THE BARGAIN.

Jonathan stood by the window, sipping a steaming cup of coffee. His sharp eyes scanned the skyline, but his mind was still miles away, replaying the look of defiance and distress on Evania Taylor's face from yesterday. 

The intensity of their argument, the unintended brushing of their hands—it all lingered, a strange heat in the cool executive air of Weybridge.

A place he bought to escape his mother's endless irritating theatrical scenarios over his decisions.

A sleek black SUV pulled up on the gravel below. A moment later, the electronic alarm on the door faintly beeped.

"Someone's at the door," Valerie, his maid said.

"Let them in," Jonathan commanded, a sudden curiosity overriding his solitude.

The door swung open to reveal his mother, Mrs. Walter, dressed in a light green dress, and her companion, the ever serious Darlene. 

"Oh, my dear son, how good it is to see you," she exclaimed, embracing him briefly.

Jonathan hid his curiosity in his fake smile as he hugged his mother. Darlene however saw the uneasiness through his eyes.

"I wasn’t expecting you, Mother," Jonathan replied, raising an eyebrow.

She settled onto the long couch. Darlene took the adjacent sofa. The air instantly tightened, shifting from domestic calm to corporate scrutiny, something Jonathan dreaded.

"I must admit, Jonathan, Darlene and I came for something more important than family chatter—matters concerning the company," his mother revealed, her fierce eyes locking onto his.

Jonathan raised his head, staring her with a curious look. He turned his gaze on Darlene and cleared his throat as Valerie placed a glass of water his mother's hands.

He paused for a moment, waited until Valerie had disappeared into the hallway, then he turned back to his mother.

"I see. We are doing quite well, Mother,I managed to secure the contract yesterday eventually," he countered, emphasizing the stability he’d fought for.

"This matter goes beyond your daily grind, Jonathan. It concerns our market share," Darlene interjected, her voice flowing with professional authority,____"We’ve analyzed the online landscape. Daily Star is not only catching up, they are about to acquire the one platform that would let them dominate the digital media space."

Jonathan set his mug down with a clatter. 

"That's an overreaction. We have three online platforms."

"They are acquiring Lifestyle," Mrs. Walter stated, leaning forward, her tone grave.

Darlene countered, her voice complimenting his mother's point, emphasizing the urgency in his mother's voice.

 "The owner, Yelena Starkov, is someone you know."

Jonathan stiffened, his blazing eyes turned red. His nostrils flared like an angry dog.The name hit him like a physical blow. 

He turned his face down and buried his head in his hands again, he gave Darlene a side eye look. 

"Yelena? I thought she preferred fashion, not digital news."

"The point is, the acquisition must not happen," Darlene pressed. "We suggest a counter-offer—a merger, perhaps. One that lets her retain some control."

"And what makes you think the Russian will sell to me instead of Daily Star?" Jonathan challenged, suspicion clouding his face.

"She’s a tough nut to crack, but she insisted you negotiate the deal yourself," Mrs. Walter revealed, a persuasive smile playing on her lips. 

"She wants to deal with you, Jonathan." Darlene added.

Jonathan groaned, running a hand through his dark hair. "Mother! You know Yelena—she's a cunning witch."

His voice echoed deeply in the room, sending them into a moment of deafening silence. His gaze shifted to the entrance of the apartment. 

He knew his mother was obsessed with Yelena and always defended her no matter what. Jonathan wasn't willing to give up his freedom or voice.

Jonathan strode to the wet bar, pouring a strong pale ale. The suggestion was nauseating, and the irony was unbearable. 

His family was pushing a transactional romance to save his company, just hours after his mind had been consumed by the memory of a passionate, volatile exchange with his employee.

"I won’t accept this, Mother. I’m not interested in your schemes," he said softly, avoiding her gaze. 

He took a long sip of the drink. "My heart is already taken."

His mother’s anger flashed. "Taken? Who is she, Jonathan? Why haven't you introduced her? Do we know her?"

He closed his eyes briefly. He couldn't say. He couldn't say the woman consuming his thoughts was the impulsive, fiery editor he had just suspended or some random girl from tinder.

After all,It was possible for him to find someone better than Yelena and convince them to marry him instead of walking into the temptress’ trap.

"I'm not in a rush to share, Mother." He responded, as he drawled and took his time.

"Quit playing games, son! The company’s future is at stake!" his mother yelled, her voice mixed with fury.___"My decision is final. You will prepare to meet Yelena."

Jonathan stood facing the bar, gripping the glass so tightly his knuckles were white. The conflict was no longer about a contract or a merger. It was personal. 

His mother considered it a win-win situation, whereas he saw a trap laid by the obsessive Russian beauty. 

The crisis his mother's words posed was now directly opposing the confusing and conflicting the feelings Evania Taylor had ignited in him the previous day at his office.

He was trapped between the cold demands of his legacy and the unexpected pull of a woman he had just tried to fire.

Nonetheless, a suspension was not all that severe, he was just trying to assert his authority, or maybe set an example for the rest.

Evania was just the falk guy, the one who took the fall for the rest of the flock. Now that his mother was asking him to give up his free will, he felt a tinge of desperation building up in him.

After that brief encounter, maybe he wasn't in charge as he thought, and firing someone who lived rent free in his mind made him question himself.

“Do I really own my life, I'm I in really in charge,” he wondered as he sipped the last bits of alcohol in the glass.

Mrs. Walter and Darlene left immediately, speeding off the parking lot without further ado. Darlene had glanced at him as she settled in the driver's seat.

She gave him a fluttering look that sparked a feeling in his wallowing stomach, nothing but an intuition that whispered one word,__ premonition.