Chapter Two

"Miss, are you going out or what?" An impatient voice pulled me from being astonished. 

"Oh. I'm sorry, ma'am." I quickly stepped out of the elevator and gave her a way in.

This is ridiculous. I felt stupidly stunned for a moment. Probably it was his ego talking? For all i know, he never meant those words and he was just challenged with the idea of his ex-wife getting herself a new lover which is not so true and purely absurd. 

I don't need a man to get even and use it for my own benefits. Especially that Seijan Williams? Oh please, I have no plans to deal with a seventeen year-old boy hiding in a twenty-four year-old man's body. And he's my freaking boss for pete's sake!

Later on, after reciting the 'Lorcan ego thing' in my mind repeatedly, I have successfully convinced myself. Better than assuming things and becoming a delusional bitch.

"Atasha, i have an urgent meeting to attend to. Come with me." My boss, Mr. Seijan Williams called me on the intercom.

"Coming, Sir!" I was half-running through his office. 

Aw, my poor brand new heels. Anyway at least, they are strongly intact.

"When is my next appointment?" Mr. Williams asked as we headed out of his office. 

So, i scanned his whole schedule for today on the iPad. "Later at one thirty noon." I informed him.

"Good," he clicked his fingers and turned his shoes ahead. I followed him while carrying my MacBook and some documents. 

We arrived at the conference room a few minutes later but to my shock, that the things i was holding almost slipped from my hands, the least person i wanted to see today and for the next days of my life was sitting comfortably on the swivel, second to the first businessman beside him. He's wearing his iconic poker face, lips hardly pressed in thin line, his unfathomable eyes were directly hitting mine.

"Good morning, everyone. You may proceed now." Mr. Williams signaled the Architect who is the presenter today.

I avoided that piercing frozen gaze which was definitely starting to affect my composure. I sat beside Mr. Williams and put the things on my space table. While all of the board members were focusing on the project being presented and proposed by the Architect in front, i feel distracted on the other hand. 

I can't seem to focus because of the sharp eyes lingering through my skin, sending shivers down my spine and it was coming from my front! Literally, he's just sitting in front of me. 

Too much for my plans on avoiding my billionaire ex-husband.

"Through these quantities, all we have to seek are the qualities by then. If we look at the modernized furniture and such, technology is never out of the line. We can make the low and middle class feel like they are upper class, with the expensive looking designs yet cheap pricing. They will feel rich even if they aren't..." The Architect keeps on discussing which I can't clearly comprehend now.

"But how about the materials? I think your plan on making them feel rich with cheap pricing is kinda impossible if the materials nowadays are tremendously competitive in costs." An opinion from one of the boards.

"It is possible through the techniques of innovation..."

My eyes found Lorcan's. He's shamelessly staring at me. Shit! Why is he not paying attention to the project being discussed? He's the CEO of a leading company for God's sake! 

"Do you think his proposal is worth investing in?" When suddenly, Mr. Williams leaned to whisper near my ear. 

I awkwardly moved an inch. "Well, uh... i think, yes, Sir! Let's give him a chance. He graduated holding a degree of Architecture with flying colors and probably underwent numerous apprenticeships so..." I trailed off.

"Hmm, you think so?"

Damn, I can't make a response anymore because my whole attention has diverted again to the other side. My ex-husband is looking in our direction and if gazes can kill, we're probably dead by now. Jaw clenched, his majestic gray eyes were screaming rage. He looks so furious.

Why does he seem mad though? Like any minute by now, he's gonna turn this table upside down and burst into violence.

I roamed my eyes around him. He really went here alone. Where's his secretary by the way? Already dumped her because it's time now to get himself a new perhaps? What a big jerk.

"Meeting adjourned." Mr. Williams announced and everybody stood up from their seats, it also pulled my attention back to its right track.

Some did handshakes with those who proposed their plans on the current project. I stood up and scooped my things before i followed Mr. Williams outside. 

"Looking forward to another successful project with you, Mr. Lim." Mr. Williams laughingly did handshakes with one of the asian boards.

He turned to me when the man left. He's with his wide smile again. Carry on, Atasha. You should start to get used to dealing with weirdos from now on.

"Let's take our lunch together, Miss Rae. I bet you prefer expensive cuisines, yeah?" He suddenly insisted.

"But--" he cut me off quickly!

"Uh-oh. No buts here. I don't accept rejections." He grinned from ear to ear.

What the heck. Is this man serious? Is this some kind of date?

Jeez! My assuming side is poking again. I should stop overthinking. Maybe this is just his polite way of treating his every new employee.

"Uhm... well then," i forgot my supposed words when i looked behind him and saw Lorcan standing beside one of the boards from the recent meeting, a brunette with curvy waist and rounded butts. Definitely his type. She was talking enthusiastically to him while he remained impassive, looking at us, at me. "I guess it's alright. As long as it won't deduct my salary." I remarked which made Mr. Williams chuckle.

"Skeptical, huh? Don't worry, that is not the purpose of it." 

I laughed awkwardly and ignored Lorcan's sharp blade gazes as i walked with my boss towards his Audi. 

