*Andrea*
Alejandro stared at Mr. Johnson without any effort to budge.
Mr Johnson dropped his fork carefully and wiped his lips with a disposable napkin. “You should know that when you agreed to my terms, they had some underlying meaning.” He said.
I raised a brow, not completely understanding what he was saying.
“Speak clearer so I’ll understand better,” Alejandro said. I understood the wording of the sentence he just said, but I’m trying to make sense of it to no avail.
“You must agree to other things before we can sign the contract and shake hands.” Mr. Johnson said. Alejandro lowered his head and let out a low chuckle.
“I know it’s funny, but it’s true.” Mr. Johnson said.
“Oh, I didn’t know that’s what you mean, things like what”?” Alejandro asked. I felt Alejandro understood what he said. Mr. Johnson picked up his fork again and gently sliced through his steak. He placed it in his mouth and hammed.
This man was crazy.
He should check himself. I couldn’t help but wonder how he has been able to survive in the industry with this shitty behavior of his. Well, maybe just those who could handle his berserk personality do business with him.
“How about we have lunch first, and then we can return to discussing business.” Two waiters appeared before us with two trays of food. They kept it on the table in front of us.
My mouth watered, wishing to taste it, but I refused. What if this was poisoned? But he had no reason to poison us, but what if he is psycho enough to poison us just to get what he wants?
I’m not clear yet on what he wants, but from my research, some businessmen are ready to kill to get what they want. Cold air bristled through my skin as I thought of this.
I turned to Alejandro.
I’ll do anything he says.
“We’ve had lunch already,” Alejandro said, and I half sighed and smiled.
“Fine.” Mr. Johnson said. He was done with his streak and waved at two waiters who walked towards us with shaking smiles. He had them clear the food off the table.
I felt a little bit bad that I didn’t get a taste of the good, but that wasn’t what was important right now. Since the table was cleared, I brought out two files containing one piece of paper on each and placed them on the table close to Alejandro.
“We may have discussed what we want over the phone, but you still need to go through the document before it is signed,” Alejandro said. He handed one of the files to him.
Mr Johnson placed the file on the table and pulled a glass case from his side. He wore his round-rimmed glasses and scanned through the file. “Well, these are not bad.” He said. Alejandro relaxed, and one side of his lips pulled to the side. “But,” he paused and raised his eyes, looking at Alejandro through his glasses.
“What now?” Alejandro said in a calm voice but loud enough for me to hear.
“I have something else to add.” He said.
“Of course, that’s why we are here,” Alejandro said. And I said a secret prayer that this conversation would continue to go smoothly like this.
“What changes do you intend to add?” Alejandro asked, scanning through the copy he held. Honestly, this document and terms were prepared perfectly, and nothing could be changed elsewhere that may lead to the disadvantage of one of the parties to this contract.
Mr. Johnson pulled a file from his side and handed it to Alejandro, who reluctantly received it with squinted eyes.
“What is this?” He asked.
“Read through it,” Mr Johnson urged.
Q
Alejandro flipped through it, and I watched his facial expression change slightly. “I don’t understand,” he said, putting the file down. “You mean you want these changes or this term?” He asked. A slight annoyance in his voice.
“Yes. Just as I said, this isn’t something that could have been added through the calls we had,” he said.
Alejandro smirked.
“Why? Because your company would find out as the calls were monitored?” Alejandro asked. I couldn’t help but wonder what was in the document.
“Smart.” Mr. Johnson said.
Alejandro hit the file on the table with a slight bang, “This is nonsense. I do not agree with these terms; otherwise, you want your company to find out,” he said.
“And I don’t intend to sign anything without your signature in this file I brought.” Mr. Johnson said.
“Don’t push me, Mr. Johnson,” Alejandro warned in a low voice. “You want half of the profit from the line? How did you think of such a thing?” He asked.
This man was sure greedy. “You can make a report against me; I won’t stop you. Do you think they will believe you? An Englishman over a native?” He asked.
“Well, you never can tell,” Alejandro’s determination fueled something within me. I racked my brain, thinking of a way to help.
Mr Johnson’s phone rang. He looked at the screen, and a small smile spread over his lips. “Take your time to think about it. It’s a win-win for you.” He said, standing up. That was when I noticed his pudding stomach.
He walked out.
“He is a nutjob,” I said.
“I know. I have no intention of agreeing to whatever he is saying.” Alejandro said.
“Is he related to the chairman of his company?” I asked.
“Yes. His wife is the CEO.” Alejandro said, and I nodded.
I raised my brows and smiled, “I think I have a way to help,” I said.
I pulled out my phone from my purse and tapped on it. I did some quick research about him in the car. I saw a very interesting article but had ignored it. Who knew I’d need it in a while?
I showed Alejandro the article. He smirked.
“But we don’t know the details yet,” I said.
