the party.

As he stepped out, his driver waiting downstairs saw him approaching and quickly came down from the car to open the door. Chris entered and they drove off.

Chris took out his phone to look up Lovelies and was surprised by the information he saw online. He knew she was naïve but didn’t expect that she wouldn’t be able to handle the company well and even have her position threatened.

He placed his phone back in his pocket and rested his head, trying to catch some sleep before going back to the office to finish up some work.

Then his mind went back to his conversation with her and he smirked.