Business partners

Elena - POV



Hmm.....



I clutched my head and pushed myself to sit on the soft bed. I squinted my eyes, staring around. The bedroom was where I found myself. The memories flooded in. Was it a dream?



“Elena, breakfast is ready.” Her voice came from the kitchen. Lyra arrived back from her vacation. I smiled. She is the housemaid, yet she is like a mother figure to me. Lyra always had the good intention of helping me. It was hard to trust anyone when I had just started the journey of a successful career. Lyra took good care of me without having ulterior motives. Lyra and I had a long way to come around as our relationship bloomed like mother and daughter.



Rolling out of bed, I felt a spasm in my legs as I put my feet on the floor. The signs of the illness dash my cheery mood down the drain. After the meeting, I will need to confirm with Janice when she will get the appointment with Dr. Rudolf. The doorknob twirls as it opens to see Lyra walk into the breakfast trolley.



Lyra’s elegant smile made me return the smile to her. The aroma of delicious cuisine began my stomach to growl. Lyra chuckled at the noise. She took off the cloche, and the waffles caused me to drool. Lyra’s cooking is always astonishing. Lyra is a kitchen wizard.

After all, my morning routine and dressing in formal attire. “El,” I turned to Lyra’s voice, who was dusting off the shelf.



“Are you doing alright?”



“I will get over Jake. Also, take my revenge on him,” I said with a bright smile, as it thrilled me to set my first trap. Lyra nods her head. I had explained what had happened between Jake and me, and it exhilarated Lyra at the plan. Lyra studied my profile for a few seconds.



“About your health, you had a nosebleed before.” I thought Lyra didn’t notice that, but who can miss such a thing? I haven’t spoken about my condition to anyone except Janice. Lyra was close, but I would rather not say it because even I cannot digest that I am terminally ill.



“Just stress,” I said with a smile. Lyra’s gaze held a dubious look, and I turned to leave before she pinned me with her interrogation until I gave in. I stood in the hallway and turned towards the path where I saw blood and furs, making sure it was just a dream. I see no such evidence in sight. Sighing at myself, why am I taking my nightmare dream seriously?



I was determined to drive myself to the office early, not to get bombarded with paparazzi or news reports. I peeked at the entrance, and it was clear the guards raised an eyebrow at my behavior. They assumed I was crazy. I shrugged their looks, striding out of the entrance to walk into the parking lot. Treading into the building, Janice stood with a coffee cup and extended it to me with a sleepy gaze. “Didn’t you get sleeping?”



“Thanks to you, I couldn’t,” Janice snapped, and I raised my eyebrows at her sarcastic statement.



“I apologize for robbing your sleep” Janice just nodded her head at my remark, not looking my way but staring at the conference room. She was moody today. Janice opens the door for me, and I see the Finance team manager and lawyer have taken their seats.



“Good morning, gentlemen. So I have an important matter to discuss”. I started the meeting, and Janice and I took our seats. I revealed why I intended to put my fortune into movie production.



“Ms. Hayes, it’s a marvelous idea, but I suggest you invest half a fortune in production and the rest to keep fraction investment as a substitute,” he explained. If I give thought to his words, it makes sense if I lay all my wealth, and if something goes wrong, I would have insurance money, but it’s still better to have wealth as a backup.



“I second Mr. Leo’s idea here,” the lawyer Saif said.



“Do you have anything to add?” I asked.



“Yes… please refer to the document.” I referred to the section, and I couldn’t pull it all out. Wealth at once, as 40percent needs to be invested in stocks and bonds and bitcoins, as I have signed a clause with my broker. I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my head.



“I take it, so I have 60 percent to invest, and the rest I would have to take to a second investor,” I said, glancing at the document. “Do you have any investor in mind?” Mr. Leo and Mr.Saif peered at each other as if they were passing messages. I glanced at Janice, who seemed to doze off in her chair.



“We do have a list of producers, but….” Mr. Leo hesitated, thinking about how to speak his following words.



“Spill it, Mr. Leo,” I said.



“I heard from my sources this list is negative to contact for money. I will still try it and get back to you,” Mr. Leo spoke. Right, I know the world is against me.



