Chapter 5: Sign The Contract

Nathalie Wrights's P. O. V.

"Nathalie, are you sure you're going to work today?" From behind me, I heard Mia's voice and she sounded so worried about me.

"I will, Mia. Don't worry too much, okay?" I turned around to face her with a tight smile. "I'll be fine.."

"But, Nathalie, you're still sick!" Mia blurted out before she walked toward me and took my handbag from me. "You need to rest, Nathalie.." She pointed out.

I let out a deep breath before I smiled at her again. "No, I need to---"

"Stop me being stubborn---"

"You don't understand!" I shouted at her, Mia was taken aback by my sudden outburst. "And you won't understand me, Mia.."

"Nathalie.." She tried to reach out to me, but I shake my head to stop her. "W-What's your problem? Tell me.."

But instead of telling Mia, I sat down in front of her and cried while placing my hands on my face. I can't tell her, I could never tell her. This is the reason why I left Kyrie before, because there's something that I can't open up to anyone, not to him and not to my cousin. The pain that I had been through was just too much for me to face, and even until now, it's hunting me.

And last night... Those letters. They were scary. I never knew that love letters can freak me out like that, enough to make me sick last night. That's why I need to work, I need to get it off my mind. I have to divert my attention because if I don't, I would surely just remember my past again.

"Nathalie, you need to tell me what's going on! How can we help you if you're acting like that and not opening yourself to any of us? Not even to me or to my parents, Nathalie. I'm your cousin for Pete's sake! I will help you no matter what and you know that, right?" I felt Mia's hands caressing my shoulders. "Don't take it to yourself alone. Tell me..."

"Mia," I shook my head at her before whipping my tears. "I need this.." I saw when her forehead creased in confusion. "I need to work, okay? So just don't stop me."

I was thankful when Mia didn't say much anymore and she just decided to watch me as I gather my stuff and leave the house. I know she's still confused, but I can't dare to open up to her. I know Mia, she's too soft and she wouldn't be able to take everything that she might hear from me when she gets to hear my story.

On my way to my company, my phone kept on ringing but I didn't dare to answer it because my head is aching. When I finally reach my destination, I was confused when I saw three men holding huge boxes each and carrying them out of the building.

"What's that for?" I asked when I stop them.

"Mr. Payne ordered us to bring this out and send it back to his company.." One of them answered before they continue heading out.

'Mr. Payne? He's here?' I hurriedly walked to reach the elevator and used it. 'Why didn't he inform me that he's coming today?'

When the elevator reached the top floor, to where my office is, and the doors pushed open, my secretary was the one who welcomed me with her phone in her ear, as if trying to call someone. And when she saw me, she hurriedly run to me before she reported everything.

"Mr. Payne is in your office with his lawyer. They'd been waiting for you, Ma'am." She said while walking beside me, still holding her phone and checking something there.

"What for?" I asked, confused as to what they might be doing here without notice.

"I think.." My secretary stops from walking to face me so I did the same. "He's going to pull out, Ma'am.."

I was already expecting that reason, but it still shocks me to hear it. I sighed before I took a glance at my office's door and face her again.

"Thank you for your report. Come to my office later, we will discuss something important." I told her before I started walking again towards my office. And before I enter the room, I made sure that I won't look nervous about their presence. I know these men, once I made myself look intimidated by them, they will look down on me even more and would think highly of themselves. "Good day, gentlemen! My apologies for making you wait---" I was stopped and was rooted in my seat when I saw Kyrie, seating in my chair behind my table, and comfortably going through my computer! "Mr. Menzel, what are you doing here?!" I asked in surprise.

But when Kyrie looked up at me, I held my breath for a while when I remember what happened last night. Suddenly, my irritation and anger grew up inside me, making my head to hurt even more.

"Ms. Wights, I think an introduction is not necessary at this point since you seemed to know Mr. Mezel already?" I diverted my attention to Mr. Payne after giving Kyrie a sharp glare.

