Let's Play A Dirty Ass Game, Mr. CEO

Chapter 18: THE CALL

TRISTAN

She had been on my mind ever since the incident at the school.

Despite thinking about it so much, I still could not understand what Laura was doing at the place I found her yesterday. And why had she been so flustered when I walked up to her?

Was it me? Or was it something else?

It was driving me crazy, thinking about her and everything that had to do with her.

I would be lying if I said I was not trying to acquire her/her service for selfish reasons. Without any doubt, I wanted Laura close. I wanted to feel her body next to mine, to have her scent filling my nostrils and making it unable to breathe in anything else but her.

But I also wanted to work with her for business benefits, even though that lay at the bottom of my intentions.

The photoshoot scandal was bad, of course. Madison wouldn’t stop yapping in my ears ever since I got back home last night. Because of her incessant complaints and speculations, I had to leave at the first light of dawn.

My selfishness kicked in again the moment I wished that the scandal would force Laura’s hand in a way that favored me. The scandal was that bad.

The pictures of us together had only amplified the suspicions that burned in my mind. Laura was still not over me like she wanted me to believe. The way her body reacted to my touch was a blatant indicator.

It left me amused, agitated and turned on each time I thought about it. Did she even realize how much she still wanted me? Or had she just convinced herself so much that she believed it to be true? That she didn’t want me?

Despite how bad the scandal was, I could only hope for the best out of it.

There was a pile of files on my desk, waiting for my attention. Projects that needed approval, tasks that needed to be evaluated. But I could not just get my head out of the gutter. Neither could my mind stray away from Laura long enough to be productive.

A knock sounded on my door, disrupting my thoughts. I looked up to see my secretary cat-walking in. "Sir, the chief of PR is asking to see you."

"Well send him in, Lauryn," I snapped in an irritated tone. My secretary had a thing for being territorial about me, and even though I pretended to not notice that awful behavior most of the time, it got to me in tense moments like this.

She stalked out and seconds after the head of PR breezed in. Damian looked impeccable as usual in a prim suit and tie, his hair slicked back neatly with a gel.

"What’s the situation?"

"Mr. Pierce...I must say it’s quite bad. Stocks are beginning to plummet. A strong opposition is rising from the board."

"Hmm." I rubbed my jaw, thinking, and casually waiting for the part where he mentioned any form of news from Phoenix fashion house. "Do you think it’s something that dies off in a few days? I mean, it’s just pictures, nothing serious."

"What makes it serious is the fact that the media of New York knows about your engagement to Madison Steele. Someone somewhere is stirring up more trouble with that information."

"Fuck," I cursed under my breath, rising from the swivel chair to stand at the floor-to-ceiling window.

It was almost everyday I regretted my engagement to Madison Steele. On most days, I considered the possibility of pulling out of it, wondering if it was too late. Even though I knew that I needed that alliance with her family, I often wondered if I was better off without it.

Because it was obvious Madison was doing all she could to frustrate me. I believed she had a hand in the viral spread of the scandal. In one or way the other, she was stoking the fire from the shadows.

How could I teach my wife-to-be a lesson without making matters worse?

"We have to do something before this gets any worse," Damian’s voice came from behind me. I did not react until he spoke the next words. "And from my sources, Phoenix fashion house has been heavily affected too."

I whirled, forgetting my selfish intentions for a moment. "I think we schedule a press conference—"

A knock came on the door, interrupting me. Lauryn poked her head through. "Sir, there’s a Laura Hayes on the line for you."

I blinked, unable to believe my ears for a brief second.

Laura? She actually called?

I walked over to my desk with brisk steps and snatched up the phone. "Hello? Laura?"

There was a long pause on the other end. My heart hammered in my chest with anticipation.

When she finally spoke, relief flooded into my chest with a mix of triumph.

"Yes, it’s me. Mr. Pierce, I’ve been thinking about your offer, and I would like to meet with you, officially. When do you think you’ll be free?"

"Uh-uhm," I shoved my fingers through my hair and signaled to Damian to return later. "How about right away?"

She hesitated, and I could just envision the thoughtful pout on those kissable lips of hers. "Mr. Pierce, are you sure about that? I must remind you, it’s an official meeting and nothing more."

The way she emphasized the word ’official’ almost had me bursting into laughter. I was very much elated about the possibility of meeting and working with her. I had to admit...I could not wait to see the look on her face.

"Listen," I cleared my throat, "how about—"

I never got to finish my sentence because my office door flew open then with a velocity that had my jaw locking tight in rage the next moment. I looked up to see Mr. Steele, storming into my office with an ugly scowl on his face, his daughter trailing behind him.

"Hello, Mr. Pierce?" Laura’s tight voice drifted into my ears. "Are you there?"

"I’ll call you right back, Ms. Hayes," I muttered under my breath, then I ended the call and dropped the phone with a clatter.

"Mr. Steele, what is the meaning of this?"

"Well, I should ask you that, Mr. Pierce!" His voice rose above the corporate din, eyes flashing. "What were you thinking, humiliating my daughter and I like that?! Going around gallivanting with another woman in public! Have you lost your mind?! Have you forgotten we had a deal that is yet to be finalized?!"

My fists curled at my sides. "I would calm down and hear me out if I were you, Mr. Steele."

His eyes flashed as he stormed all the way to my desk and moved around it to stand chest to chest with me. "Is that a threat I hear in your voice, Tristan Pierce?"