CHAPTER 3: Trusted Partner—NOT

CHAPTER 3: Trusted Partner—NOT

"Daddy,” Miss Annika suddenly spoke, touching her father’s arm as if she was getting awkward of the question herself.

“Don’t ask Troy that.” She glanced at Sir Troy who was still silent beside me. “We’re both adults. We know what we’re doing—“ 

“Which basically tells me you two don't have a serious relationship.” Mr. Peterson concluded with a challenging look, his eyes still directed at Sir Troy. 

“Dad—“

“Yes, we do not have a relationship, Sir. We both consented to what we were doing and that was it. We have made it clear between the two of us what we were from the very beginning,” Mr. Sanford said without even stuttering, cutting what Miss Annika was supposed to say to her father. 

I stared at him with my mouth slightly opened, seeing how seemingly calm he still was despite what was happening. 

He was basically interrogated by the father of her lover! I don’t know what’s more intimidating than that. For me, that is most intimidating. But maybe not for him. He’s called the devil incarnate in business after all. He must have seen and heard the worst. But still…

“But I assume talking about my relationship with your daughter is not why you have responded to my invitation to have a meeting with you, Mr. Peterson, isn’t it?” Sir Troy continued when the latter did have nothing to say. 

I looked at Mr. Peterson and he still has this serious look, but I could also see the way he was calculating both the situation and my boss. As if he was trying to figure out why this man was still so confident, knowing that we all knew he was screwing—ahemm!—playing with his daughter. 

Geez. If I were to be stared at like that, I would have pissed myself.

After a couple more seconds of just staring into my boss’s soul, Sir Samuel finally sat straight on his seat and inhaled deeply. “Indeed it isn’t,” he said.

I watched the elder man, seeing how he has gone from a very protective father to a formal businessman. Well, Mr. Peterson may be known to be a protective father, but his daughter is no longer a teenager for him to step in on her romantic escapades. She’s now a grown 27 year-old woman. He knows his limits as a parent. 

“We are here to talk about business, as you’ve invited me to.” Sir Samuel continued. Sir Troy nodded at that.

Oh. So we were really here for a business meeting. 

Realizing that, I fished out my phone out of my pocket, ready to take down notes for the minutes of the meeting,

“Let’s get straight to the point,” Mr. Peterson started. “You are asking for a partnership with my company.” 

I started typing the subject matter on my phone. ‘Partnership offer with Peterson Estate.’

I know that has always been Mr. Sanford’s goal. That has been in talks for years. To expand Sanford Properties Inc. into a larger group of companies. And I know he’s long been eyeing on Peterson Estate. Which is part of the reason why I understand why he dated Miss Annika.

Alright, that sounded real judgy! But… yeah, I’m just judgemental like that. 

“Yes,” Sir Troy nodded. “Peterson Estate would make a great partnership with Sanford Properties. Both our companies—“ 

“I need a trusted partner in business. I need someone I can really trust.” Mr. Peterson abruptly cut off Mr. Sanford with a very serious tone.

Sir Troy was quick to respond with confidence. “I can be trusted, as much as Sanford Properties can be.”

I mentally nodded. If there was one thing you could put your money on regarding Troy Sanford, it’s his capability in business.

Mr. Peterson leaned on his seat as he continued watching Sir Troy with calculation. “I do have my own set of standards regarding people I can trust.”

“I am sure we will fit in those standards. Sanford Properties wouldn’t be at the top of the chain if we couldn't be trusted.” My boss said with the same confidence, and I couldn’t agree more. Like I said, he is a great businessman, despite everything else that he is.

But Mr. Peterson shook his head. “That is the business world’s standard you are talking about, Mr. Sanford.” 

Sir Samuel inched closer to the table and put both his hands on it with a calm look on his face, as if he knew he had the upper hand in this situation. 

“Like I said, I have a standard of my own. I need to know I can personally trust the man I basically share my business with. The business that I built with my own blood, sweat, tears and time.”

I could see Sir Troy was getting confused with the latter. There was a very subtle frown forming on his thick brows. But he kept his cool and asked. 

“What is it, then?”

A small smile made its way on Mr. Peterson’s mouth. 

“I need someone who is loyal, committed, and responsible.”

“I am all that. You can see its reflection in the business I built.” Mr. Sanford once again replied with a streak of confidence and confusion. 

But Mr. Peterson shook his head with almost an amused smile on his face. “You play around. You don’t commit. A ladies’ man. And my daughter is just one of your pile of girls, unfortunately.” 

