Chapter 6

Chapter 6

“But today, I wish to have a latte.” Saul said, leaning back and relaxing on his super soft leather chair while staring at her in a dare.

She raised a finger to him in a warning. “Look, I don't have all the time to serve you coffee. I'm here to learn about work.”

Saul raised a single brow and gave a lopsided grin. “My office, my rules. If you don’t want to do it, you can…” 

“Stop.” Sophia already knew what was coming out of him. “I will go and bring a latte for you.”

Thankfully the elevator was working today. The devil had finally decided to relax her torture. She knew the lift was working for everyone in the office the previous day but for her. It was all a part of his plan to make her suffer.

She had made the latte and brought it to him within five minutes. “Hmm, it tastes good. So tell me what is my schedule today.”

“Schedule? Isn’t Lara going to make it?”

Saul looked at her boredly. “I don't have a money minting machine here with which I can feed two assistants. Since you are here, Lara will not be working as my assistant anymore. She is transferred to another department. I don't have all the day for your learning and need my schedule for today within ten minutes. If you bring it even a minute later you will not be allowed inside my room and can go back to your home.”

“Such an asshole…” She muttered and did not waste a minute standing there. Sophia practically ran to her cabin and started preparing the schedule of Saul at the speed of a computer. Though she was only one day old in the office, she referred to several files, spoke to a few people who had an idea about the company’s work and prepared the minutes schedule. She was left with hardly a minute before she almost jumped into his office.

Saul had a hard time restricting his smile. He was having super fun at the cost of Sophia's grimace.

Sophia started reading the contents in the paper she had brought with her. But before she could complete reading out the whole of it Saul stopped her. “At 10:30 I meet the Russian delegates regarding our textile industry collaboration and at 12:00 reach back to the office to attend the shareholders meeting? The traveling time itself from Park Avenue Square to my office will take me an hour because of the peak time traffic. Where will I have time to discuss the important issues in the shareholders meeting? You can't even make a day’s schedule for me and you think you can put your insolvent company back on track without my help? Well it is very obvious to me now, how you got your company to float all these years.” He looked at her curvaceous form head to toe in ridicule.

The eyes of Sophia were threatening tears. She knew what he meant by looking at her physique ‘that way’. But she was not going to show her weakness to him by any means. “Please give me two more minutes, sir. I will make it work this time.” Though trying her best, her voice broke in the end.

For a moment there was sadness in Saul but he quickly concealed it bringing his mind back to the present. He had suffered more than a decade because of her. It's not even ten days since she joined Waratah Vineyards. He will make her suffer till her forefathers come out of their grave and plead with him to save her.

****

The next week on Sunday

“So what's your analysis for third quarter numbers?” Carson asked, playing billiards with Saul.

“They've been improving dad since we took over Santiago Vineyards. We will soon be the richest and most powerful wine makers…” Saul was stopped by Carson.

“Not so early, son. Los Santos has the only vineyard that we don't own. It's finally on the market. 50 acres and it's in probate. The executor is required to sell the property by the 24th December. There's a showing up there tomorrow afternoon at 3 pm. So it's going to take a little finesse. Blend in. If word gets out that Waratah Wines is interested, we could find ourselves in a bidding war.” Carson informed aiming the red on the billiards board.

“Okay dad, I will tell Lara to book our private jet for tomorrow morning.” Saul spoke, taking the red which Carson missed earlier.

“Good job.” Carson made a high-five. “Take Lara with you. She is experienced, and will be a great help to you at Los Santos. By the way, the name of the mission is HuckaBee estate Vineyard.”

“It is the oldest wine we now have in our winery. How does it taste?” Carson asked with expectancy after Saul took a sip.

Saul put the glass at an arm's length and gave a satisfactory nod observing it. “Blue berry, black pepper and earthy, I like it.”

“Your palate is incredible, son. I wish to relax now and you take over the whole company.”

“Don't say such words dad. You have a long way to go.” Saul hugged his father.

“It’s a Shiraz blend from the cooler climate of the Yarra valley.” Carson pointed to the glass in Saul’s hand.

“I would like to add something more to our conversation.” Saul said hesitantly in thought. “Instead of Lara, Sophia will be coming with me.” 

Carson raised his head and looked at his son appalled. “You were a tosser, angry and destructive as a kid. I bore it and all this while I maintained my silence. But now it's time, I need to warn you, the game you are playing is very dangerous. Some people take years to sketch and counter their enemy but you brought her to live under your own roof. You had a registered marriage with no third eye coming to know about it. What are you going to tell the media? I heard you had already promised a press conference.” 

“Saul” Carson held the upper arms of his son in affection. “Your mom and I had already suffered for years losing your sister, we can’t afford to lose you too.”

Saul kept his silence for a moment, taking a sip of wine. “Dad, there is no fun in the game which has no challenge in it. I had suffered enough because of her. This time, the victory is mine.”