Chapter 23: XAVIER POV
Should I trust her?
No. Absolutely not.
There is no reason for me to trust her, she's just a business colleague.
She's only helping me for 25% of the company, I remind myself.
I knew she was only helping for her own personal gain, but it wasn't hard to let my mind wander and believe that she was doing it out of the kindness of her heart.
I didn't even want to control myself, I wanted to let myself believe that she was helping me because she wanted to.
Because she cared.
Kissing me in front of Sofia, dancing on me at the strip clubbing, wanting to sleep with me last night—I hoped she did it because, secretly, she still wanted me.
I knew that wasn't true.
She didn't want me, she mocks me.
It's all a game to her, how easily I melt in her hands.
The more control I gave her of myself, the more I would be a mockery in her eyes, and I was a mockery in her eyes.
That's better than being nothing to her.
Whether she used me for her own entertainment or because she felt something, it was worth it to be with her even for a moment.
It was foolish.
I knew I was being an idiot, by giving in to her, by breaking the professional barrier whenever I could but it was so easy.
She hypnotism me and it was like my mind wasn't working, because in this game my mind wasn't playing.
My heart was.
And my heart was so excited to be part of the game that it didn't care that it was going to lose.
"This doesn't look good." Leroy comes into my office. He's got a spring in his step like he just won the lottery.
"Only you can give me the bad news in such a happy way." I raise an eyebrow.
"This isn't good," he said, pointing to the document in his hand. "But I am."
"What's going on?"
"Another company has decided to stop working with Kings Corp," he tutted.
I groaned. "Who is it?"
"The Seakale Group," he said. Seeing my face, he decided to leave, placing the documents on my desk and exiting my office.
The Seakale Group were a very good customer, who have been working with Kings Corp. for very long. I wonder why they left us.
"Good afternoon." I had decided to call their CEO.
"Mr King, how can I help you?" she asked.
"I've received paperwork which suggests you are deciding to end your relationship with Kings Corp.?" I asked.
"Yes, that's correct," she said.
"And the reason is?" I asked.
"That's a private and personal matter," she said coldly.
"Alright. Don't tell me,” I sighed.
"I wish Kings Corp. good luck in its future," she said.
"Sure you do." I rolled my eyes and ended the call.
I didn't have much time to be upset about that because as soon as I ended the call with the Seakale group my phone immediate rang again.
"Xavier King," I answered.
"Good afternoon, Mr King," someone with a British accent replied.
"Why are you calling me, Chopra?" I asked.
"Chill out, Xavier," he scoffed. "Meet me at my office in an hour."
"Why would I do that?" I asked. He's not my business partner and right now I can't afford to focus on anything except my business.
"Just come," he said more strictly.
"I have no reason to see you."
"It's regarding Miss Davis,” he said.
Well, now the situation is a little different.
"If it's regarding Miss Davis, then why are you calling me?" I asked. I didn't want to seem like I was fixated on Amelia.
"Look, Xavier, I know you want to come. Stop being so difficult about it."
"I can be there at 11. I have a day full of meetings,” I said.
"Fine." He hung up.
My mind can't help but think about what he could possibly tell me. I decide to push those thoughts away and focus on my day of meetings.
At about 10:30 I manage to leave my office and drive down to Mr Chopra's office. The road was empty, but the drive still took 20 minutes.
After confirming with security, I took the elevator to Chopra's office and knocked on the door.
"Evening," he greeted me, shaking my hand heartily. Since when is he in such a great mood.
"What's going on, Chopra?" I asked bluntly. I didn't have time for beating around the bush.
"Take a seat." He gestured to the chair opposite him as he sat down too.
I huff, but I know that he's not going to talk until he wants regardless of what I say so I listen.
"First of all, thank you for meeting with me," he said slowly.
"Can you cut the theatrics and just get on with it?"
"Ooh, no bullshit. No wonder you're such a great businessman—you can sense shit before it hits you," he complimented me. "That's going to make what I say a whole lot more painful."
My eyebrow rose. "What?"
"You're working with that lovely ex-wife of yours, aren't you?" he asked.
"Yes, why?"
"Well, I wouldn't do that if I were you," he said.
"Just get to the point," I said. "I don't have time to waste."
"You ever wonder why Kings Corp. is losing business so fast?" he asked. "Especially since you partnered with Amelia?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"What I'm trying to say, Xavier," he began, "is that Miss Davis is not trying to help Kings Corp. but actually putting it in more loss."
"You need to watch what you're saying about my business partners." I suddenly became defensive of her.
"Don't believe me?" he asked and pulled his phone out, opening the voice memos app. "Listen to this."
"And how exactly are you going to gain ownership of Kings Corp?" I heard Chopra's voice aske.
"That's confidential, but start practising how you're going to get that partnership with me, Mr Chopra."
"She admits it herself." He shrugged. "If you still don't believe me, then I don't care. I benefit regardless of how this goes."
My fists clench, anger curled hot in my gut. I felt furious but at the same time sickly overwhelmed.
"Why are you telling me?" I asked. There had to be an ulterior motive.
"If Miss Davis succeeds, then she becomes the best," he said, "and quite simply, I'm the best, and it needs to stay like that."
I'm speechless, sitting at his desk. I'm too embarrassed to say anything to him and I'm too ashamed to face myself.
My fascination with having her in my life again completely blinded me to any of her plans.
She won the game.
Mr Chopra cleared his throat to break the silence. "She's out to ruin you."