Chapter twenty Six

"Do we look like dumb cattle in a butcher's shop waiting for you to slaughter?" Claire wasn't deterred. She wasn't as experienced as Stephen was, but she had studied Commercial Management for a good number of years, she knew how to handle this kind of situation.

Stephen broke into laughter when he heard the metaphor. She was indeed a tough woman! "So what would you suggest? What's your counter-offer?" Stephen knew the market price. He had done his homework before seeing her. Compared to the current market price, its price was a bit higher. As long as there was a profit margin, he could give the partner a proper cut.

"Cut down your price by two percent, or at least one. Then, we have a deal." Claire was a smart woman. She knew that way forward is through diplomacy and negotiation. So she didn't ask too much or say anything definitive, fearing they might not reach an agreement if she did.

"You're a good negotiator, Miss Brook. You're really sincere, it would be stupid for me not to do business with you. So, we have a deal. It's a great experience negotiating with a beauty in the air now." Stephen said with a grin on his face.

Claire rolled her eyes. What a playboy! He never forgot to show his blatant allure whenever he spoke. "Okay, I'll have my secretary prepare a new agreement soon. Happy partnership, Mr. Chu!" Claire stretched out her delicate hand and gently touched his, and smiled back.

"Well, as long as you no longer ask me out for tea, I think we'll be very happy," Stephen said. At that moment, he remembered Brielle. he suddenly missed her. What was she doing? Was she out or was she home?

"As long as your company doesn't cause any trouble. I'm very busy. I don't have much time to go out for tea." With that, Claire picked up the papers on the table and strode off without even a word of goodbye. "Damn it, who does he think he is? As if all the women in the world were interested in him!" she thought. She had never met a man as arrogant as him.

Stephen grinned. He was used to her forthright manner. He checked his watch and left the office. "It was a really lucky day," she thought as she walked away but, suddenly knocked into something or someone. The papers in her hand flew over everywhere. She looked up in anger. It was that same cold-hearted bastard again. That was indeed a lucky day that crossed him twice in one hour. Was that fate.

"Don't you watch when you walk? Are you blind or something? A bad guy with a bad guy!" She yelled at him angrily. "Let's get it straight, woman. It was you that bumped into me. It's not my fault. Don't blame me!" Thomas was annoyed too. How could he run into her again?

"Ridiculous! I don't have a problem with my eyes, I can see the road. Are you saying that my eyes have a problem?" "I don't know about your eyes, but I guess your head must have a problem." Thoma's face turned pale in anger. He hated being tangled up with a woman, especially, one so difficult.

"There is a problem with my head? How about your terrible and poor behavior?" Claire stared at him in rage. Her face was flushed with fury, and her lips were trembling. "If your head is fine, why are you being such a nutcase?" she said in anger. his bad temper sort of changed when he saw her anger.

"Well, well! What are you doing here? Flirting in public?" Stephen appeared. he smirked at them. it was like seeing an iceberg meet a volcano. This must be worth watching. "I don't know her!"

I don't know him!" They both blurted out in unison and snorted when they realized that they had spoken together. "Ha-ha... If you don't know each other, why are you speaking in unison?" Stephen grinned. They rolled eyes at him. Claire's glanced around. Stephen could sense an aura of confidence around her.

"Oh, I almost forgot you two are friends. You must be of the same ilk, the conceited and arrogant type." Claire bent over to pick up the papers on the ground. "You both are the same. They say 'birds of a feather flock together.' Very true," she thought.

"You always like drawing conclusions, Miss Brook. You have a smart mouth and you're very good at debate. I wonder, what man can stand you." Stephen looked at her from the corner of his eyes. "Mind your own business, Mr. Chu!" Claire hissed and gave them a cold look before walking away in her high heels.

"Who is she? Look at her!" Thomas shook his head. There was a look of disgust on his face. "The new CEO of S group. I hear she has just returned home from abroad," Since Thomas didn't have business with S group, he didn't really know her.

"What? Are you kidding me?" She seemed like a spoiled girl, not at all like a CEO. "Don't underestimate her. She has her way when it comes to business." In fact, he himself was hiding behind that furious face. "You will know. Oh, what're you doing here?" It was unusual for him to be here.

"Well, I'm here to meet a client, what about you? Same reason?" Thomas always spoke in a soft tone when he was in front of Stephen his good friend. "Yes, here she is! Always giving me trouble." Stephen sighed.

"Well, I have forgotten that you have business with them. God, how can she be so fierce? She's always so aggressive." Thomas remembered the quarrel with her in the parking lot earlier that day, he shook his head in disgust. "Yeah, I know. She's a tough woman. Maybe you could take her home and spare everyone else on her way the trouble." Stephen snickered at him.

"No, that girl is way out of my league and not the kind I like," said Thomas. It was impossible for him to hook up with a woman like Claire; a woman who was like a volcano ready to erupt at any time.

