Alexis

"The next time you make a mistake will the last you ever have the pleasure of drawing breath," Alexis said in a stern voice as she looked down upon the man kneeling before her.

Alexis Romani, 30 years old. A first class graduate with a masters degree in businesses management and accounting. As well as an additional degree in engineering all acquired before she reached the age of 26. An African Queen by birth whose parents where both dead and her only remaining family being her young brother. Younger than her by two years. Her dark skin a contrast to her brother as she acquired her mother's complexion and he their fathers'. Wearing a white suite she shifted her weight on the pair of ten thousand dollar heels making her pencil skirt shift in the process. Her dark eyes darkened all the more as she looked down at the man before her who knelt in submission never once looking directly at her. Her hair cut short to reveal her facial features which consisted of a small nose and plump lips and high cheek bones. She wore no makeup but her skin was flawless and seemed to glow.

Alexander Romani walked in holding a file. Quickly shutting it he stood looking at his sister before shoving a hand into his pocket and assessing the situation. Wearing a grey Armani suit and white shirt open at the collar he sighed walking towards his sister. Their resemblance was uncanny, his complexion lighter than hers. A well toned body that was hidden beneath the fitting suit.
"The Powell's have signed over their land as well as the cattle," he said.
"Some good news finally," she said as he placed the file on the table walking over to grab a golf club as he took a golf ball placing it on the floor.

"I did warn you about messing up that shipment," Alexander said taking a practice swing as he spoke.
"Maximo thinks just because I choose to stay on this side of the continent he can do whatever he wants with our business," Alexis said as she opened the file to see her latest acquisition.

"He forgets," Alexander said hitting the ball with brute force making it fly across the room as a vase shattered as he smiled seeing the old man ducking with fear evident in his eyes. The ball had just missed him by a few inches.
Looking at his sister with guilt he gave her a smile making her turn her gaze to Maximo deciding to deal with him later.
Placing the file back on the table she leaned against it drumming her fingers in annoyance.
"Ten million," she stated ignoring the low whistle that came from her brother.
Maximo looked at her wide eyed but did not say a word. "Travel safely," she said in a flat tone just as two of her men walked into the room helping the man up.

"That's a steep price to pay Lexi," Alex said.
"He shouldn't have messed with my shipment. We have a reputation to maintain," she said walking to her bar. "Replace my vase," she stated turning around to face her brother as she offered him a drink.

"Now that we have this part of the territory to ourselves what is your plan?" He asked sipping the whiskey.
"Call Johnny and tell him to oversee the merge of all ten farms. I want us to produce quality beef for both the local and international market," she said as he took out his phone making note of her requests.
Holding a masters in business administration made him the perfect business partner. Besides who else would she have by her side.

"The shipment?"
"Release the girl he tempered with," she said as he nodded his head in acknowledgment.
Shutting down her laptop she stood up just as her secretary walked in.

"Forward all meetings to my phone I am leaving," she said.
"Yes ma'am," Parker said as he quickly packed her laptop away before following her out.
"Two bulky men stood at attention as she stepped out of her office.

Walking towards the elevator they held the doors already open for her allowing her in first followed by her brother then Parker and lastly the guards.

Her office occupied the entire top floor of the building. Her source of income focused mainly on the shipping empire she had built from the ground up. A side project being the cattle breeding she had recently embarked on amongst other things.
Walking towards her car the driver bowed slightly offering his hand to help her into the car.
"Dinner tonight brother?"
"My apologies," he said with a sincere smile. "I have a prior engagement," he said.
Nodding in understanding she gave him a faint smile before rolling up her window just as the car rolled away.

Taking care of the remainder of her meetings she sighed tiredly as the car came to a halt in front of her house.
"Good afternoon madam," Lyle her butler greeting.
"Lyle," she said in acknowledgment.
Taking her bag from her he informed her he would prepare a bath for her.
"Thank you," she said finally showing how exhausted she felt having hidden it from her staff.

"Please bring my dinner upstairs," she said.
"Very good ma'am," he said with a slight bow before disappearing.

—————

"If the girl doesn't want the deal leave her," she stated before ending the call.
Her other line of work was proving to be a challenge. A client had gone against her rules and beaten her employee black and blue.
Instead of trafficking women, she sold pleasure to the highest bidder, allowing the girls to have a say on their limits. The gold star group being the women who could endure anything. They reeled in more money than the others. Who knew there were sick men out in the world.
But what could she expect she knew the trade all too well.

Trafficking and drugging up woman seemed primitive. Getting a woman to submit to her and later work out her submission terms with a client was far better.
She lay in bed going over files and doing the math when a knock came.

