Chương 17: Disrespecting Mr Hunt

Weeks passed in a blur, and soon the day of the long-anticipated business proposal with the Hunts had arrived. Alice, wearing a fitted navy blue business suit that exuded elegance, paired with simple gold accessories, strode confidently into the towering skyscraper of Hunt Corporation. The building, a sleek and imposing structure of glass and steel, reached toward the clouds with over fifty stories, a symbol of the company's wealth and influence. The grandeur was undeniable marble floors gleamed in the lobby, chandeliers hung elegantly above, and the walls were lined with exquisite artwork.

Alice was accompanied by her assistant, Marie, and a few key members of her company, all dressed in professional attire, matching her stride as they headed to the elevator. The ascent to the upper floors was smooth and swift, the hushed environment adding weight to the significance of the upcoming meeting. Each second seemed to stretch as they were escorted to the Hunt Corporation's main meeting room.

The door opened to a spacious room lined with windows offering a panoramic view of the city below. It was filled with shareholders, their expressions serious and assessing. But amidst the sea of faces, one figure stood out Jermin Hunt. His presence dominated the room with a magnetic pull that could not be ignored. Dressed in a dark blue suit that hinted at the tattoos beneath, and dark slacks that accentuated his manly build, Jermin sat at the head of the long, polished table. His piercing eyes, cold yet captivating, were framed by a few loose strands of hair that fell just above his eyebrows, giving him a look that was both rugged and refined. The sharpness of his features and the effortless grace of his posture commanded respect and authority, his aura as chilling as it was alluring.

As Alice entered, her gaze met Jermin's briefly. His eyes were intense, assessing her with an expression that was both curious and detached. Not willing to let herself be ensnared by the silent battle of wills, Alice quickly looked away, pretending indifference. But Jermin's eyes lingered, following her until she reached her seat at the far end of the table. His stare was enough to make some of the shareholders exchange incredulous looks; they had never seen their aloof boss pay attention to a woman for more than a fleeting moment.

Alice settled into her chair, her face calm and composed, refusing to let Jermin's scrutinizing gaze affect her. Although the business partnership was crucial, she was determined not to be intimidated by this man's intimidating presence. She had prepared thoroughly and would not allow herself to be dominated by this arrogant man. If he rejected the proposal, she was prepared to walk away.

"Marie," she said, her voice calm and authoritative, "I want you to present our proposal. You've worked hard on it, and I trust you'll convey everything clearly."

Marie's eyes widened slightly at the request but she quickly nodded, gathering her composure. "Yes, Miss Wilson," she replied, stepping to the head of the room and turning to face the crowd.

A ripple of surprise passed among the shareholders, who exchanged confused glances. This was not how things were supposed to go, Alice was expected to lead the presentation herself, especially in front of the Hunts. No one would have dared delegate such a crucial task, especially when Mr. Hunt was involved. But Alice sat back in her chair, unfazed, a slight smile on her lips as she watched the room's reaction.

Jermin's gaze turned colder, his irritation barely contained. He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, eyes fixed on Alice, who met his look with a detached calm.

Jermin's brows furrowed slightly, the only sign of his growing irritation. He couldn't believe Alice's audacity—she was disregarding him, treating him as though he were just another businessman, not the head of one of the most powerful families in Seattle. The audacity of it only deepened his interest, a hint of challenge glimmering in his gaze.

Yet, he was also annoyed, feeling the urge to dismiss the meeting on the spot. Only the reminder of his grandfather's insistence to consider this partnership kept him seated, even if his patience was wearing thin.

Well then she would see...

The tension between them was palpable, and a few shareholders shifted uneasily in their seats.

Marie, now at the front, cleared her throat and began, her voice clear and steady despite the mounting pressure. "Thank you for having us here today. We believe this proposal offers a unique opportunity for the Hunts and our company to...."

"No," Jermin interrupted, his voice calm but unyielding. "I'm not convinced. Start over."

Marie hesitated, the interruption, catching her of guard, she took a deep breath, adjusted the slide on the screen, and started again. "As I was saying, this proposal focuses on the strengths both of our companies bring to the table, with detailed analysis on—"

"No," Jermin cut in once more, his tone even colder than before. "This isn't clear enough. Try again."

As Marie continued, meticulously outlining every detail of the proposal, Jermin interrupted. "Start over," he said curtly, shaking his head, his expression unreadable. Marie paused, confused, then resumed with slight hesitation, addressing his objection. But again, Jermin's response was the same—a calm but firm rejection.

Alice's lips tightened as she observed from her seat. She knew exactly what Jermin was doing this was not about the quality of the proposal, which she was confident was flawless. This was a power play, an attempt to make her submit, to show that he was in control. The irritation simmered beneath her calm facade, her hands clenching slightly under the table. She wouldn't let him win.

For the next several minutes, Marie tried to adjust her presentation, each time meeting with Jermin's silent, emotionless denials. The shareholders were growing uneasy, their expressions shifting from confusion to discomfort. The proposal was sound excellent even yet their CEO's stubborn refusals made little sense to them.

Finally, Jermin's deep voice cut through the tension, magnetic and commanding.

"Perhaps the problem," he said, his tone icy yet taunting, and his eyes glinting "isn't with the proposal itself but with the person presenting it. Miss Wilson, why don't you present it yourself? Maybe your assistant isn't capable enough."

The room went silent, every eye turning to Alice, waiting to see how she would respond. But at that very moment, Alice's phone vibrated on the table. Glancing at the screen, she saw it was her daughter's school. The principal was calling. A flash of worry crossed her features, and without a second thought, she picked up the call, ignoring Jermin's pointed request and the collective gasps of those around the table.

"Hello?" she said, her voice calm but laced with urgency.

"You need to come to the school immediately, Miss Wilson," the principal said on the other end, her voice anxious. "Your daughter has caused some trouble."

Alice's heart skipped a beat, her mind racing. Emily was her weakness, her most precious person, and she wouldn't delay for a second if her daughter needed her. She stood abruptly, cutting the principal off with a curt, "I'll be there shortly."

Hanging up, she turned to Jermin, whose eyes had narrowed, his expression dark with fury at the blatant disrespect. "Mr. Hunt," she said evenly, each word clear and unyielding, "if you're dissatisfied with the proposal, we can reschedule this meeting for another day when you're clearheaded enough to see its value."

And with that, without waiting for his response, Alice walked out of the room, leaving a stunned silence in her wake. The shareholders were slack-jawed; no one had ever treated Jermin Hunt, the feared and respected CEO, with such blatant disregard. Some admired her boldness, while others feared the consequences of such a slight.

They were frozen, unable to believe what they had just witnessed. One man leaned towards his neighbor and whispered, "Did she really just...?" Another nodded, his eyes wide with amazement. "She did. She just walked out."

Jermin's eyes followed her as she left, his face a mask of cold fury. She had disrespected him not once, but multiple times in the span of a single meeting. His jaw tightened, a muscle twitching as he resisted the urge to slam his fist down on the table. No one disrespected him like that. No one.

But Alice was already gone, her footsteps echoing down the hall, her focus entirely on getting to her daughter. She had no time for Jermin's power games. Emily came first, and nothing would stand in the way of that.

The shareholders slowly began to murmur, some in disbelief and others in reluctant admiration. "She's got guts, I'll give her that," one said under his breath. "Most of us would be too scared to even breathe wrong in front of him."

Another shook his head, amazed. "To think she just walked out..."

Jermin remained silent, his expression dark and unreadable. But inwardly, he vowed that Alice would pay for this. He wouldn't let her defy him so easily..not without consequences.