Chapter2

#Chapter2

AMELIA POV

I chuckle awkwardly at what Mr Russo says, avoiding eye contact with Xavier who's staring at me like a hawk. /"We're not Mr and Mrs Chopra yet./"

I show him my hand which has a gorgeous sapphire and white gold ring on it /"see no wedding band just yet./"

/"Shall we get started then?/" Alexander's prominent British accent breaks the brief silence. Everyone nods in agreement and we all settle down.

I sit opposite Alexander on the long rectangular table with people I didn't know around me. Xavier sat on the same side as me but he was far enough that I didn't have to see him and I was sure he couldn't see me.

I hadn't seen him since the day I left him in his office and seeing him for the first time engaged to another man probably wasn't the best way to face him again.

However, it was better to see him now and get it over with as it was inevitable. We were both incredibly successful businesspeople both based in New York, I'd end up seeing him one way or another. In fact, I was actually surprised I managed to avoid him for 6 months.

/"Hey guys,/" a fairly young man leads the presentation /"we're Altec, an engineering team ready and looking forward to working with one of you!/" He says enthusiastically.

After a informative and well displayed presentation he allows us all to offer him deals. I, along with Xavier and Alexander, stay silent at the start of the deals to let the smaller competition die out.

It takes a good half an hour before we start talking, and it's me, Alexander and Xavier left in the room along with Mr Russo and the Altec team.

/"Speak billionaires./" Mr Russo gestures for us to begin bartering.

/"60 million,/" Xavier says monotonously, he's eyes are fixed on the table and he doesn't look up. He's moved so he's only 2 seats away from me, mindlessly fiddling with his credit card as he speaks.

I turn around to see the presenter's eye light up as he's finally seeing some better numbers.

/"75./" Chopra says.

Before I could say anything, Xavier drops the 100 million dollar bomb and the presenter's jaw drops. Russo let's put a small chuckle at his reaction.

/"I really don't think a new company is worth more than 100 million./" Chopra says and gets up to leave /"I'll wait for you outside,/" he mentions to me before leaving the office. I smile at him and continue the meeting.

/"I'm not going to offer more than 110,/" I say firstly /"you guys are new to the market and frankly I don't think you're worth it yet./"

His face drops.

Xavier laughs to himself /"good luck getting a client with that attitude./" He mutters but I hear it and ignore it.

/"But I think 110 is a fabulous deal, also I'm in the medical business - so your work would help save lives./" I remind him.

/"Are you willing to top her deal?/" He asks Xavier.

/"I'll match it,/" Xavier says /"so now choose between me and her./"

I could see the amount of pressure on his face as his eyes flickered between us. He's silent for a some time as he visibly struggles to make a decision.

/"It's ok, take your time,/" I reassure him /"it's not an easy decision./"

/"It isn't a typically hard decision either./" Xavier says, putting the guy down.

/"It's your company and it's your choice./" I say. I don't want to pressure him to work with me and not Xavier or vice versa.

I didn't want to have any unnecessary talk with Xavier which could possibly lead to an argument in front of a potential partner.

/"Would you guys be willing to work together? Split the money and share the ownership?/" He asks, and I had to give it to him it was a smart deal.

/"Give them a moment to think over it./" Russo says.

/"I would do that deal with Mr King,/" I say. It was purely in my benefit - I would pay half the money but I would definitely use the engineers more.

Kings Corporate was a company that mainly ran shipping and selling other companies products and I knew a medical company would need the engineering company more.

Immediately after I say that Xavier speaks /"I'm not working with her./" He spits out /"you work with just me or without me./"

Mr Russo looks a bit taken aback /"Xavier don't let personal and professional relationships get mixed./"

/"I'm not./" Xavier replies /"she runs a medical company and I do shipping, there is no common ground between us./"

/"Well, I'm willing to work with you, with or without Mr King's involvement,/" I chip in.

/"Then the deal is yours Miss Davis./" He says with a massive grin on his face. I smile victoriously and get up to shake his hand.

/"Good job Amelia./" Russo pats me on the back after the guy left.

/"Thank you for making me come to this./" I say.

I decide to wait in the room awkwardly until Xavier leaves but he holds the door open for me, /"Ladies first./"

I mutter a thank you and walk out the door, where Alexander was waiting for me. He offers his hand out which I gladly take into mine. As we're about to walk away a certain voice stops me.

/"Miss Davis,/" Xavier says.

Alexander leaves my hand /"I'll let you two talk, I'll be in the car,/" he kisses my cheek and walks toward the elevator.

/"How can I help you Mr King?/" I say politely.

/"Congratulations./" He says.

/"You could've easily gotten that deal, I think you didn't want it actual-/"

/"I meant on your engagement./" He cuts me off. /"It's not like you to keep these things private for very long./"

It bugged me the way he spoke. The only reason my engagement to him was publicised was because he wanted it to be.

He wanted all the tabloids and media to be speaking his name and that's why I wasn't private about our relationship.

/"This time it's real, so that changes things./" I reply.

/"I see./"

/"Is there anything more I can do for you now, I have to get back to Alexander?/" I say, trying to end the conversation.

/"No you've done enough,/"

I'm silent, I don't know how to reply to that.

/"I'll see you around Miss Davis./" He says and walks right past me.

I get into the car with Alexander, it's a silent and uncomfortable drive home for me.