A hint of anger and distaste crossed over his eyes, but he immediately covered it, turning a bit smug about how that seemed to strike at my boss. 

Okay… Is he taking out his frustration in his daughter and my boss’s non-relationship by declining to Mr. Sanford’s business offer? 

I looked at Sir Troy, and his frown was now visible. He was getting confused with how the conversation was going. 

“Dad,” Miss Annika called. I looked at her, almost forgetting she was still there. I could see she didn’t like how her father was talking to Sir Troy. 

Well, I can’t say I don’t understand Mr. Peterson. He is still a father. The father of the girl that was included in a mass of girls in Mr. Sanford’s list.

“Are you mad about my set-up with Annika?” Sir Troy straight up asked. I looked at him almost wide-eyed. Sheesh. The man was bold to say that straight to the girl’s father he was messing with!

Mr. Peterson leaned calmly on his seat and watched us with serious eyes. “No. Like you said, we are here to talk about business. And as a businessman, I don’t like your non-committing ways.”  

“I get it. You are at your peak, still young yet already very successful. Of course, you want to have fun. But I don’t want those characteristics in my business partner. My business is a part of me, and I don’t want it ruined by someone still too young and carefree to know what real commitment is.”

Mr. Peterson straightened on his seat and continued. “I honestly would like to take offense to whatever is happening with you and my daughter, but I know I musn’t. And I am not telling you this requirement because of the non-relationship you have with her. That has just always been a few of my basis on whether I could trust a man or not. Whether in business or in life. Being committed in a relationship, loyal to his or her partner, and responsible for his actions with other people. That's it. And for many years in business, everyone that has passed that criteria of mine has been proven good as partners, even becoming my real friends eventually.”

Neither Mr. Sanford nor I could say anything after Mr. Peterson finished. 

What has just… What?

I looked at Sir Troy and saw him shaking his head. 

“Do you mean to say you want me to have a committed relationship with Annika, for you to have business with me?” I could actually hear the confusion in his voice.

For the third time, Mr. Samuel Peterson shook his head, as if we’ve never done something right by him. 

“No, Mr. Sanford. I just want you to understand how commitment is very important for me. And I want that to be something I have in common with my business partners. If you don’t see yourself being in a committed relationship with my daughter, then don’t do it.” He crossed his arms and glanced at Annika. 

“And after knowing that you both have been settling and content with that kind of set-up for almost half a year now, I don’t think I’d want to see you together.”

“Dad, please,” Annika once again said, her frustration audible in her tone. She looked like she, too, couldn’t believe her father was saying all these things to us. 

Mr. Peterson didn’t mind her and took the napkin on his lap and wiped it on his mouth. 

“I see we have nothing else to discuss about anymore.” 

He started standing up even before we could say anything. 

“Thank you for dining with us. We had a wonderful lunch,” Mr. Peterson said with a hint of a smile on his face. Sir Troy wasn’t moving on his seat.

I met Sir Samuel’s eyes and saw the satisfaction in them after everything he just dropped. 

“I’ll see you around, Miss Hill, Mr. Sanford.” He nodded and immediately started walking out. Miss Annika walked towards Sir Troy and touched his arm.

“I’m sorry. I’ll try to talk to him,” she said and started walking quickly towards her father. But before she could get away, Sir Troy spoke up.

“You don’t have to.” I almost flinched when he angrily took the napkin on his lap and tossed it on the table. Then he took off.

“Troy,” Miss Annika tried reaching out to him but his strides were so fast she couldn’t get to him. He strutted straight towards the exit.

I grabbed my phone and stood up. I ran just to catch up to him, seeing he was already walking towards the car waiting for us. 

The car door slammed shut as soon as Sir Troy got in. I flinched at the impact. Man, he is angry.

I could see the confusion in our driver, Fidel’s, eyes upon witnessing that. I gave him a nod and I got inside the car. 

“To the office. Now.” Fidel immediately turned the engine on and started driving when the boss said that in a clipped tone. 

I didn’t know what to do in my seat. Should I talk to him? Should I just keep quiet and keep my thoughts to myself?

I looked to my side and saw how mad Sir Troy was. His bright brown eyes looked so fiery; so hot it could burn anyone alive in his line of vision. 

If looks could burn, Fidel could have been ash right now. 

Sir Troy was so angry, I could practically feel the air thickening at how intense he was feeling. And I don’t know if the shivers that ran down my arms were from the AC in the car or from the man who was gritting in anger beside me.

I should probably just keep my mouth shut.