This chapter is dedicated to all my readers in Denmark, Ireland, kedin and Germany. Stephano and Kara are going places.

Kara’s POV

*

            “Would you like any other thing Sirs?”

“Thank you Drew. That should be all for now.” Stephano replied the grey haired man with fondness in his tone. 

The man left us to settle with our orders and got on with his meeting.

There were five men at the table with me— Stephano, two British men and two other men from Stephano’s company. One of those other men from his company was his office assistant, Andre.

He had been to our place a couple of times before to run errands for Stephano. The meeting started barely a few minutes ago but Stephano hadn’t stopped glancing at his watch, as if he couldn’t wait to be out of here. 

I had spoken very little even though Stephano had introduced me as his girlfriend to his business partners and he had even gone as far as pecking me on the forehead in front of them all.

“It’s been three years since the black Shauna was established.” One of the British men commented. They were both in ash colored tailored suits, with the same brand of suits and briefcases.

“Yes, he is going places, though I would appreciate it if he reduced it with the press issues. He’s attracting too much attention already.” Stephano replied him.

The other man from his company made mention of some machines that needed to be exported and some ideas that were to be built, which Andre jotted down. Stephano told the men that they would have to draw a better plan and make the proposal before anything could be done.

“I would like us to reschedule this meeting. So the last investor can be present.” One of the British men said after a while.

Not knowing what to do apart from tending to my coffee and munching on my Panelle, I had resorted to checking my notifications on my social media apps while partially listening to their conversations. I noticed my followers had increased over these past few weeks.

After checking my notifications on Instagram and Twitter, boredom was beginning to prick at my skin. I wondered if I should change my username on Instagram from karawilson003 to something else but decided to leave it as it was.

“That won’t be necessary becau-” the other man from Stephano’s office was saying but he was cut short by Stephano.

“Yes, the meeting is already being recorded and also, the details would be sent to him in documented form.” Stephano concluded for the man, a look I wasn’t all too familiar with resting on his face.

I furrowed my brows, wondering why he had been so tense since the meeting commenced but shrugged.

While the men held their meeting, I basked in the comfort of the chocolate drink, to partially subdue my boredom as I ate it and relished in the goodness.

“Regardless...” The other British man trailed off. I kept staring at his pale skin, wondering if Stephano’s presence or what they were discussing at this meeting was what made him uncomfortable or that was just his natural complexion.

He kept fidgeting with the weird and ugly plastic toy in his hand. Who would have thought that these businessmen also did weird and mostly childish things like this, especially at such formal meeting.

“The Baxter’s association shipped in some raw metals last month but they’ve not made any comments on it so far.” One man said as I went back to my phone and started playing temple run and making movements with my hands firmly holding my phone as I jumped obstacles with speed, so the bad guys wouldn’t get to me.

“Yes, I had a discussion with their general manager. They’ll get to us soon.” Another man said.

Even though I was playing game, I was listening to some parts of their conversations.

I had learnt a lot since I got here, one of them being some tips about how businesses operated — it was quite different from how I’d thought it was. Stephano was not into just one product in his company.

He was into making of shoes, steel, foodstuffs, clothing line and other stuffs. Both consumable and inedible goods, as long as it was what the economy needed at that period. He would invest into it and then make large sales in it. Someone’s phone started ringing and so he excused himself to pick it.

“How many percent is being transferred to the Canadian branch?” The thinner British man asked.

Stephano’s assistant flipped over the pages. “Thirty.”

“Hmm. It’s coming on nicely then.” The British men mused. I heaved a sigh, wondering when the meeting would be over when I suddenly felt another person’s presence between us.

“I believe my assistant briefed you on my impromptu meeting. I’m deeply sorry for not coming earlier.” A deep voice suddenly spoke from across the table.

He shook the two British men, behind whose chairs he was standing behind. I raised my head up at the voice of the person that spoke and my eyes widened a little.

It was the man who had introduced himself as Stephano’s friend at the influencer event, Sucre. He’d had a sort of stare down with Stephano the first time we met. Hopefully that wouldn’t repeat itself this time around.

“Oh, we have been expecting you Mr. Ambrosia.” The beardless British man said. Sucre’s gaze shifted around each faces on the table and settled on me, his lips curving up into a smile. 

