"Babe! Can you get me my file from the study? I don't wanna be late." the middle-aged man called out to his wife as he adjusted his watch to fit perfectly, for someone who had aged, he had surely aged well. His hair was still crisp black and his smile was still smashing enough to win any girl he wanted. He stood well over 6ft and had a great body, lean muscles here and there and a baritone that was deep enough to charm anyone.
"Give me a minute!" his wife called from the inside as she moved around the house to fetch him his file. He let out a satisfied smile, his face slowly spreading into a smile.
Today was his lucky day. After years of hard work, he managed to seal a deal with the famous Cinz cooperation and all that needed to be done was just to sign the paperwork. The deal was massive and just that would be able to catapult him into the spotlight. If he could finish the deal with the company, everyone would want to do business with him as their supplier.
The man snapped out of his wishful daydream as the clicking of his wife's shoes echoed into his ears, she was coming down from the stairs with the leather-bound file; his most prized possession.
"Thank you baby." He felt more joy the moment the file touched his fingertips, but his wife didn't seem to share the same energy he had.
"Will you come back home early enough Gabriel? You know we agreed to see the doctor today." Harper, his wife, reminded him of their agreement and softly, his mood was flattening. And just for a quick second, the sigh of a dead body flashed in his mind, the corpse of someone he once built a life with, but he quickly pushed it away from his subconscious and blessed her with a soft smile.
"I promise I will be back home early, and we will see Dr Chang." Gabirle's fingers ran through the golden hair of his wife, a woman who had stood by his side through the dirtiest and the cleanest, he loved her dearly. But there was something he wanted more than anything, and that was power.
Power in the business world that anyone who came across him would bow. And that power he would soon achieve.
Kissing Harper on the forehead and bidding her farewell, he got into his car and zoomed off, to the headquarters of Cinz cooperation. As he drove through the strangely free streets of New York, he had one more person he needed to converse with before entering the building. He put his best friend on the line and the caller ID showed up on his car's digital touchscreen. The truth was without the help of his friend, he would have never gotten the contract with Cinz.
It rang for a while before his friend picked, "Today is the big day man, I am on my way to the HQ." Gabriel announced as he smoothly swerved left, his face unable to stop grinning and hearing his friend was going to seal the deal, the recipient responded with as much energy.
"That is awesome man, make sure to take a picture after it's done! Can't wait to see you later this week."
His friend eventually hung up and sooner, Gabriel reached Cinz HQ. it was grand, towering in the air, it commanded authority and respect, but he had finally conquered this conquest of his. He parked his car and stepped out, adjusting his black three-piece suit, holding the leather-bound file and walked into the cooperation. The moment Chris set his eyes on him, he was frightened that Gabriel had not gotten his email and soon began to sweat bullets.
Kamila had asked to view all the pending deals and the moment she saw Gabriel's offer, she immediately cancelled it and told Chris to send him the information as Cinz would not be having any business with him. Chris had sent that email, but it seemed Gabriel didn't get it because he still came.
Gabriel greeted him with a smile and Chris was sweating bullets, "Mr Denim, it is a pleasure to see you again." his words came out with anxiety that could not be hidden.
"Yes Chris, I just came to get the file stamped, and I will be on my way. I believe Mr Hopkins would be around today?" he had expected Chris to get up to lead him to the elevator, but he just sat there. There were multiple receptionists that attended to people of different calibre, for those who wanted to meet the CEO, Chris attended to them as he was the closest person to Kamila.
"Mr Denim, did you not get the email I sent you?" he raised his brows, unsure of how to present the situation to him. Gabriel's smile flattened a bit, he didn't get any email, and it was clear on his expression as confusion slowly crept in, "yeeeaaahhh, why dont you check it out."
"There is no need, since you sent the email, why don't you tell me what is inside." He was interested in hearing it from Chris's mouth and waited for him to explain the new development.
"We have a new CEO, and she has reviewed the pending deals that Mr Hopkins had previously approved. She has rejected yours, hence, you cannot have a cooperation with Cinz. I deeply apologize Mr Denim."
Despite Chris apologizing, Gabriel stopped hearing when the words 'Rejected' flew into his ears. It was like a siren had blocked out everything Chris was saying, and he was staring into nothing. Chris could see that he had spaced out and so gently tried to bring him back to cruel reality.
"Mr Denim, can you hear me? I said my boss has rejected your offer." he stated again and this time, it angered Gabriel.
"I refuse, that is no way to treat business partners, I wish to see the new CEO!" he put his foot down and the echoed thump caused eyes to fall on them. Chris did not like the unnecessary attention, and he could understand Gabriel's frustration. He tried to explain it calmly to him but Gabriel wouldn't move, "I would like a word with your new CEO. You will take me to her or the media will hear of this. Discussions happened for 6 months! Just for a new girl to come along and ruin everything! I will not watch my hard work turn to naught!"
Chris didn't like the way Gabriel was being loud so out of pity, he took him to see Kamila, maybe if she heard his proposition from his mouth, she might change her mind.
Big dreams.
Chris escorted Gabriel to the elevator. The CEO's office was at the top and only those with a special key card to ride the elevator to the top. The ride was silent and uncomfortable, but the bell finally rang, and both men stepped out, Gabriel having faster strides. They reached the office and with a knock, Chris announced his presence, before opening it.
Entering the office, Gabriel could see that it had already had some modifications to it. The chairs were replaced and moved to better suit the new CEO and she herself also had a new desk. Currently, Kamila was on seat, but her swivel chair was turned against them, as she took in the view of the city from the large windows that stretched to the ceiling.
"Ms. Vernz, someone of er— importance has come to see you." he collected the file from Gabriel and approached her slowly, "it is Mr Denim, he has a very important deal to be signed and although it was previously agreed with Mr Hopkins and you have rejected such offer, I thought I could bring him so you could hear it from him and maybe reconsider." he put the file in her hands gently and Kamila shot him a side eye.
Deep down, Chris felt he would lose his job because of Gabriel.
With a soft exhalation, she returned the file back to Chris without even looking at it, "tell Mr denim that I do not wish to do business with him, and he is free to take his proposal elsewhere. It does not serve Cinz."
The cadence of Kamila's voice ignited an old feeling: anger mixed with jealousy and suddenly, Gabriel found it hard to control himself.
"You think just because you bought Cinz you're better than everyone? I spent months on this proposal drafting it to advance your company, and you just toss my efforts in the mud?! Did you even read it? Can you even read?!" Gabriel had crossed the line when the insults got personal and just then, Kamila also awakened a feeling she had kept burning in her heart for 8 years.
Hatred.
Chris knew Gabriel had overstepped and shot him a glare that was all the more ignored, "get this useless man out of my office, or you will lose your job Chris." her voice tender but heavy with dark emotions, she commanded that Gabriel be thrown out of Cinz. And when he heard that, he only got angrier.
"Why don't you say it to my face you little bitch! I am sure you illegally got this company and threatened Mr Hopkins! You are not fit to rule such a massive empire like Cinz!"
"Mr Denim, I need to ask you to leave." Chris started soft, but Gabriel refused to budge and ultimately, security was called and Gabriel was grabbed by the arms and led out of Kamila's office.
"Just mark my words, you won't last there. You are weak and one day you will bow down to me and apologize!" Those were his parting words, the loudness of his voice thinning as he was dragged out of her office. It was quite the commotion and for a brief moment, Kamila's face was void of emotion.
Before a single smirk graced her lips. The humiliation was everything to her.