"No, no. I meant all that." Maxwell interrupted her urgently.
"And I would have said them to you eventually but she is the reason I am here this early. You see, she threatened to disown me."
Reyona thought she had heard it all but apparently, she could still be shocked by some things "Disown you? Did you just say disown you? What are you? Her kid?"
"No, just a man who has learned that the fear of Celia's wrath is the beginning of wisdom. She is important to Andrews and by default, she is important to me. You can kill me with that glare of yours if you want but please pick up her call and tell her what a good boy I was."
Reyona snorted at that. "Good boy, my foot."
"Please, what do you want? Half of everything I own. Whatever you want. Name it. I will give it to you. Don't make her ban me from attending the christening ceremony of my godson. I might just die," he added, with a theatrically comic look on his face.
Reyona couldn't hold on to her laughter anymore.
She laughed while wondering what was in the air today.
Everyone around her must have caught a goofy bug.
The grin on his face turned to an intent gaze as he said suddenly. "You should do that more often."
"Do what?" Reyona asked as she curbed her laughter and that uncomfortable feeling returned.
"Laugh like that. Did I ever tell you that you have such an animated face that only becomes more beautiful when you are not holding yourself so stiff and proper?"
"Did I ever tell you that I learned boxing specifically because of men who say ridiculous things?" Reyona countered.
Maxwell laughed and shook his head as he said, "Okay, I had better get going. I wouldn't want my ears to be boxed in."
"Good," Reyona said with a satisfied smile.
He reached for the door and turned to ask.
"So, will you call...?"
"Out!" Reyona ordered with a jerk of her hand towards the door.
"Yes, ma'am," he said obediently.
Then he winked at her before he closed the door behind him.
Reyona sank into her chair, covered her face, and engaged in silent laughter for a full minute.
Oh, she knew she was being foolish by even allowing a man like him to be this close, but at the moment, she didn't care.
She had never felt so carefree as she did at the moment, and she loved it.
The day had started off on a good foot and she wouldn't mind feeling like this for the rest of her life.
Enough of the misery.
Her phone rang just as she was reaching for it.
Thinking that it was Celia calling again to see if her good boy had delivered her message, Reyona picked up the phone with the thought of a mischievous answer already forming in her mind.
Her smile faded when she saw the name displayed by the name-detecting software on her phone.
Sehima Hasanova!
"Oh shit!" Reyona mumbled as she quickly readjusted in her seat.
Oh, she was certain that the woman must have seen that clip.
Just like her, Sehima was a woman who prioritised her privacy.
Dropping her name in a hot mess like that was a bad idea.
A very bad one.
A very, very…
Reyona quickly picked up the call before the phone could disconnect.
"Uhm," she said, clearing her throat awkwardly and then "Hello."
"Well, hello there. If it is not the most controversial woman of the moment,"
"Ah, hmm. Hi," Reyona said with a tight smile as if the woman could see her.
"Do you know that I was not sure if it would be wise to strike a deal with a company with such a scandalous owner?"
Reyona's fluster stopped, and her voice became a bit firmer as she said, "There has been a misunderstanding. Things are not as they were portrayed."
"Oh, I know. There was a reason why I approached you that day. You are different. In a good way. Still, I was hesitant. After all, if I were to recommend you, I should be well convinced."
"That is true," Reyona said, for lack of something better to say.
"Then guess what my assistant showed me minutes ago?"
Reyona closed her eyes in embarrassment as she fisted her hand.
Oh, she knew what it was.
She was about to apologise for using her name like that when she heard Hasanova laugh and say, "That was brilliant. I knew there was a reason why I liked you!"
"What?"
"You are a crafty woman, Lanoth. One who knew how to grab and make use of the right opportunity to help her business. You have yourself a deal."
"What?" Reyona said again in shock and remembered how Maxwell had once teased her that she said that a lot. "Oh, I mean, I am so happy for this opportunity."
"Good. It is a big one. Make sure you don't let any other surprises ruin it for you."
"Certainly," Reyona answered with determination.
"Good. I knew I was right about you. I will be having a meeting with the higher-ups today. My assistant will get back to you later. I see myself coming down that way soon enough. We will meet and talk."
"Alright, I will look forward to that," Reyona answered as primly as she could, even as her stomach danced.
"And Lanoth?"
"Yes," she answered eagerly.
"You are lucky that I like you. I normally wouldn't let off anyone who used my name like that."
"I am…"
"See that it doesn't happen again."
"It wouldn't."
"Good."
The call was disconnected.
Reyona sat still for a moment as she processed what just happened.
A smile broke out on her face and bloomed steadily before she hooted, "Yes!"
Charlotte rushed in with a panicked look on her face.
She calmed down when she saw the delighted look on her boss's face.
Still, she asked, "Is everything okay, ma?"
Reyona stood up and came towards her with her arms outstretched. "Charlotte, you sweetheart."
She hugged her tightly as she said, "You are one of the best things that happened to me."
Charlotte was only hesitant for a moment before she hugged her back. "I am glad I could help. I am happy that you are this happy again, boss."
Reyona stepped back from the hug and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Guess who I just got off the phone with?"
"One of the companies that called back to continue their cooperation with us?" Charlotte guessed excitedly.
"What? Some companies called back?"
"Oh, that wasn't it?" Charlotte asked in surprise. "I called you earlier to tell you about it but you didn't pick up. Four of our former clients called back with an apology for not trusting you. They would like to come back to us and wouldn't even mind increased rates. The calls came through after you left yesterday but I wanted to give you the news this morning as a surprise. When I couldn't keep it to myself again last night, I called you but the calls went straight to voicemail."
"Oh my God," Reyona said in an overwhelmed whisper as she covered her face.
"Ma, is everything alright?"
"Yes, everything is fine, Charlotte. In fact, everything is more than fine," she said as she hugged her again. "Your video played a role in what happened too. So, thank you. Call the companies back. We will accept them all. Without any increment in charges. Call a meeting with the top-level executives in the next ten minutes as well. Let me share this huge news at once."
"Right away, ma," Charlotte said excitedly.
Reyona shook her head to herself as she said, "I think the storm is over."
"As it should, ma! As it should!"
Charlotte exclaimed in excitement and hurried out.
Reyona looked at the door as the thought of the events of the horrible past weeks ran through her mind in a gamut.
The thought that her company would finally regain its foothold overwhelmed her.
Tears of joy trailed down her face at the thought of it.