Nostalgia hit my senses so hard that I felt an overwhelming feeling inside my tummy. My eyes popped out of its socket when I saw him entering inside the room. I never even imagined I would meet him again, nor hoped to. His hazel eyes stared at me as if beholding my soul.

I felt blood gushing through my cheeks, carving it to look like a tomato. "Fuck" I was so upset at myself for the way I'm affected because of his mere presence. I looked up at him again and found him smirking at me. "Fucking hell" I groaned under my breath, realising that a cop is sitting beside me. I glanced at him, but what I found amazed me even more.

All the colours drained out of his face, fear and something else that I couldn't place my fingers on, obvious on his face. My eyebrows went up when I shifted my eyes straight to the angle of his sight.

It felt like a triangular communication. The cop was staring at Zearo and when my vision settled on him; I realized Zearo was looking at me. I noticed that he muttered something barely audible.

"Cop Sire, can we please talk outside?" Zearo asked the cop sitting near me. My neck snapped at the cop and watched him go, visibly tensed when he heard Zearo. My interest peaked to a strange level, mind doing various flips about what is the relationship between the two.

I then glanced at Zearo once again, raising my eyebrows at him. I had an inkling they've met before, and this Zearo guy is no commoner. I so strongly need to know about him now that it is pumping my blood faster and stimulating me because of the challenge that's standing in front of me, even if it was uncalled for. But I need to know something about this Zearo guy, now this is for sure.

"Sure," answered the cop and flew with the guy whose attitude was screaming power.

******

"Emma Watson, how the hell did an unknown guy enter my office without my authorization? And I learn he is your friend? Since when?" I interrogated Emma, who had just entered my hospital room.

"Geez, woman!" She cursed loudly, putting her hands on her chest, her eyes throwing daggers my way.

"First, he is no stranger as he is my friend. Second, he is just a messenger from Mr Oliver Stone. And third, he came to notify you about the stupidest things your employees are doing behind you." She answered all in one go that took me a minute to figure out what actually she meant.

"What about Mr Oliver Stone?" I furrowed my brows because I've been fulfilling my grandma's commitment and if something went on behind my back, then I will not let the culprit loose.

"Something about you not accepting his consignment and because of which he has to face a terrible consequence. I know little about it as Oliver did not want to reveal that to me, but Zearo knows the entire situation." Emma added, biting down a piece from the apple after she settled herself beside my bed.

I nodded, realising I have to consider this matter instantly.

"Isn't he hot as fuck?" Squealed Emma near my ears, making me gasp in shock.

"His drool-worthy body, his aura so impressive. Damn! I can just imagine how wonderful he will look in my bed." Emma said, laying her face on the corner of my bed, her thoughts making me wince.

"Stop it. Ew, what the hell Emma, you have a boyfriend, remember?" I gritted my teeth.

"That is holding me back from plunging on him, "She said hitting the bed in annoyance.

I shook my head at her pervy thoughts and my mind overflowing with horrifying images of them both in a bed. I felt a pang of anger stirring inside my mind, and I groan in dissatisfaction.

"Anthony, can you please ask the doctor when I will be discharged? I feel suffocated here." I hit Anthony's number in my phone and asked him. My voice shivering because of the lack of energy.

"On it now." He responded and hung up on me. I muted Emma's banter about how they both will do well in bed and other cringy details she was stuffing my ears with and immediately called Aria.

"Hello? Yeah, Aria. I'm fine, thanks. I need detailed information about the Chiveryo project that Natalie used to handle and why was it not granted to Mr Oliver Stone."

"Yes ma'am, "

"I'm coming over there within an hour and will discuss it in person," I spoke, glancing at the clock hanging on the wall above the door in the room.

"But ma'am?"

"No buts, keep the file ready within an hour. Got it?" I sought again, confirming that she got me loud and clear, and then I hung up on her.

"Liara, rest. Why rush things now when you are still so weak?" I glanced at Emma's disturbed face, searching for an answer.

"I can rest as much as I want, but do you realize, me resting idly here will be the death of some needy families working under me?" I felt a surge of heaviness in my chest, reminiscing the days after my grandma's accident. Her employees suffered along with the company with poverty and hunger. The reason I stepped forward to take over the company.

"Whatever, just don't fall face-first on the ground next time. I can't cover your marks with a concealer then." She declared throwing the leftover apple in the trash can.

*********

After convincing everyone that I'm perfectly fine even if I'm not, I with the help of Anthony drove back to my office. My cabin looked the same as it was before my horrible fight. The faint paint odour was the only thing annoying my already tired soul.

"Aria, did you look at what I asked you to?" I looked up at Aria, who was sitting in front of me and typing on her laptop.

"Completed already. The agreement is ready, and we need your signature to follow up the procedure." Handing me a set of papers, she added looking at me.

"Sure thanks," I signed the papers and stood up from the chair abruptly that brought a wave of pain on my abdomen making me flinch.

"Ma'am, you alright?"

"Yeah yeah, I'm fine." hitting the numbers in the intercom, I asked Anthony to escort me to Mr Stone's warehouse.

