Chapter 4: Illusions
Ayvah's POV:
Slow. He was too slow. I had already reached the board room by the time he caught up to me. It was Good enough that he lacked the courage to speak about whatever happened in front of everyone. Sheldon briefed me over the various modifications which made the presentation nearly flawless, just how I preferred it.
The chatter in the room had hushed as soon as I entered, all of them behaving as if they were engrossed in their respective work, yet I could feel their curiosity, and there interest piqued as Aaron opened his mouth to speak but thought better of it. I didn't like distractions while working. Not at all. They wanted to hear Aaron speak but instead they would have to make do with me, so I said,
" If you'll are done with trying to eavesdrop on me or to gauge my reaction, I would like you'll to concentrate on the work at hand." I pinned each one under my stare one by one until they paled a bit, then turned and continued, " The presentation which you have prepared now is what is the expected standard here, so do not expect me to praise you all. I don't like mistakes and I especially don't like people who commit careless ones."
That was all the entertainment that they would get, yet it seemed they were not happy with it. Bad for them. My words were my weapons and I knew that they had found there mark exactly where I wanted them to. A certain someone's face was ashen after hearing my words. Every one hustled about trying to avoid my attention. Very well. Everything was ready so I knew they were milling about just to avoid my attention, yet I let them think that they had succeeded. If I wouldn't cut them some slack then the leash would tighten to the point of snapping. Lesson number one, never let anyone know the what and the how of your brain. My first lesson. Just thinking about it left a bitter taste in my mouth.
I was spared from delving into my memories when the clientele entered. A sharp pain flared up in my head and it was all I could do to give them a charming smile, especially when they were not the ones I had been expecting. I'll deal with that later. Not a flicker of surprise showed through my eyes, as if I had been expecting them all this while. It seemed to disarm them.
The young boy who had strolled in as if he owned the world had stopped still and was gawking at me. His eyes raked across my body and he openly checked me out.
With my strawberry blonde hair falling in gentle waves over my shoulders, my flawless skin and plump sensuous lips covered in clear gloss, it seemed a very common reaction amongst men, but that didn't mean I had to like it. His oily gaze flickered over my burnt amber eyes and my pert nose, and I could tell that he loved what he saw. I didn't care much about beauty but I couldn't deny the fact that all these facial features melded to form a beautiful face which was often described as 'cover page' worthy. Another one of the weapons in my arsenal. When he showed no signs of even trying to act in a sophisticated manner, not that he was an eye sore, I gave him a sugary sweet smile and led him inside.
The older man who accompanied Mr. Eidel, as was the name of that boy, followed inside. He was their 'business lawyer' and introduced himself as Elijah. Nothing more, nothing less. Eidel was the COO of the company, and was here to discuss about the land issues, as he so politely presented it, his eyes never wavering too far from me.
Whatever.
The meeting continued as per normal and even Elijah was impressed by our presentation. As expected. It was easily visible by their body language that they wanted to accept our offer, yet they tried to play tough to get. Bad choice. I was already in a sour mood and had no interest in trying to mollycoddle them. It seemed that Aaron sensed it and he tried to step in. If it was any other day, I would have sent a scathing glare his direction which would send him simpering away, but the pain in my head was steadily getting worse, so much so that I had a tough time maintaining that sweet charmer's smile.
Aaron was successful in distracting Elijah, so I excused myself from the meeting, not bothering to give any fake reasons. I stormed away towards my cabin, needing to release the pent up energy. I had no such 'luck'. It seemed that other than being a complete pervert, Eidel had no sense of boundaries either. How annoying. He seemed to follow me even after I hastened my pace, no doubt to try and pester me about something. Upon reaching my cabin I turned to confront him.
"Do not pretend to knock now when you have already invaded my privacy by following me to my cabin. Come on right in." I leaned on my chair, forcing him to remain standing as I didn't offer a seat yet.
" Well, it was too difficult to stay away from such a beauty for even a second, plus I wanted to speak to you privately. Couldn't get a better chance now, could I? " I gave him a glare, my vision clouding when another wave of sharp pain pierced through my skull. He didn't seem to notice it as he continued, " May I sit Ms.CEO? You see my shoes are not exactly made for comfort." Saying so he glanced at my nude heels. "Neither are yours it seems." His voice was reduced to a murmur this time.
"Have a seat." My tone clipped,the smile no longer required. Even speaking seemed an effort now, yet the mask could not slip, it's comfort a second skin now. "Say your piece and begone, I have some important work to deal with." A game of words.
I waited for him to speak, pushing the pain to the back of my mind till it became no more than a dull throbbing in my head, a relief yet a temporary one. I let the silence stretch, let it become uncomfortable, yet my stare never faltered. Lesson number two, Never speak first. Silence often caused people to grow awkward. And they would often speak things they are not meant to, just to fill the silence.
The seconds trickled by, each longer than the previous, the throbbing in my head became a bit more incessant, sweat pooled at my nape, despite the fact that the air conditioner was set at a very low temperature.
He spoke.
"Though I would have preferred to speak to a man, but I have to make do with you it seems, well you seem like a sweet person, so let me come to the point. The plot will be ours. Name your price."
"No." One simple reply from my side and his whole demeanor changed, as if he was looking at me for the first time.
"I was being polite darling, come on. You don't want to make an enemy out of me. After all the entire meeting is now recorded and ready to be sent. If I send it to the right people, it would be a shame" His attempt at intimidating me was pathetic at its best, the slight hesitance in his words speaking more than his words ever would.
I allowed a slight hesitance to surface through my eyes, the victory in his hazel eyes amusing, before the fear in my eyes was replaced by a smirk which stretched to my lips. " Now darling, if you would only listen to you speaking. How sweet. Your cards are on the table, now it's my turn. It's only fair." My smirk deepened at the sight of the frown marring his face. "It may just happen that you find yourself slipping from the edge of the terrace at your San Francisco villa. Now that would be a shame, wouldn't it? Imagine the newspaper headlines. Quite entertaining, right."
The last sentence not meant as a question or a threat, just a promise. My voice was no more than a hushed whisper, as if we were two conspirators sharing a deep buried secret, his ashen face giving me a semblance of entertainment. "Oh! Another thing darling, the recording about which you were speaking doesn't exist. The camera that you so conveniently hid in the folder was disabled the moment you entered the building." If possible his face turned even paler, as if he was no more than a forgotten memory.
Truth and lies, lies and truth, a deadly dance. Lies peppered with truths are the best lies spoken. And believed.
I didn't need to speak much after that. The deal was finalized, oh sure it was. The only difference was that our profit margin became so much better. The headache returned with a vengeance as if it wouldn't let me savour yet another victory, however minor. It was as if it was reminding me of a greater task. Only one thing could cure it but before that,
"It seems you have a bad habit of spying on me, or rather trying to spy on me Mr. Calloway. Leave. Now. And while you are at it, get me a coffee,will you."
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