Married to Miss Grumpy

Chapter 2: Humiliation

{Serena}

I waited for the last ten minutes. And that was when my patience ran out. Where the hell was Ewan Grey?

I called him last week, giving him the details about the hotel we were having our date in. He didn't talk much but I assumed that he would be here, as he finished the phone call with the assurance that he was about to come. I couldn't believe that I had to postpone a meeting with the Japanese over this.

"Would you like to place an order, Miss?" I heard the waitress ask.

"Just bring out the least spicy dish you have in here," I told her while pulling out my phone. "And some wine."

She nodded politely while giving the chair opposite to mine a glance. I sighed and decided to take a look at the report my secretary, Audrey, had written. She had been working for me for the last four years and she had shown a lot of growth. I watched the report about our future business deal with Mr. Kobayashi. I wanted to establish a branch of the Ayers hotels over there for such a long time. And he was the right man for a collaboration.

The Ayers were prominent in four different branches, with the hotel business being the newest. Back when my father was the chairman, he preferred to perfect overseas relationships. But I had to scrap that for a while. The hotels needed more time to proper. The western trade, construction and automobile industries were earning humongous profits and I knew that they needed no expansion for now.

Mr. Kobayashi was our way in for expanding the hotel business.

My phone began to ring and I noticed that the caller ID was the name of someone who would present such an entertainment. I smirked before taking up the call.

"You stupid b**ch!" the man shouted through the phone. "How dare you do this!? If I find you, I am going to kill you, you–"

"Calm down, Jeffrey Dawson," I sighed and leaned back on the chair. "You didn't take the weather report seriously. And when the storm destroys everything, you blame the report?"

"Keep your mouth shut!" he growled. I could sense the loss in his voice. "It was you, wasn't it!?"

"Wasn't what?"

"Don't act dumb, you i***t! You know what I'm talking about?"

I looked at the ceiling and felt content with the misery in his voice. A month ago, when we met at one of the formal parties, he dared to get too touchy.

"You don't look good in suits, Miss Ayers," he eyed me down.

"I don't remember asking your opinion about what I wear, Mr. Dawson," I ignored his face. One minute of research about him was enough to make me understand his character. He treated women like they were his slaves. His former secretary even reported against him but he decided to push it under the rugs.

"I always wanted to make a deal with the Ayers," he smiled suggestively. "Perhaps we could... agree with one visit to my penthouse."

And that was enough for me to create a path of destruction and force him to walk on it. One should reap what they sow.

"You wanted to disgust me and now, you're scolding me?" I feigned laughter. "Make up your mind, Dawson. Your time as a businessman is over. But if you continue with your disgusting habits, you might end up in prison for assault."

He began shouting on the phone again and I cut the call. I swiped through my contacts and called Ezra Miller. He lifted the call on the fourth ring.

"Miss Ayers," his cheery voice stung my ears. "Dawson's business is over. His own company kicked him out for all the illegal extortion he has done over the years. Any more requests?"

"I have two," I placed my hand over the table. "Release the lawsuits he managed to hide. I want him to feel pure pain."

He made a hissing sound. "Understood. But you're so scary..."

"And second, find where Ewan Grey is. Immediately."

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Someone was going to die today.

After standing me up for twenty minutes, Ewan Grey was chilling in one of the rooms of the hotel. I didn't want to hear whatever explanation he had. Since I had been nice this time and considered knowing him at all, I can be myself again. Any bastard who makes me wait has to pay the consequences.

The elevator chimed as I reached the ninth floor. After the doors opened, I walked out and looked at the large hallway. Suite number 7. What was he even doing here?

After finding the door, I stared at it. Maybe I should've asked Ace to follow me to kick down this door. To show that I meant business. With a sigh, I hit my knuckles against the oak wood. After knocking three more times, the door was opened.

By a woman.

"Do we know each other?" the woman surveyed me.

I studied her ruffled blonde hair and red coloured robe. Seeing me stare, she pulled it closer over her body.

