"I am excited for this merger, Mr. Demakis. My company and I, will do our best not to disappoint you, Sir," Mr. Ryan Robertsons proclaimed as he shot to his feet when I stood up, signaling the end of this meeting.

His lips twitched into somewhat smile, though he tried to hold back his eagerness for the positive result of this meeting, his face betrayed him.

He shot out his hand, and I took it, then shook it briefly.

"I expect no less," I replied in a neutral tone, meeting the old man's dark green eyes with cold, intent gaze before dropping his hand.

I intend to finish the meeting for less than an hour, but Mr. Robertsons fought back 7 percent control of the world's container-shipping trade, but I could only afford to give 5 percent. After almost two hours talking sense into him, he conceded.

Hanoujin Shipping lines was one of the biggest rival of the Demakis' shipping lines since 2000. This merger will provide relief to the major challenge in the shipping industry, characterized by over capacity. Since building new ships which was the old model of growth — through acquiring new capacity— is not working any longer. Consolidation is one of the options to heal the horrible market, perhaps the step towards digitization and a better online customer experience as it enables the larger carriers to drive this industry transformation together.

Mr. Robertson tipped his head once more, then at his secretary.

Relief flooded through me.

I couldn't wait to go back at Clara Bell's. It's half past five, and I promised her to be back early.

As soon as the man turned his back with his secretary in tow, I collected the papers that was lying on the table next to the plates with still untouched food. I stashed it inside the briefcase then gave it to Langdon who was already at my side.

He disappeared as soon as he knew I don't need his presence. I pulled my wallet out of my pocket and pulled a few hundred bills and placed it on the table. My eyes landed on the appetizers. A few pieces of small salmon with red caviar.

My phone rang just as I was about to pick one piece. I pulled it out of my pocket and saw it was my sister Sasha.

I frowned as I connected the call. Sasha never called me.

"Hello," I said as I sat back on the chair, then grabbed one of the mouth watering food and popped it in my mouth.

"Hello, my favorite bro!" she cried out, and my brows darted together in a scowl.

Something is not good.

"What do you need, Sasha?" I asked without preamble.

She laughed over the line. "How do you know I need something?" she said in her sweet, sweet tone she always used to dad, and which always works with dad.

"Do you have a third eye? Can you see the future now?" she teased playfully, and I swiped my palm across my forehead in frustration as I groaned.

"Spill it!" I hissed.

She let out a sigh. "Alright," she giggled. "Mom told dad to cut my allowance!" she shrieked, losing all the sweetness coated her tone seconds ago.

I massaged my temple. Sasha Beth turning almost 27 in few months has no stable career, lived with an allowance from dad, papou, and giagia, but recently giagia and papou finally ceded to mom's pleading to stop spoiling her.

Mom never tolerated the career she chose to take. A drag racer, but dad loves her too much. He supported her all the way, until now, that's why my sister was very irresponsible. She'd been in too many accidents, almost cause mom a heart attack, too many times.

Apparently, Max and I loved her all the same.

"So you want me to give you allowance?" I said.

"Please, Alex...." she pleaded in her soft, sweet voice.

"Mom will kill me," I said in a resigned voice.

"She doesn't love me!" she snorted. "I haven't had dinner because my credit card was frozen. And I have only two hundred dollars in my account. I can't contact Papou and giagia. They want me to go to Greece, I can't!" she rambled.

I shook my head in disbelief. "I'll call my secretary to transfer you some money—"

"THANK YOU!" She squealed in excitement cutting through my words.

"But!" I said in a loud tone, causing her to fall into silence for a second.

"But?" she repeated.

"This will be the first and last time, Sasha. Mom has a reason why she's trying to stop dad, papou, and giagia to spoil you. You're almost 27," I reminded her. She didn't say a word. "And you know very well that the reason is not that she doesn't love you. It's the opposite, Sasha. She doesn't want you to go astray," I said.

I heard her sighed. "I know. I promise this will be the last, Alex."

I frowned at the appetizer in front of me. My sister gave in without a word. It only means my advice will just pass through the other ear.

"So can I use my two hundred now? I'm starving. I didn't have lunch, too." Her enthusiastic tone came back. I almost rolled my eyes.

"Yes," I replied, almost a groan.

"Thank you, Alex! I love you," she said before ending the call.

"Alexander Demakis!"

I looked up and met with the most vivid green eyes I've ever seen. She's smiling at me with familiarity.

Morgan Hayes.

Another successful supermodel. I met her through Lucca.

