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

Chapter 34: THE REAL DEAL

LAURA

My mind was preoccupied the whole ride to Pierce Holdings. With thoughts of how to evade the new father-for-my-son situation.

I just could not understand it no matter how long and hard I thought about it. Just what is wrong with the world these days? Why did they have to make everything difficult? Who said they could demand for Eli’s father? What made him so relevant? I brought up my son alone! He’s all I have. I’m all he’s got.

So...why involve the father?

I had picked up my phone and placed a call to Eli’s new homeroom teacher to ask exactly that question. And the push-back I got had shocked me to the marrow.

Apparently, the school had a silent ultimatum prepared already—if Eli’s father doesn’t come along.

An ache sat heavily inside my skull all morning. At some point, I wondered if I could attend the press conference and function right.

A throat cleared insistently in the vehicle, and I looked up to see the designated driver watching me carefully. "Maam, we’re here."

I heaved a sigh of frustration and started to shove my fingers through my hair until I remembered I had an event to look good for.

I wished my bodyguard had brought me instead. The poor sweet guy would have let me sleep instead, and miss the world.

"Thank you." I paid the driver and handed the keys over to a valet. When I turned around, an attractive young man in an impeccable suit and styled blond hair stood there with his hands in his coat.

He straightened and came towards me as our eyes collided. "Ms. Hayes, I’m Peter Callahan. Mr. Pierce’s corporate assistant."

"Oh." I offered a thin smile and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you."

"It’s my pleasure. The CEO has asked me to bring you up as he’s occupied with preparations for the conference. He extends his heartfelt apology for not being able to welcome you himself."

I scoffed, flicking my hair behind me as I catwalked after him. "Trust me, its nothing." Nothing compared to what he did, five years old. Was there ever anything that would beat that?

"This way, please." The corporate assistant led the way to an atrium separate from the main office quarters. As we glided through the polished marble floors to the glass-walled bridge, I found my thoughts trailing back to the frustrating situation at hand.

I was so lost in thoughts, I didn’t notice Tristan on the floor above the bridge. Until Peter’s voice broke through my thoughts and my head snapped up.

"We’re here."

I saw him through the corner of my eye, watching me with his phone in hand. So much for being preoccupied.

"Thank you, Mr. Callahan," I said as he ushered towards the door of large space where Tristan stood.

Peter flashed me a warm, professional smile. "Just call me Peter." Then he was gone.

After moments of standing there, trying to push my worries aside and put on my business armor, I heard Tristan’s voice behind me.

"Morning, Ms. Hayes. Are you ready to face the press?"

For some reason, he sounded more professional this morning. I appreciated and hated it at the same time.

I whirled to face him with a difficult professional smile. "I’m here now, Mr. Pierce. Where do we go to crush them?"

A chuckle rumbled low and deep in his throat, one that surprised me as much as it surprised him. He cleared his throat and glanced at his wristwatch. "We’re not here to crush anyone. Just to clear the air about some speculations going around."

I nodded slowly, my gaze taking in the entire surrounding. A lot of marble, glass, chrome. It was minimal and appealing to the eyes.

"Quite a place you’ve got here."

He tilted his head towards the intricately designed couches in the middle of the space. "Aiming to impress, milady."

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. Just when I thought he might be taking this deal seriously?

Silence dragged between us for a while as he ushered to a seat and walked all the way to the floor-to-ceiling window. "How was your ride here? Any trouble?"

I arched my brows. "Trouble?"

He tossed me a glance over his shoulder. "I want to put it straight to you that you might have some challenges working with the company again."

I scoffed in disbelief. "There he goes. Finally admitting it."

"But I want you to know that if it happens once, that’s all it ever going to be," he continued as if he didn’t hear me. "Don’t hesitate to table any concerns to me. I will handle it."

"Just drop it, Tristan."

"I’m serious." Blue eyes burned insistently into mine. "Any trouble at all, call me."

The words were not supposed to send hills skipping in my stomach. But they did...

For a second, I wondered if this was a sign from the universe. A sign to just leave everything in the past and confide in him..

No, no, no!! Hello no. This was the devil speaking. The letter from Eli’s school was like the voice of a witch in my head, whispering bad ideas into my head.

I shut it out quickly and cleared my throat. "When is the conference scheduled to begin?"

He glanced at his wristwatch again. "In a few moments."

Just as he said that, a knock came on the door and Charlotte stood there. "It’s time, Mr. Pierce."

Shortly after, we walked out to a hall filled to the brim with reporters and photographers.

Then Charlotte stepped confidently to the podium and began a detailed explanation of the reason we were gathered. A business partnership between a holding company and a fashion brand, the ultimate collaboration of the year.

"Now, we will invite both CEOs to the stage for a round of decent questioning," she announced, stressing the word decent so everyone got the point.

Tristan and I were ushered to the stage with scattered applause. After it died down, he said a few words, elaborating everything Charlotte had mentioned earlier.

"We hope to shake the world of fashion with this partnership, and we look forward to the support of the powerful media of New York, and the world, to fly high."

I choked back a scoff, as there was a mic directly facing my lips.

"We will take your questions now."

The words were barely out of his mouth before arms shot up in desperation. "Mr. Pierce, over here!" "You should hear my question first!" "Is this partnership just a scheme to cover up the scandal or the real deal?!"

"Hey, you know the rules!" An angry staff from the PR podium started towards the audience.

Tristan lifted a hand and stopped the guy. Then he turned and held my gaze for a moment.

When he spoke, it was like he was saying one thing and meaning something totally different from the reason we were there.

"Yeah, it’s the real deal."