“It doesn’t matter.” He replied and handed me back my phone.
Alejandro picked up his phone and called someone. He spoke softly into the phone. I couldn’t help but look around the restaurant. Now, I wished we had the food he brought. Alejandro was done with the call.
Right on time, Mr. Johnson appeared.
He sat, “So, what was your decision?” He asked.
Now I knew where he got his arrogant attitude from. His wife was the boss, and she was madly in love with him. She wouldn’t want to believe in the truth.
“I went through this,” Alejandro said, touching the closed file he had not opened since Mr. Johnson left. “And it’s not quite bad,” he said.
“I told you so,” Mr. Johnson said. A waiter walked in with a glass of wine and a glass. He poured him some wine and left.
“However,” Alejandro said and paused. Mr. Johnson picked up the glass and swirled it around his hands. Whatever Alejandro said didn’t seem to be making any threat to him. Alejandro continued, “I think we can work with the initial terms. Let’s not be greedy,” he said.
Mr Johnson took a sip from his wine. “You don’t seem to want the deal.” He said.
“I do want it very much,” Alejandro said.
“Then get it.” He said
“You leave me with no choice. Alejandro muttered under breath. “Miss Gladdis is an Italian lady that runs a famous bar in …” he paused. Mr. Johnson placed his drink on the table. “I don’t think I need to go on.”
“I don’t know her, ” he said after a while when he had regained his composure.
“I knew you’d say that,” Alejandro said. His phone beeped. “But I never said you knew her. ” I smirked. He had unconsciously made a slip, “How do you think your wife, who loves you so much, would feel if she found out that you spend the weekend with her and not on the supposed project you claim to carry out?”
“Alejandro…” Mr Johnson whispered.
“You have to decide. Do you want to sign the document, or do you want me to visit her? I can take a flight over to France right now.” Alejandro said.
Yes, he was blackmailing him, but we’ve been left with no choice. It’s either you eat, or you get eaten, and we will never be the former.
Seeing that Mr Johnson wasn’t responding, I said, “I’ll book a flight right now, sir.” I said and intended to stand when Mr Johnson waved his hand to stop me.
He removed his glasses and closed his eyes before massaging his temples.
“Did you have to go this far?” He asked.
“I didn’t hear that?” Alejandro said, though I could swear he heard him perfectly.
“There is no need to stress yourself over something so trivial. Why go to France when we can conclude everything here?” He asked.
“That is what I’ve been saying,” Alejandro said, pushing his document to him. I smiled as I watched Mr. Johnson sign the paper.
They shook hands, and we left.
When we got to the car, Alejandro opened his phone to see the message. He clenched his teeth, then turned, “I have some private matters to take care of, Anna. You can go home for today. Clear the rest of my schedule.” He said.
I wanted to ask why but didn’t. “We’ll drop you home.” He said. But I quickly refused.
“No need to. You can drop me off here. I wouldn’t want to be a burden.” I said.
“I’ll take a cab.”
“Alright,” Alejandro said and asked the driver to pull over.
I bowed slightly as I stepped down. I watched as his car drove off and wondered why he was so distant from me. It’s almost driving me crazy.
I hailed a cab.
While I was inside the cab, my phone beeped. A message from Alejandro. I felt my heart race as I opened it. “Thanks for earlier; you helped a lot.” He said.
I smiled. And then another beep. But this time, it wasn’t from Alejandro. It was a credit alert. I opened my mouth wide. $3000.
“Enjoy your weekend.” I didn’t need anyone to tell me Alejandro sent it. I smiled as I typed back, “Thank you.”
I changed my direction and headed to a shopping mall. I’ll get some wine to celebrate with Alison.
Alison sent me a message.
“Got the tickets to Da Lisa’s show. It was hard, but since my baby is part of her team, we got it, ” she said. I smiled but cringed at the word baby. Calling a grown man a baby.
The cab came to a stop in front of the mall. I paid and got off. I walked to the wine sector.
I saw a rare wine, ‘Chateau Margaux 1787,’ which is a scarce and expensive wine. I smiled and walked closer. I reached for it, but a hand grabbed it before me.
I couldn’t let this person take it, so I held on to the neck of the bottle and turned.
Those green eyes look familiar.
“It’s mine,” I said.
“But I grabbed it first, ” that voice. I vividly remember. This bastard almost landed me in trouble.
“We meet again.” He said and flashed me a smile.
“I picked this first,” I pulled the wine myself. This is the last bottle; I won’t give it up. “Pick something else.”
“No. I won’t.” He said.
I frowned. How could he drag a wine with me? “You saw me reaching for it,” I said.
“Doesn’t matter. This should settle the skull we have.” He said.
“Go fuck yourself. I have nothing to settle with you.” I pulled with great force, and he did the same, but I still can’t say for sure how it happened that the glass fell and its content splashed all over.