For about the past five minutes I could hear the almost inaudible 'ting' of my iPhone, hinting that someone was persistently texting me. As the man, who as moments ago in front of me, was being excused out of the room by his friend, I took out my iPhone from the clutch, and Kai's name lit up on the screen.

The same instant my eyes moved toward the time, which showed eleven-thirty. Intending to scold him for not sleeping, I opened the texts sent by him. As I read his countless messages one by one, I couldn't help the little shake of my head and a smile at his concern-filled words, he was asking me why I wasn't home when I told him I'll probably there till eleven, did I take any drink from anyone, why am I not replying, and the last and best one -where my stupid-fool brother is trying to appear big; should he come to take me home If I have drunk too much (which I absolutely shouldn't have) but still.

Not wanting for him to wait any longer, I hurriedly replied, first rebuking him that he was still awake and ensuring that I was fine, will reach the mansion around twelve.

"Miss Ciarve, I excuse of the interruption and," My focus once again moved toward the man, when his voice reached my ears, I didn't realize when he returned and stood just a few steps away from me. Once again, I met his indifferent face and gaze as after a second of pause he resumed, "My words, if you found them too forward."

For a second my unblinking eyes just stared at him for his not-so-direct apology, I have no doubt that I'm probably the first person he excused his attitude from. I know he was offended at my degrading words, which I had every right to say. If not for his friend's impromptu appearance, he would have long lost his calm façade.

Raising a brow, I slightly smiled, "I don't care to know what benefits you have in that suggestion of yours, but if I agree, what's in there for me?"

Even hearing my unexpected words, his silent stare didn't falter. It was not entirely shocking for me when Aris Salvadge mentioned me to become his girlfriend like we were talking about some business deal. If he considers this a business deal then, I too expect some benefit from this bizarre proposal of his. Although, I like to do business deals in the meeting rooms, not in the silent room of a nightclub.

"Whatever you say."

Holding his gaze at his carefree words, I slowly leaned against the counter behind me, and affirmed, "That's the problem Mr. Salvadge, there's nothing that I want from you."

As usual, his face didn't have much of a reaction, but the subtle way his lips rose as he turned around and I heard him respond, "What if there is."

The edgy tone of asserted possibility in his uttered words confused me a little, I saw him walking toward the wall full of decoratives, reaching out he easily picked a fairly thick file from a shelf and turned around to once again facing me. In his perfectly elegant stance, he advanced and halted right a few steps away, extended the papers in his hand toward me.

I took the papers, and without seeking any words from him opened them, turning pages one by one, taking in the outlines of the content. My body slowly straightened and stood straight, facing the man in front of me completely.

When I was done, my gaze involuntarily raised toward him, my face probably had the coldest expressions and voiced in the sharpest tone possible, "Mr. Salvadge, you sure came prepared."

"I can say the same about you, Miss Ciarve."

Was his smug response, I know he was hinting about me knowing Zyair, to find his identity can't be considered a simple matter. And What need I had to find about that man? Obviously, If only I tried to find information about the man standing here, who called me, and to find with what kind of people he surrounds himself with. Aris Salvadge must be considering that I have dug way too deep, even deeper, to find about that man or about him, no kidding. Well, I expected Zyair to lose his composure when I exposed his identity. I don't care if he believes it or not that I just guessed his name, I was no longer in the mood to keep up the act, and the way his face lost all his color, I quite enjoyed the look.

Coming back to Mr. Salvadge, I truly can take offense to him digging this far about my life, but these things are not that hard to find. It's not like the ongoing cases were hidden from the various people involved in them especially the name of my organization. The file in my hands contains all the information about the cases in which my 'Protect Wild Nature' Organization is fighting with other countries or states to get the rights for animals but because of not letting a third party ruin their reputations or other reasons, the legal work was stuck. But here in these papers, all the outline about the legal works of cases has resolved under the testimony of the man in front of me.

Closing the file and raising it a little, I inquired, "What did Mr. Salvadge pay for this?"

"Last page."

That was the only page I left, but listening to his response, I opened the file again and proceeded to read the last page, and also heard him continuing nonchalantly, "Nothing much."

Just like he said, in order to pass those cases he just did a little benefit of some investments and opening projects with leading companies, it's not like anyone would refuse the world-wide renowned Salvadge Incorporation. The rest was probably done by them at his request as instead of an outsider, the inside person, especially an influential one of the country can make things work fastly. Where they didn't let the third party interfere, the same thing done by their own person must have faced no objection.

I know things like these don't matter to him, even if these projects bring loss, that'll probably be equal to the grain of sand. This might be not a big thing for him, but it sure is for me and I can see from the details kept in focus, he was well aware of this. But what astonishes me is not how far he went, but the time he put in doing this even if the work must be done by his employees still only at his orders.

I knew he was approaching me for a reason but I didn't really care about his motives. But now after seeing these papers, I have realized how serious he's about this, what else would have made such an occupied man like himself, wasting time on minor things like this, just to make me agree. I knew I could never underestimate this man, whatever he says, never is without a reason and without the expectations of being fulfilled.

