"Sit down and be cool. Do not display any sign of weakness." The voice commanded as it noticed the abrupt change in Liam's posture.
Liam stuttered, his throat dry. The voice was quiet, even amused, but underlying that was an undercurrent of command that knotted his stomach. All his instincts screamed at him to run, but what could he do? He had no idea who was manipulating him, to what purpose, or what would be the result if he did not comply.
He gingerly lowered himself into the massive chair behind the desk. His hands clenched on the armrests, his body rigid as he struggled to keep his nerves in check.
"Good boy," the voice purred, almost teasing. "Now, don't fidget. Let them come to you. In order to uphold the image of a cold and ruthless CEO, you have to always keep them waiting and know when to approach you."
The door shut behind the two men as they entered with a suppressed confidence, their polished shoes making no sound on the plush carpet as they moved towards us.
One of them, a man in his middle age with piercing eyes, placed a thick file on the coffee table before them. Liam, seeing this, automatically got up and went over to the other couch; he sat down, mimicking their position but with a neutral face. He thought that If he was going to have to fake being acting CEO, he might as well do it properly and not get found out.
One of the men, a well-dressed businessman in his forties with slicked-back black hair, smiled at Liam. The smile was causing Liam to have the déjà vu sensation from that morning.
"Mr. Tian, I hope you had a comfortable trip."
Liam swallowed, his mind racing on what to do, whether to say it was alright or inform him he really wasn't the CEO and that this was a trap and he's trapped here and cannot get out. But he knew that if he did, the voice wouldn't spare his life. The voice wasn't tardy in commanding him. "Give him nothing. Simply nod. It's better to be poker so that they won't have any reason or weak point on you."
Liam did precisely that, his expression blank as he clenched his fist to let them believe that they had preyed too far.
The younger of the two men, with piercing eyes, leaned forward slightly. "To be frank, we did not expect you to agree to sit down with us. With the CEO of the Tianhu Group being so reclusive in recent months, we expected a rejection."
Liam's earpiece crackled momentarily before the voice spoke, "Say, 'Tianhu Group welcomes all productive partnerships. There was no necessity to refuse this meeting.'"
Liam repeated the words verbatim, his voice detached and emotionless. The men glanced at one another prior to nodding their approval.
The old man cleared his throat. "Down to business, then. We are from the Junwei Corporation. We are currently handling the Xian Grand Mall project—a multi-billion-dollar commercial complex that will be the largest in the region. But for this project to realize its full potential, we require the Tianhu Group's expertise and resources, particularly in construction and logistics."
Liam flipped open the file, skimming the words without really reading them. The voice in his ear hummed. "Go on, make them sweat. Flip the pages slowly. Give them the impression you're considering it seriously."
The young man continued, his tone growing more compelling. "This mall will not only have designer brands but also upscale restaurants, entertainment complexes, and business offices. The economic benefit will be huge, but more significantly, Tianhu's name will be at the forefront of such a colossal achievement."
Liam's hands hovered over the pages as the voice whispered again. "Say, 'Tianhu Group is always open to profitable ventures. Your proposal seems good.'"
Liam took a calculated breath and then spoke. "Tianhu Group is always open to profitable ventures. Your proposal seems good."
The two men straightened up in their seats, clearly pleased.
The older man leaned forward. "Then would you be willing to sign the initial agreement? That would solidify Tianhu's interest, and from there we can finalize terms."
Liam's muscles clenched. The voice was quick to order, "Hesitate. Express reluctance. Then agree."
He exhaled sharply, his fingers drumming the edge of the paper. "This is a big deal. I don't make snap decisions."
The younger man smiled reassuringly. "Of course. But with your signature, we can move forward with assurance, knowing that we have Tianhu's backing."
Liam swallowed hard. He felt he was being pulled further into something he didn't understand. His hesitation was real, but ultimately, he took the pen and signed. The two men smiled, standing up and bowing slightly in gratitude.
"Thank you, Mr. Tian. This partnership will be mutually beneficial."
Liam barely heard them. He had just signed as the CEO of Tianhu Group. What the hell had he done?
As the men collected their documents and left, the voice in his ear spoke again, now softer, almost amused. "You did well."
Liam exhaled shakily. "Is this over?"
The voice giggled. "For now. You're free to go."
Liam stood up, his legs shaking, but before he could move a step, the voice continued, "Tomorrow, you will be collected from your workplace in the afternoon by a black car. Be alone when it arrives."
Liam's fists clenched. "And if I don't?"
The voice laughed. "Don't you want to know who you're talking to?"
Liam snorted. "You can tell me now."
"Where's the fun in that?" the voice teased. "Besides, it's much more interesting to meet face to face, don't you think?"
Liam felt a shiver run down his spine. The room, which had been filled with the hum of business chatter, was suddenly menacingly silent. The voice had been playful, even cheerful, but there was something about the way it whispered into his ear that made him anxious.
"Sleep tight, Liam," the voice purred. "Tomorrow will be so much more enjoyable."
The earpiece went quiet, and Liam was left alone with the weight of what he had just done.