“Mr. Ford will be interested in investing in us. Why not? Mr. Leo communicated with their company with a 40 percent offer,” Janice said, and I frowned at her suggestion. I want to avoid taking help from that cold-hearted man.



“Janice, share with me the details of this investor. We can manage the rest,” Mr. Leo replied excitedly as my glow landed on him. He went quiet.



“Ms. Hayes, this investor, does he have some negative image or encounter some lawsuit?” Mr. Saif asked because he saw my hesitation in mentioning Mr. Ford’s name, so he assumed that Mr. Ford was a Mafia but did not put it out.



“No!” Janice explained how reputable Mr. Ford was.



“Find Mr. Leo, proceed with the discussion, Mr. Ford’s secretary, and post Janice on it,” I sighed, not happy that I had to partner up with Mr. Ford.



****



Janice had leaked the news about Lucy's chats with me to the media. In a few minutes, that news will sparkle up.

Jake and Lucy have a press conference about their new movie in a few minutes. I made sure the news should run at the same time. It would be sweet revenge that excited me.



“Mr. Ford is here,” Janice informed him. My smug smile dropped at the mention of his name.



“Ms. Hayes, should I let him in?” Janice asked in a low whisper.



“Yeah,” I answered her on the landline. I took a few deep breaths, preparing to meet this man who made me act weird around him.



A knock came on the door. “Come in.” The door opened to my cabin, a haughty look appeared on his handsome face, and he dressed dapper. “You want to see me, Mr. Ford” I inquired, not gawking at him too much.



“Here.” He pushed the document forward, and I opened the files to read it. This was a contract of 40 percent investment details.



“Surprising. You came all the way to give me this document,” I asked, giving him a dubious stare. While his expression didn't change, he just had the same haughty look.



“Yes,” he answered one of my questions.



“I will need time. My legal lawyer had to go through with it,” I said, trying not to sound irritated by his vague answer.



“Your legal team verified the document. Ask Janice if you don't believe me." I dialed Janice to verify his answer. Janice confirmed the document went through our legal and found no errors.



“Do you accept or not?” I gave a little thought and signed the contract. His face held a slight smile that annoyed me because I didn't want to take anyone to help to fund my project, but I had to push my feelings aside.



“We are partners; congratulations Ms. Hayes,” His crisp voice said as he signed the contract.



“Congratulations, Mr. Ford, let's work together to get good business done," I said with a professional, professional-like smile. He stared at me for a few seconds.



“Call me Silas, as we are no strangers but business partners,” he added as he walked with a file in his hand. Once again, gawking at his back. I wouldn’t say I like his attitude of walking away without letting another person complete the speech. I turned my phone on and saw the news of how the reporter's grilled Lucy with questions and Jake as the chats leaked on social media.



“Ms. Mathew, why did you send such a text to Ms.Hayes? So, it's true that you nailed Mr. Jake,” the report asked.



“It's not true… Mr. Jake was a victim of domestic abuse”, Lucy stuttered as her words came out with no confidence.



“But your text and images of Mr. Jake you sent to Ms. Hayes speak otherwise.”, Report questioned with no mercy.



“No more questions,” Lucy declined to answer as she left the interview area.



“Mr. Jake Smith. Your earlier interviews stated Ms. Hayes said she was an abuser. Do you have any evidence to justify your comments?” The information asked. Jake didn't deal with it but left the press conference panel, and so did the directors.



“Ms. Hayes, did you see”, Janice's cheerful voice turned to a halt as she saw me smiling.



“Well, it's a small win for now. Did you get an appointment with Dr. Rudolf?” Janice’s smile dropped at the mention of Dr. Rudolf.



“Not yet,” Janice spoke dejectedly.



“Please let me know soon,” I whispered as the sadness returned, though I was glad to take the petty revenge. But what about my health and these symptoms getting on to me? I strode out of the office building as the bodyguards followed me behind because I was sure the news release reporters would come to me for confirmation of the leaked conversation scandal. I haven't answered the reports for now. I am driving my way home. Yuri was pacing back and forth as I stepped towards the elevator.



“Yuri,” I called her with concern, as she looked worried.



“Elena, thank god you are safe and sound,” she whispered as she pulled me into an embrace, which startled me.