Chapter 16: An impossible DEAL

I barged into the cafeteria looking for someone but he was nowhere in sight.

Yes he is

I walked up to the familiar brown hair guy who was about taking an elevator that took him to his hierarchy.

I guess Smith's hair color wasn't a lie after all.

"Alexander?" I called out with a tone that made him give a questioning look.

You can't get to Alexander like this you need his help.

"Alexander I need to speak to you urgently" I begged

"Let's go" he turned to the door leading out of cafeteria.

"Conference room 27 you will find him there" he said and left immediately.

I was confused.

"Wait wait" I yelled running after him.

I finally caught up to him and stood right in front of him.

"I want to speak to you Alex not some other guy" I begged and a smirkish smile crept on his face .

"Dave not Alex" he declared and like a spark he was gone.

If he wasn't Alex then who is Alex,who was Smith,who was the owner of the seat. I thought he referred to himself as a third person to get the seat.

I deliberated for a while until I finally concluded that I was going to find out everything.

If only I took out time to search who Alex was and what he looked like I wouldn't have mistaken him for this guy.

Wait Dave was name of the guy who threatened Grace right?

I walked around for a while and finally found the conference room.

Before I could enter I heard a conversation from the room so I decided to stand and lis...

"Daisy, it was only an arranged meeting in which you were supposed to follow me and act like my girlfriend. That's all" I heard the guy say and from what I can guess the guy should be Alexander.

"I don't care about that. The condition for merging the two companies is if we become a couple and your dad agrees to it verbally before confirmation through the contract" Daisy replied but it sounded more like she was pleading with him.

"I am sorry but I am not ready for an arranged marriage whether it's by contract or whatever. I don't love you and I don't believe in love more precisely" he argued stressing each word.

"Alexander both of us are well aware of the fact that I don't love you either but I have to do this for"

"your dad" he completed

"Was it ever about mutual love? I love you,isn't that enough?" She asked and even if we were never friends I could hear sadness lining her voice and every word sounded forced like she didn't mean it but as the same time it sounded desperate and serious.

"Is it about your dad's failing business or what exactly" he asked

"It is about me Alex. I love you isn't it enough?" she snapped obviously fighting back tears and anger.

I didn't wait to listen anymore so I walked away from the conference room.

I am here for Grace.How could I have forgotten.I ran back to the conference room and barged in on the 'hugging couple' but that was the least of my concern.

"Hmmm Daisy I need to borrow your boyfriend for a sec" I dragged him out of the room into the corridor a bit far from the conference room to avoid any interference.

"You could have just declared your love right in front of her she wouldn't bite" he taunted and I almost let out a sarcastic reply again but I need his help.

Like the bipolar fellow he was he snapped "Are you going to speak or not"

I was lost for words. I didn't know what to say whether it was sorry or it was to kneel down before him I am just confused.

"A picture would save your life and time" he bragged

Just one sarcastic reply would do no harm. I can't stop myself I feel out of breath if I am not sarcastic.

"You have been fooled. You are only barely cute and you are talking about being handsome please stop bickering. I rather end up with nobody than you" I shot back leaving out my rude sarcastic reply.

'GRACE' I thought

"I don't have any idea why you would want to speak to an homebred idiot. Is it because you are just as stupid as he is or is it... "

"I am sorry" I cut him off and at that moment I saw a smirk come right on his face but for the first time I was speaking to Alexander and he is drool worthy but not pride worthy because my pride will always get in the way of complimenting him.

"I am sorry for calling you an homebred idiot.I was just being stupid for judging you so quickly when I hadn't even met you.Please forgive me" I begged with my head bowed

"WOW"he paused

"Do you think that your apology ends it all?" he asked and I raised my head to look at him once more but his face was plastered with a smile so I couldn't figure out what he was thinking.

"I know I hurt your ego but please don't involve Grace in all this because she has nothing to do with me. Let's just deal with me" I pleaded

"Ohhh so this apology is all because of who again?"

"I really mean every word. Alex, I need you to take back what you said about buying the coffee shop and Grace's home" I requested.

He moved closer to me and right when he raised his hand to pin me to the wall I moved to his side and he gave that devilish smirk I once saw in Smith's face.

"Look girl nobody really goes against me especially not a black scholarship student. I am not taking back the deal it's the house and the coffee shop on the line. Nothing else" he fumed

"I am really sorry Alex. I really mean it. I am SORRY you can do anything you want to me but please don't put the lives of others at risk because of your hatred for me." I cried but not cried cried and he didn't budge.

"Alexander, it's me you want and I am ready to do anything please change the deal"

"Anything?" he questioned and at that moment I realized I might or might not be able to do what he asks.

I mean I can't even afford a phone or a three squared meal with my own money and he?

He is Alexander Powers. He can get almost everything he wants with the snap of those fingers I desperately want to chop off.

"Are you rethinking what you just said black girl?" he queried and I shook my head.