I've been avoiding her to be honest. She's one of those who's fond of hit and ditch if her prey worth tasting.

"Hey, Morgan," I greeted back.

She gave me a peck on the cheeks before I could move and sat across me.

Sneaky!

"What are you doing here in Los Angeles, Mr. Demakis?" she playfully asked as she comfortably leaned her back against the wooden chair.

"Save the world," I countered back good naturedly.

She giggled. "You mean, more hearts in New York?" she teased.

I chuckled. "What are you doing here, if you don't mind me asking?" I asked, ignoring her remarks.

She smiled, her green eyes glowed. "I'm with the girls, they are over there," she pointed the booth close to the entrance. The three ladies waved at us and I just nod my head before dragging my gaze back to Morgan.

"Look—"

"Hey, guys!" A woman's loud voice cut through me and I involuntarily snapped my head towards the voice that seemed to echoed throughout the room.

The restaurants, at this point of time, was flocked with celebrities partying. A typical routine to end their day.

The restaurants was designed to accomodate businessman holding meetings and at the same time socialites to party.

It was a bad design, though it is elevated, there were no division walls to muffled the noises coming from the lower level, and it wasn't high enough to diminish the noises coming from the lower floor.

I should have ask for a booth over by the wall, but then it wasn't as loud as this hours ago. It was too early, but it seemed the celebrities are too eager tonight to party.

And just half hour ago, this group started the noise. It wasn't too much, almost unbearabl, but now, it was louder than ever. These people thought they owned the place, they didn't care about their surrounding.

"What were you saying?" I heard Morgan asked over the voices of the group who was on their feet to greet the new arrivals.

"I said I need to be somewhere." I said without tearing my eyes off the people who was happily exchanging pleasantries until my eyes glued to Clara Bell. "I need—" the words swallowed as I blinked multiple times to make sure my eyes wasn't tricking me.

And yes, it was her.

Waves of frustrations suddenly roiled through me like maelstrom. Our eyes locked and for a second she looked surprised, but she rallied herself and tore her eyes off me. She gave the tall and lean man a smile as she returned his brief hug.

"Please excuse me," I said to Morgan, barely glance at her and shot up to my feet. My hands clenched and unclenched at my sides, trying to keep a tight rein of my temper.

For a moment, I believed she'll do as I say.

My jaws tightened.

The group went back to their seats just as I approached them. The woman who seemed to have swallowed a microphone was pulling a chair for herself, across the two blonde man, young and old who's feeling younger than the man next to him. Clara Bell seated on the other side of the old man.

My eyes narrowed at him. I could sense the arrogance raditaing off him even from miles apart. It spiked up my temper.

His hands stretched out and resting on either top of the leather half-curved booth, almost touching Clara Bell's shoulder.

Clara Bell was staring at me as I stood behind another leather chair next to the woman with a microphone's voice.

I was about to say something when I heard my name from behind me.

"Alexander Demakis?"

I instinctively turned my head, frowning, and saw Tabitha sauntering closer to us. She's wearing a tight dress, showing off her slender frame. Too skinny if I'm to be honest, compared to Clara Bell, but she has a lovely curve. Not enough though to make me gawk at her.

I met Tabitha a few times. She's one of Claire's friend before she gotten close with Clara Bell, according to Claire.

"Tabitha," I greeted, forcing a smile.

She grinned as she closed our gap and gave me a hug. The way she clung to my neck, I sensed the silent invitation. Even then I was dating Claire, when she's around, she never slipped a chance to send a silent wicked intentions. Either by touching my arm in a sensual way, running her coloured fingernails across my skin, or lean and open her red coloured lips slightly as she gaze on my lips, then bit her bottom lip. And she usually do it when Claire had turned her back on us.

"It was nice to see you here," she whispered against my neck. It was brief, but the words lingered and it made my insides churned with disgust.

Forcing a cheery tone, I pulled her subtly, as far as I could help, then faked a smile. I was so tempted to shove her away from me, but that would make a big scandal.

And Demakis never shove a woman.

"Good to see you," I said, successfully forcing the words out of my mouth without grimacing.

She remembered her friend who was tailing behind her a moment ago. Just like her, she was wearing a tight dress, too, the same color as her lipstick. It looked like a dried blood on her lips.

Tabitha hooked her arm in her inner elbow, and smiled at her before dragging her gaze back to me.

"Have you met my friend," she asked.

I'm not interested.

"No," I said in a rather clipped tone.