"Really? Since then, tell me what kind of girl you like? A woman who is cool as you?" said, Stephen. As he said this, Stephen thought of his distant and cold wife. "Don't change the subject. In fact, I think both of you would make a great couple, given that both of you have such sharp tongues." Thomas said giving voice to his true feelings. "But I don't know what horrible things would happen if two such people actually got together," he inwardly thought.

"Don't forget that I am married, Thomas. But you, you have a chance. You are still single. How do you know that she is not your type without even giving it a shot? Stephen teased Thomas. "Oh yeah! When did you become such a staid and moral man, Stephen? Have you always refused the women who have tempted you at innumerable occasions?" He said turning the tables on Stephen. 'When did being married stop you? Alas! Claire, You are disliked and rejected by both of us! Neither of us is unwilling to chase you!' Thomas thought to himself.

Stephen smiled and shrugged his shoulders, "I am not as bad as you make me out to be," he said. 'After all, I have high expectations from the women I choose to date.' he thought to himself. "Forget about all this. Let's meet tonight!" said Thomas. he knew that Stephen was just joking.

"I need to go home early tonight. Let's catch up some other time!" Stephen replied. He remembered that someone was waiting for him at home. And the feeling of being waited for by someone was very comforting for him.

"How come? It seems that you are in a hurry to hatch eggs!" Thomas joked with Stephen, though he had his doubts. 'he used to be a party animal who stayed up and drank all night. Why is he acting like this now?' Thomas wondered.

"Ha-ha! How can I compare myself to you the free bachelor, the single bull ready to gore anybody who comes his way? Let's get together another time." He waved goodbye and left. 'What on earth is Stephen up to? Since when has he started caring about going home on time?' Thomas curiously shook his head and also left.

Brielle stood in the balcony by her room. The breeze blew her black hair and gently swayed her dress. She frowned unhappily. Worry lines crisscrossed her pretty face. Realizing that her legs were numb from having stood there for long, she moved away from the balcony. She didn't know how long she had been standing there. It might have been several hours because she had come there right after lunch.

'If I hadn't met him that afternoon, things might not have been so complicated,' she thought to herself, straightening her messy hair. 'Neither would I have left so depressed nor achieved such success. I don't know whether it's right to stay here, but I really want to seek the warmth and love that belongs to me.'

Tired, Brielle walked back into her room. She threw herself on the bed and smelled the lingering fragrance of jasmine. She couldn't help take a deep breath, enjoying the distinct smell of Stephen.

Before this, she would have never dared to imagine that one day she would become such an intimate part of his life. Even now, in her mind, he was still the sacred and distant person she knew long back. The harsh jangling of the phone interrupted Brielle's thoughts. She groped for the phone and saw a strange number of flashing. She answered the call.

"Brielle! Finally. You answer your phone!" Claire roared at her when she heard Brielle on the other line. she seemed to be very angry today! "Oh, it's you, Claire! How have you been?" Brielle moved the phone some distance away from her ear. 'Why is she so angry?' she thought.

'I'm fine!" Claire retorted. Don't change the topic. Why didn't you answer my calls till now? I have called you since the day I returned to B City. Or were you trying to avoid me?" Claire said angrily.

"Oh! You have come back!" Brielle was surprised. "When did you come back? I am sorry, Claire. I didn't know you were back. I was training and was required to hand in my phone. That is why I couldn't answer your calls." She explained. Brielle always felt like a weak mouse when she faced Claire. she had such an overpowering personality.

'Forget it. How long have you been back? Let's get together," she said. The friends hadn't seen each other for several years. Though they always kept in touch by the telephone, Claire hadn't seen Brielle since she had left for the university. And now, she was dying to meet her.

"I came back two days ago and yes, let's get together," said Brielle. "I missed you very much." Claire was the only friend Brielle had. They had played together when they were children. And despite the fact that Brielle was not a noble princess any longer, they got along well with each other.

'Don't give me that crap! You are a heartless girl. How could you, of all the people, have missed me?" Claire teased Brielle. She knew her well. 'Brielle isn't a sentimental girl. So why is she speaking like this today?' she wondered.

"I missed you every day! If you don't believe me, ask Ariel." Brielle smiled as she tried to convince Claire. She was lying on the bed and smelling Stephen's fragrant perfume. "And how's Ariel? I want to see him also as soon as possible." Though Claire had talked to him on the phone, she still wanted to see him with her own eyes.

"He is fine. I am on a vacation and if you are free, I can pick him and we can come to visit you,' said Brielle. she really wanted to see Claire. "How about tomorrow? Let's go shopping together just like we used to. I haven't done this since I came back to B City." Claire loved shopping but had not indulged in it recently as she was busy administrating her own business after having taken over the company.

"Sure! See you tomorrow. And don't stand me up again!" Chided Brielle lovingly. She was really looking forward to meeting claire. She was back to her lively and lovely self. "Oh really! And when did I stand you up? You are not supposed to do that. I won't accept your apology if you do," retorted Claire. before this, Brielle always stood her up because she was asked to serve Ayumi and her daughter. Claire detested them but could do nothing because she was young. She had been helpless.