"I....I will do... anything in my power"

"Anything in your power isn't exactly what I want. Will you do anything or not?" he asked

"Anything" I confirmed

It's not like I have anything to offer.

"That was easier than I thought" he muttered.

"What do you want from me then?" he asked and at that moment I recognized his full blown British accent.

"Leave Grace alone" I said with an intimidating voice that showed how serious I was but he stilled laughed.

"I can't believe you think so highly of me but let's get something clear I don't get my hands dirty" he clarified and I almost spat right on his face but I controlled myself.

"If you had the means to collect her home and business then please get it back for her" I begged and slowly went down on my knees.

"Stop" he commanded and I got up.

"Since we have a deal you don't need to beg me"

"A deal???"

"You said you would do anything I want"

He stretched his hand forward but I hesitated

"Well let's go then" he called and I followed him to the conference room we left Daisy earlier.

There are quite a number of conference rooms in the school for board meetings and different presentations by the students.

A whole structure is built for such. It contains the school's formal hall, presentation halls, conference rooms, banquet halls, cinemas,offices and a few other things.

This was basically the administrative building but dumb Alex managed to use his head and picked the most secluded area.

"Have your seat" he gestured to the chair beside him but instead I sat at the far end of the table.

As far as I know I heard beeping noise from the table and then in a flash some kind of file appeared in front of me.

"Sign" he commanded and I just couldn't stop myself.

"Wow so I guess you are always prepared or is the blunt truth just that you already expected me to come back crawling and begging you"

"The latter"

I really wish I could just slap tht smirk off his face what JERK.

"I don't think you would expect me to just sign this without having a proper look at it.

"Well then" he paused and smiled and eventually continued.

"Take your time and have a good look cause I am not planning on allowing you leave here without signing it.....

LOVE" he completed and I could feel myself wanting to throw up so badly and the look on my face right now could represent a million words but again the IDIOT was smiling.

As I read each and every line I couldn't just believe my eyes.

WHAT DOES THIS FOOL THINK OF HIMSELF????

AM I SOME KIND OF CHARACTER IN A MOVIE OR A FICTIONAL CHARACTER IN A WATTPAD NOVEL OR WEBTOON SERIES CAUSE THIS GUY WANTS SOME FREAKING CONTROL OF MY TIME AND SPACE.

A PAWN OR WHAT AM I TO HIM?

A million and one thoughts were now rushing through my head and eventually I dropped the pen and stood up.

I am not in for this at all. I have lived through the controlling era once upon a time and I am not ready for that when I am just trying to start a new wretched life which apparently is looking better to everyone else except me.

I walked past him right in the direction of the door.

"If you leave here right now you LOSE EVERYTHING" he said harshly and I turned back to look at him but all I could was his stiff back.

"I really don't care. It's not like I have anything worth stealing by some random idiot" I spat in anger without thinking.

"Oh"

"maybe I didn't break it down for you to understand miss Cleve but IF YOU TAKE ANOTHER STEP OUT OF HERE YOU NOT ONLY LOSE BUT GRACE WILL ALSO LOSE ALL SHE WORKED HARD FOR SO THINK CAREFULLY"

"Ahhhhh" I yelled and turned, walking back to him.

"How did I get involved with such a....." I paused trying to think of my action

"Why don't you complete it"

"with such a fellow" I completed and faked a smile.

I took a seat and picked up the pen but after thinking a bit I turned to face him.

"I also have conditions" I blurted out trying my luck.

He scoffed

"When did beggars become choosers" he mumbled

*Note the SARCASM*

mumbled?....NO......he was nice enough to say it to my hearing because I was partially deaf.

He said it loud enough for me to hear

"Shoot" he finally concluded.

"There is a time limit to our deal"

"I won't be available during school hours and during work hours"

"All these" I said gesturing to the SHIT of paper

Yes it's SHIT correct

"it's between us. A third party means a done deal"

"After the three months of being your SLAVE" I almost bit my tongue

"I have nothing to do with you and don't try anything funny against Grace or anyone I know"

"Return everything back into Grace's name and nothing can happen between us not even a hug at least let's keep ourselves at arm's length..."

"Afraid you will fall in love with me" he sang and I just eyed him.

"give me poison instead. You make me sick without even putting effort"

He gave one of his sarcastic replies

"You are welcome....babe and I won't charge you for the poison. It's free"

I cleared my throat trying to ease the numbness I felt in my hand but IT WAS STUPID I KNOW.

"So do you agree"

"What if I don't. It's still your loss not mine" he blabbered like the fool he was.

"Come on you won't get the chance to make me suffer for hurting your ego then" I said feigning hurt by holding my chest.

"Stop using that word EGO can you??"

"You are going to follow everything I say even with all your conditions. I have 10 limitless chances everyday so don't be ridiculous" he concluded.

I picked up the pen and finally signed the contract. I stood up and left.

"Bye love" he yelled and I walked even faster.

What a LIFE

I am dealing with a bunch of problems.

Bunch of problems here and there.

In fact I am mentally and emotionally downcast.