Business Proposal

Zyxhiaxy

I sighed in relief after fifty minutes of staring at my white ceiling. I can't count how many times I let out a deep breath because I couldn't get my mind off what happened last night at the party.

Styx's face kept running and appearing in my mind. The way he uttered 'I miss you' was so realistic that I almost believed it. I grinned sarcastically and clenched my hand that was currently placed over my chest. I'm still wearing my pyjamas, and my hair is still a mess because I don't have the strength to get up today. I heard my phone ring several times until I got up and answered it.

"Good morning," was greeted cheerfully by the person on the other line, but I was in no mood to answer and remained silent.

"Tsk, tsk. Why are you frowning again, so early, ah?" I went inside the bathroom and faced the mirror. I frowned when I saw my appearance. Shit. I feel lifeless.

Annoyed, I hung up on him and started to fix myself. I put toothpaste on my toothbrush and started brushing my teeth. I was watching myself in the mirror the whole time before putting myself in the shower while fully naked.

I just put on a black sports bra and leggings before leaving the house for a run. It was still quite dark outside because it was only five in the morning, and I could see very few people inside the village doing their exercises. I started walking first while typing on my cell phone. Duex texted me, and he was just complaining about why I hung up the call earlier. I shook my head before replying.

Me:

There is nothing good in my morning if your voice is the first thing I hear.

I laughed as my pace gradually accelerated but also slowed down when my phone rang. I looked at Duex's number for a moment before answering his call.

"Hey, you're so heartless. Why did you do that?" he said, referring to what I did to his call earlier. "Do you know that your crying face was the first thing that entered my mind earlier?" he opened up.

I slowed down and touched the earbuds attached to my ears before answering.

"Why would I cry?" I could imagine his favourite frown when I asked that.

"Hmm, because of what happened last night," he said hesitantly. I tsked and looked around the place because I felt someone staring at me intently. I looked around to find out who it was but saw that other people were also busy running and doing their business. Maybe I'm just being paranoid.

"Duex, I promised I was okay; I am not affected anymore," I answered confidently.

I heard him sigh before speaking. "Did you see his reaction? It looks like you won't have any trouble with your plan. It's obvious that the guy is still after you." He laughed.

I sighed. "What do you mean?" I asked innocently, not buying his words.

"You know what I'm talking about," he replied. His tone was like, I was so stupid for asking that question.

"Honestly, I doubt that. We haven't seen each other for a few years, and I don't even know if his eyes are saying true or not when he opens his mouth. Right now it's hard to believe, but I'll make the assumption that he will fall for me again, harder and deeper, until he won't be able to get out and escape from me."

We talked some more before I hung up. I turned around, ran a few times, and cleaned my body before going to the office. The next day, I will be moving my office to Styx's company because it is currently being fixed and prepared.

Right now I'm working at Duex's company, where Daddy also has shares. That's where Duex taught me how to run the company so that the staff at Styx's company wouldn't question my ability when I take over his position and our plans, but the way they stare at me during our meetings, they are obviously judging my capabilities. They say I'm too young, and I'm a woman. Fuck their reasons; I can tell the company what gender I am. They are just making excuses; they could steal the position from me, but no way in hell will I let that happen.

But their complaints are all useless because I already own the position of chairman, and no one can make me move down.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Drylto." I faked a smile before shaking hands with Mr. Drylto. I'm 5 minutes late to our meeting; it is not my fault because of traffic.

"I'm sorry for being late," I apologised, but he just smiled and motioned for me to sit down. He was still smiling as he watched my every move. I didn't feel comfortable, maybe because of the way he was staring, and my gosh, he's already 56. For Pete's sake, stop looking at me as if you're a predator ready to eat your prey!

"It's okay; shall we order first?" I faked a smile while nodding. He called the waiter to tell him about the foods, and I secretly thanked him when he ordered them for me. I'm not familiar with Greek cuisine.

