Chapter 8

Tristan

I stare at the man who's sitting on the hospital bed, glaring at me like he wants to yank my head off.

It would've been funny if I didn't just overhear the bastard and his wife talking about marrying their daughter off to a man who's old enough to be her father.

 I knew David Buckley would be desperate after I pulled the rug out from under him, but I didn't think he'd stoop this low.

I may hate his daughter and want to get revenge on her, but I won't allow her to be forced to marry an old man just because her father wants to have an investor on his side.

“What the fuck are you doing here! how did the security allow you in here?!" David Bellows, his face twisted in anger. A chuckle escapes me as I take in everyone's flustered state.

David Buckley is glaring at me while his wife looks terrified and shocked, like she can't believe I'm actually here.

Meanwhile, Samantha Buckley has been batting her lashes and biting her lower lip for more than ten seconds since I walked in. Talk about desperate.

She probably thinks she still has some effects on me, not like she really did before. Yes I liked Samantha, she was pretty and her personality was attractive but I was never the “besotted” type and I knew she knew it.

I turn my attention to the actual reason I came here. Zaria Buckley. After she walked out of my office when Shane interrupted us, I had the urge to drag her back and lock her up in my office then throw the keys away. Her tough act and defiant attitude is both exhilarating and frustrating. 

Four years ago, she made me feel like nothing, all because I was not financially buoyant. She called me an opportunist and said I didn’t deserve to be with the likes of her sister. I will never forget how she looked down on me as if I was a mere insect she could squash under her feet. 

Now it’s time for me to get back at her. She thinks she has any choice in this? She has no idea what’s in store for her yet. She has no idea that her whole existence is about to be hell on earth. This little spitfire. 

She is mine to do with as I please. Mine to ruin. Over my dead body will I watch her belong to someone else. Zaria Buckley will learn to eat her words whether she likes it or not. 

 The glare she sends my way is enough to burn a hole through my head which just makes me smile. I might be enjoying this a little too much, after all. We stare at each other like it’s a game and no one is willing to back down and look away.  

 “Um…why are you here, Tristan?” Samantha asks from behind me, her voice nothing more than a whisper. 

“I wanted to pay a little visit to the former CEO and also collect my new assistant.” I answer, my gaze still locked on Zaria. Her eyes narrows as she registers what I just said. 

 “What do you mean by assistant?” She demands, turning fully to me. 

I stay silent for a few seconds before giving them a tight-lipped smile. “As of yesterday, Zaria Buckley became my personal assistant. That’s what I wanted to inform you before you stormed out of my office. I expect you to resume as soon as possible.” 

 “What?” Samantha is the first to react. She walks over to Zaria and wraps her arm around her shoulder protectively. “Why would you want her as your assistant since you already took over our company?”

 “Even though the Buckley corp is under my control, I still need someone with the skills and familiarity to handle things to be able to save the company from the bankruptcy your father put it in. I was toldZaria was the head of Human Resources, so she’ll continue to work for me…. But as my personal assistant, until I decide to fire her.” 

“Shut the fuck up!” Zaria yells as she rises up and faces me, fury etched on her pretty face. “You’re insane if you think I’ll ever work for you under any circumstances. And how dare you think I’ll work as your personal errand girl??” 

I should punish this woman for the way she just spoke to me but instead, I find it strangely interesting. Something about her bad temper just excites me. I can't understand why though.

I take a step towards her, and her sister pulls her further closer to her, as if that will shield her from me. A pang of Irritation hits me, but l ignore it.

“And what makes you think you're in a position to fight or refuse my order?" I ask Zaria with a taunting smile. 

Zaria grits her teeth before releasing a shaky breath.

"Dad, I’ll marry Mr Williams. As soon as possible. Tomorrow, if you wish.”

"You will do no such thing.” My voice is hard as l cut her words. She whips her head to me, fire blooming in those brown Irises.

“I can do whatever the hell I want, Mr King. Get out of our space before we ask security to come throw you out!”

I shake my head, amused. "Your father has been pressing the emergency button for the past 5 minutes. Why do you think no one has come to check on him? it's because I'm here. I control everything and everyone, Zaria. The earlier you accept that, the better.”

 Her eyes widen till I wonder if they"ll pop out of the sockets.

Samantha quietly clears her throat in an attempt to join the conversation. “Um…maybe we should…” her voice trails off when she sees the look on my face. I turn to David. 

“Zaria Buckley resumes work tomorrow or else, the whole world will know of your fraudulent activities and how deep in dirt you’ve sunk your company. Your investors and co leaders will have you arrested for defrauding them under the guise of counterfeiting products.” 

I watch David’s face turn pale immediately, making a smile curve my lips at his reaction. He probably thought this secret of his would never be found out by anyone. This pathetic bastard has been digging his hands into shark infested waters and didn’t think there’ll be consequences for it?

 “W–what do you mean by fraudulent activities?” Zaria asks, swallowing nervously as she looks between me and her father. 

“Your father stole ninety percent of the company’s assets and produced fake electronic products while blindsiding his shareholders and investors. The project you’ve been on for months is fake and your father is the cause of it. He might have gone undetected for years if my team didn’t take their time to find out any fraudulent activities when I was taking ownership of the company.”

The three of them are speechless as they stare at me in shock. A red hue covers Zaria’s cheeks as she turns to her father.

“Dad? Is…is this true?” 

“No!” Anita Buckley exclaims, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “This man is a liar! Dave wouldn’t do something like…”

“Okay then, should I just have my team put out this information to the whole world? Maybe then you will finally believe that your husband is a piece of shit?”

 “No!” David screams, raising his hands up in surrender. “No, please. Please don’t let this get out. If it does, I’m done for. Just please… Zaria will be your assistant for as long as you want. She’s very hardworking and loyal. Please…”

Zaria's face falls and I can see how devastated this news has made her. The man who she considers her role model is a cheap thief and the biggest opportunist of all. She nods her head and without another word, steps away from them and hurries out of the room. 

My chest tightens even though it’s not supposed to. I should be happy that she’s miserable right now. She deserves it after how she looked down on me four years ago. 

So why doesn’t it feel so good seeing her hurt and defeated like that? 

Because you like her fighting spirit. A voice whispers in my head. 

I lean down and level David with a deadly glare. “The next time you suggest that your daughter marry one of those old cargoes, you will not like what I’ll do to you. Have a good day.” 

I’m rewarded with silence as I turn and walk out of the suffocating room. Now I need to have a word with my PA. I’m just about to step into the elevator when someone gently pulls on my suit jacket. I turn to see Samantha looking up at me with a smile on my face.

 “Tristan… I… oh how I’ve missed you.” The next thing I know, she crushes her body into mine, hugging me tightly. When last I checked, I thought she’s in a relationship and engaged at the moment? So why is she hugging me like we didn’t have a nasty break up?

“Samantha. What do you want?” I ask, pushing her away from me.

She watches me for a moment before stepping on her toes. “You, baby. I want you.” And then she does something I wouldn’t have expected. She raises her head and crashes her lips onto mine in a forceful kiss while her hand squeezes my dick over my clothes.

I freeze as a momentary discomfort washes through my body. I’m about to roughly shove her away when another voice cuts through the air.

 “What the fuck? You’re harassing my sister??”

I snap away from Samantha and turn to find Zaria looking at me, her jaw clenched and her eyes wide with shock, fury and disbelief. 

***