Arrival of the rival

The words came out of his mouth with such venom, it rendered me terror-stricken since I stepped foot in this cabin. I sat across him, listening to his schedules and noting them down, my fingers trembling over the keys on the iPad. But my heart, however, pounded from only fear I couldn't say for my eyes were glued to the hazardous beauty before me and ears to his silvery voice. 

His looks were something that stopped people in their tracks, urging to look once more, to devour the handsomeness to the eyes' content; features so sharp and defined as if molded out of granite, midnight hair so thick and lustrous my hand etched to run through them, and those catastrophic gray eyes if wished could bring out even the darkest of one's secrets with one glance. 

But I had to control myself, yet I couldn't until he looked up from his laptop. Tearing my gaze, I peered down, my ears burning like it took a visit to the Sahara desert. Fear, fascination: so many incompatible emotions ran through me that my head felt dizzy, and breathing came out short. 

“Here.” 

I looked up to see him pushing a bottle of water my way, and I took it, bringing the container to my lips and gulping down half of its content. 

“Thank you,” I replied, timidly, pushing the bottle back to him, and he thrust it aside with one long finger, his eyes, all the while, never leaving mine.

He then grabbed a manila folder from the pile of files beside him on his fuscous desk and stretched it to me. “Read it, analyze it and prepare a presentation for tomorrow's meeting.” 

“Yes, sir.” His smooth, insistent voice drew out a reply from me without even my command. 

Then in a dismissive manner, his finger moved, and he went back to tapping the keyboard of his laptop to destruction. 

Nodding, I stood up in my wobbly feet and walked out of his office. What was wrong with me? Why did I feel that way around him? Shaking my head, I breathed deep, trying to remind me of my god-forsaken mission. The faster I did my task, the sooner I could get out of here. But the question was could I do it with every fiber in my body consenting against it? Could I really sacrifice my morals?

“Miss Green.” 

I jumped, startled, the folder slipping from my hand and papers scattering around the hallway. Great! 

“Oh, did I scare you? I'm sorry, Ms Green.” Mr Cortez rushed to me, and began picking up the papers. 

“No, no. No problem. I was just in another world,” saying, I bent down as well and gathered the rest of the papers. 

On standing back up, he glanced at a paper. “The IL land project.” Then his eyes met back mine as he handed me the folder. “You can ask me if you need any help with it.” He smiled. “Or anything at all,” he added quickly. 

Unlike his boss, this man was nice and polite. Dark brown curls and soft blue eyes gave him a stern yet friendly look whereas Mr. Kingston possessed an aura of sterling authority and danger. If I wasn't in such a mess, I'd definitely consider befriending him. “Thanks! I will.” 

Not wasting another moment, I got back to my desk and began reading the file. From the look of it, he was buying lands from some real estate company and planning to build a private resort for some big shot aristocrat. All I had to do was point out all the strategies, state the cost analysis and give a lucid conclusion on why he should give us the deal. 

Such an easy task to do on the first day of a job. —note the sarcasm-

It was already 12:20 on the clock. Even if I skipped my lunch, I wouldn't be able to finish it before the meeting tomorrow morning. Letting out a huff, I got to work until my phone vibrated beside me, and I glanced at the caller ID, almost jumping out of my seat to block it from the camera. 

What did he want now?

Clutching my phone, I rushed out of my cabin and checked the other cabins beside mine. Thankfully, both were out for lunch, so I walked to the bathroom in the hall, closed the door and received the call. 

“I can't do it. Please, find someone else to do it.” 

“Congratulations on getting the job! I believe you have some information for me,” he stated, completely neglecting my plea.

“Can't you hear? I can't do it!” I snapped.

“Oh, sorry, I can't hear a thing over your loved ones' agonies,” he spoke with such rejoice, it grated at my nerves, and my heart squeezed painfully. 

“You monster...” 

“Time's ticking away, Haze. Tick-tock, tick-tock...” 

My head fell back, hitting the wall behind, and a frustrated sigh left my mouth. “He-He's working on... making a deal with some...” My fingers bent into a fist, “...Mr. Vancouver,” I gritted out. 

“Good. Now get close to Kingston, find out his new projects and inform me.” Then he hung up.

I slid down the wall, warm liquid rolling down my cheeks like waterfalls. This was a fight between my conscience and fear, and looked like fear was overpowering everything else. Why did it have to happen to me? All I wanted was to give those vagabond people a happy place for the little time they had left. But look what happened... 

Mom, why aren't you here when I need you the most? 

On the ringing of my phone once again, I glanced at the screen. It was the reminder I set for Dimitri Kingston's conference call with a client. Sighing, I stood back to my feet and fixed my smudged eyeliner and hurried to the conference room. He was already back and on a call on the huge screen hung on the wall across him. Noticing me, he put up one long finger, signaling me out, not even sparing a glance my way as he dismissed me. 

“Sorry, sir.” I nodded, exiting the room, and his previous speech came to my mind. 'I like my deals private.'

Please, by all means, make everything private, so I don't know a thing. 

I had already wasted a lot of time, even skipped lunch which my growling stomach made damn sure to remind me every minute of the hour, but by the end of my office period, I had the presentation typed and ready. Now only it had to be printed onto papers and made into some copies which I hoped could be done in the morning because my eyes felt strained and hips ready to hit the bed. 

I dragged myself to the CEO's office and knocked. 

“Hm,” came his reply, indicating he felt no better than me.

Entering, I walked to his table. He was staring at his laptop, apparently, still having the energy to work. In sheer concentration, his brows knitted slightly and jaw twitched. If the situation was different, I'd actually be drooling over this man right now, or perhaps I did already.

Wait! Where did this come from? 

Shaking my head, I cleared my throat in case he forgot I was there. “Sir, the presentation's done.” And thanks for making my first day at work a day straight from hell. Which I deserved honestly to say.

“Hm.” 

I breathed deep, crossing my fingers behind my back and praying in my head. “Only the printing and copying is left that hopefully can be done in the morning?” 

“Hm.” 

“Huh?” I blinked at his answer. It wasn't much of a word, but it was still in my favor. He was actually letting me off?

A smile spread across my mouth when he finally looked up, and his hand lifted, tapping on the small device on his ear and unattaching it. “You were saying?” 

The smile vanished from my face as fast as it came, and my jaw hung slightly. He was on a video call or something while I kept blabbering like an idiot? He could have just warned me like he always fancied, putting up his darn fine finger.

Before I could repeat back my previous lines, another knock sounded at the door, and on the boss's approval, Mr. Cortez rushed in, his expression was one of urgency and stress. “Sir, we got a rival bidding on the IL project as well.” 

Mr. Kingston's brows furrowed, nonchalantly. “Who?” 

“Daniel Montero.”