“Well, I’ll say that’s quite amazing, isn’t it?” He queried as if he was directing the question at me, the smile still present.

I returned the smile in reflex and he came up to my angle and took a seat beside me, making him sit between Andre and me.

“I am glad I could make it.” He murmured in a bored tone beside me after settling down.

“We already gathered, and are still gathering what should have been documented and recorded.” Andre told him.

He shook Andre’s hand and did the same with the other man from Stephano’s workplace, who was just returning to his seat from leaving to receive his call earlier on.

“That’s a good thing and how is the new project going?” Stephano’s other worker asked him.

“Great. We have two weeks more to complete it.” He didn’t acknowledge Stephano’s presence and Stephano also didn’t act like he noticed him.

He leaned to my side. “I believe you are well, Miss Kara?”

I stifled a giggle at his fake British ascent and nodded, appreciating the fact that he even remembered my name. “I am and it’s nice to see you again, Sucre.”

“I told you we would.” Sucre whispered lowly while the meeting continued at the table, with a smile playing at the sides of his lips and I nodded, remembering he truly made a comment like that.

Maybe someone would finally make this meeting less boring than it had been since we got here. I heaved a grateful sigh.

“Indeed, you did. How is business?”

He shifted in his seat to face me. “Wel-”

“We are finalizing an important deal here Sucre, and it would pay us all if you could be more attentive. You’re here already after all.” Stephano butted in, a cold edge to his tone.

Sucre nudged his chin in my direction. “I was just making sure she was comfortable. We were, er, making acquaintance...”

“She doesn’t need your petty questions. Kara is doing just great, also concentrate on this meeting. After all you’ve delayed us till this time.” He glared at Sucre. Taken aback, I frowned. Maybe this meeting was really important to Stephano and that was why he had been so tense since we got here.

He hadn’t even said a word to me since he introduced me to his business associates — who both gave me pecks on the cheek — but now he was angry, merely because I was talking to Sucre.

“The meeting has been finalized anyway.” Sucre merely shrugged and faced me once again. Guessing I might have caused a sort of argument, I bit my lips and willed myself not to look at any of the two men.

“And what was the conclusion?”

“I believe you’ve taken it. All I need is the documented part sent to me anyway.” He spoke with ease, as if he didn’t sense the irritation that was now rolling off Stephano in waves.

“I won’t leave my office only to come here and get insulted by a mere pa-”

“Don’t you even dare call me that, Alfonsi. You know you’re overstepping your boundary. I’m not mere.” Sucre fired. What exactly are they arguing about, because I was genuinely lost right now. Trying to ease the tension as both men stared each other down; I placed my hand on Stephano’s upper arm and rubbed it awkwardly. I took my hand off, surprised when I felt him relax slightly but he grabbed it and held it firmly on his thighs. The meeting continued once again.

Thirty minutes later, we were shaking hands. Or rather, they were shaking hands and I was clutched tightly to Stephano’s side as he wrapped his one arm around my waist and my other hand was holding my bag.

“Thank you sirs, I look forward to our final meeting with you both.” Sucre said. The men agreed with him before attending to their driver who was already waiting, promising to visit Italy soon and to bring some gifts for me on their next visit. Stephano shook hands with the two men before they left and transferred his hand to my waist once again, making me squirm at his obvious possessiveness. Also, his hand was warm and always and it was doing strange things to my body, making tingles erupt on the spot.

“It was an honor meeting you again.” Sucre told me with a wolfish grin, making him look far younger than the twenty seven-ish year old man I guessed he was.

“I-” I opened my mouth to give a response but it was cut short.

“We should get going Kara.” Stephano interrupted me and tightened his hold on my waist.

He leaned in and pecked me on the lips, making sure his lips lingered than was necessary. “Later.” He gruffly told his two workers who nodded with their folders in hand and left us there with Sucre.

“I hope you consider what I told you earlier.” Sucre told me with a wink and left also, entering his sleek black Porsche and leaving me confused. He hadn’t even told me anything and he wanted me to consider it...? What on earth could he possibly mean? I stared as I watched him drive away, puzzled.

“What was he talking about?” Stephano asked in a cold tone while James, his driver opened the door for me to enter.

I shrugged. “I have no idea.”

The remaining drive back to the hospital was tense and I didn’t know when I was welcomed into the arms of a lulling slumber.