His breathing was harsh as he spoke, "Thank Goodness. I thought you wouldn't be in.""What is it this time?" I asked numbly. I couldn't even think straight anymore."The Luxe vogue logistics and warehousing partners called," he said as he spread out papers on my table. "They've raised their fees so they're demanding a year's fee in advance or we could as well look for other partners."Grace and I exchanged glances. Grace abruptly stood up. "I can't do this right now. I can't! You'll meet in the conference room," she erupted and stormed out of the door.I watched her leave. It was insane, all of these things that were happening. It was all happening in a blur that it was hard to keep track."Tell them we would pay," I told the accountant. "They should give us some days." Then I muttered under my breath, "this isn't the best time to start sourcing for new partners. Luxe vogue is literally in ruins."I dragged my feet to the conference room when the time for the meeting came. There were
MARK'S POVI turned with a start as the door to my office burst open. My assistant stepped in, his brows creased and eyes widened in a mixture of fear and worry."What did you barge in like that?!" I rose to my feet angrily.His breathing was uneven and he tried to steady it before he spoke. I wondered if he ran here. "Sydney is coming and with the expression on her face and with her strides, nobody could dare to stop her. Not even security. I cou-"My gaze swiftly slid to the door as it was roughly pushed open again. My assistant leapt away from the entrance way as Sydney barged in.She made a beeline for my desk and slammed her bag down on it. She directed the thunderous look in her eyes at me and yelled, "Mark, what exactly are you up to? Why are you making things difficult for me?"I raised my brows and cast a shocked glance at the slight crack she just made on my desk. I wondered what the cause of her anger was as I turned to my assistant who kept a cautious glance at Sydney. I n
SYDNEY'S POVAs expected of a company as large as GT Group, the executive office quickly prepared the contracts and proposals and brought it for Mark to review.I watched the man who brought the documents stand beside Mark and explained some things to him. "This is the termination of the acquisition proposal. We need your signature here," he pointed to somewhere in the paper, "and there."Mark nodded, as he went through them first. One in a while, he would squint his eyes and ask that something be explained and why it was done in a certain way and the man would explain everything to him then Mark would nod, seeming impressed.I was quite surprised when he claimed that he didn't know that I co-owned Luxe Vogue and Atelier Studios with Grace. If I was not raving mad, I would have burst out with laughter at the expression on his face when he tried to piece everything together.I had merely stormed here with the thought that he was doing all he was doing to cripple our company and buy it
SYDNEY'S POVThe both of us just remained there as we let his words hang in the air. His eyes stared into mine and mine into his. He seemed to be baring his emotions as he looked at me and let me look at him but he wasn't. There was still the unfathomable glint in his eyes that caused the hair on my body to stand at alert…as if my body might betray me.I tried to figure out if he meant what he said…He was joking, I told myself. He had to be joking because the last thing I would do is share his bed. I might be desperate to protect my company and prevent it from collapsing and becoming a shadow of its former self but I was not that desperate. If worse comes to worse then we would simply shut Luxe Vogue down and carry on with Atelier Studios."Are you still there, Sydney?" His breath fanned my face and his fingers made contact with my wrist as he attempted to bring my attention back to him.I kicked my lips. "I should be asking you if your senses are still intact?"His face lit up as he
SYDNEY'S POVFEW DAYS LATER"GT Group is really optimistic about Luxe Vogue," the reporter shook his head as the other one enunciated about the turn of events for Luxe Vogue. "It seems the company still has a promising future!""Of course," the other man said enthusiastically, "GT Group has invested a huge sum in the company and have you seen the rapid rise of their stock in just a few days? It's crazy, I tell you." Then he turned to the screen, "The men's clothing line of the Luxe Vogue is the new big fish. Investors are rushing at it, companies want to partner with it and their stock price keeps rising by the minute!"My gaze shifted from my laptop's screen to my office door that was just banged open. Grace burst into my office, her face alight with joy, "Sydney! Have you seen this?" She had her iPad in her grasp."I'm currently watching it," I laughed, my insides bursting with joy.She set her iPad on my desk as she took a seat on the other side. "Girl! Our company is the talk of t
SYDNEY'S POVGrace asked the moment I dropped the phone with brows creased her eyes alight with curiosity. "Did I just hear you say Sandra?" The name dripped from her lips with so much contempt, "Why was that name uttered in your conversation with Mark? Make it make sense."I placed my phone on the desk. "What you pieced together is what it is.""Come on, Sydney, lay it out to me. It doesn't make sense.""See? And yet you say he's your idol." I mocked and her eyes narrowed as she shot me a teasing warning glare. "Your idol is with your old rival, Sandra now. The claw lady whom Steven held up so she could claw your face."Grace groaned, "Oh please, don't even remind me of that."I laughed lightly. " Anyway. They're currently together so it's not your turn to be with your idol. You would have to wait for them to break up." Even though I sound like I didn't give a damn, which I don't, I still can't help but wonder why it had to be Sandra. Of all the women he could have chosen from. It ha
I got dressed in a simple little black dress, my feet were clad in nude heels with a matching purse. I part my hair in two and let each side frame my face. Lucas was finely tucked in a fine tuxedo - we decided to match colors so his tuxedo was black, with a nude shirt underneath.My and Lucas' arms were linked as we walked to the entrance of the auction. The security at the entranceway searched us with a beeping machine before we were allowed in.The auction house was already flooded by people when we got in and If Lucas had not specially had a seat reserved in his name at the VIP section in the front row, we probably would have ended up standing throughout the event. One of the ushers led us to our seats.As we approached our seat, I felt Lucas' hold on my hand tightened. I had been slightly distracted by the beautiful artworks on display but now that I looked ahead, I saw that the seats that the usher was leading us to were side by side with Mark's.Mark, whose attention wason an ug
"And look at this beauty!" The auctioneer's voice broke through my erratic train of panicky thoughts."The starting price for this one is Two hundred thousand dollars, nothing less."I knew the auctioneer was still talking but my mind didn't register any of his words. I could not get that glare that Mark gave me out of my head. Just thinking about it made my hand tremble. I plucked my purse from my lap and held it with a strong grip. Thankfully, my hands stopped shaking.I took a deep breath and looked up. Just as the auctioneer grinned widely - someone had probably increased the amount - and opened his mouth to speak, I heard Lucas say, "Five hundred thousand dollars."I whipped my head round to face him,my eyes bulging, "What?" I whisper-yelled."I asked if you wanted it, but you didn't respond.""So why are you bidding for it?" Even though the original amount of the bracelet was way more than that, I couldn't let him get it."Seven hundred thousand."Just as he looked over my shoul