I didn't hear any voices from the group. My back was facing them. "Alex, meet my friend, Nemiah... Nemiah, this is Alexander Demakis," she prattled on.

I just nod my head at the woman, the urgency to turn my back on them is increasing. "Nice to meet you, Alexander," she smiled, flashing me her white sets of teeth. After giving her another half nod, I turned my back on them and my gaze found Clara Bell's. I didn't noticed all the eyes was already on me, I was too eager to get her out of the place. Take her somewhere, with me, alone.

"Mr. Demakis," the old man sitting in between Clara Bell and the young blonde-haired stood up causing me to tear my eyes of her and stared at him. He leaned over the table as he shot out his hand.

"I'm Austin Shaw," he introduced himself.

I nodded in acknowledgement as I took his hand briefly. "Alexander Demakis," I replied before pulling my hand back and drop it to my side.

He introduced the rest, Timmy which later on I found out it was Clara Bell's make up artist, then the young blonde hair was Martin, Austin's nephew, and both are photographers.

They all seemed too hospitable, I reluctantly decided to join them. Clara Bell looked unimpressed, she was throwing me a glare every now and then.

I saw Langdon striding towards us. I quickly motioned him to wait for me outside. He stopped on his track and turned on his heel back to where he came from.

They all ordered wines, beers, and cocktails.

As the minutes passed, I grew bored with their topics.

It's all about the new products launching.

Leaning in, my lips almost touching Clara Bell's head. "I'm starving and all you had is wine. I had a reservation at Perch," I whispered at her.

She turned her gaze at me. "I didn't agree to a date?" she murmured, occasionally glancing across us. I'm just glad they are all busy with their own topic. A few minutes later, another two gentlemen joined us. It was Tabitha's friends.

"It wasn't a date," I sighed. "Just a dinner. I thought you'd like to go out for a dinner, it's nothing fancy. Just a dinner, nothing malicious," I explained.

She nodded her head, but she gave me a dubious look.

"I promise," I said, giving her a reassuring smile.

She nodded her head as she took her wine and downed the rest.

An hour passed...

I was waiting for her to bid her goodbye. She looked hesitant.

"...sure it did!" Tammy cried out, laughing. I don't know what they are talking about. The rest joined her laughing.

Clara Bell gave me a look that says "can we stay?"

I can always move my reservations since the Perch knew me, but Austin's surreptitious glance aimed at Clara Bell didn't escape my senses.

I willed myself not to grab Clara Bell's waist and yank her closer to me, away from the old predator's eyes.

"How about you, Alex?" asked Tabitha, causing me to snapped my eyes at her, sitting next to Tammy.

I frowned. Totally lost.

Every eyes directed at me expectantly.

"She's asking if Claire and you had been to Alaskan cruise?" Clara Bell furtively cleared my confusion before Tabitha opened her mouth again.

"No." I replied, glancing at her briefly before shifting my gaze back at Clara Bell and gave her an appreciative look.

"Are you and Claire still dating?" She asked after, her tone dripping with curiosity.

I gave her a hard look, she eyed me expectantly.

I hated being interrogated, but everyone was expecting me to respond.

"No." I replied in a flat tone.

There was a soft gasp.

Clara Bell nudged my side with her elbow. Tabitha and Tammy was staring at me. A mischievous grin playing along the corner of Tabitha's lips as she took her Bloody Mary drink and took a sip.

"Excuse us, guys!" Clara Bell shot up to her feet, her fingers curled around my fist as she spoke. "I remembered I forgot, I need to be somewhere," she lied, gathering her clutch and hoisted it up on her shoulder.

"Please, Alex. I need you to drive me," she said as she gave everyone an apologetic look.

She gave me a soft nudge, motioning me to move.

"It was nice meeting you all," I said before turning on my heel and strode away.

I could still feel their eyes following us.

"Why do you have to tell them the truth?" she hissed as she tried to keep up with my step.

"What's the need to hide it?" I asked, motioning her to go first since the aisles was too crowded for two.

She gave me a scowl before walking off, me trailing behind her. I could feel her frustrations radiating off her.

I just shook my head.

As soon as we both got settled in the car, Langdon looked at me through the rearview mirror.

"Perch," I said and he nodded.

The car started moving. "You look beautiful tonight," I said, eyes skimming up and down.

The plain black dress suited her. My fingers itch to run it along her soft sides.

She gave me a soft look. "Thank you," she murmured.

She gave me a long, hard look.

I suddenly felt uncomfortable. "If I'll give you a kiss, will you stop pestering me?" she asked after a long pause.

I frowned.

......