A Wife for the Billionaire
Chapter 34: RICHARD

Chapter 34: RICHARD

I watched her turn, her eyes pleading. She was truly desperate. All she spoke of, must really be hinged on this job.

But I have gotten my clerk, Cole Trail. She may have been more qualified in fashion than Cole, but he was better suited for the job and was qualified in the specified areas.

Her feet dragged to the exit as if she was expecting a call back. Her lips were moving, as if she had gone hysterical.

"Had I really dealt with her to the point of madness?" I asked myself.

I had wanted to deal with her, to break her. To make her regret and envelope her with shame, but it felt like this was too much.

Her sullenness as she made her way to the exit felt like a chisel chipping at my stone heart.

"No" I affirmed to myself, "I don’t feel pity for anyone, and definitely not for her"

I had a lot to worry about other than spending my time regretting or questioning my actions. Less than two hours for me to sit in a room flanked by people that half of them would love nothing more than to see me fail.

Four hours. That’s how long it usually lasts. Four hours of battering and poking at each other’s nerves. Four hours that I would sit there, reining myself from saying or doing anything that would warrant another sit-down from my ever-peace-seeking father.

Four good hours, usually ending with more problems than those previously listed on the agenda and with barely half solved.

Four hours of launching blames and testing my patience. Four hours that I dread to the last second and heaven knows were it not for the company’s deed, I would have dissolved board meetings especially with the Lords in attendance.

Those old hags hardly contribute anything meaningful for the entire duration of the meeting. Their attendance is merely out of courtesy as the deed specified.

The Elders or Lords, or any other presumptuous title they prefer to be referred to, are usually more concerned with profits and their shares.

But there’s one thing they love more, scheming to make sure that whoever sat on the far end of the table didn’t bear the last name ’Wellington’.

With the futility of all of their attempts so far, they settle for taunting me and my dad to see if we would break any section of the deed, so they might characterize on it to our demise.

This time I would be needing every bit of restraint technique I had or learnt to stop myself from snapping at anyone.

With such aggravating news from Claire, this meeting would be a true test of my restraint.

"Vera!" I called, "get me those files I requested for yesterday. I wonder why I’m yet to have them on my desk."

"Um... Richard, I actually have a favor to ask of you?"

I looked up from my laptop to see the

owner of that voice, Sofia standing an

inch away from the door.

"A favor" I repeated, crossing my legs.

"This should be interesting, pray tell what do you want me to do for you?"

She had her gaze fixed to my desk, unable to meet my eyes as she answered,

"Um..." she began stuttering, clearly finding it hard to express herself, unlike the person who had stood before me minutes ago.

I had a notion that what she was about to say would cost her a fortune of that pride she had. But as defeated as she was, she was still struggling to let go. She may look downcast, but I knew stubbornness brimmed within her.

Obstinate to accept that she had lost to me. Headstrong to let go of her pride and brazen to accept her embarrassment, she fought to bend her knee for me, even though she was the one making the request.

"Spit it out already, I don’t have all day" I snapped at her.

"Excuse me," Vera said, pushing past her. She was still pissed at her for the reading and how it all ended.

"Sorry," Sofia quipped as she shifted from the entrance.

"I was wondering if... well, I know you are not prone to giving favors, but I hope you could make an exception. Not that I deserve it or anything, but I really hope you will grant me, um... a tour before I leave. I really didn’t get the chance to join the others and I may never get this shot ever, so..."

Those weren’t the words I had expected to hear. Well, I had anticipated the pleading and begging part, but a tour... as a favor, that was a surprise.

"You may leave, Vera" I said, dismissing the gossipmonger who had remained in guise of upholding proper office ethics, where an employee must stay before her employer until dismissal.

Vera has never been an obedient employee, neither was she thorough in observing the work ethics. And now, look at her trying to uphold them when she couldn’t even learn to knock before entering.

"Yes Sir" she murmured retreating.

"The door?" I quipped, as she left it open.

Just as the door latched shut, I faced Sofia and said,

"Well, I will be damned, Sofia Blake it seems you have finally learnt of your place, but I’m yet to hear a proper apology for the things you said and the actions you displayed"

Her raised eyebrows hinted at defiance. She was trying really hard not to say something, or should I say, she was trying really hard not to say exactly what was on her mind.

"We both know that I’ve already apologized prior, but If you are not going to grant me the favor, please just tell me now. Don’t waste my time like you did with the interview" she replied.

"Obviously, you are yet to fully learn of your place, but I’m sure you will get there. Now about your favor, like you said I’m not prone to giving favors neither do you see me wearing the red and white of Santa, so my dear_"

"Forget it" she interrupted, "what was I thinking? People like you never change. You don’t feel and I was a fool to think a part of you would understand, but then again now I realize you’d never understand what it means to want something really bad that you are willing to go to extreme just to have it. I’m sure everything you’ve ever wanted was handed to you on a silver platter, so why would you understand?"

"You would be surprised"

Those were the words that I had wanted to say in response to all she had said. But I didn’t. Why would I prove anything to her? She has already decided and arrived at conclusions, so why change her mind?

She had no idea that each day of my life... each day spent to the latter was a privilege. With my condition, death was imminent. I may have been told that I have 15 years, but I would be a fool if I truly believed that it couldn’t be any day, or any moment.

"I knew there was still this part of you left. Was almost beginning to believe, I’ve squashed it already, but here you are with your decisions and conclusions. But let me get one thing straight, you knew I wouldn’t grant you such a favor, so why ask in the first place, or are you a fan of always getting ’no’ as an answer?" I asked.

"You know what, just let it go."

"No, no and no. Sofia Blake, answer me why did you ask if you were already sure of the answer you would receive?"

"Perhaps a part of me, that same stupid part of me that had known you would never give me the job, but it believed there was a chance. That part of me thought there was a slight chance that you might agree, especially now that... em... you’ve won"

She hated admitting it... that I had won. That I had defeated her.

"Well, it’s not my fault that a part of you is adamantly stupid, but erm," I smacked my lips, already regretting what I was about to say.

"What if I surprise you?"

"No offense, but if this is just another ploy to get my hopes up only for it to be squashed on the cold stones of defeat then, forget it. We both know, you are incapable of such surprises" she answered.

"It baffles me, the way you assert to knowing me and what and what I’m either capable of doing or incapable of doing"

"Well, I’m I wrong? Prove it then, show me that this is not Richard Wellington"

I hated her guts. Every regret or pity I had shown her... I regret having to feel that. Especially for someone like her, someone so irritatingly annoying.

I knew what she was playing at. I knew she wanted me to fall straight into her plot, but she was yet to know that I, Richard Wellington don’t play, mostly if the game doesn’t suit me.

I’m difficult to be persuaded and I’m too smart to be nudged into doing what I don’t want to do.

"Bravo, Sofia. You know for a moment there you almost had me? With just a push, you could have gotten what you wanted. You could have played me exactly how you intended, but here’s the shocker, I, Richard Wellington can never ever be played. Get that into that dumb skull of yours and my dear, I have nothing to prove to you. Love me or hate me, I don’t fucking care. Run along now, I’m done with you." I finished, returning my focus to my laptop.

"Wait!" She yelled.

And just like that, I knew the game had become mine to play.