I made my way towards the exit, but suddenly I realized that I've missed an important part. Glancing back at my secretary, I added, "Aria, you coming with me to the warehouse. Study the entire building and the types of equipment they are using, alright?"

"Sure ma'am," replied the very obedient assistant of mine. I shook my head, a small smile threatening to appear on my face. I took a deep breath and entered my parking space where Anthony stood, hands in his pocket and staring at the outside scenery.

"Anthony" I grinned at him, my sanity at bay.

"Liara! You look so weak tho. I and Aria can do the task. Why are you stressing yourself so much?" Ugh, him and his overly caring nature.

"I'm fine!" I whined. He shook his head at my stubbornness but didn't question me like always.

*********

Driving straight to Mr Stone's warehouse, I just prayed not to see Zearo again. I've had enough thumping of the heart in one day, I don't want to die due to a heart attack.

"We are here, " I heard Anthony parking my Lykan near a building whose fourth floor is still under construction. I never cared to examine any of my consignee's work before. I've always honoured my grandma's decisions. But when I was briefed that none other than Johnson controlled the change of dealership himself, my mind went to a frenzy mode. He gave this consignment to one of his friends who has charged way more than funds required. I shouldn't have counted on him so much. I promoted Natalie to a higher position and he let an aiding hand to lessen my burden, but that proved otherwise.

I then reviewed everything with my own eyes and revived every fucking deal made till date.

"Miss D'Waner, I'm so delighted to meet you today." Came a man with a gentle yet strong voice trotting towards my car. His face screamed of experience and hardship, I could notice that much after meeting thousands of people around the world.

"Greetings, Mr Stone, I apologize for the inconvenience caused to you because of my representatives. And thank you so much for voicing your concerns regarding the rates." I responded and shook his hand. He lifted my hands, kissing my knuckles gently, giving a friendly aura all around.

"You are so like your mother, honey." He spoke, making my eyes moist suddenly.

"Let's get back to business, shall we?" I urged, taking a sharp breath and changing the topic.

"Sure." He sensed my discomfort and showed us the way to his warehouse.

It was a massively built old building, things inside were pretty latest and the building stood tall as if it's standing like this for a hundred years.

"Forgive me, I couldn't upgrade the building so it's looking rusted, but the pieces of equipment are the latest." He stated, catching my suspicion again.

"Aria will administer the products and your additional details so I could be assured to offer you the consignment again. " I declared, not allowing him to question back. He agreed to everything I proposed to look at, never questioning back.

****

After taking a lot of time evaluating the surrounding, I winced suddenly because of abrupt pain, due to too much walking. Noticing my abrupt halt, Mr Stone and Anthony looked at me worriedly. I shook my head motioning them to go on and followed them back but the pain seemed as if my throat had been clogged and I cannot breathe.

"Mr Stone, where can we sit and talk? She has gone through some injuries and I realize she needs rest." Anthony said, catching me off guard.

"I'm fine, " I began, but he interrupted me.

"No can do miss, you are resting and that's final." He added firmly, looking at me as if warning me not to force him to do anything reckless.

I glared hard at him, blowing him in his stomach sideways when I heard Mr Stone laughing at our banter. "I hate you for this!" I hissed near his ears and he chuckled, holding me even tighter, upholding my body so I won't fall.

"Miss D'Waner, we can go to my office where you can take some rest. I think Aria ma'am will be done shortly." Mr Stone said politely, gesturing towards the other side of the hallway where his subordinates were working.

We moved past all his employees, greeting us with a compassionate smile on their face. All of them were trudging towards their old age, but nothing diminished the momentum of their work and the quality. Their generosity and their capabilities awed me.

Soon after, we entered a massive cabin covered with numerous samples of clothes they produced and an enormous desk in the middle covered with five chairs all around. A small fan attached in every corner of the room, calming my senses that felt uneasy because of the sunny weather outside.

I sat near the table and took a sip of chilled water served to me by Mr Stone himself. I was so overjoyed by his kindness and his simplicity.

"Hey, Oldie! Look what I've brought for ya, man!" I heard someone entering the room. His voice pumped the blood faster in my body, nausea hitting me suddenly. I just wished someone would dig a hole right now and I could bury myself in it.

"Zearo, look who has come to meet us today!" Beamed the old man sitting in front of me.

"Busted" I groaned under my breath without glancing back at him. I noticed the chair beside me moving and I watched from the corner of my eyes as Anthony strode towards a shadow behind my back.

"Hey, Zearo! This is a surprise! I never got to thank you for your help, thank you so much, man!" Spoke the man who I trusted more than anyone, abandoning me suddenly.

"You don't have to thank me, buddy, I just did what I had to." His husky voice penetrated my ears, making my blood pump even more and my heart thumping at an uneven speed.

"Zearo, meet Ms Liara D'Waner!" Ugh, why'd I had to deal with him now? I questioned myself when Mr Stone stared at me, excitement clear in his face.

I felt three pairs of eyes boring my skull in three different directions making me self conscious. "I don't like this, " I stomped my feet harder and rose to face the only man I dreaded not to meet today.

†***†***†***†***†***†***†***†

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