RAYVIN: FALLING FOR THE WRONG BILLIONAIRE.

CHAPTER SEVEN

J A M E S 

Since Victoria was already ruining my opportunity of securing that merger with her family's company, I had to look into gaining support. Either buy more shares, merge with other companies, or buy companies at the brink of bankruptcy and turn them into assets. She has pushed me into a hazardous work period which will give me no time. For one, I had to meet and convince partnership with all the owners of the big companies, mostly in Seattle and a few others outside the state. Then sort out the small or falling companies, to find out the ones with potential and meet their owners. I needed to put up my A-game of being capable of getting some of them to sell. Because, even if some of these companies were falling, some owners would never agree to sell them. They always stuck to foolish reasons like — it is a family heirloom, I worked from the ground to build it, or I still have hope that it will thrive. Thrive? When something becomes worthless, replace it with a new one or let it go completely. Yes, no matter what it is.

After my refreshing breakfast, I decided to make a few stops to keep off the process. It wasn't going to be easy, but this is what I was born for. I've never easily achieved anything. The more challenging it is, the better. And, it pulls me more to succeed in it, no matter how many thousands of thorns I have to step on walking that path.

Grabbing my phone off the table, I leaned in a bit, rubbing my forehead to relieve it of all the thoughts it was dealing with. It was sure going to be a tasking day, but no matter what happens, I will surely make it a successful one.

“Goodbye, Cora,” I kissed her on the cheek as I leave for the door. Screaming, “don't forget to go shopping with the house credit card. Get whatever you want. Don't be here when you get back. You equally need to take care of yourself,” I said on my way out.

I grew up to meet Cora. I've known nobody else but her all my life. Cora Elijah, a very wonderful woman.

The house credit card is a card that I deposited a lot of cash into, to keep the house running and in case of an emergency. Well, truthfully, it is my excuse for persuading Cora to accept my money and use it whenever she wants to. That woman never accepts extravagant gifts from me. She feels that her sole duty is to make sure that I never lack in any way. Not financially, but in any other way she could. Yet, I had to go on my knees to get her to take anything apart from her salary from me. Even before we settled the issue of placing her on a salary, it took weeks of talking and convincing. So far, she has been the hardest person that I had convinced. Even the biggest company, that I had to acquire, didn't give me a headache the way Cora did. It still makes me laugh whenever I remember the hassle. Another thing that I love about her is the fact that she has never let out any of our family secrets or mine. Always minding her business.

“You spoil me, Jamie,” she said in her affectionate and meek voice, causing me to smile as I hit the elevator button, waving bye to her.

My driver expertly manoeuvred my BMW in and out of traffic on the way to meet some of my

clients and proposed business partners. I compromised today by taking all my security team out except for my driver, who is also a retired Marines and specialist in combat and weapons. For the activities had today, just him will do. I didn't need the extra attention that comes with walking with security. And besides, I was trying to earn trust, not start a war. It wasn't necessary to use them today. If I ended up getting killed, it is either the fact that Rodriguez Jordan, my driver, wasn't good at his job or today was just the day it was proposed to happen.

Goddamn traffic, I thought, but I didn’t mind. It rarely occurred, but was a cause for alarm when it did. Now, the traffic happening was in my favour. At least it gave me breathing room before I got to see their faces. Some, which I despised greatly and others, I just liked working with. That is one thing with business, you only smile on the outside, but, up your sleeves, you have something hidden there. Most of them are not your friends. But, some, were a necessary evil that you had to lie with. It all depends on how you walked around them. Never let them know what you are planning. And even when they figure it out, change the game. It was always smiling, drinking tea, attending functions together and making the same deal. When deep inside, you wish so much to get away from them or see them drop dead, due to how much you hated seeing or being around them.

Thankfully, I had my Secretary, Miss Norah Noah, to thank for being so diligent with her work. The thousands of emails she sent me during my drive to the office, gave me little time to think about the demons I was about to face. I had to sort most of them to make work easier for me.

By the time I was done accessing all the emails, I noticed that the most important and first stop I needed to make, was at Carlos & Co. One enterprise that I've been working endlessly to get its franchise. Either most of it or the whole of it. If my proposal with them works out, then I had nothing to worry about other than to teach the Alonso's that I wasn't a person to be ordered around.

As we got to the enterprise, I had my appointment confirmed with the receptionist. It was still very early, which would give me time to deal with Carlos easily. I should be in and out of there within minutes, I planned.

