Chapter 13

*Lucas*

Wow! the bitch really cut the call on me? She really did that? It was her effrontery and audacity for me. What right did she have? Did she really know who i am? What right did she have?! I was seething, boiling with anger because no woman had ever done something like this to me. Women worshipped the very ground i walked on, all wanting to fuck me. Kiara had some guts and i was going to show her just who she was dealing with. I wasn't going to alllow this go unpunished and the very idea of punishment triggered something in me, something that had been buried deep inside my heart for many years.

I was excited at the prospect of punishing her but i had to be careful because the last thing i wanted was a repeat of what happened the last time i had ''punished'' a girl. The memories were still fresh on my mind, still young and brewing and i hated that it was giving me a cause for concern but i had to push it out of my mind. What i had now on my table was far more important than anything and i had to make sure i got it all under control.

''Hey son,'' Annalise smiled, walking into the office.

''Hey.'' i sighed.

I hadn't yet briefed her on what i and Kiara had discussed because i had been too busy with so many thoughts. Logan had left when i placed that call with Kiara and i was quite glad he had left because if he was still around, she would have embarrassed me which was something i hated.

''How are you? How did your meeting with Miss Bell go?'' she asked.

I briefed her quickly on what had transpired and the look on her face was one of pity and amusement. I knew why she was amused because she never in her life thought that a woman would mess me up the way Kiara was doing now.

''Very funny,'' i rolled my eyes.

''So when is she supposed to give you a reply?'' she asked.

''Any minute from now.'' i sighed.

I didn't want to tell her what me and Logan had discussed. She had been there for me for a long time now and the last thing i wanted her to do was to feel worried about me. I needed her to be neutral in all of this until i figured whether to tell her or not.

''Okay.'' she smiled, rising to her feet.

Just as she was about leaving, Jasmine placed a beeper on the intercom and i knew an urgent message had come. It was either from my business partners or my agents scattered all around the world. Yes, i had agents all over the world that gave me information on my allies and enemies. As a business man, i have had my own fair share of enemies and over the years, i had grown much wiser than how i was back then.

''Jasmine.'' i said.

''Miss Barclay is here to see you.'' she said.

I did a double take, looking at the phone in my hand like it could somehow show me Kiara's image. That was very fast from her. It hadn't been so long we talked and now, she was here to no doubt give me her reply.

''Show her in.'' i said.

This was the first time she would be coming into my office and i hated that i wanted to impress her. She meant nothing to me, nothing at all but yet why did my heart skip several beats when Jasmine mentioned her name?

''Alright sir, we're coming in now.'' she said.

''Looks like she wants to set things rolling.'' Annalise chuckled.

''I guess so.''

She wished me luck before walking out of the office and somehow, i knew i would need it because when facing someone as tough as the lady walking into my office at that moment, you would need all the luck in the world.

''Nice building, nice office.'' she said, looking around.

My heart soared with pride upon hearing what she said but i trampled it down because i had no feelings for her whatsoever but seeing her here in my office, dressed in a tight black skirt did wonders to my brain and my mind. My God! She was so sexy. She oozed this sex appeal that no lady i had ever been with could pull off. Kiara was a goddess and i knew i would have a hard time with her.

''How dare you cut the call on me?!'' i barked.

Luckily, my office was soundproof and Annalise or Jasmine could never hear what we were saying. The floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the beautiful city of New York caught her attention but she snapped out of it soon enough to stare at me.

''I can cut the call on whoever i want.'' she said, taking her seat.

''Its your audacity for me.''

''I have made a decision.'' she said.

''Good, let me-''

She cut me off by placing her hand in the air and like the fool i sometimes was, i kept quiet. Who was this lady? Kiara was something else and i had a feeling that she might give me some tough times.

''But with my decision comes some terms we both have to agree on.'' she said, pulling out a single piece of paper from her handbag.

She placed it on the table, sliding it over to me with a smirk on her face. Just what has she cooked up? As far as i was concerned, i didn't trust her one bit and i wasn't going to pretend that i did.

''You will find there, written in the clause that on no circumstances will both of us have other partners, be it sexual or non-sexual. So this is between you and me alone. Also, anyone who violated this rule will pay some damages which will be a hundred percent of the shares of either companies.'' she said.

''Are you kidding me right now?'' i seethed.

This was absolute nonense! What sort of woman was she anyway? I couldn't stay shacked up with her for as long as the three years she had stated in the contract.

''Does it look like i am kidding?'' she snapped. '' You want to get married to me Lucas and help my company and i do not need to tell you what that means. You will be getting married to me, Kiara Barclay, the woman who was most sought after by men. Do you really think i come cheaply?''

This woman had played a fast one on me, leaving me with no choice but to accept her conditions. Thinking about it now, i realized that three years wasn't really a big deal and soon, it would be over.

''So what do you say Mr Bell?'' she asked.

I looked through the contract again, trying to find a loophole i could use in my defence but there was none. She had thought about this to the core and there was no way i could avoid this.

''I agree.'' i said, finally.

''I didn't think otherwise.'' she said, rolling her eyes.

She produced a pen from her bag and in that moment, a man walked into my office and i had no doubt that it was her lawyer. God! This woman was smart and i had underestimated her. She knew that for this to work, she needed someone, preferably a lawyer who would sign as a witness.

''What gave you the right to just barge in here?'' i seethed.

''Oh, your personal assistant didn't tell you? He was with me all along but i decided to set the ball rolling while he waited outside.'' she smirked.

I took the pen from her, signing on the column that was mine before handing it back to her. She did the same before passing it to her lawyer to preferred to remain quiet and i knew then that it was a done deal. I was going to have the most misreable three years of my life with this demon of a woman.

''Its a deal. I will begin wedding preparations in earnest and it would be best if you did the same thing.'' she said, rising to her feet.

''This weekend, i do not want to drag this any further.'' i said.

''Great, see you around.'' she said before storming out of my office.

I swivelled my chair around so that it was now facing the window. My thoughts were on what had just happened. In that moment, there was little to nothing i could do. Kiara and me had just entered a silent war and in that moment, i wanted more than anything else to be the victor.