He declined Charlotte's offer of a coffee and sat down even before Reyona could.
Reyona raised her eyebrows behind him and said, "Do make yourself comfortable" before she went to take her seat.
"Oh, thank you. I plan to. This is a rare opportunity so I will make good use of it," he said with a smile.
Reyona was beginning to regret her intention to be civil to him.
Still, she forced pleasantness onto her face as she sat and said, "What do you want?"
"I am here to tell you again that the offer to work with Multilinks is still very available."
"I…"
"Please hear me out before I lose my nerves," he said with a smile that showed that losing his nerves was the last thing he would ever do.
Reyona gave him a look to let him know that she was not fooled by his words, yet she said nothing and inclined her head to say that he should go ahead.
"Thank you," he said emphatically as he leaned forward on the table like he was about to tell her a secret.
He steepled his fingers together and continued. "You see, I am not just here to dangle this business deal in front of you but also to apologise as well. Let me start from the very beginning. I have not been on my best behaviour since we met."
"I don't think you have any idea what best behaviour means," Reyona said before she could stop herself.
He gave her a look and said "Ouch, I am trying to apologise here."
Reyona cleared her throat to hide her smile. "Yes, I can see that you are. Go ahead"
"Thank you," he said in such a way that Reyona had to bite the insides of her cheek to avoid laughing out loud.
She chalked up her giddy state to what had happened that morning.
It had nothing to do with his half-assed attempt at an apology at all.
"Our first meeting was an unfortunate one, though I wouldn't trade it for anything and I wouldn't really take back most of what I said. You are a very beautiful woman and any man in his right senses would be attracted to you."
Reyona bristled at that statement.
All joviality was gone from her face as she said, "Are you done? Because if you are, I have other things to do."
Maxwell only gave her a considering look as he leaned back in his chair and said, "I am only saying the truth. Why would you be offended by that?"
"Because it is poor form to come to someone's office this early to talk nonsense. Whatever you came here for, consider it done, heard, and forgotten. Now, please…"
"Of course, I regret the part where I wrongly accused you of playing games. I regret the part my stepsister took in ruining your marriage. I regret holding my demands over a contract that your company won fair and square. I am sorry for the fact that my man, who happens to be someone you know, found a way to get that demand done even though I did not ask him to do it." All these, he said hurriedly.
But when he saw the disbelief and anger on Reyona's face as he said the last part, he paused and looked at her sincerely.
"I mean it. I truly asked him for help, but he gave the impression that he was not going to do anything about it. His clients are that important to him and I know better than to ask him further, of course. I have no idea that he was going to spring that on you."
"Yet you reaped all the benefits," Reyona said, even as a part of her started to believe that he really did not pull that stunt on her.
"Well, technically, my sister did. He did his magic and she was exonerated from the court case and now she is in..."
"Are you out of your mind? Does it seem to you like I give a damn about the state of your homewrecker sister?" Reyona asked in a low, cutting tone.
"Oh, yes. I am sorry. I…" Maxwell rubbed his hand through his hair and looked back at her. "You are right. That was stupid of me. There is just something about you, you know. You have this ability to take me off-kilter."
"And I am supposed to be flattered by that?"
"No, not at all," Maxwell said and he closed his eyes.
He opened them back and said, "Now, before I totally make an ass of myself, I will just say this. I am sorry about everything. Now to business, you really need to take action about the contract fast. This has gone on long enough. Andrews is convinced about you and his wife is crazy about you. I still have to ask what you did to her. But that aside,? We can't keep this going any longer. You have to come in to sign the documents and start."
Reyona folded her arms and asked, "Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?" Maxwell asked.
"Trying to convince me. Coming over all the way to tell me about this. You already got what you wanted from me so why do you care? Is this a pity thing? You feel sorry for me because of my recent loss and this is you being the gallant man?"
"Oh, my dear CEO, if you know anything about me, then you will know that playing chivalry is the last thing I would do."
"I can easily believe that," Reyona said automatically.
Maxwell let out a short laugh before he said, "You sure know how to cut a man down to size, don't you?"
"I find that most men need cutting most of the time," Reyona responded.
"You win," Maxwell said. Then, as a smile crept on Reyona's face, he added, "For today."
He stood up before she could respond and said, "I know it was more of a front at first but the offer to take on Rohan Automobile Inc.'s account is still on too. Before you ask, no, this is not a charity thing. I don't do charity work with any of my businesses. I have seen what you have done for other companies. I want you to do the same with mine. Just say when."
Reyona wondered what his ulterior motives were. So while looking out for his reaction, she said, "Thank you for your trust in ReyDexter. I will have Phil take care of the account. He is one of my best men. He is very vast in everything automobile and he would treat your account just as much as I would."
Maxwell didn't bat an eye as he said, "Okay then. If you trust him, then I do. Let me know when we can start."
Reyona had been surprised that he did not insist that she work directly on the account but she didn't let that show on her face. Instead, she smiled a bit as she said, "We are looking forward to working with you, sir."
Normally she would have sealed such a statement with a handshake but the remembrance of what happened earlier made her keep her hands to herself.
"The pleasure is all mine," he said with that thing in his voice again.
She should have at least seen him off to the door but she stayed where she was behind her desk as she said, "I bid you a good day, sir. We will get in touch with you as soon as possible."
Anyone hearing her at that moment would think she was the one doing him a favour. Reyona knew she was being a little less professional but all of a sudden, she just wanted him to leave as fast as possible.
She had no idea why the temperature in the room seemed to have risen in the past few minutes.
Why was she just realising that? Charlotte must have done something to the thermostat.
He nodded and turned to leave.
Just as he got to the door, he turned to her and asked, "So, I am forgiven, right?"
"Yes," she answered automatically.
Anything to get him out of that door.
"Good. Now, will you please pick up Celia's call? She is convinced that I am a villain," he said with a sheepish smile.
Reyona was confused "Celia? Andrew's wife? What does she have to do with..." His eyes narrowed as the answer came to her. "She is the reason you are here today, isn't she?"
"Yes," he said simply.
Bastard
"So, all that bullshit about..."