"Yes, I know him.." I saw in my peripheral vision that Kyrie smirked while looking at me before he leaned back in my chair.

How rude of him to sit there and touch my belongings without my permission!

"If that's the case, then.." Mr. Payne sat down again and turned to the man in front of him. "Attorney, you can start now."

"Start what?" I was confused when I took a sit in front of Mr. Payne and his lawyer.

"Ms. Wrights, my client did inform me about the missing money from the company.." My heart was pumping faster when I heard his words. "And your responsibility to take all the blames if you failed to bring or pay it back under the given time period, but your investors are kind enough to let you have it on your ways, don't you think so?"

"You mean?"

"Despite all these problems, Mr. Kyire Menzel decided to buy Mr. Payne's share and your signature is needed---"

"What?!" I jumped out in surprise when I heard his words before I glanced at Kyrie and found him watching me with no emotion in his eyes. "Were you... planning this the whole time?"

I can't believe him! First, he made Mr. Coin change his mind. Second, he threatened me last night with Mr. Coin's new offer, and now, he's planning of buying a share to my company?! Is he planning to eliminate me?!

"Please take a seat, Ms. Wrights, and listen to my client's demand.." I stared at him in disbelief.

"Listen to his what?" I turned to Mr. Payne. "Why would I listen to you when 'I' am the 'owner' of this company that you're working for? And how dare you to decide without discussing things with me first? Mr. Payne, may I remind you, this company is mine----"

"Sure, it's yours.." Mr. Payne cut me off. "But do you have the company's money? 'My' money that I invested for this company that 'you' own?" I fell silent when I heard his questions.

I clenched my fists when I realized that he was using that reason to look down on me. His eyes are full of insulting looks while looking at me and I don't know if I should be thankful to Kyrie when he faked a cough before he stood up and slowly walked toward us.

"Enough with the nonsense discussion and get to the point already," Kyrie demanded before he sat down beside me.

I felt uncomfortable after I feel the warmth of his body, just inches away from me. I fake a cough before I slowly move away from him.

"Thank you, Mr. Menzel.." The lawyer said, sounding so thankful that Mr, Payne and I finally calmed down. "As I was saying, Ms. Wrights. Mr. Payne wants to sell his share to Mr. Menzel, but in order to do that, your signature is needed here."

"And just in case that you didn't get my point earlier, my answer is no," I said in a hard tone. "You can sell it to anyone else, but not to Mr. Menzel.." I glanced at Kyrie who was back to being emotionless, but his eyes became even colder than it was.

"We have already considered your decision.." The lawyer said before he flip the pages of the folder that he was holding.

"It's good that we're settled, then---"

"That is why Mr. Payne would file a case against you for losing the company's money, that he has a share, through an invalid reason, claiming that your business partner, Mr. Webb, stole it and went missing without any evidence that's pointing at him. And with that, if you won't agree to sell Mr. Payne's shares to Mr. Menzel, we will push this case now." I was left dumbfounded by their ways of making me to sign the agreement contract.

"How dare you do that! It was stated from the contract that Mr. Payne signed with me that as the owner of the company, my interest shall not be harm to any transferring process or selling of the shares, otherwise, it will be void!" I angrily told them.

I was fuming in rage when I heard Kyrie's cold and deep voice, laughing beside me. I diverted my eyes to look at him and saw him watching us with no emotions in his eyes.

"Don't you know the word negotiation, Ms. Wrights?" He mockingly asked me. "Your shareholder here is negotiating with you. It's a win-win for you, you know? If you'll just agree and sign the contract now, they won't send you to prison and I can even do something to help you to attract some business person. And if that happens, you can use their investment as a start-up money to start your company again and use its profit, your profit's share, to pay for the missing money of the company. See? That is how business is going, Ms. Wrights. And you don't know that, probably the reason you're failing right now.."

