"Are you saying that you don't believe in your company's ability and you have to ask me for favours?" Maxwell asked partly out of curiosity.
The expression in her eyes said it all before she said, with a snap in her voice, "No, I am not saying that, Mr. Rohan. I am saying that I wouldn't appreciate being sabotaged because of whatever vendetta you have against me."
It surprised Maxwell that the fact that she thought that of him hurt a little. He was known to be a man without emotions; some of the women he had ever tangled with would even go as far as to say that he was a cold man.
What did he care if a married, snippy woman thought him to be a scoundrel? The irony was that he cared. And that not only annoyed him but also made him want to put her in her place. She, who couldn't figure out what her husband was doing under her nose for years, thought she had the right to judge him. Well, she would have to think again.
"Are you saying that you believed me so despicable that I would take away your chances because of any issue between us?" He couldn't curb the anger in his tone at the moment. He did not care.
The waiter chose that moment to bring his meal, and he snapped at the latter to just drop it. The lady quickly placed the meals on the table and made a hasty retreat. She had worked as a waiter for a couple of years now, and she could pride herself on the fact that she could read a customer well. The man with a storm gathering on his face was about to let loose on someone.
"What I was trying to say is that..."
"I know what you were trying to say, Mrs. Lanoth," he said with emphasis on her surname. "Well, news flash, ma'am," he said as he lifted her bag from his side, almost dipping the handle in the ginger sauce on his tuna tartare, the tantalising smell wafting from the food lost on both of them as the tension rose.
Maxwell saw that she was surprised by his sudden change of mood. Well, he didn't care. He was not about to take bullshit from a woman who was all smartmouth with him while she was being taken for a fool by the man she gave herself to!
"I have things to say too, and I wouldn't appreciate saying it to a woman who kept looking at her watch as if my presence were absent just so she could get back home to a man who was taking her for granted!"
The confusion in her eyes cleared and her eyes fired up "I am not here to talk to you about my marriage, and I do not appreciate..."
"I don't give a shit about what you appreciate, Reyona. I have a mind to clear my sister of this mess she got herself into, and I am tired of playing games with you while waiting for you to figure out if you should stop playing dumb to what I said in your office the other day or not."
She spittered in fury, then grabbed her bag from the table. "I am not about to take this insult from you!"
Maxwell was on a roll though and even though he was surprised at his reaction, he couldn't help but use his ace "If you should leave this restaurant right now, Reyona,. I can assure you that the contract you are so looking forward to signing with Multilinks will never come. I will make sure of it," he added through gritted teeth.
The confident smile on her face amazed him even before she added, "You know what? This entire meeting was nothing but a big mistake. I don't need your approval or lack thereof to get my things done. You can do whatever it is that you think you want to do, oh, big shareholder. I don't give a care!" she said, all snapping even though she did not increase the volume of her voice.
She turned to leave as his anger dissipated. "Reyona," he called.
She turned back swiftly to him with daggers shooting out of her eyes, enough to skewer him to his seat. "That! Is Mrs. Lanoth with you? Mr. Rohan," she said before turning to leave the restaurant.
"Shit, what have I just done?" Maxwell thought to himself as he quickly stood up from his chair to follow her. He couldn't remember the last time he had to lose his temper with anyone like that before. What problem of his was it if her husband was taking her for a fool? All he needed was to get her to confess to having whatever it was to do with Susan's implication.
He stood up to run after her just as she went out the door. Maxwell knew that it might become more difficult for him to ever have an audience with her again if she left like that. Especially now that she seemed not to care about whatever influence he might have over the bid anymore.
"Sir, you haven't paid your bill." The starfish lady ran after him before he ducked out the door.
Maxwell swore as he brought out his wallet and pulled out $100 bills-enough to pay for ten meals. He stuffed them in the waiter's hand as he rushed out after Reyona, hoping he could still meet up.
He sprinted down the lane that led from the restaurant to the closest parking space. He thought he had lost her when he didn't immediately see her, but then the sound of a slamming door made him look towards the right extreme, and he saw her hair like a beacon through the window as she swung her head backwards to check the back as she navigated out of the midst of the two cars on her side.
"Now or never," Maxwell thought as he sprinted towards the car. She was almost fully out when he waved his hand and called her name.
She gave him no response, but he knew that she heard him because she sent him a furious look before she turned to look behind her again.
To her left was a sunny yellow Volkswagen with a Rotweiller lolling his tongue out of the window, and to her right was a blue Camaro. Once she could get out of their midst, she would be able to zoom off without delay.
"I can't allow that," Maxwell said, the only thing he could think of.
He stood in the path of her reversing car.