"I'm not going to beat around the bush anymore, Mr. Drylto; you're there at the meeting, right? Of course you're one of the major shareholders." I laughed awkwardly. "And I wouldn't be surprised if you're doubting my capabilities too in handling the company, so I'm here to get your trust," I boldly said, and I saw the corner of his lips rise.

"I like you for being straight-forward." He stared at me intently and seemed amazed.

I cleared my throat because I don't like the way he stares. It's making me feel uncomfortable in my seat.

His wrinkled hand moved. He approached my hand that was resting on the table, and before I could push it, he suddenly caressed it and squeezed it. The hair on my body rose because of what he did. I swallowed several times in disgust when he lifted it to his mouth and kissed it.

Fuck.

"Bullshit!" I was annoyed when I sat in my office chair while looking around the office with heavy breathing. I tried to calm myself because I could destroy all the things in my office, but that didn't work.

I want to lose my anger.

I'm disgusted.

He's a jerk!

"Ohh, someone's grumpy." I didn't notice Duex entering my office; he looked at me full of wonder while observing the scattered broken items in this room. I averted my eyes in annoyance as tears rolled down my cheeks because of anger.

"What happened?" He stood on the table while resting both hands on it.

"That old man... he fucking wants to marry me!" I exclaimed, and to my surprise, he laughed.

"Oh, I'm not surprised." I frowned at what he said.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, instincts," he said proudly, shrugging his shoulders.

I rolled my eyes at him.

At least now I know I'm calm.

"What are you going to do now? Will you accept his off—"

"Of course not!" I cut him off, and he laughed out loud at my reaction.

Until today, I still had goosebumps every time I remembered the way he looked at me. Even the caress of his rough palm on my hand makes my hair stand up. Fucking disgusting.

"Okay. By the way, I have to go now; I just got here to see your condition, but you seem to be having fun breaking your expensive items here. See you later, babe." He kissed my cheek before leaving. I turned away when I realised the condition of my office right now.

"Sir, you can't—"

"Xia." I stood up when I heard that familiar voice. I saw him standing beside the door frame; he looked devastated.

"What are you doing here?" I asked before motioning for my secretary to leave the room. Styx was struggling to enter, so I frowned. When he was a few steps away from where I was standing, I could smell the mixture of alcohol and his perfume, and I didn't like that.

He tried to reach for my hands, but I stepped back.

"What are you doing here?" His hair was a mess, and his clothes were tangled.

His eyes gradually turned red as he tried to hold my hand, but I took it back again and again when he tried to reach for it repeatedly.

"Styx, what the hell?

"Love, love, please take me back." I couldn't believe it while looking at him. My eyes widened as I heard his words.

Tears flowed from his eyes, one after the other.

"I miss you," he said in a broken voice, causing me to freeze in place. He grabbed my hand and brought it to his face. I winced after feeling Styx's wet face.

"I miss you, love. I always do. Please take me back, Xhia. I promise I won't let you go again. I'll be a good partner.

"Why... why are you doing this?"

Is this his karma after everything he did to me?

His speech—I can't take it. It wasn't enough for me to stop taking revenge.

I had tears pooling in my eyes as I watched him almost kneel down in front of me.

I'm not satisfied yet. I want more. I want to see him unable to think clearly because his mind is clouded with thousands of thoughts. I want to see him wrecked, but I don't like this.

I haven't even started yet; he's like this right away.

"Please... Xhia—" Duex entered the room furiously before his fist landed on Styx's face. I yelled after seeing Styx's nose bleed. I quickly blocked Duex's body just as he was about to hit him again.

"Duex, stop! Please, stop!" I shouted again and again, but they didn't budge. Styx also punched Duex in the face, even though I saw that he couldn't stand up straight because he was still drunk. I almost screamed before a guard came inside. I was holding both of Duex's arms while blocking my body between the two of them. Both of them are breathing heavily and don't want to lose. I glared at Styx, who was now being held by the guard.

"Xhia..." he whispered when I closed our gap and slapped him. The moment my hand landed on his face, it made a sound that resonated throughout the room. His face turned red, and the tears that he was trying to hold back escaped from his eyes.

"Don't show up in my face again."