"Your tea ma'am," Lyle announced as he placed the tray on the table.
"Thank you Lyle, that will be all," she said moving towards the table.

————

Having dinner with some potential clients she laughed at a joke made by the burly Russian who was interested in hiring a girl for a week.
"Now if you fall in love with my girls what are you willing to give in order for her to be all yours," she said with a charming smile.
"I don't do love," Boris stated matter of fact making her smirk.
She lifted her wine to her lips as all the men watched her closed. Silence fell upon their table as Alexander waited for her final say.

A loud noise came from the kitchen making her guards look in that direction but she seemed unfazed. Another crash of cutlery came making her stand up.
"Excuse me for a moment gentlemen," she said as she rose to her feet with the men on the table doing the same.

Walking towards the kitchen entrance she came to a halt as no one noticed her presence.
"You fool I told you to monitor the oven. A simple task which you can't even achieve," the head chef yelled.
She looked at the man being shouted at as he stood taller than the man shouting at him, jaw clenched in anger.
"My apologies chef," she heard him say in a tone she knew all too well making her smirk.

"I would rather enjoy my meal without the commotion gentleman," she said making everyone stop what they where doing as they looked in her direction.
"Miss Romani, forgive me," the head chef apologized with a bow.
"Is my desert ready?" She said looking at her wrist watch.
"A slight delay which I will rectify myself," the man said.
"You have fifteen minutes," she said as she looked directly at the assistant who had messed up her desert from what she could see.

Turning on her heel the men behind her cleared her path. Returning to the table the men stood as she took her seat getting back to business.
"I will see if Tatiana will spend the week with you," she said throwing a file at Boris as he opened it a smile gracing his lips.
She smiled seeing the signs of a man clearly falling for one of her girls. This was the third time he had arranged to meet Tatiana. Clearly he was smitten and in denial.

Their desert arrived right on time as she looked at the man who was serving them.
Placing her plate before her he grazed her hand with his making her become tense.
"What is your name?" She asked him as he moved on to serve the next person his movements fluid despite his large frame.
"Leroy ma'am," he said looking directly into her eyes as he answered her.
"Have this packed away for me to carry," she said pushing her plate aside.
Acknowledging her request she sighed sitting back as she concluded business with Boris. Allowing him to leave first she looked at her phone seeing several missed calls from one of her dock managers. Reaching for the complementary mints she popped one into her mouth as she waited for her desert.

"Leave me," she said as she dialed the number.
"What happed?" She spat after a single ring.
"Draco hit one of our ships," Henry the dock manager said.
"What does he want?" She said.
"Money," He said. "The ship has the relief packages for the villagers down south," he added.
Draco knew that if he took that ship she would fork out whatever amount he requested.

"How many men do we have on standby?" She asked him.
"Not many for a smooth retaliation," he said in a dejected voice.
"Wire the money he needs to him but warn him that if he pulls a stunt like that ever again he is a dead man," she said before ending the call.
Letting out a long sigh she leaned on the table resting her head in her hands.

"Work must really be stressful," she heard as she looked up to see him standing before her.
"Somewhat," she said standing up as he moved towards her.
She stood her ground even though he towered above her. Handing her the pastry box she took it from him as he smiled at her.
"I hope you enjoy it. I made the cake myself," he said as she looked down at the box.
Looking back at him she took in his brown eyes that looked at her as though analyzing her. His broad shoulders hiding beneath the apron. Light skinned in complexion. The light stubble covered his jaw. He spotted an army cut making his handsome features clearer in appearance. Looking into his eyes she saw nothing realizing he was good at hiding his true emotions.

Her phone rang making her place the box down on the table. Turning to leave she heard him yell, "your desert ma'am!" She stopped walking as she placed the phone on her chest so as to not allow the person on the other end of the line to hear her words.
"Someone will get it," she said in a serious tone hating being disturbed.
As she walked out a coat was thrown over her shoulders to ward off the cool weather as she continued to walk. Ending her call she updated her brother on the problems as she entered her car before waving goodbye to him.

—————
Sitting in her study Lyle brought a glass of milk and her desert as she went through some papers.
Looking at the cake she saw the simple inscription, "smile."
Toying with her fork she took her glass of milk taking as sip of the liquid before she took a bite of the rich chocolate cake closing her eyes in enjoyment a smile formed upon her lips as she recalled how he had looked at her.

Picking up her phone she called her brother.
"We leave for England at dawn," she said ending the call.
Lyle has already packed her bag and called ahead to make sure everything was in order.
"Lyle have Leroy join the flight crew. I need good food," she said as Lyle hid his surprise.
"Very well ma'am," he said.