Revenge marriage to my ex-husband’s Rival

11.

“It’s the middle of the bloody night, who the hell is setting a meeting at this time..” murmured Zeke, shivering against the cold of the night as he dutifully surveyed the surroundings on top of the skyscraper.

“All good,” he said into his mouthpiece, and watched as the sleek, black helicopter touched down on the rooftop helipad. The faint whirring of the blades gradually quieted, and the cold wind whipped through the high-altitude space, causing the lights of the city below to shimmer. The figure of Sebastian emerged, looking positively rested and well refreshed, the effects of his massive hangover more or less gone now.

Sebastian descended with the confidence of a man who knew he was always in control. Matthew, carrying a briefcase, followed him closely, his face focused and alert. The rest of the security spread out in all directions, all of them fully armed and ready for anything at any moment.

“Let’s get this over with,” Sebastian said, rolling his head to crack his neck and loosening his tie just a bit. His relaxed demeanor was almost disarming, a stark contrast to the tension and seriousness in the air. He moved with an easy grace, exuding a bewitching charm that seemed to draw the eye of everyone around him. There was an undeniable aura of danger about him, a sense that he could switch from playful to lethal in an instant. Which he is well prone to.

“Shame to waste such a beautiful night on business,” he commented, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “But duty calls.”

“Beautiful?” Zeke scoffed, falling in line with Sebastian, his hand clutched around the grip of his Glock 19. “I’d call it bloody freezing.”

Sebastian chuckled, too good in a mood to take any offense, “It’s all about perspective. Don’t you agree it’s a beautiful night, Mathew?” he asked his dutiful assistant, the shorter man trying hard to keep up with their fast strides.

Matthew adjusted his glasses, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Yes, sir. A very beautiful night indeed.” He agreed, making a show of breathing in the crisp, cold air. “Much better than being cooped up in an office.”

Zeke rolled his eyes, “kiss-ass.” He coughed into his fist.

Mathew glanced at Zeke, “Sorry, what was that?” He implored, a fake smile spread across his face.

“He called you a Kiss-ass.” Sebastian unhelpfully provided, digging his hands into his coat for some warmth.

Mathew sputtered at that, glaring at Zeke’s pleased expression, “Well you’re a-you’re the..you piece of s**t!”

“Whoa,” Sebastian and Zeke exclaimed in shock and humor, looking at Mathew’s reddening face.

“Sorry, a bit much wasn’t it?” Mathew asked sheepishly.

“A little, yeah.” Sebastian nodded.

“Sorry, asshole,” Matthew muttered begrudgingly to Zeke.

Zeke’s smirk widened, but before he could respond, they arrived at the rooftop’s penthouse entrance. The cold wind howled as they neared the elevator, where a short stocky executive waited. He seemed to have been out a long time as he was shaking quite terribly.

The executive extended a gloved hand to shake Sebastian’s, his voice cutting through the chilly wind. “Mr. Leclair, welcome. I trust the flight was comfortable?”

Sebastian took the hand with a firm grip, his expression unfazed by the cold. “Thank you. It was smooth enough. I appreciate you coming out here at such an inconvenient hour.”

The executive offered a tight smile, clearly irritated but maintaining professionalism. “It’s our pleasure, though I must admit, we weren’t expecting the change in schedule. This way, please.”

The group followed the executive through the grand entrance and into a conference room. The room was expansive, with panoramic windows showcasing the glittering cityscape. A long, polished table dominated the center, surrounded by high-backed leather chairs.

As they entered, several high-ranking executives, already seated and awaiting Sebastian’s arrival, looked up. They rose immediately, looking very eager to see him, though visibly perturbed. Sebastian’s decision to move the meeting to the middle of the night had been seen as a power play, an overt statement of his influence and control. Still, their eagerness to secure his involvement kept their annoyance at bay.

Sebastian greeted them with a nod, his casual demeanor a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere. “Gentlemen, I’m glad we could all meet despite the circumstances. I assure you, the timing was necessary for a reason.”

The lead executive, a tall middle aged man with a sharp suit and an authoritative presence, stepped forward to shake Sebastian’s hand. His grip was firm, and he showed no signs of displeasure, instead seemed full of awe and respect. “Mr Leclair, welcome to our country. Though the hour is late, we hope you’ll find our proposal to your liking. Your presence here tonight is a testament to the significance of this partnership,” the lead executive said, his tone laced with genuine admiration.

