Chapter 2; The dreaded confrontation
1261 Words
It took a while but Celeste finally got a grip of herself, partly due to the probing looks of the executives and her assistant in the room. She smiled and scoffed silently at herself, seven years and he still has a way of making everything disappear in a room and make her see only him.
Celeste stared up at him again and he just sat there casually returning her gaze, as if... ,as if he wasn't the one vanished without a goodbye. It felt surreal to stare him in the eyes this way, it reopened wounds she knew deep down were nowhere near healing but convinced herself otherwise.
Celeste felt disorganised and unsure how to continue her negotiations, something was different about him, she'd looked him in the eyes and saw nothing, absolutely nothing; the struggling dreamer with the most honest and pure temperament was gone and replaced with a man of power. His face was cold ,calm and collected. But she
has to have this case, her father was counting on her so she couldn't
jeopardize this.
"Nice to meet you too" Celeste finally replied in her most stable voice with her most polite smile.The executives heaved a sigh of relief.
" And this is Mr Khalid Kane, our new CEO" Celeste nodded slightly at him.
"We finalized the acquisition just last week, all operations and assets are now under CK global "
CK
.C for Celeste, K for Khalid.
She had thought it was a silly, sweet joke then, She didn't think he was actually going to....
"Mrs Adams please continue, I hear you were proposing something about a partnership". Khalid said smoothly, folding his hands together. She's almost convinced herself he wasn't there. His tone was flat, cold almost. Like she was just another client, another meeting or another forgettable woman. Celeste shook her head as if shaking the thought off, she had to get this, so she had to get her head in the game.
"Indeed I was, but I assume you've read through the document and know the full scope of the proposal " Celeste said.
"I have" Khalid replied staring intensely at her, Celeste breath held waiting for him to say something that might just break her heart all over again.
"And I'm impressed" Khalid finished and Celeste let out a puff of air she didn't know she was holding in.
"Then what exactly are we waiting for?, if the deal is solid,why delay signing?"
He leaned back leisurely, watching her. Khalid placed his hands before his lips to cover up their slight curving up. He was riling her up, he could see it and she was a few minutes away from snapping. But he just can't help it, she looked so breathtaking and beautiful sitting there all flustered.
"Because I don't just buy companies,Mrs Adams. I study the people who run them, the heart behind the numbers , the reasons behind their smile " Khalid replied.
Her breath hitched, his reply felt like something directed towards her, but maybe it was just her nerves and senses on overdrive again.
"well then you must know that my father built this company with his blood and sweat " Celeste replied returning his gaze even though it was a too strong to match.
"And you intend to follow in his footsteps?" Khalid asked
"I intend to surpass them"
For a second their past wrapped around them--sweet, butter and impossible to ignore.Their eyes locked and it stayed that way for a while. She was still a daddy's girl just a little more independent and capable of all her own thoughts, Khalid stared at her with a look in his eyes that told her he saw everything, all the damage left in his wake.
It was unnerving to be bared naked before him in just minutes after they'd met again, it just reminded her of the power he had over her. She looked hard tried to see something in him too, perhaps just a glimpse of what he'd been up to or just a reminder that he never stopped loving.....
The moment passed as Celeste quickly stopped her train if thoughts.
"We'll get back to you, Mrs Adams" Khalid finally replied, he'd watch her watch him, trying hard to see beneath the facade. if only she'd looked a little while longer, she would have had a glimpse of what hell was for him; which was what life has been like for him without her.
"That's it?" Celeste asked. Khalid dismissed the executives while her assistant also left to complete somethings in the proposal with them.
"That's it?" Celeste asked again feeling all the emotions she'd kept bottled up during the meeting rushing up to the surface.
"That's all for now " He said, loosening his tie
Celeste stared at him casually sitting there as if he hadn't just upended her entire world a second time.
"Why?" Celeste asked , Khalid looked up at her, he stood up and walked over to her, standing right before her. He was too close for comfort, his cologne was filling her entire head, she refused to gaze up at him, staring at his chest instead.
"Why? why I'm I not signing the proposal?" Khalid asked in a breathy voice,this close he could smell the familiar scent of her shampoo, the familiarity cushioned him.
"No" Celeste replied and Khalid's brows quirked up.
" Really? then what exactly are you asking about?" Khalid asked
"I meant yes, yes, of course I was talking about the proposal, yeah the proposal, why won't you sign?" Celeste rushed feeling extremely flustered, she felt the heat creep up to her face and she knew he saw it too.
Khalid chuckled, no he.. he laughed. Celeste looked up at him in surprise, his head was thrown back and he was laughing, he was actually laughing, she couldn't believe that she was hearing him laugh again. it used to be her favourite sound in world, and hearing it again reminded her that it still was.
"Why on earth are you laughing?!" Celeste asked eyeing him angrily.Even though she was slightly happy there was still a sliver of the man she knew and loved.
" It's not that I don't want to sign, I mean I just took over the company, I've got to at least look like I thought this through thoroughly " Khalid replied, his mouth still showing traces of his laughter. Celeste stared silently at him, star struck for more that a moment.
" A picture might last you longer " His teasing voice snapped her out of her reverie. 'Damn his killer looks , she didn't know why she thought he'd changed completely he was still the same goofy annoying guy. Though something's have undeniably changed.
Celeste reached behind her to take her bag and placed it in between them.
"Well, when you've thought it over thoroughly do let us know" Celeste said and made to walk away.
She didn't hear his footsteps, didn't hear him follow her, but all of a sudden he was right before her and she was standing against the door, pinned with his arms and his gaze.
"W..hat what are you...."
" Why won't you ask? why won't you ask me anything? "
Celeste felt her heart pounding faster and louder, she was sure he could hear it, staying behind in a room alone with Khalid will never not be dangerous.
"Why?!!" Khalid whisper-yelled banging his fist on the door. His eyes were tinged red and his voice sounded paib
"I...."
- Writer