I fell silent again. Kyrie has a point and I know that, I just don't want to accept it. I'm scared of what he might do. As much as possible, I want to avoid Kyrie because seeing him is opening some wounds in my heart and bringing some of the memories that I always want to forget. I clutched my head when the throbbing became worst than it was earlier. Mia was right, I really shouldn't have come here.

"You see, Mr. Payne.." I saw Kyrie motioning his hand to me. "Our CEO here is sick, how about we continue this some other time?"

I massage my temple when I felt the throbbing again.

"I understand. Let's re-schedule this---"

"No.." I stopped them from leaving. I gathered myself back and pulled my composure even though I can still feel the pain in my head. I took a deep breath before I finally say it. "I'll sign it. I'll agree and sign the contract now.."

I know that my decision would cause me trouble, but Kyrie was right, I can use him and his connections. I saw when the lawyer took out the folder and handed it to me with a pen. I darted my eyes there and silently hope that after signing this contract, may everything still be under my control. And after this... once my company is back to normal and I managed to pay the missing money, I will send him away from me. I'll make sure to be never involved with him again.

Contrary to what I wanted, I slowly sign the contract after I read its contents.

"Thank you, Ms. Wrights!" The lawyer said before he accepted the folder that I handed him. "And congratulations on your partnership with Mr. Menzel!"

We all stood up when Mr. Payne and his lawyer bid their goodbyes. And when they're finally out, I faced Kyrie and looked at him with full of anger in my eyes.

"What do you think you're doing?! Why are you buying a share in my company, Kyrie?!" I asked him, still trying my best to calm myself.

"Why not?" He shrugged off his shoulder and went back to his seat.

"Why not?!" I angrily repeated his question. "Kyrie, can you stop your games and just leave me alone?!"

"Is that how you're supposed to talk to me, Ms. Wrights? Let me remind you, I am now a shareholder of your company. Shouldn't you act more professional when you're with me?" I can sense the hint of insult in his voice again.

I closed my eyes out of annoyance before I fell on the couch. I clutched my head again when I felt the pain and when I open my eyes, Kyrie was looking at me with confusion in his eyes.

"What happened to you? You weren't sick last night.." I was lost in between of believing if Kyrie was really worried like what I sensed in his voice or if he was just pretending so he can mock me later. "You look so pale, Nathalie."

"I'm fine.." I pushed his hand away when he tried to reach out and touch me. "Mind your own business, Kyrie."

"You are my business and you know that!" He hissed before he captured my hand and use his free hand to touch my forehead. "You have a fever, Nathalie.."

"Obviously," I rolled my eyes at him before I stood up and push myself to walk away from him. "Can you, please, leave now, Kyrie? And besides.." I placed my hand on my waist. "How did you get in here? My secretary didn't inform me that you're here when I arrived."

His lips tugged up and the mocking looks are back in his eyes. "Replace your secretary. She's ineffective."

"What?" I raised my eyebrows at him.

"She was on the phone when I entered the floor and she didn't even notice while I was walking in front of her to enter your office."

It was probably when my secretary said that she was trying to reach out to me. So, Kyrie was here and she wasn't aware, huh?

"That's rude of you. You should've approached her instead and asked for permission if you can come in or not!" I snapped at him.

"I think it was a good idea that I didn't ask her. Who knows if you'll let me in or not, right?" The coldness in his voice was back and his eyes become emotionless again.

He was right. Had I known that he's here and my secretary would ask me if should I allow him to go in, I'll definitely say no and make an excuse just so I can get rid of him.

"And how did you know that my office is on this floor?" I asked him again before I sat down at my table. "Also, why were you going through my computer?! That was an invasion of my privacy, Kyrie!"

"I was bored so yeah, I opened your computer out of boredom."He plainly said. "And how can I not know where your office is? Since before, it was already your dream, remember?"

My heart ache when I heard his last statement. I looked at Kyrie's eyes, but I saw no emotion there other than coldness. 'He can still remember...'