Sebastian’s eyes sparkled with interest. “I’m pleased to hear that. I trust you have prepared a compelling case?”

“Indeed,” the lead executive replied, motioning toward a seat at the head of the table. “We’ve outlined the specifics of our offer and the mutual benefits that a partnership would entail. We believe it aligns perfectly with your interests.”

Sebastian took his seat, his demeanor changing immediately to one of focused attention. “Oh, before you begin, I’m a bit pressed for time, so try to make it brief.” He added, looking down on his watch.

The executives glanced at each other nervously before quickly moving to present their case. The room filled with the hum of projectors and the rustle of papers as Sebastian critically scrutinized every detail of the presentation. His questions were sharp and probing, forcing the executives to provide detailed answers. He didn’t amass the kind of wealth and power he had today by overlooking details or tolerating incompetence.

The executives, though initially overconfident, began to sweat under his intense examination, as he easily and ruthlessly picked apart inconsistencies. Every hesitation or poorly supported claim was met with a penetrating question or a sharp comment, the room becoming increasingly tense.

Finally, after a rigorous hour of questioning, Sebastian leaned back, his gaze sweeping across the room. "Alright," he said, his tone crisp, "you’ve given me plenty to think about. The proposal has potential, but it needs to be more robust. Address the points I've raised, and I'll review the revised documents once I’m back. Make sure these revisions are handled swiftly; my schedule is tight, and this partnership needs to fit well."

The executives nodded, visibly relieved, just eager to get the intense meeting to a close. “Of course, Mr. Leclair. We’ll get on it immediately.”

Sebastian rose from his chair, signaling to Matthew and Zeke. As they walked back toward the door, Mathew’s phone buzzed with a new alert. He glanced at it, his expression shifting to one of frustration.

“What’s wrong?” Zeke asked, noticing the change and immediately on alert.

Mathew’s face twisted with worry as he looked at Sebastian. “We have a problem Sir. There is a storm near the border causing significant delays. Our jet’s grounded, and we’re stuck here until the weather clears.”

Sebastian’s face darkened at the news. He clenched his jaw and ran a hand through his hair, visibly irritated. “Are you telling me we’re stuck here indefinitely?”

Matthew nodded, his expression apologetic. “It appears so, sir. I’m trying to arrange alternative transport, but options are limited given the situation.”

Sebastian's frustration grew as he pulled out his phone and checked the time. “What time is it back home?”

Matthew glanced at his own phone, his face tense. “It’s about twenty minutes past four, sir.”

Sebastian’s eyes flashed with urgency. “Dammit. Of all the f*****g days!” He growled in annoyance.

“Everything alright, Mr Leclair?” One of the executives, the middle aged one, approached in concern.

Sebastian’s frustration was reaching a boiling point as he took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure. “I have something important scheduled back home that I can’t miss. I need to find a way to get there.”

Coming here was a mistake, he thought, running a hand down his face in frustration. He should’ve just rescheduled it to next week when he found that what today was. To think he would miss such a golden opportunity because of some deal that he could get ten better ones with one phone call, f*****g unbelievable.

The middle-aged executive looked concerned but remained professional. “I understand, Mr. Leclair. If there’s anything we can do to assist, please let us know.”

Sebastian shook his head, trying to calm his racing thoughts. “Thank you, but right now, my priority is to figure out a way to get the f**k out of here. Matthew, get me an update on alternative transport as soon as possible.” If the airport wouldn’t authorize his trip, he had to find somewhere else that will.

Matthew nodded quickly, his face set in determined lines. “I’m on it, sir.” He had no idea what was wrong with the boss’s unpredictable today, from his rash decision to leave the country for this meeting way ahead of schedule, to his curiosity about the events of society, to other unusual things that weren’t in line with his behavior, whatever the reason was, it wasn’t his place to question, and all he knew was, he had to do everything he can to make sure that Sebastian got back in time.

Whatever was waiting for him back home, clearly means a great deal to him, and Mathew would make sure he makes it to it. He mentioned a her, he couldn’t help but wonder who she was..