Chapter Twenty-Two

Irene

~Really, again?~ Irene wondered. Traffic had been a nightmare, and she barely made it in on time. When she arrived at the office, she saw Mr. Saunders nervously walking back and forth.

He didn’t even notice her coming in. She put her things down and headed for the coffee maker. When she handed him his cup, he looked at her, surprised. “When did you come in?”

“Just a few minutes ago. I already made you coffee.”

“I didn’t hear you; I was probably too deep in thought.”

Irene smiled. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah, just a lot of stress. An important deal that is about to blow up. I really hope Mr. Hunter can make it today.”

“Is he coming?” she asked, her eyes growing wide. She had never met the big boss in person.

“He said so, but—”

Just at that moment, some loud voices were heard coming from the elevator. A loud voice was grumbling and cursing. Someone was not in a good mood.

“Oh, no.” Mr. Saunders looked agitated. “He is in a bad mood. Take cover, Irene, hide yourself.”

“Do I really look like I am in the mood for any reports you may have? Get out of my sight! Leave me alone!”

Two tall, broad men came their way. The first one was the one who appeared to be terribly angry, and someone had the courage to approach him.

When they came closer, Irene recognized the second man. “Ethan!” she exclaimed and walked over to give him a hug. “What are you doing here?”

“Well”—he pointed with his thumb at Zach—“this is Zach, my best friend. Your boss.”

Irene looked surprised. The man that had come in with Ethan didn’t look like the infamous, hard businessman he was rumored to be.

He looked pale, with beads of sweat on his forehead. His hair was disheveled, his clothes wrinkly, and his posture sagged. He had an absent look in his eyes, and he looked like he could collapse at any moment.

“Good morning, sir.” Irene reached out her hand to shake her boss’s hand. “I am Irene, your new assistant.”

“Morning.” He didn’t even look at her. “Ethan, come with me to my office. I need to sit down.” His gaze went from Ethan to Christian. “Christian, we need to discuss a number of things. I’d like to see you in a bit.”

“Sure, Mr. Hunter. I’ll grab my things and will be there in a minute.”

Zachary turned around and walked into his office. Ethan gave Irene a wink. “It’s good to see you. Don’t mind his behavior. He’s not well, so his mood is even worse than usual.”

“Ethan!” Zach bellowed from his office. Ethan turned and walked after Zach.

Irene looked at Christian who came back from his office with some folders in his hands. “Do I make some coffee for Mr. Hunter and Mr. Harris?”

“Yes, that is alright.”

“Is Mr. Hunter feeling alright?”

“I don’t know. He looks ill, doesn’t he? Anyway, if you need me, I’ll be in Mr. Hunter’s office.”

A few hours later, Mr. Mercer arrived at Irene’s desk with Angelo behind him. “Good morning, young lady. Is Mr. Hunter present?”

“Yes, he is. If you could wait a moment, I’ll call him for you.” She picked up her phone and called Mr. Hunter’s office.

Angelo came forward and leaned against her desk.

“Mr. Hunter is still busy, but he told me he’ll be ready soon. You can sit over there in the armchairs.”

“Thank you.” Mercer strolled to one of the chairs and sat down.

“Irene, I wanted to apologize for my behavior last night.” Angelo looked at her with sad eyes.

“I’m sorry I had to cut our date off like that. I was pissed that our date got interrupted and I took it out on you. I shouldn’t have done that. Do you think you can forgive me? Do I get a second chance?”

“It’s alright, I understand.” Irene smiled politely. “Maybe we should meet again when you are not so busy anymore.”

“I’m not very busy; last night was just an emergency. Those don’t occur that often. I do have time for you. Please, let me make it up to you.”

“I’ll think about it. Is that okay? Don’t take it personally, but it’s a bit much in a short period of time.”

“Alright.” Angelo didn’t seem very happy with her reply. But after the things Jett had told her last night, she didn’t feel comfortable with him around anymore.

Christian opened the door of Mr. Hunter’s office. “Mr. Mercer, Mr. Romero, Mr. Hunter now has time for you.” The men walked into the office together.

The conversation in the office was heated. Even though the door was closed, Irene could still hear their raised voices, Hunter being the loudest of them all. Whatever Mercer had to tell him, he didn’t agree, apparently.

Zach

“This meeting is over; I am not discussing this! My land is not for sale! It’s not even property of the company. The land is my private property!”

