Chapter 76: Chapter 76

KRISTIN

"Kristin speaking," I murmured into the receiver and held it with my shoulder to my ear while my fingers busily typed orders into the computer on the table.

"Kristin."

I knitted my brows, my fingers pausing as I tried to filter the voice.

"Dija?"

From the other end, a hum I recognized aroused from pity, filtered into my ears.

"You really are a strange man, Kristin." She paused for a while, and I was left to ponder why she had called my office line instead of the usual personal number she was used to. And how the hell had she even gotten my office number anyway? "I didn't receive your call or text."

I looked at the cup of coffee I met on my table that morning—courtesy of Edith. I had not even taken a sip from it, but I badly wanted to. I don't know why it feels like a good coffee makes the day better.

"I was expecting your call," I said. "You walked out of here really mad the other day."

She exhaled. Then her voice dropped considerably low. "Of course, I was mad. You made me mad. Why did you push me out like that?"

Huh?!

I opened my mouth to speak, to ask her when I had pushed her out of my office, but I realized it would make the conversation longer.

"We both know I didn't do that," I argued. "You were the one who refused to sign the second contract."

She whined on the other end like a baby. "Fine, I'm sorry. You should apologize too."

I hadn't done anything other than refuse to oblige her request of having another feel of my dick. I mean, it's my dick and nobody else's. At this age, I should be able to say what I want to do with any part of my body when I want to do it, and the exact manner I want.

Fuck this Dija bitch!

I was going to cut the call there and then but the smiles of my workers flashed before my eyes.

They celebrated greatly after I secured the contract with her, and they were the ones giving me the necessary support I needed to get the second.

Whatever decisions I had in mind had to first go through a thorough inspection to see if they would be affected.

"I'm sorry," I sighed. I had woken up very happy like it had been for the past month since June and I... well, you know; and the sight of coffee on my table had also added to my happiness even though I hadn't even taken a sip from it. Edith should drink it herself, 'cause I have no intention to. "Let's start on a fresh note. When will you come over for us to finalize the second contract?"

Her laughter echoed annoyingly into my ears and made my stomach churn.

Dija is too flirtatious, and it's not even sexy at all. Like, why the hell can't she get a modest level of self-respect?

The very thing I dreaded since her call came in wafted through the receiver:

"YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO..."

The thought of taking Dija on the table again—or in a hotel this time around; I don't know what the fuck she has in mind—repulsed me so greatly that I had to move the handset away from my ear to a respectable distance that the cord could allow, so my frustrated groan won't get to her.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said firmly, deciding to lay it out plainly to her.

"Oh, come on, you know. Stop being innocent. It doesn't suit you."

"I am lost," I maintained in a strong tone. "What are you talking about, Miss Himaldila."

A very loud silence descended on the room. I don't know if it was my ears, but the voices from outside my office ceased.

I was almost scared to move because of the weight of the silence. It felt like I would miss a piece of important information if I did as much as let out air through my nostrils.

Then her voice came again, breaking the spell of silence.

"Oh, it's no longer 'Dija'?"

Silence again.

I palmed my face while my brain ran in a blur. Some questions have no answer. What the fuck am I supposed to say?

We are business partners! Yes, I agree we lost ourselves in lust some time ago, but that doesn't give her the right to become entitled and request my cock whenever she wants like it's her damn meal.

"Miss Himaldila, what's going on?" I asked in the best 'let's-be-professional' voice I could muster. She scoffed, then suddenly started laughing.

It was a dry laugh, almost mocking. I could see her lips spread on her face as the evil laughter rolled out, and the little crinkle at the corner of her eyes that made the entire smile plastic.

"You won't know what hit you, Kristin," she exhaled. "Nobody messes with me."

"I'm not messing with you."

"You are making me look like a goddamn fool."

"I sincerely apologize if you, in any way, found my words agitating. I didn't mean to sound disrespectful."

"You are really seeking to destroy all we share," she announced like it was the end of the fucking world. "I don't know who you get your advice from, but trust me, this will not end well for you. I will advise you to sit down and reconsider your decisions."

"I have made my decision," I sat up and let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding. "This is my decision: It would be an honour to sign a second contract with you, and I'd love to see the heights this business chemistry takes us to."

"You're testing me, Kristin!" she suddenly screamed.

I blinked.

Oh my God, is it that serious? I thought... Good lord, I thought she was just pretending to be sex-starved.

"Are you sure you're not drunk?" I quietly asked.

I could hear her breathing now. She sounded so pissed. Only the universe can tell what I did wrong.

"Do I sound drunk?!!!!" she exploded.

I pushed the phone away from my ears and looked around to be sure nobody heard it too.

Okay, I'm alone in my office still dressed in the Orange-and-white polo and neatly-pressed plain trousers I wore before leaving the house in the morning, and nobody had heard—no, was hearing—the screams which still echoed from the phone.

I just hope she doesn't destroy something within the telephone. I didn't bother pressing it to my ears because her voice was so loud. Voicing out the replies in my head wasn't possible because most of the things she said didn't deserve a reply.

"... WHAT THE HELL DO YOU TAKE ME FOR?!!..."

A business partner, how about you?

"... DO YOU REALIZE YOU COULD LOSE EVERYTHING?..."

Excuse me, is that a question?

"... I FUCKING PUSHED YOUR RETARD OF A COMPANY INTO LIMELIGHT!!!!!..."

And I'm grateful to her for that. Besides, my company was never, and will never, be a retard.. I've been on the news from the first day I opened the doors to this establishment. I'm not one of those people who just jump into stuff because they see people doing it. I fucking did my research! I made plans. Goddammit, I know the sacrifices I made to be here!

And my company was doing okay before we collaborated with hers.

"I can't lose everything over this, Dija. My company was doing okay before I met you. How can you —"

"I have my ways, Kristin. You seem to forget who I am," she laughed, sounding more and more like a bitch I failed to see her as from the first day I met her. "You are playing with fire, one that will leave a scar for life."

I opened my mouth to speak, to tell her that I had a lot of work on my table to take care of, but the slow opening of my door made me pause and look up, only to see Edith by the door, smiling at me.

Who the hell told Edith that she has outgrown knocking and waiting for my reply before coming into my office?