Chapter Two - The Meeting

I nervously glanced down at my watch the fifth time in the past half an hour. My eyes couldn't leave the door of the conference room, waiting for it to open and my dad to step out.

Clutching my bag closer to my body, I pulled my phone out, unlocked it, scrolled through the apps, locked it and placed it back in my bag.

The door was pushed open and I involuntarily got up from the couch but sighed when a female employee walked out with the snacks tray.

Giving me a weird look, she walked past me and I sat on the couch again. Closing my eyes, I rested my head back and waited for the conference to be over.

I could hear a few footsteps and when my eyes opened, the door of the conference room swung open and a few people stepped out. I recognized them from our company and soon enough, my dad followed.

His walk was steady and I could tell he was trying to pull himself together as the disappointment was clear on his face. He walked up to me and his eyes said it all. They didn't close the deal.

But I still asked him for the sake of hope I had left within me. "How did it go dad?"

He took in a deep breath and exhaled before answering. "He said he'll think about it but I don't think the chances are in our favour,"

My eyes lit up. "So he hasn't exactly said no, right?"

I expected dad to cheer up a bit but he just stood with his shoulders slumped down. "You can tell if there is a chance of cracking the deal right after the meeting. It's usually a no if they say they'll think about it. In other words, it's just a polite and indirect way of saying no,"

I pressed my lips into a thin line. "I'm sorry dad,"

"It's okay Scar. Not your fault," He waved his hand dismissively and started walking towards the elevators.

It totally is!

I followed dad to the elevators and as he pressed the call button, my eyes went to the door of the conference room. My feet itched to go into the room and do something, but what could I do?

Maybe apologize to him?

Should I do that? Would it work?

The doors of the elevators opened and dad stepped in with the rest of his company employees. In that very moment, I made my mind up.

It is definitely worth a shot.

Dad raised a brow at me when I didn't get in the elevator and I blinked at him. "Uh I need to use the bathroom," I fished the keys out of my bag. "Why don't you go and wait in the car? I'll be there in a few minutes,"

He nodded and engaged himself in talking to his secretary. The doors closed and I gave him a smile.

Turning around, I walked over to the conference door. Was he still in there? I didn't really see him walk out with others so yeah...maybe?

Was this a good idea?

Pushing all the doubts at the back of my mind, I swung the door open fully and stood there for a while as I saw him sitting at the end of the huge table, a tall blonde standing beside him, holding a pen and diary in her hands. I assumed her to be his secretary. She gave me a confused look.

He lifted his gaze up, blue eyes meeting mine. Feeling both their gazes on me, I could feel all my previously built up confidence melting away and I clutched the sling bag closer to my body.

Clearing my throat, I spoke. "I wanted to talk to you Mr. Sinclair,"

"Mr. Sinclair is not free at the momen-" The lady started but was cut short when he raised a finger up in the air.

"Excuse us Erica," He spoke.

A confused expression fell on her face but she nodded and walked to the exit. I stepped aside to give her way and she shut the door after her, leaving me alone in the room with him.

The place suddenly seemed too suffocating to be standing there and my brain started going into its defensive tranquility but I blinked and shook away my thoughts.

He raised a brow at me when I didn't speak anything.

I opened my mouth to speak but he cut me off.

"You said you wanted to talk," His deep voice echoed around the room and I nodded. "Are you asking me to do that? 'Cause it doesn't seem like a very polite way of doing that," He whispered the last part huskily yet loud enough for me to hear.

His eyes were shining and that somehow caused my anxiety to tone down a bit.

"And neither is barging in a room without knocking," He picked up the round paper weight, pushing it up in the air and catching it back.

I sighed and took a step forward. "Look I'm sorry, okay? I sincerely apologize for my mistake but please don't drag my dad and his company into this. This investment is really important for his company,"

He looked at me, amused yet bored at the same time as he sighed and leaned back in his chair. "That's the problem with spoiled brats like you. You think the world revolves around you,"

"Excuse me?"

"I didn't reject this deal because of you. I rejected it because I simply didn't like your dad's idea," He shrugged.

"Please," I rolled my eyes. "I know my dad. His idea can never be bad enough to be rejected right away,"

His index finger rubbed his chin and I couldn't help but notice his stubble. The light imperial made him look sexy and gave him a five o'clock shadow.

"What do you know about this project?" He asked.

"Nothing. I know nothing about it and I never said I did. All I said was that I know about my dad and his potential along with his passion," I said confidently.

