After a few seconds of suffocating silence, where there was no sound except the tinkering of cutlery, Adrian realised that he had said something wrong. So he bit back anything else he was going to say.

He studied the woman in front of him. Calling her a woman would be too much. She was too young, almost a teenager, with a heart-shaped face framed by a mass of light golden hair and glassy grey eyes. Her eyes displayed no real emotion. It was as if they were always focused on something in the distance. She wore virtually no makeup, only a thin line of black eyeliner along the edge of her upper eyelashes and a faint peach tint on her lips. Somehow, her simple dressing sense gave her an added boost of the aristocracy to her stature.

She was busy savouring that generous piece of chocolate cake, layer by layer, almost as if there was an intimate relationship between her and that dessert, a relationship that he was prying into.

"I'm ready to give your enterprise an opportunity," Ryda said finally.

Adrian let out a breath with a whoosh and extended another set of papers to her. "So, here is the price quoted. I'm open for negotiation..."

Ryda raised her hand to silence him. "I'd like to collaboration with your company first and see how you're delivering the stuff. I want you to work on the order I just cancelled. There are four hundred cards to be delivered in three days."

"Four hundred? I mean I..."

"Can you do it Mr Sylverstein?" Ryda blinked in irritation.

"But my company..."

"I'll buy it if you can buy my trust," Ryda got up promptly. "We're done here."

"But Miss Ryda..."

"Claire will give you the details Mr Sylverstein," Ryda informed, walking out ahead of him. Adrian stared at her disappearing back, frowning. She pushed open the door and looked back once. "By the way, Mr Sylverstein, what I understand and what I don't understand is best judged by me. We are just business associates and know nothing about each other's lives. Have a good day."

And then she was gone, leaving Adrian standing alone in the dying rays of the evening sun filtering through the glass walls. Something broke inside of him. He had one chance at saving his company and he had ruined it now. There was no way he could complete this order at such short notice.

He dejectedly trudged to the office of Ryda's secretary/ Claire was crisp and businesslike and she wasted no time in promptly handing over the order details to him. He left the posh office and hailed a cab that crawled through the big streets until they fell into a side lane and soon they were navigating their way through the maze of downtown Toronto to Yorkville.

Adrian stormed through the gate of his company's warehouse. Billy, his right-hand guy jumped out of his seat where he was frowning at some papers.

"There is a problem man..."

"Adrian, the scene here is not good..."

Both men looked at each other and gave a long sigh. "What's up here?" Adrian gestured to the papers.

"Montax papers just emailed that they are cancelling the shipment, saying that they won't deal with a losing company like ours. If we don't get an order in the next five days, we are finished." Billy completed his speech in one breath and looked at Adrian for an answer.

"I have an order which needs delivery in three days. Do we have the resources?" Adrian deftly moved to where the printers were groaning as they spewed cards. The machinery was age-old, rusted and almost falling apart. Adrian knew he had to do something, anything to get back his business.

"Three days, but how, who, how come?" Billy held his shoulders and shook him. "And you said yes? We already have a bad reputation in the market..."

"It's not up for negotiation," Adrian responded gravely." If we don't deliver this offer, we are finished.. This is her test to see if we are meeting her standards."

"I don't know what business you're getting involved with, but I'm feeling scared here," Billy responded, shaking his head. Adrian thrust his files in Billy's hand. Billy's eyes widened at seeing the silver embossed logo on the neat white cover.

"Ryda Enterprises? Bro, you..."

"I want her to buy the company," Adrian said flatly, with no emotion.

"But what about us?" Billy narrowed his eyes.

"That's why Ryda Enterprises. She just amalgamates the existing business into hers. She has never ever changed staff. And even I will be your boss, just everything we do from here would have the emblem of her empire." Adrian lit a cigarette and offered one to Billy.

"We deal with papers, Adrian. You can't smoke in the warehouse. Fire is the last thing I can deal with right now," Billy chided.

Adrian looked morosely at the cigarette and back at Billy. 

"We are up for the challenge man, let's deliver the order and prove what we can do. We aren't chickens." Billy punched the air with added enthusiasm.

"Papers?" Adrian asked, still staring at the dying stump of his cigarette.

"We'll manage local supply."

"Ensure good quality," Adrain sighed.

"Gather round folks, I have news," Billy shouted over the sound of machines which stopped automatically. All the workers had their eyes on him. "We have a new order which can save this place."

A commotion arose like hum in the crowd. Billy was quickly barking orders and giving instructions and before long, the machines started anew. 

Adrian's phone pinged just then. A notification from MatchMakers. A series of pink hearts were dancing on his screen, indicating a new match. He sprang up from the chair and tossed off his coat. Switching on his front camera, he ran his fingers through his hair, using them like a comb. Then he opened the top button of his shirt, loosened the tie, flashed Billy a smile, and grabbed his car keys. He never took his car on business meets because he was too embarrassed to show his hand-me-down Ford. It was more convenient to pretend he had forgotten his car and avail a cab.

"Oh hello, where is hero running off now?" Billy asked, throwing his hands in the air.

"I have a new date," Adrian winked.

"Not again," Billy groaned.

"Who knew this might be the one," Adrian sang to himself.

🔥🔥🔥

Arthur's Note : Do you think Adrian can save his company? And what is the new date like?