"you're alone" the middle aged man was sitting in his study as Zayne opened the door and stepped in. "Have a sit" he gestured and Zayne sat.
"Let's make this quick. I have things to do" Zayne looked nonchalant. He really didn't like this "old man"
"Tell me, where's he?" Zayne knew who he was asking about.
"He's busy and doesn't have time to see you." Zayne remained calm and expressionless.
"And you?''
"You're annoying me now. I thought you wanted to discuss business " Zayne looked at the man who was silent for a while before speaking.
"I wanna work with the Lees." He said.
Zayne smirked....he was expecting that. But hearing it makes him feel good for a really funny reason.
"Oh?'' he adjusted his necktie."you wanna be partners with the Lees. Why?" Zayne wanted to play. He liked it.
"Black's need to get back up and both our companies will to well together. Don't you think?" He looked at Zayne with pleading eyes.
"You didn't want anything to do with the Lees before. And now that Black's hitting rock bottom you need us. Understandable, we're the best" he nodded his head slowly and frowned.
"Please Mr Lee. I really need this if I don't join hands with the Lees this company will go bankrupt"
Zayne expression softened. He sighed.
"Okay. I'll schedule a meeting with J"
Mr Black looked happy. He wasn't expecting Zayne to even give him a chance to see the boss.
"Thank you. I'm looking forward to it" he smiled.
"I'll take my leave now" he extended his hand for a handshake and Mr Black accepted it, even using his other hand.
"That's enough " Zayne smiled and withdrew his hand. Just like that, he left.
****************************
Tessa was in her room. She was exhausted and really needed rest. She stared at the ceiling thinking about many things at the same time.
Wasn't she too young to start thinking so much?
What if she died of overthinking?
She kept think about different things.
Her family, her life, and everything in between.
She had to find a way to take her family outta the shit they're in. She hated seeing her parents suffer so much.
"Shit, I lost my phone. Ugh...." She hissed in frustration.
"What do I do with my life?" She exhaled loudly for the nth time that day.
"Life really isn't fair. Why does it have to be my family?"
She didn't know what sin her family committed that was making them suffer so much.
She hated seeing her family suffer so much.
She hated how people look for her family everything just to make her parents pay debts and then humiliate them. She hated seeing her parents beg and cry so much.
All her jobs didn't help. She needed a bigger income. She needed a good job but how will she get it?.
"I'll just find another job somehow " she made up her mind. She was gonna make a better life for her family.
Lee was compelled to intervene and support Black Industries to avert a potential collapse. Zayne indicated that he would coordinate a meeting with J, and Mr. Black expressed strong confidence in a positive resolution.
Zayne left Mr. Black's residence and made his way directly to his secret hideout, where Fernando remained bound. "At last," he muttered, "time to finish what he started after everything he's done."
Meanwhile, in a sleek, dimly lit office, a man sat diligently at his desk, immersed in paperwork. His pen moved swiftly across documents, his focus unwavering. So absorbed was he in his task that he failed to notice his secretary calling out to him.
"Sir" she called louder than before and the man finally looked up.
"Yes?" He stared at her waiting for her to say what she had to say so that he could go back to his work.
"Uh...the chairman called he said he'd been trying to reach you but you're not answering" she spoke.
"And?" He looked at her patiently waiting for her to speak
"He said he wants you to go home or if he dies he'll blame you." The last part of the sentence was hard to say but it was what she was told and she had to deliver the message.
J smirked knowing exactly what he's old man wanted. "It's okay you don't take to shake so much. Your hands are shaking. Well, I'll talk to him. You can leave now "
"Yes, sir" she bowed politely and left.
"That man..." He shook his head but didn't get back to work instead, he called his grandfather.
"Grandpa...."
"Son, when will you come back home? Don't you remember that you have a family that needs you?" He'd been avoiding the calls because of his grandpa's nagging. He sighed.
"I'll come home when I'm ready. You know I have a lot to take care of." He didn't know what to say or do anymore.
"Okay. Just be quick. And bring a girl with you. I know you are not dating anyone you're just making the excuse of being busy" J smiled. He knew why.
"There's a girl. And I'm gonna make her mine" just the thought of the girl beings his makes hime happy.
"Yes son. That's it"
They both chatted for another minute before the call ended.
"Tessa...." He murmured to himself and closed his eyes.
"What have you done to me?....." From work, his thoughts drifted to Tessa....
TO BE CONTINUED.....