NALEDI’S POV
Luka led me out of the area to a tent in front of a building. A wooden table was set before us, and we sat.
“What would you like? Meat, chicken, fish? Anything you want and I’d have my chef prepare it fresh. On the house.” He said as soon as we sat down.
I shook my head, “I grabbed lunch before I came here. Let’s get down to business.”
“Okay then,” Luka sat on the chair and crossed his legs. “What do you have for me?”
“Five million,” I said, relaxing on my chair.
He raised his brows, “Five million? Not to be cocky but I make that in seconds these days.”
“Now that’s interesting,” I say with a smile. “Like I said, I plan to invest heavily on this project, but I need to be sure that you have not-”
“Lied to you?” He finished off, a tad bit offended. “I showed you all there is to know about the business. I expect you should trust me by now.”
As do I. Of course, I didn’t say that out loud.
“I appreciate the fact that you have deemed me worthy to see the intricate details of your business but I assure you, my reason for this starter pack is far from what you think.”
“You have shown me the business and I am willing to invest. However, I am yet to hear of the profit margin of the business, you know, details on how previous business deals and the losses incurred.”
“What are you trying to say?”
He was getting angry. I could feel it.
“I just need to be sure that this is the right call. I need to know about the profits. If I am getting a meagre 40 percentage of it, I must know how profitable it is.”
“And your genius plan is to start it up with a five?” He sounded baffled,
“I’ll make that a ten. Seeing you’ve got your panties twisted about it.” I say offhand, “Do we have a deal?”
A smile nearly broke his face. This fucker and his greed.
“As far as I know, you could do better, but since you are testing the grounds, I’ll accept that.”
I passed the bag over to him.
“Cash?”
“Did you expect anything else? If this is going to shit, the last thing I need is any traces of me.”
Luka smirked, “For someone who has been publicly announced as a partner, don’t you think it’s a bit too late for that?”
I leaned on the table, putting my flirt on. “I was announced as your woman, and a partner to your legal businesses. For all I care, the whole world thinks you just launched a fucking hospice project. Nothing about the women are on tabloids. And if they ever get to that stage, I don’t want the Cordel group of company to be a part of it.”
I’d expected Luka to be offended. Angry and claw my eyes out but reverse was the case.
“Smart and lovely to look at. You tick all my boxes, love.” He traced a finger around my face. I wanted to pull it out. “I assure you love, my tracks are well covered. I do a perfect job.”
I nodded, “Exactly why I’m trusting you with my money.”
That was the right word because he purred in delight. “Now we are through with business, shall we discuss more important things?”
I let my feet grope his leg from underneath the table. His eyes widened as soon as he felt it. “Like?”
“Our relationship?” He managed to speak, “I want to court you, Amara.”
My legs lingered in his thighs as I spoke, feigning ignorance of what I was doing. “The only relationship we have is a business one, Luka. I thought we settled that?”
He shook his head, “Nonsense, I think we can be more. Much more than multiplying your money, I can show you a good time. And something tells me you know it.”
His eyes were pure sex. Animalistic and ballistic sex. Unfortunately, I wasn’t interested. I got on my feet, reining in my flirt. “It’s been good spending time with you, Luka.”
His phone rang and he raised a finger in excuse. Granted.
I expected him to get out of the booth, take a few steps away from me and answer his call, but he didn’t. Instead, he swiped right, placed it on the speaker and dropped it on the table between us.
He kicked back and relaxed, looking at me with daring eyes. I remained seated. If he wanted me a front-row seat to his call, then so be it. It wouldn’t be the first time I was listening in any way.
“There’s a problem.” A voice said, and I felt Luka regretted his decision to let me hear. I clasped my hands and imagined myself saying the words ‘plot twist’.
“Speak.” He commanded, staring me in the eyes.
“One of the delivery women tried to escape.” I watched as his face turned to a frown. “She is showing signs of pregnancy and refuses to do her job.”
“Get the doctor in. I’ll be with you in a few.” Luka ended the call and took to his feet.
I knew what was coming, he wanted to discharge me.
“Unfortunately, I’ll have to cut our time short.” He managed a smile I found rotten. “As you’ve heard, duty calls. Perhaps we can do this another time?”
I shook my head, “I’d like to go with you. See how you run things around there.”
He tilted his head to the right as he gauged me. “No, you don’t.”
“I insist.” I got on my feet, “If this is the one time I get to see the famous Luka Donatello handling business in person,” I picked up my bag, “Then I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
“I don’t think-”
I gave him a head start to the gates, “Duty calls. Less talking and more walking!”
Luka shook his head, and somewhere between my rant, he decided to let me go with him. I didn’t know what possessed me to do that, as I told Korah of the change in plans, asking them to tail us while I followed Luka back to the place I dreaded the most.