I could never understand where Lorcan's raging presence was coming from. The only reason i could think of is that I'm severely stepping on his precious ego. That's it, the only valid reason i can consider.

"A western cuisine?" I voiced out as i went out from Mr. Williams' car.

"You deserve to have lunch with me in this expensive place, Miss Rae." He grinned boastfully.

He's really getting creepier, i swear. But bearable though.

He insisted on holding my hand through guiding me inside but i refused and distanced myself a bit from him. Gosh! I hate touchy people.

Haven's Hill, that's the name of this cuisine he picked. Not a bad taste for an old-fashioned man like him. 

My eyes wandered around. Everything looks luxurious, shining in billion dollars. everybody is wearing corporate attire and branded dresses. Oh that limited edition Louis Vuitton heeled boots of a blondie next to us! How ravishing. This place is literally for rich people, those who are in the upper class, the billionaires...

A realization hit me in a sudden. Our world is definitely small for us not to meet again. Oh shit! Don't tell me...

"Hey, Miss Rae. I have been talking to you but you seem not to be in yourself the past minute." Mr. Williams' curious voice made me blink.

He pulled me a chair. I utterly thanked him and sat silently. He sat on his seat and scanned the menu. I bit my lip and looked at the menu on my front. I'm so not in myself, really. I don't think i could enjoy this lunch.

He called the waiter and asked for his orders for us. Seconds when he began blabbering about his life, the history behind his company, from rugs to riches kind of life story he had and all i could do is to nod my head and pretend as if I'm really interested when the truth is i badly wanna shut him up already. 

"They thought i was a weakling but how wrong they are..." His boastfulness seeped through my ears but never lingered and in a snap, as the waiter finally put our foods on the table, the double glass doors opened, revealing Lorcan Amadeus who immediately became the center of attention.

I fvcking knew it! What do i expect? This is a place for billionaires like him!

He made his way through a table just next to us, ignoring heartlessly those flirtatious stares from every woman in every table here. Well of course, except from me. I'm done drooling over him.

Oh really, Atasha?

I mentally rolled my eyes.

"Hey, Miss Rae. Are you still listening?" Mr. Williams snapped me. 

"Uh, yeah!" I pretended to be attentive as i started eating foods.

He started blabbering again but I'm completely ignoring him now because of the presence of the man next to us. There's the frostiness in his eyes again! I can't deny how he can intimidate me with that look, so easily. I gripped the utensils tightly and looked away, trying to shrug it all off.

"Water please," i requested the waiter and it only took seconds for him to give it to me. "Thanks!"

Halfway through drinking it, i almost got choked when i saw Lorcan being flirted by a waitress wearing very short black skirts and her boobs looking double sized through her white sleeves directly in front of his face. Oh wow! A perfect view, huh. 

"Hey, hey... You okay, Miss Rae?" Mr. Williams was about to touch my hand when a waiter interrupted him. "Oh! Here's our desserts. Thank you, boy!" He told the waiter.

Oh my God. What is that smell...

I looked down on the desserts and spotted the parmesan cheese on top of a sliced pie. That's where the weird smell is coming from! 

I covered my nose and quickly stood up. Mr. Williams looks alarmed.

"Excuse me. I need to get to the restroom." I didn't wait for his response anymore and made my way to the restroom area. 

Dang it. I feel nauseous. My stomach feels empty yet heavily loaded at the same time. 

The moment i entered the female area, i threw up in the sink. I vomited until I felt so drained.

"Damn..." I uttered weakly and held onto the sink, trying to balance myself.

As i looked at the mirror in front of me, I couldn't help but to ask, "Could it be? What if Sydney was right?" 

I absentmindedly touched my tummy. 

Mixed emotions, i left the restroom. I was about to make another step forward but i bumped onto someone's hard body and when i looked up at that someone. It's no other than my ex-husband. Lorcan's eyes were darkly suspicious. My chest boomed rapidly in nervousness, my eyes were wide as if I was caught red handed. 

"I heard someone vomit. Was that you?" He asked in his icy tone.

"Why did you follow me here?" Instead, i countered.

His brows furrowed. "Was that you, Atasha? Are you sick?" 

"And so? Yes, I'm sick!" I lied. "Don't pretend like you're concerned about my health. Now, if you'll excuse me--" my words have flown to air because in an instant, he cornered me on the wall!

"And what? Let you go with your shit of a boss again? Let him wait there. I fucking hate his lewd looks on you. Miss Rae, huh?" He smirked but it didn't reach his eyes, it was a plain mocking one.

"I don't need your opinion about that, my ex-husband," i uttered. His jaw clenched in a manly way, the veins on his arms were clearly showing. "Let me go, Mr. Amadeus." I bravely said.

Each second passes by, my nervousness gets doubled. He's a wise man. It's not so hard for him not to suspect me, lying about being sick. But somehow I'm still hoping that he can't read me...

He shouldn't know. He shouldn't!

He chuckled humorlessly. "I so love the way you lie, right straight into my eyes." He said, full of sarcasm.

I froze. Oh no...