Black Espresso

[ Chapter 26 ]

Monday morning, inside the sophisticated and elegant designed office room.

The room shone brightly as the Royal Metropolis sky lit up the luxurious inside through the spacious window panes. The breathtaking view from the room was splendid and magnificent, as from this high the sight of countless Imperial's skyscrapers was presented in the grandeur glows.

The exterior of the office room was lavishly elegant with a perfect blend of scandinavian and contemporary aesthetic. The room was well decorated with a sumptuous combination of eastern and western furniture. The colour scheme was dominated by royal white colour and opulent brown with a bit of black.

A dozen of artistic ink paintings could be seen hanging on the wall while on the left side of the room opposite to all-glass window panes, exquisite channel-tufted sofas, sculptural metallic table lamps and Italian made built-in bookshelves were well arranged.

Whilst the bright sunlight marched through the window panes lighting up the room, there, in the centre of the room, seating elegantly behind the L-shaped Rosewood desk was a gorgeous woman of raw perfection.

Cassandra sat upright, her soft wavy awfully blond hair cascading down her waistline and she had a pen tapping on the desk, appearing to be restless.

"That's not how it's supposed to work Mr. Han. Yes that's what the contract had stated. But we had a verbal agreement regarding this issue last month." Cassandra said to the other line of her business channel, her every syllable echoed through the extensive room as the speaker mode of the landline was on.

The person from the other line responded with cautious persuasion, as the man negotiated and tried to ease Cassandra's temper which could be felt growing from the way she breathed.

"Agreement is agreement. We had agreed about it. You know well how it would affect us. The conference is going to be held in the next two weeks. I can't afford to mess anything at this point. You have to understand that I'm also running out of time and resources here. I'm expecting more of your capability and professionalism Mr. Han."

Cassandra and her business partner kept negotiation and arguing for about five good damn minutes before finally the call came to an end, with Cassandra losing her patience.

Her voice sounded harsh and cold. "As the contract had stated it, our contract still stands," Cassandra stated. "But still you had just failed our other agreement. I will have my lawyer studying the case once the conference is ended. That is all Mr. Han, have a nice day."

"Mrs. Qin wait—" Before the person from the other line could finish the sentence in panic, Cassandra cut off the call, leaving both of them at disadvantageous positions.

Damn this incompetent dimwit! Cassandra cursed the man for plenty of times in her mind as she massaged the space between her brows. Lines of frown were formed on her appealing countenance and she looked a little bit frustrated and tired.

Everything was pretty hectic for her lately, as the business conference was around the corner, she put everything on hold to focus on this matter. This business conference was an extremely important international business event in which she won the bid of the government's tender to have it held at Almandine International Hotel.

This International Business Conference (IBC) was a premier biennial event that aims to bring in international professionals, international consulates, and international business players from across the globe. The conference facilitates the grand meeting of economy and business on an international scale, networking with countless business delegates from both governments and renowned companies, and was the place to attract major investment and to strike numerous huge business deals that are very important for the international business world.

Huaxia was the host country of IBC 36nd business conference, that was why aside for her own business, this conference is tremendously important for Huaxian economy as a whole. All the world's attention will be directed on the event and Almandine International, as one of two places where the conference will be held, her hotel will be the face of the nation. That's why she has to put all her best to ensure everything is prepared well, not wanting to put even the slightest stain on both her brand and nation's reputation.

Such a grand conference was also the golden chance to promote her brand and expand its market value. The timing was perfect since she needed quite a lot of fresh investment to launch her third branch. Furthermore, the promotion of Huaxian culture, service and hospitality industry also depend on how successful her team will be in organising the grand event. In short, this event was very important for her, she couldn't let even the slightest equation to risk the grand picture of the event.

The call just now was from her business partner. Mr. Han was the CEO of Green Mansion, a very reputable catering company which she had been doing business with for more than four years. He's one of her trusted partners. However, she's now unsure on whether she could keep doing business with him or not after what had happened. He had disappointed her.

For the grand events such as International Business Conference, Almandine International had to collaborate with a couple of companies. For instance, Almandine Hotel was partnering with two catering companies and Green Mansion was one of them. But now she has to search for additional partnership since the Green Mansion was incapable to fulfill some parts of the agreement.

Numerous thoughts went through her head as she racked her brain to sort all the remaining options she has, the best and most efficient one. Another minutes went by with her calculating her options before finally she came to a decision. With her lips curving down, she dialed her secretary.

"Jacqueline."

"Yes, Ms. Qin?" Jacqueline immediately answered.

"Please reach for Mr. Liem's assistant, the CEO of Elegant Affairs. Enquire about his schedule for the next three days. Check my schedule and look for the time where both of us seem to be available for a meeting," Cassandra instructed.

"I want you to arrange a business meeting with him. You have my permission to do anything as you deem necessary. Make sure everything is settled before the end of today."

"I understand," Jacqueline replied with such efficiency and Cassandra ended the call.

Right now Cassandra could only depend on her card and her own negotiation expertise, she knew Elegant Affairs is tough to crack since they are the business partner of her main competitor. Though she hated to affiliate herself with them, she had no other choice as they are the most available company among her options and one of the best in the catering business. For her, quality is above anything.

Exhaling a long breath, Cassandra lounged back on her seat and eased herself on the plushness of her two millions Aresline Xten chair. It would be a long day for her. She then leaned to her left, reaching out for the cup of the newly brewed coffee and brought it close to her nose.

She squeezed close her Almond-shaped eyes and less her stress in the bitter and intense aroma of her morning black espresso.

The intense mix of floral and earthly aroma assaulted her nostrils in a very pleasant way. She found the scent of perfectly brewed premium best quality coffee beans was exceedingly relaxing.

Actually, Cassandra was a certified avid coffee drinker. She also loved to brew her own coffee, as in the corner of her office, standing at the back left of the room was a famous Rancilio Classe, an elegant and luxurious customade Italian coffee machine which she bought it personally from Italy when she's there for a business deal.

Whilst she's no way a professional, Cassandra was quite proud of her own brewing skill. Back in the days, she's used to Nicholas brewed coffee. Him being a half Canadian, he's quite expert on brewing coffee as coffee was very loved in his maternal family. He's the one who taught her how to brew a coffee perfectly. No matter how tired he's when he just returned home, not a single night had passed without him brewing her a coffee.

Such a small yet intimate gesture of him was the very reason why she dearly loved him. He's a caring and compassionate lover, perfectly knew how to treat a lady, treating her like a queen, all she dreamed in a man he had all of it. That's why after his passing, Cassandra loved to brew her own coffee as it reminded her of his warmth, loving attention.

As for her coffee preference, Cassandra loved coffee the same way she enjoyed her life—Intense and bitter, dark sometimes. She didn't like the taste of milk and chocolate in coffee, just the perfectly brewed coffee beans and a little bit of sweet was her favourite.

Minutes passed by as she took her time enjoying her short coffee break, savoring the rich full-flavored bitterness of her espresso in her mouth and letting herself got warmed by its gentle steam.

Once she sipped the half of the cup, Cassandra then resumed her work to proceed the pile of scattered documents in front of her. In the next hour, a couple of calls were heard through the room as Cassandra gave her managerial lines a lot of tasks, managing all the work behind her desk.

When she was on her business mode, Cassandra tends to lose the trace of time and it was only when the door of her office room was knocked had she paused her work.