chapter fifteen

"Don't let him distract you from our deal. Twelve months. That's all you get." Georgio words rang in my ear.

Who the hell was he to even challenge me. What games is he trying to play with me?

I paced around the front of my car. Why the hell isn't James here yet? I don't want to believe that crazy man still stayed behind, even after watching me leave.

I folded my arms, pacing even more. .....What could still be keeping him behind....

Then I heard soft footsteps. Like someone was trying to sneak up on me. I know who it was, obviously.

"What do you think you're trying to do, blackmailer?" I said coldly without moving an inch.

James turned to me, leaning casually against my car. "Relax sweetheart... I didn't come out here to beg for forgiveness." He smirked. "Besides, we both know you're too proud to accept an apology. Even if I offered."

I walked up to him, not caring if we were an inch away from locking lips. "And do you think that's supposed to bother me?"

"Not really," He shrugged. "But your father, he bothers me. And I'm starting to see.... You're a little too much like him."

If there's anything thing I've learnt about James, he always knew the right buttons to press. My eyes narrowed -the one button I hated people pressing.

"You know nothing about me." I pointed at him. "Nothing. Whatever lies you've been fed, whatever fake files you've fucking keep... They don't define me."

"No? Then who does? Him?" He tilted his head towards the mansion.

I stared at James in silence.

"I define me." I said softly. "No man -not you, not Georgio... Will decide my story."

For a second I felt James look at me. "Careful, heather." He spoke quietly, "words like that? They almost sound admirable." He smirked, "Almost."

I glanced at him, irritated. "We need to leave. Now!"

"You can't keep hating me if you want, heather. It'll hurt you less when the real monsters come for you?" James said quietly, before entering the car.

I wanted to ask what he meant, but by now, i should have known the kind of man james was. Always filled with shits. I didn't have the time to play cat and mice.

We arrived at the office with enough time to spare.

I handed James a tablet. "This are the schedule of things I'm requested for today."

He reluctantly took the tablet from me, glancing through the list.

"Shopping, meeting with Kim, dinner? What's my role in all this?" He looked at me almost bored. "Last I remember heather, this is the job for your assistant. By the looks of things, you probably have a ton of those."

"I only have one assistant, Kim. He's not going to be handling my affairs right now. I've given him another serious position. Since you know, tough times come for serious measures." I said bluntly.

"Hmmm. You said HE. Your assistant is a guy, named Kim. The one you're meeting with." He eyed me.

"Oh, jealous already? I don't think Kim is your regular kind of guy."

"Whatever," he shrugged. "Why is there shopping on the list?"

"We need to go shopping. It's very important, okay."

"We?" He eyed me

"Of course, you're coming with me."

"So you're kidnapping me, piccolo gato."

"Think of it as such. I don't have time to chit-chat, James. You have the tablet, meet me up when you're ready, okay?"

"You're here early," Kim remarked on seeing me. "What chased you from home. Bickering already?"

"You know it." I shrugged. "I didn't see you home this morning. What's up?"

"I had to leave early. You know, I've been running the data on you-know-who." He handed me a file. "He doesn't have much records, apart from the previous ones you showed me. I think this dude is just a slacker trying to get some quick cash. Maybe by leeching a rich woman."

"Did you check everything?"

"I did. There was nothing Heather. Nothing. Not even a family."

"That's strange." I rubbed my palm. "What could he be really after. Money?"

"I guess so."

James entered, holding the tablet in one hand and a plastic cup in another.

"Here take this. I brought it for you," he offered. Giving me the coffee. "All black, with milk and no sugar. Just how you like it."

I was amazed for a minute. "How did you even know this? I can see you're catching up already."

"The lady on the coffee stand gave me a tip. All I had to do was mention piccolo gato, and boom! Coffee!" He grinned.

"How am I sure you're not trying to poison me? Perhaps that's what you're actually after. To kill me..."

He ignored me, staring at Kim. "And you are?"

"Kim." He offered his hand. "I suppose you're heathy's new assistant?"

James didn't utter a word. He only smiled. "Then I guess we might be seeing, often..."

"I guess so." Kim said, turning around to leave. "I'll be waiting at the meeting."

I sipped a little coffee. "I could feel the sexual tension between you two. I told you Kim wasn't you regular kind of guy." I taunted him.

"Ha..ha...ha. very funny."

"You two might look so good together."

"Yeah. No kidding."

"I know right. I can already imagine the both of you.... Doing dirty, naughty....t-"

"-stop, heather."

I laughed even harder. "Kim's a good guy once you get to know him. You don't have to be too serious about it anyway." I said walking away. "Just think about it."

I stared impatiently at my watch, while the board meeting went on. It's been going on since forever and I still couldn't keep my mind straight.

"What do you think is the right course of action to take right now ma'am?" The presenting member asked me, reeling me back to reality.

The whole room fell silent as everyone stared at me. Probably waiting for my response. I should have something to say right? It's going to be mine after all.

"I think it's only right we try and get as much investors as we possibly can." I started out. "I've heard all you said, it's alright. But what we really need right now are good potentials, or even the small ones, who are willing to partner with us. Not just for the funding, but brands that align with our visions and have the audience reach we've been trying to tap into."

"And how exactly do we pull that off?" Mr Gustavo, our partner spoke up. "I've worked with your father for ages, heather. I would have been confident if it were to be him but you, you're all alone in this. How do you expect to pull all these off within twelve months?"

"I understand twelve months is a little time, but there's a lot we can achieve. That's why we won't just sell plans. We'll sell movement. Investors don't always follow numbers they follow attention. Relevance. If we can can control the narrative, we can control the perception. And perception drives faster than a balance sheet ever will."

The whole room fell quiet. I couldn't tell if they were impressed or actually concerned. But what else could I do?

"Sounds risky," another member spoke up. "It's almost like a rush. Like we'll be walking on thin ice. "

I waved my hands dismissively. "That would be all for now. Let's continue this Thursday."

They all scattered to their various offices, abandoning only me and Kim.

"Tough crowd eh? Kim asked, sitting on the empty large table.

I let out an long sigh. "I've been through worse, remember?"

"Yeah," he chuckled. "Nice work by the way. You're indeed right heather, what we need right now are investors. Investors like the sterlings. I could make up an arrangement and we could reschedule with Luca sterling. He runs the least powerful firm amongst their empire. Once we can get him to join us, we'll be closer."

"Really. I feel so tensed about this whole thing Kim."

I know it's tiring, but it's all for your sake baby girl. Once we manage to pull the interest of Luca, we're already steps ahead. I trust you."

I stared at Kim blankly, unsure of what I'd actually say.

"You don't have to rush it all Heathy. Just take one step at a time. You've got this. We'll be fine, okay?."

"Okay."