Chapter 8 A BATTLE LINE

Chapter 8: A battle line.

Desmond stormed into his room, slamming the door behind him. He hurled his coat onto the bed, his anger palpable as he paced back and forth across the floor. "I hate her so much," he seethed, his hand clenched into a tight fist.

The thought of her returning to the business haunted him, and the prospect of having to beg her to come back was even more unbearable. His mind raced with frustration and resentment as he struggled to contain his emotions.

"How the hell am I supposed to beg that jerk to come back on board? Who does she think she is?" he fumed, his anger boiling over. "Damn it!"

As he continued to vent his frustration, the words of Mr. James echoed in his mind: "If you don't work with her, I'm afraid I'll have to withdraw my assistance from the building project." The memory of the ultimatum only fueled Desmond's ire, his mind racing with resentment and anxiety

He was acutely aware of the building project's significance, knowing it would double his wealth. His father's inheritance was also at stake, and he had been informed that creating another successful business was the only way to claim it. With his father's words ringing in his ears, he felt trapped – he had no choice but to swallow his pride and contact Tasha, despite his strong reservations.

The weight of Mr. James' influence as his biggest shareholder loomed large, and losing his support would spell disaster for the building project. He knew he couldn't afford to let his personal feelings get in the way of his business ambitions.

With a newfound sense of determination, he acknowledged that he needed to put aside his animosity and bring Tasha back into the fold. He would deal with her infuriating attitude later; for now, his priority was getting her back on board.

With this singular focus driving him, he retrieved his coat from the bed and strode out of the room, his mind fixed on the task at hand: winning Tasha back.

... ... ... ...

Tasha seethed on her couch, her anger and frustration boiling over as she bounced up and down. She struggled to contain her emotions, but it was too much to bear. "Why did I have to encounter this bad luck on my first business venture?" she exclaimed, her voice laced with indignation. "Of all the wealthy businessmen in town, why did it have to be that jerk, Desmond?"

Tasha was so consumed by her frustration that she didn't even notice her children were watching her until Ken's gentle voice pierced through her anger. "I've never seen you so frustrated, Mom," he said, his calm tone a stark contrast to her own emotional state.

Tasha's head snapped towards her son, shame washing over her as she realized she had been venting in front of her kids. "Oh, I'm so sorry," she stuttered, her frustration instantly forgotten in the face of her maternal instincts.

"I know that man can be really frustrating, but I don't want you to feel bad because of him," Kendell said with a concerned smile.

Tasha couldn't help but laugh at her son's words, but then Kendell added, "Thank God I intervened on time by throwing a stone at his forehead!" Kendell's eyes widened in surprise as she realized what she had just said, and she quickly covered her mouth with her hand, as if trying to take back her words.

Tasha's eyes widened in astonishment as she stared at her daughter, hardly able to believe that Kendell was the one responsible for Desmond's mishap.

If Kendell hadn't confessed herself, Tasha would have never suspected her. While a part of her felt satisfied that Desmond had gotten a taste of his own medicine, another part of her was disappointed that Kendell had taken matters into her own hands.

Tasha had always warned her children never to resort to violence or take the law into their own hands, and now her daughter had done just that.

"Why did you do that, Kendell? Why did you take the law into your own hands?" Tasha asked, her voice firm but concerned. "Have you forgotten that there are consequences for our actions?" She looked at her daughter, who couldn't meet her gaze, already regretful of her behavior.

Kendell stared at the floor, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry, Mom. I just couldn't stand seeing him speak to you like that, making you feel disrespected and upset. I don't like seeing you agitated, and I wanted to protect you."

Tasha's expression softened as she gazed at her daughter, understanding and love shining in her eyes. She knew Kendell had acted out of a desire to protect her, and a part of her couldn't help but feel that Desmond had deserved it.

"I'm not angry with you, sweetie," she said, her voice gentle. "I just don't want you or your brother to get into trouble. I want you to find better ways to handle situations like that."

Kendell looked up, relief washing over her face. "I promise, Mom, I won't take the law into my own hands next time," she assured, her voice filled with determination.

"That's great to hear, Kendell. Take care of your brother, I need to change into something more comfortable," Tasha said, excusing herself as she picked up her bag and coat and headed up the stairs.

As soon as she entered her room, she slammed the door shut behind her and flopped onto the bed, bouncing up and down in a rush of relief. She activated the massage function and let out a contented sigh as the bed began to work out the knots in her muscles. "This is absolute bliss," she murmured, feeling her tension melt away.

Tasha's relaxing massage was interrupted by the vibration of her office phone, signaling an incoming call. She instinctively knew it must be important, as her office phone rarely rang, especially at home. She quickly picked up, switching to a professional tone. "Hello! How may we help you?"

The husky voice on the other end sent a shiver down her spine. "Is this Miss Tasha speaking?" he asked, his tone low and smooth.

"Yes, this is Miss Tasha. How may I assist you?" she replied, maintaining her professional demeanor.

"Excellent!" the husky voice responded. "I'd like to schedule a business meeting with you. I'm interested in working with your company, and I require your expertise to survey my land. And, let's be clear, you don't have the option to decline."

Tasha paused for a moment, taken aback by the client's brusqueness. How can anyone be so rude? She thought to herself. However, her desire to secure the business and earn a paycheck kept her composed. "We're available to assist you with surveying your land, sir. When would you like us to begin?" she asked, maintaining a professional tone.

"I need it done by tomorrow morning," the husky voice replied, still laced with rudeness. "I have a building project that depends on it, and I expect it to be done promptly. Do you understand?"

The caller's arrogance had finally gotten under Tasha's skin. "Excuse me, but could you please mind how you speak to me? I'm not a child," she said, her annoyance palpable.

The husky voice on the other end only grew more condescending. "You don't tell me how to speak to you, Tasha. I speak to you however I like, understood?"

Tasha had had enough. "Well, I'm sorry, but I don't think I can continue doing business with you. I'm not desperate for your patronage; with or without it, I'll still eat," she said, her voice firm and angry, before ending the call.

"Is this a test or what? Why is everything falling apart on my first business venture?" Tasha exclaimed, frustration etched on her face as tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. She couldn't believe this was happening to her again.

On the other end of the call, Desmond slammed his phone against the wall, his face red with rage. "What nerve she has!" he cursed, his anger boiling over.

"She thinks she can just end the call on me? This is the third time she's humiliated me, and it's not funny anymore. I hate her, I hate her so much!" he seethed, his fists clenched.

As Desmond seethed with anger, his other phone, tucked away in his pocket, rang, shrill and insistent. He yanked it out, his movements rough with irritation.

But when he saw the caller ID, his expression changed, and he answered with a sense of urgency. "Yes? Any news about her yet? She's pushing me to the edge!"

The spy's husky voice came through the line, smooth and confident. "I've got everything you need, sir. I've uncovered her real identity and dug up her entire life history, from birth to present day."