Chapter 4 ADRIAN

I took a few more steps forward being introduced by my senior manager Tessa, Rowan Jasper and a shocked Vanessa. Well, surprise princess.

"Thank you for introducing me, Tessa," I said, forwarding my hand towards Rowan who was now standing to greet me.

"Hey, It's been a while since we have seen each other. How are you doing, Adrian?" He asked, smiling and taking my hand in his.

"I'm doing great, Rowan. I was busy the last few months because of my company's league preparations. So, that's the reason, I didn't find it flexible to meet the DG," I said referring to our friend circle DG, who now was busy in their own lives polishing their careers. Rowan was one of my classmates in my university's batch.

"Some goes here. I was stuck working up with my start-up alongside my father's corporation. Anyways, we shall start the meeting. The gossip can go for the night," He said, fixing himself on the seat.

I walked towards his right and took the chair sitting in it, completely ignoring Vanessa's reaction. I didn't know myself that she had applied at my company for a vice-designer position, the latter being me along with being the CEO. I found it just today when Tessa brought me the selected candidate list.

"So, we should discuss the terms. Let's..." I started talking carrying the meeting onwards.

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"No, I can't. I'm sorry, Mr Rossi. But, I can not accept this offer," Vanessa said, clamping the pen's cap over it and started collecting the documents.

"Vanessa, please, let's discuss first," Rowan interrupted in between, putting his hand over hers. She still ignored everything and tried to pry his hand off of hers piling the papers together in the file.

"No, you don't know anything and I can not do this. I can not accept this offer. I've read all of the statements in the contract and I came to the conclusion that I simply don't want to work with AXR," She said to him, and then averted her eyes to me as she added, "I don't want to work with him. I agree that I applied for the position, but I don't find it really favourable anymore, and I have all rights not to accept it."

My jaw hardened looking at her fire blazed gaze. Her sharp speech echoed in the conference room.

"Can we talk alone for a while, Ms. Blackford?" I asked, looking straight in her eyes. She turned her face to Rowan.

"Ms, Tessa. Let's go outside. Let them have a word with each other." He said pushing the chair, standing up, fixing the buttons of his coat, and walked out with Tessa following him behind.

Once they were out and the door snapped shut, Vanessa got out of her seat and dashed towards me slamming her hand over the table.

"What the fuck is wrong with you? What's your problem?" She said not waiting a second and added, "First thing first, I didn't know that AXR belongs to an asshole like you, secondly, now that I know it, I said that I don't want to work with you then why are you not able to accept it, huh?

She snapped pinning my eyes with her green ones as her brows frowned. I stood up walked out of my chair to where she stood and said,

"You've said enough, listen to what I am going to say now. This company of mine is not just handled by me but my other business partners as well. If you think that I'm going to take any kind of idiotic advantage with this contract then keep this in your mind that I'm a man of morals, I do not mix family, family relations and business together. You work with me or my company, it's just going to stay there," I said pinning her down to the table and adjusting myself in between her legs.

Her breath turned rigid and anger glistened in her expressions as she stared at me. I put both of my hands on either of her sides and pulled myself slightly down on her, locking her eyes with mine and added, "Now, it's your choice, if you want to stay a damsel in distress or want to prove your father wrong. Fight it or accept it."

I smirked seeing her lips twitch and brows furrowed in between.

"Get off of me," She asserted putting her hands on my chest trying to push me away.

I supported myself with the table and leaned down on her, nudging the tip of her ear with my lips and said, "Your breathing rate says otherwise, princess."

I turned my head towards her to look for a reaction when she said, "Fuck you."

Had nothing else to say, I see.

"I'd right here, If you insist," I deadpanned and pulled myself off of her.

She pushed herself up and fixed her dress and hair not waiting for another second and strolled out of the conference room.

Rowan walked inside towards where I was standing as she passed him and said, "Man, I'm so sorry, I don't know why she reacted like that, I'll talk to her."

"No, it's alright. I talked it out with her. She will look into it now," I said. I didn't know who she was to him, probably a friend but I had a lot already on my schedule to work it out for the day to care enough about that. "Anyway, let's meet at Ocean Vertex tonight," I added, addressing the club in our area where we always met.

"Oh, yeah. Why not! It's been a long time since we all had a meetup. Everyone's busy in their professional life as well, see ya tonight then, Adrian," he moved his arm forward for a quick pat as I reciprocated and then turned towards the door as he gestured to me to follow him.

I walked outside with him talking on our way as Tessa followed me behind. Vanessa's figure caught my eyes as she glared at me, her arms wrapped around her chest. The tension felt palpable as her intense stare met mine, creating a charged atmosphere.