Unexpected counter

“In the next thirty minutes, you have a meeting with one of our investors, he goes by the name, Mr Lombardi. Hope you have your speech is ready and revised?”

“Yes sir.”

I scratched the back of my ear. I lied. There was no way j could have practiced and revised speech yesterday after all that happened.

“Good, the meeting would begin in about ten minutes. The investors are here, they are just on a little organization tour and refreshment, you know like an appetizer before a main course.”

“Oh, sounds nice. Un could yoy please remind me of how important this meeting is to us and the organization at large?”

“Rose, please in whatever you, do not make this meeting flop. This is the biggest meeting we have ever had and it is supposed to be our breakthrough meeting.”

“Oh.”

“Yes, the company is depending on this meeting wholeheartedly and we are trusting on you big time to make us proud. Do not let us down.”

“I-“

“Hey m,good morning MissI Rose, the meeting is starting now.”

“Now?”

I looked wide eyed from my boss to my personal assistant.

“I thought you said ten minutes time?”

“It was meant to be in the next ten minutes but Mr Lombardi said to skip refreshments, he wanted to be over and done with the whole process.”

“Oh.”

“Yes ma. Please ma, follow me to the auditorium. I do not want you to keep them waiting.”

“Okay.”

I followed suite but not without catching a glimpse of my boss mouthing the words “make us proud.”

“It is a one on one meeting ma’am. So i would stop here and you would go in to talk with Mr Lombardi.”

I gulped hard and swallowed my saliva. I cleaned my sweaty palms on my handkerchief and walked inti the room.

Mr Lombardi was standing inside the room, gis hand open for a handshake.

My eyes almost rolled out of my sockets. This was fucking unreal. Mr Lombardi was the stranger from the club the night before.

“Hey, earth to Rose. It looks like you are always lost in your thought.”

He waved his dominant hand in front of me, bringing me back to reality.

“I am sorry sir, good morning Mr LUTHER Lombardi.”

I emphasized on the first name to make sure i was not mistaken him for another person.

“You might have been drunk last night but youR memory of me is still good.”

He winked at me and i shrugged my shoulders and raised my eyebrows, trying to move off the shame.

“Let us sit over here and talk.”

I walked silently behind him and he offered me a seat opposite him.

“So my plans are very expensive and i believe they are worth it because they would profit both companies exponentially.”

I nodded and smiled, glancing through the set out documents, trying to take in as much information as i can.

“This looks very innovative and promising. I am very sure the team would be able to work with it and cook up something.”

“Yes, i am hundred percent sure and i trust you, just like you trusted ne last night, huh?”

He smirked at me, showing off his beautiful dentition making me swallow hard and my clitiris heat up.

How the fuck does a stranger have this much effect on me?

“You know, we should talk better. Somewhere more informal. Here is my private business card.”

I collected the piece of paper he handed to me and put it into my file.

“So it is a wrap then?”

I asked smoothly, trying to maintain a straight face.

“Yes it is, the deal has been secured, the meetingw as successful.”

“Thank goodness.”

I reported back to my boss and gave him the minute of the meeting.

“You did an amazing job,Rose. Infact, you can take the next two days off.”

“Thank you sir.”

I finished up my affairs and took a cab, pondering whether to go to Vicenzo and i’s house or to my best friend’s house.

I ended up in Diana’s house.

She was not around so i used the spare key she gave me to come in and slept off on the couch.

“Roseeee!”

I felt a nudge and woke up, my eyes clouded from tears.

“What the fuck babe, are you crying in your sleep?”

I wiped my face with the back of hand.

“What is wrong baby?”

“Austin cheated on me.”

“That useless deadbeat ass of a man. When did you find out?”

“I saw him with his mother yesterday when u cane back to our house.”

“His mother? That man is a pig!”

“I know right. He said he cheated because i left him for three days and he was horny and-“

“Bullshit.”

“I was so speechless, i feel so stupid. Do i really deserve a cheating man?”

My best friend sat beside me and massaged my back.

“You deserce a man that would worship the road you work on, my love. Leave that pussy man.”

“I really want to.”

“You are going to.”

She pulled me into a toght side hug and kissed my forehead.

“You will be fine, Rose. You are a fighter.”

“Thank you and sorry i came into your house unannounced. I came by from work and just thought that this was the best option.”

“How was work?”

“It went well. I had a successful with Mr Luther Lombardi.”

“Luther Lombardi? The high profile investor?”

“Yes, you know him?”

“Um-“

I noticed that her eyes twitched and darkened. Something was definitely fishy.

“I am expecting someone this night though…if you do not mind.”

“Oh, that is fine. I was about to leave.”

“I am sorry but-“

“No, no. It is fine. I was supposed to call you before coming.”

She hugged me briefly and i left her house and took a ride to my personal house, that was the only safe haven i could think of right now.

I entered my house and turned on the light, my heart almost leaving my body.

He sat in the middle of the room, his hands wrapped on the huge joint he was smoking.

“Vicenzo!”

“Hey Rose, i thought i should pay you a little visit.”

If was dark but i saw the silver gun he briught oht of his jacket pocket.