Chapter 377: Partnership Meeting
"I can?" I exclaimed in shock.
"You can’t leave my side, if you’re fine with that then you can," Hayden replied with a smile.
"I’m fine with that. I need to get dressed…like right now…" I replied in a shocked whisper before quickly turning around to head to the dressing room.
I heard Hayden laughing behind me as I rushed off to get some presentable clothes on. After marrying Hayden it wasn’t made entire clear whether I could leave the house and go out as I liked like normal or not. Even with the improvement in the situation with Silva and the other small gangs after my kidnapping, Hayden was still cautious about taking me outside.
I did my best to be patient and understanding about all this. My not-so-pleasant experience of being kidnapped for the second time was still fresh in my mind although I tried not to think about it.
"Let’s go. Thank you for waiting," I said cheerfully when I had finished dressing.
Hayden’s blue eyes travelled down the entire length of my body before making its way up again. He cocked his head to the side slightly before he started frowning.
"I think your skirt is too short. Put some long pants on and while you’re at it, change the top to something that covers your neck and has long sleeves," Hayden instructed before he turned and strode out of the room.
I stood glued to the spot as I watched his back while he walked away from me. What has gotten into him?
My skirt wasn’t any shorter than it usually is, and this top isn’t revealing…
…
In the end, I changed into the clothes exactly as Hayden had prescribed. Compromising on this was way better than not being allowed to go outside. Since I was still quite scared of being alone, his condition that required me to stay by his side all the time truly worked in my favor as well.
We arrived at the head quarter of Torex after a while of driving. Since we left very early in the morning, the traffic wasn’t yet bad in the business district. After stepping my foot into the building, I immediately felt safer for no rational reason at all. Unlike the first time that I was here, I felt much less out of place and intimidated than before.
The place gave me comfort and a sense of security because I doubt any smaller gangs would attack the headquarters of Torex directly.
"Are you, ok?" Hayden asked closed to my ear as he wrapped his arm around my waist and leaned in close to me.
"I’m fine…don’t worry…" I replied as I tried my best to assure both Hayden and myself at the same time.
If I wanted to live a life normal outside once again, the first step was for me to get over my fear and paranoia. The first hurdle wasn’t getting Hayden’s permission anymore, the first leap had to be done from my side and I was determined to work on it.
"The boss is here today so security is very tight. Don’t worry. Ethan and many prominent members of Silva is supposed to be here too," Hayden whispered close to my ear.
I let him take me by the hand and lead me to the private elevator and led up to the upper zone where the meeting was to be held. Hayden never filled me in on all the details of the upcoming meeting, so I found myself feeling nervous and strangely excited at what was going to happen.
I prayed during the ride up in the elevator that the outcome of the meeting would be beneficial and satisfying to all parties.
The meeting room was very large and so was the long meeting table that was positioned in the center of the room. When we walked in, Ethan the boss and other prominent members of the two gangs were already present and seated. Are we late?
Hayden didn’t seem bothered about anything as he strode it and took his seat at the table after asking for one of the men to grab a chair for me. I thanked the man politely before taking my seat next to Hayden at the meeting table. Despite the fact that this was supposed to be a meeting for a partnership, the tension in the air was high and the atmosphere felt suffocating.
The old men seated at the table all had very stern looks on their faces.
I glanced over at Ethan who caught me looking at him and smiled a little my way. Just like Hayden, he didn’t seem at all bothered by the stifling atmosphere in the room. The boss cleared his throat, and everyone seemed to sit a little straighter than before and that marked the official beginning of the meeting.
"We are here today to discuss and to vote on the potential partnership between Torex and Silva regarding underground auctions. Please review the documents in front of you if you haven’t done so already. If anyone has clarifying questions, please ask them up front. If not, then we will proceed into the discussion.
As per standard protocols, everyone will be asked to cast a vote either for or against the partnership. No one is allowed to abstain from voting or voting for a neutral stance. That is all," a middle-aged man with a beard spoke through the microphone before sitting back down in his chair.
"That’s how it is. So, any questions before we start the discussion?" the boss asked, and he sounded quite annoyed.
Everyone seemed to pay attention to the document in front of them, but no one raised any questions. Hayden didn’t even bother to look at the paper in front of him. I wondered if Hayden would vote in favor for the partnership or not. If he’s here as well, that means that Hayden also has a vote to cast, right?
--To be continued…