Well, he truly can go to the excess extent to make sure others follow his words —one more thing to admire in the businessman in front of me.

"I can send you further details later."

At his voice, my chain of thoughts broke and I raised my eyes toward him, seeing the complacent look in his dark eyes and the way his lips were ambiguously curved, I hardly could refrain from rolling my eyes.

My eyes curled up and my lips graced my trained smile, "I'm a greedy person Mr. Salvadge, too greedy," I stated as-a-matter-of-fact, and placing the file aside on the bar counter, proceeded, "This is too little to make me agree."

As is he didn't mind my words, only muttered two words, "What else."

"My words are the same, there's nothing I want from you," I indifferently spoke, and seeing him being quiet as usual, refusing to move his observant eyes. Tilting my head and moving my eyes to a little right as if sneering, I muttered in a low voice, full of contempt, "I must admit, it's amusing to see a man like yourself using these surplus methods."

This time instead of his clenched jaws in anger, I surprisingly heard a slight snigger, away from my sight, and listened to him returning my scorn likewise, "And it's disappointing to see, that you don't actually acknowledge."

When I raised my eyes toward him again, his gaze pointed toward the file on the counter. My face showed no emotion, but I know what he was doing. It's no hidden fact, how forward I'm with my organization, even though I hardly appear in news yet nowhere my people are behind putting forth our motives regarding wildlife. But according to Aris Salvadge words implication, that's all an act on my side, a front I'm showing the world, and have no acknowledgment of this motive in real life. He knows just like myself, how beneficial these papers were to those hundreds of confined animals.

I shrugged, "Again, as I said, this is too little."

Not minding his words, I even indirectly agreed with them, if he thinks my pride is above then let this be. His manipulation of words isn't going to work on me.

Before he could respond, he halted seeing my action, picking up the file from the counter, I continued, staring straight at him, "I can only use this as compensation for wasting my time here."

I waited for his response, I know that he would not fall this low to deny me something so small for him. I don't care if he finds my words unreasonable or exaggerating, for a single meeting I have to arrange my schedule weeks ago. I'm sure he's well aware of how precious time is for people like us. Although I came here for my own inquisitive reasons, still if not for him putting forward his words.

This was the longest pause of all, he just stood there, with his hands in pockets, staring at me without even blinking, maybe finding words as he could be considered pretty bad with them.

When I had enough of his never-ending silence, straightening my body, I took my things and stated, "If that's all Mr. Salavdge, then I would like to excuse my presence."

With that I turned my back to him and walked toward the door, when I thought he would just let me leave, I heard him speaking, my brows lowered when I detected the slight hesitation in them. Aris Salvadge, the man of exact words, never wavers, never.

"Maybe my words were rushed, my proposal was solemn."

His words made me halt, tilting my head in his direction, I had enough of rounding with words, so I just said my unfiltered words, "Mr. Salvadge, I'm not interested in becoming your girlfriend, not now, not ever."

As if my words didn't ring a bell near his ear, he continued with his ever so persistent deep voice, gazing at me, "What will make Miss Ciarve agree?"

Is it so hard to accept that I said no? I'm a little frustrated now, therefore, my string of unfiltered words remained, "I do the business of money, not my life."

I'm selfish when it comes to business but not that much to trade everything for it. I know where to draw boundaries, I can be impassive about a lot of things, but not when it comes to me and people around me.

Not waiting and caring for his reply, I turned my head away to continue my pace. While stating my last words, I raised the file in my hand a little higher, "Please refrain from going to these lengths, farewell."

.

.

.

.

Closing my eyes, I leaned against the seat of the car enjoying the sensation of a smooth drive along with a calm night.

I came here to see what he wants from me, and I got the answer, so, I had no intention to dig deeper, don't care to. Aris Salvadge has his own reasons for his words of wanting me to be his girlfriend, I have no interest in them or trying to bother myself with racking my mind to find the reason for it. If it could be a simple reason for him being interested in me, I don't find myself agreeing with him. I don't think he and I belong anywhere together. Now, I have walked out of the obtuse stage of attraction-to-appearances, a man like him no longer seems desirable.

In the past years, not once I thought of having someone in my life, not because I was busy, but I'm not yet prepared for any relation of such kind, it's nowhere near in my priorities. I don't have time, I have already my life full of things I need to do and have to be responsible for.

I think having someone that you love can be the wish of life but not its need.

And wishes can be overlooked, or you learn to live with them if not fulfilled, but needs are necessary to live, to make it worth it.

Even if that's it, even it's just a wish, one thing I know, I can't bring myself to turn it into a business deal. If being selfish is that; I'm saving something, that I'm not even sure about and need just for myself, then be it.

Just for myself.

...

/Ruji:/Fortieth chapter! I never knew I would come this far while writing something I started so randomly. Thank you so much to all of you!

Ahm, yeah, um, so here I'll take a little break (the keyword is little), byee!//