"No," I said. "I don't know who you are."

She raised an eyebrow and placed a hand over her hip. "Then leave."

Just before she could close the door, I heard a man's voice from the inside. "Who is it, love!?"

The woman turned back. "Just a person who got the wrong door!"

"I have the right door," I told her before giving her five seconds to move on her own. When she didn't, I pushed her aside and walked inside the suite. And there was Ewan Grey, with a towel over his head and a matching robe to the one the woman wore.

"You can't just barge in like that!" the woman held my arm.

"Five seconds," I glanced at her. "Remove your hand from you or else you'll no longer have it."

She winced at the threat before Ewan stood up and retrieved the woman away from me. "Just wait, baby. This shouldn't take longer."

"It won't," I stared at him. I wanted to find somewhere to sit on but doubted that it was in a sanitized condition. "Explain yourself, Ewan."

"What does he have to explain to you–"

"No one asked you to be part of the conversation," I told her and she fell quiet. "You have wasted half an hour of my time today, Ewan. The least I can have is an explanation."

He rolled his eyes. At me. "I'm sorry, Serena, but did you think that I would be happy to marry you? Let it be a real one or a contract."

I gave it a thought. "I am aware of your reluctance to marry me. But you didn't have to use this method to reject the agreement. You could've come down and explained that you weren't interested."

"And you would've listened," he rolled his eyes again. "Listen. This is my girlfriend, Willow. I have been with her for the last six months and am planning to marry her. This was why I hoped that you wouldn't be keen on marrying me."

I stared at him, unable to understand his idiocy. He could've revealed that with decency. Maybe there would've been a small percentage of my mind being changed.

"And I don't think I can marry a woman like you," he crossed his arms while his girlfriend moved towards his back.

That hit a nerve and I almost slipped up my composure. "What do you mean by that?"

"You're colder than Antarctica," he elaborated. "You think everyone must listen to you like you're some sort of ruler. In truth, you are a tyrant and always will be. I don't know what changed you from the nice little girl you were but whoever you are now...no one will like you."

I didn't need anyone to like me. He wasn't the last person to insult me. What did he even know about me to judge me so easily?

"You're impatient, ruthless, and just in general...

An entitled brat. I don't want to touch you, even if someone gave me ten pole sticks."

I blinked at him before checking my watch. Five more minutes, go to the wind. "If I'm here, just to be insulted, then I'm afraid I'm going to leave."

"Very well, then," he raised an arm. "The door is that way. Please leave and forget that you want to get wed into our family with that attitude."

I sighed, realizing that using some of my time to intimidate this bastard was worth it. Usually, I have very less expectations from the people around me. I hoped that Ewan would be decent and mature, but his words and actions showed his thinking level. He never grew up.

"Alright, Grey," I took a step closer to him. "You could've been nice and spoken to me nicely. I appreciate punctuality and decency. But what you have done is the nail in the coffin. You don't know me so well. But you shall, soon enough. I'll make sure you know what regret means."

I stared at him for a few seconds and was satisfied to see a minute drop of fear in his eyes. That was enough. Only a spark was needed to burn down a forest. He shall pay for whatever he pulled.

I walked out of the doors, with my head held up high. At least I hadn't married him now. Otherwise, I had to face this during the marriage and find two body bags.

But I had been too kind when it came to the Grey family. But that kindness had disintegrated and now...all of them shall know the consequences.

As soon as I reached the ground floor, I walked outside and found Ace in the lobby. I called him earlier in the elevator. He stood up and watched me curiously.

"Are we leaving, ma'am?"

"Yes," I replied. "Get the car. I want to go to my house.

He nodded and walked ahead of me while I stood outside the stairs. It looked like it was about to rain. The sky was covered with dark clouds.

After a few minutes, my car was in front of me and I opened the doors. I settled in the comfort of my space while Ace began to drive. I tossed the bag to my side, just as I heard my phone ring. The caller ID caused me to stare at it.

"Ciao, nio. "

"Nipote."