Getting on the elevator, my phone chimed, bringing my attention back to it. Trying to access it with my head bent and eyes focused on the screen, I heard a voice.

“Please hold the elevator.” She said.

Don't get me wrong, I would have done that on a normal day, but, today wasn't a normal day. And the fact she said it more like a command than a plea, was a total turn off, even if I wanted to assist her. I don't do well with taking orders from people. No one orders me. I do the ordering. For it to come from a woman, I wasn't doing it, even if her life depended on it. By the way, it looked like, her life truly depended on me holding the elevator at that moment. It gave me the satisfaction that I just messed it up for her. I could read that from the disgust on her face and her eyes shooting daggers at me when I used the corner of my eyes to look at her. Forced to raise my head just a few moments before the elevator doors closed to take in a full view of what I saw.

Her! The most beautiful, innocent, fragile, sweaty, and familiar face I've seen. Familiar? I bet I have seen her face somewhere, but can't recall where. Nothing to stress. I do see many people in a day and sporadically, they get to resemble each other. Maybe it is one of those incidents. And also, don't get me wrong when I say she looked beautiful, innocent, fragile and blah blah. I have met different women of timber and calibre that possess many more features than her. There's something different, something special about her. I can't place my fingers on it, but, I know there's something. And nothing puts me on my toes than uncertainty.

Beeping, the elevator alerts me that I had gotten to Carlos's floor, and I proceeded to his office. His Secretary made meme comfortable while I waited for him.

“James, my good friend,” I heard his booming voice a few seconds after I had settled down. He spread his arms to embrace me, but, I was quick to stretch my hand instead.

“Carlos, what is good?”

Carlos looked at my hand and quickly took it for a shake. “The no hugging man.”

“You should know better,” sitting down.

“It is an honour to have you in my office.” He said, smiling. That fake smile that I talked about earlier. We all know that he was as displeased as anything, seeing me. Going to his desk, he pressed the intercom and spoke into it. “Silver, have someone bring refreshment to my office. What would….”

Cutting him off, “thank you, but, no thank you, Carlos. I would prefer to go straight to discussing business. Perhaps, next time.” I said, maintaining my straight business face.

For every occasion, I had an attitude. And now, I was putting on my poker attitude. One which would never allow any of them to read my emotions. It made it difficult for my next move to be read. Always keep them wondering. That has been one of my driving forces in business.

“Never mind.” Dropping the intercom, he went to an empty chair opposite mine. Unbuttoning his suit, he sat down, crossing his legs.

Seeing that his security was still around, I gave a slight nod. “Carlos, you know I don't talk business in front of the boys. Have them excuse us.”

"Oh, right. I am just making sure that today isn't my last. You know, many people want me gone badly,” he said, laughing. When he saw that I wasn't buying into the nonsense he had just uttered, “that was a joke. Unless you are here for other reasons.”

Placing my palms on my leg, with one linked to each other, “I have never been one to joke around. And, I don't take accusations lightly.” Still wearing my straight face with no trace of

smile on it as I talked.

“You already know why I am here. Thus is just formality and to get the documents to you. Read through and consider my proposal.”

He maintained unwavering eye contact with me, which told my business instinct that something was up. His composure, body language and that ridiculous smile on his face meant that he had reconsidered, and, he has an advantage over me.

When you stay in the field of business for so long, you become a natural at reading people. That is the only way for you to be a step ahead of your opponent and, sometimes, even win the game.

“It is a good thing that you dropped by because I was equally planning to pay you a visit.”

“And, why would you do that?”

“To tell you personally that I have backed out of the deal. I felt telling you in person will be more respectful and less harsh.”

Still wearing my poker face, “and what is your reason?” I asked calmly.

“Oh, you made quite the headline on the news during the early hours of the morning. That was in my favour. Seeing the news, there was no reason to partner or sell my company with you. No reason to consider your proposal at all.”

“What are you talking about?”

“James,” slightly touching my shoulder as he stood from his chair, “you should watch the news. It is only unfair that the man who made the headline is unaware of it.”

Before I could say anything else, my phone began to ring. It was a call that I needed to answer in private. Something that would sort this whole rubbish out.

“Where is the restroom? I need to use it.” Standing and strengthening out my jacket.

“Well, say I am feeling benevolent and since it would be your last time setting foot into my office, I would allow you to make use of mine. Take the door by your right.” He walked back to the chair behind his desk with so much arrogance, like some made king.