"Well. I think your opinion is biased because he's your father,"

"No. I think your opinion is biased because of my little childish act," I snapped which earned an eye twitch from him and I immediately regretted it when he shut the file infront of him, all the while maintaining his calm demeanour when I knew he was mad at me, indicating an end to this conversation.

"I'm sorry. I really am. Please...just don't dismiss us like that. There has to be something. Some way," I pleaded.

He paused at his spot and his brows creased as he thought about something. His eyes were fixed at a particular spot on the table and oh boy! He was hot!

I looked at him with hope and he looked up at me.

"There is something you can do," He spoke.

My eyes lit up. "Me? Oh I'm not even on this project. But anyway just tell me what it is and I'll convey the message to my da-"

"Marry me,"

Silence.

Thump! Thump!

Is that my heartbeat?

I don't know how long I just stood there staring at him but when I finally blinked, I seemed to have snapped out of a dream.

"I'm sorry. I have this tendency to zone out," I let out a laugh. "Because I think I just heard you say-"

"Marry me,"

I froze.

So that wasn't a dream?

My heart started beating loudly and I couldn't bring myself to speak with his eyes scanning my every move.

"Are you on drugs?" I asked out of nowhere.

His blue eyes shone in amusement and a smirk formed on his lips.

"Oh," My heart began beating at its normal pace as I let out a laugh. "I get it. You're joking,"

He crossed his arms over his chest, an amused look plastered on his face.

"No?" I whispered in a low voice.

He shook his head.

"What..." I trailed off.

"Either you are a very good actor or you are completely out of your mind," I snapped the last part but his expression didn't change.

Oh my God! He was a psycho!

A sexy psycho! You see that all the time on TVs. Most psychos are sexy or creeps. Hahaha! I should have known this was too good to be true!

When he didn't say anything, I scowled at him. "You know what. I'm glad my dad doesn't have to deal with a crazy person like you. We'll figure something out,"

With this, I turned around and walked towards the door to leave.

"Sure you will. If I don't buy the company," I heard him say and froze at my spot.

Did he just say he is going to buy our company?

I turned to him once more but this time he wasn't where he was seated before. He was walking over to me and once he had rounded the table, he leaned against it in a casual posture.

"What?"

"That's right. I'm planning to buy it,"

I let out a laugh. "My dad will never sell Price Industries,"

"Once everyone leaves the company, the shareholders and previous investors will have no choice but to pressurize your dad into selling it to someone powerful,"

I blinked at him.

"Especially if a company like mine offers to buy it," He shrugged and even though I didn't have much knowledge about business, his words made sense.

My heart broke as I thought over it. Losing the company he built with my mom could break my dad. And I couldn't see that happening.

"It's your choice Ms. Price," His breath fanned my cheek as I didn't even realize when he stepped so close to me. I breathed in his cologne as a shiver ran down my spine and I tried to steady my breathing but none of it was working with him standing so close to me.

I opened my mouth to speak something but my phone buzzed in the bag, breaking the trance I was in. I fished it out. Mr. Sinclair walked back to the table and leaned against it, crossing his arms over his chest.

I looked down at my phone. It was dad.

"Where are you Scar?" Dad spoke.

"I-I'll be there in a minute,"

"You okay?"

"Yes. I'll be there soon," I hung up and looked up at him. I needed some time to think. Before I could open my mouth to tell him that, he spoke.

"I have a meeting in California tomorrow, for which I'll be leaving tonight. If I get a call from you before 8 with you saying yes to our little deal, the money goes to your father's drowning company," The last sentence ignited some hope inside me. "Or else, I have other companies to invest my money in and enough money to buy other companies," He smirked and handed me his business card.

I took it from his hand and placed it in my bag.

With a satisfied look, he walked past me and I turned to find him holding the door open for me.

Slowly, I walked out of the room and without turning around, called the elevator and got into it.

I didn't turn around unless I was sure the doors were closed since I could feel his gaze following me.

Once the elevator started to move, I turned and leaned against the door.

At this point, I had just one thought in my mind.

I wish I didn't come here today. Would this day be any different if I hadn't come along? Would dad have come back home happily with the deal closed?

Why does Alec Sinclair want to marry me so bad that he even threatened to buy our company?

My head started spinning with thoughts and as the elevators opened, I composed myself to face dad.

He was leaning against our car and I couldn't help but look to right and notice the black shiny convertible, who seemed to be smirking at me right then. That thing--

Which started everything.

Hey guys! I know the chapters are short but they will be longer as the story proceeds. Till then, I really hope to get some support and feedback!

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