This was unheard of! Mercer wanted Zach to sell his land, family land.

If he didn’t, the whole deal they’d agreed on was off the table. This wasn’t business anymore, this was blackmail! Zach wiped sweat off his forehead.

He still didn’t feel well. He felt weak, as if he could collapse any moment. He wasn’t as alert as usual, couldn’t read them like he usually could. Not to mention the pain he was in—it was unbearable.

Mr. Mercer gave him a sinister smile. “Not feeling well, Mr. Hunter? Feeling weak?”

“I don’t think that is of any of your concern.”

Ethan, who was standing beside Zach’s desk, protectively moved a little closer to Zach. He was fuming.

“Oh, I think it is. Maybe I can help you out.”

“I don’t think there’s anything you can do that my doctor can’t.”

“But I think there is, really.” Mr. Mercer’s smirk grew wider.

“What do you mean, Mr. Mercer? Come on, I’m not in the mood to play games.” Zach sighed; he was tired.

“I mean that I can make sure that the cause of your illness is taken care of.”

Zach leaned forward. He had a nasty feeling about what the man said. “How do you even know what is wrong with me, when I don’t even know it myself?”

“Oh, just a hunch. Some wounds that are not healing, some nausea, some abilities that are lacking? I’m just guessing.” Mercer shrugged his shoulders, his hands up in defense.

Zach leaned back in his chair, but quickly sat forward again because of his back. How did this guy know what he was going through? How did he know so well what was wrong with him? He frowned.

Mercer laughed out loud. “I think I guessed right? A little advice for you, Mr. Hunter. I would be nice to me if I were you. I have a solution for all your problems; you just have to agree to the deal.

“And if you don’t, I think you will have to face the consequences. You’ll soon be begging for my help, Mr. Hunter.”

“More blackmail, Mr. Mercer? Threatening my boss, Mr. Mercer?” Ethan stepped forward and leaned over the desk, right in front of Mercer’s face.

The muscles in his arms tightened. His eyes showed that he was fuming with anger. “I don’t think that is a good idea, Mr. Mercer!”

“Ethan, step back. Let me handle this.” Zach made a hand gesture to make Ethan retreat. “I am not agreeing to this deal of yours—not now, not ever!”

Mercer got up and reached out his hand to shake Zach’s. “Let me know when you change your mind.”

Zach also got up to let the men out but didn’t return Mercer’s gesture. When they walked out, he saw Mr. Romero head over to his assistant’s desk, whispering something to her.

Then he saw him kiss her on the cheek, and they both smiled. The closeness of the guy to his assistant made him even more angry than he already was. His instincts tried to get control. He wasn’t thinking straight. He yelled without even meaning to.

Everyone turned their heads and looked at him in surprise.

“Don’t flirt with my assistant, Mr. Romero! I do not allow relationships in the workplace!”

When the men were gone, Zach tried to calm down in his office. He looked at Ethan who sat on the opposite side of his desk. “What was that all about? How did he know about my injuries, about my weakness?”

“I don’t know, Zach, but this stuff is really getting shady. You need to watch out—he has just threatened you.”

There was a quiet knock on the door and when the door opened, the assistant came in with two cups of coffee on a tray.

“I thought you’d like some coffee.” She smiled. She stepped over to the desk and placed the cups on the desk.

When she picked up the tray, she looked at Zach and a worried frown appeared on her face. She placed her hand on his shoulder. “Are you alright sir? You look very pale. Are you in pain? Can I get you some painkillers?”

Zach jolted when he felt her hand on his shoulder. He felt a comforting warmth flowing through his body, and the place where her hand lay started to tingle. His instincts got restless and wanted to come forward.

He stared at her with wide eyes. Opening his mouth, he tried to say something, but he couldn’t. He was speechless— the feeling she was giving him with her hand on his shoulder was something he had never ever experienced before.

“Mr. Hunter?” Her eyes started to look even more worried.

He shook his head, trying to focus on the conversation. “Er, sorry, I got distracted for a moment. I, er, I don’t need painkillers, but thank you.”

When she let his shoulder go, he felt cold immediately. Like he had lost a part of himself. She started to walk away then stopped and turned around. “Let me know if you need anything, Mr. Hunter.”

He nodded at her to let her know that he understood. She closed the door behind her.