Nicholas 

"This contract is abhorrent. I am not signing it." James Preston bellowed, standing up. 

I smirked, "You will if you want to get out of the financial crisis that your company is in."

He looked at me shocked. "No one is privy to that, how did you find out?" His eyes narrowed to slits. 

"I have my sources. Did you think I would sign a deal with anyone without knowing about their company, without any in depth research?" I said in a cold, menacing voice as I stood up and took a step towards him.

"You...You son of a bitch."

"I would watch my mouth if I were you. Don't forget, you are at my mercy. I have done worse to people who have said less." I threatened him, my voice turning acidic. "But since I am in a good mood, I will let it slide." I sat down, crossing my legs. I watched him as his eyes darkened, not liking the way I just condescend him, I internally smirked. His face suddenly changed, The dark look in eyes fading as an evil glint made its way in them. His face turned up in an ugly crooked smile, taking a 360 degree turn as if he just remembered that he held the ace of spades.

"I saw in the papers the other day. It seems like my daughter and you are in some kind of a relationship," He said darkly. "You wouldn't do this to your girlfriend's father, would you? What would Hayley think if she gets to know the way you treated her daddy dearest," He said, his tone amused with a hint of bitterness in them. 

What he said was like a punch to my gut. I wondered how Hayley would react when she gets to know about my plan against her father, when she gets to know that her father murdered mine. Would she believe me, would she understand why I did what I did? And most importantly of all, how would she react when she gets to know what I had planned for her. I changed after getting to know her but the damages before that had already been done. Would she leave me when she someday finds out the truth? This thought alone made my heart clench in pain. No, she can never know of this. I cannot lose her. I will not lose her.     

My teeth gritted against each other, my fist clenched. I resisted the urge to punch him. I maintained the poker look on my face that I have mastered in the last sixteen years, not giving him the satisfaction to see that his words somehow affected me. "I don't mix my personal life with my professional life," I shrugged.  

He loked at me trying to find a chink in my armour. Finding none, a doubt crept on his face. His smile turning into a grimace. He could see that there was no way he could get me to change my mind. 

"Why are you doing this?" He looked at me questioningly. 

"I am a businessman and this is what I do," I say shrugging. 'Who would know this better than you? You have destroyed more lives than I can count.'  is what I wanted to say but kept my mouth shut.

He sighs. Knowing that there is nothing that he could do, he picks up the pen and signs his name on the dotted lines not realising that he has just signed his own death sentence. I get up from the chair and extend my hand towards him. "I am looking forward to doing business with you, Mr Preston," I said, my voice emotionless.

He gave me a dark look but took my hand nonetheless. With that he walked out with his team of lawyers.

"Thank you everyone. All of you did well today. The meeting is over now, you may all get back to your work," Everyone dispersed from the conference room leaving me there in my thoughts. I sat down on the chair and exhaled in relief. It went well. 

I went back to my cabin and called Natalie in. "What's my schedule for today?" Natalie was a nice woman in her mid thirties. She had black hair and brown eyes. She was happily married to Paul's elder brother and had two children. She was very efficient in her work and was the best secretary that I have had.  

She checked her diary, "You don't have any other meeting scheduled for today," she answered cordially. I nodded my head and asked her to bring me the files for the Vice Project. 

A headache was making itself known. I was exhausted, more than usual in the last few days and slept lesser than usual. Natalie entered with the files and kept it on my desk. "You should go home and rest," she said when she saw me massaging my temples. 

"No I am okay, I will just take some painkiller." 

"You shouldn't, its not good for you. You know that."

"Natalie I am okay," I firmly stated, my tone giving away no room for argument. She sighed and left.

I was reading the project files when suddenly Liam strolled like he owned the office and slumped down on the couch. Liam was a fair and a hardworking man. He didn't want to be handed down his father's company, he thought it wasn't fair so he initially started off at the ground level, making his way to the top. He was a lady's man with his blonde hair, chiseled face and a sharp jawline. He was 5'11". He hated the fact that I towered over him by an inch.

I sighed and stood up. I took a seat on the couch next to him. "What are you doing here?" I looked at him questioningly.

"What? Can't I come visit my best friend?" He said pinching my cheeks. I smacked his hands away and glared at him. "Okay okay, we haven't hung out together in a while so let's go clubbing. You, Alex and me like old times." His eyes shined brightly as he looked at me with excitement.

I thought about it. I needed to cool off and clubbing sounds good. I am not a heavy drinker but I do like to once in a while. I nodded at him, "When?"

He squealed like a girl. "This Saturday, 9:00 P.M. Alex is getting his girlfriend, we will get to meet her, finallyyyy." He said exaggerating. I rolled my eyes at his childishness. 

"Why don't you bring Hayley?" 

I pursed my lips, "I don't know."

"Just ask her," Liam pouted and gave me a puppy look. 

I sighed giving in, "I will ask her." I regretted agreeing as soon as I did. I felt a pit in my stomach, something was going to go wrong, I could feel it.

****

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