Hayri gave Allie a quick glance before he turned to the marketing officer.. The latter hurriedly stood up and extended a hand to Hayri.
"Mr. Dioko, it's an honor to see you here. Actually, we're already finishing up and we could communicate with the rest through emails. "
"Good to hear that since we will already be late for our appointment."
Hayri glanced up at her again with an unreadable expression.
"Let's go. " Picking up her laptop, Hayri held out his hand to help her stand up. And as soon as she stood up, he encircled an arm around her waist and lead her towards the door.
"Mr. Go, thank you so much. " She said as she looked over her shoulders, regretting the fact that she was not able to formally close her presentation with him.
She glanced up at him and he also returned her gaze. He did not say a word but his eyes were already throwing daggers towards her. He was only 18, too way younger than herself but his height and appearance denied it. The way he talked and acted was far more mature than his current age. She tried to break free from his arm around her waist, fidgetting at his possesiveness. He removed his arm as he sense her discomfort but placed it over her shoulders instead.
Once in the car, Allie couldn't wait for another second anymore to vent out her curiousity and frustration.
"Hayri, I thought you're going home. "
"You're so happy about it, right? Because you will have the chance to meet any other men you like. "
Allie's blood rushed up instantly towards her temples in anger. What right did he has to stop her?
"Hayri, I want to make this clear to you. There is nothing between us except for a special kind of friendship. You have no right to stop me if you think I'm meeting up with 'any other men' as you put it. But they are not just 'any other men', they are important people for my side business. "
Hayri's face was already flushing in indescribable emotion as he turned the engine on but he did not say a word. His brows furrowed on the 'special kind of friendship" she mentioned.
"Hayri, I should not rely on salary alone. I need to do a side business because I have my own dreams."
When he still did not reply, she went on. "I am an agent of Rough Seas Marine Supplies and Equipments so after office hours, I'm negotiating with these marketing officers of all other shipping companies within our place."
Hayri just listened, but his expression was scaring her. He seemed to be fighting inwardly to quell down his rising anger.
"Hayri, if you're not speaking up, see you at home. " Without waiting for a reply, she hurriedly slid out from the car.
However, Hayri was already standing by the side of her car when she turned around.
"I'll have someone pick this up. "He said sternly, stepping sideward to block the door of the car.
"No need to bother someone else for this. You can follow me. "
"No, I want you to go home with me."He walked towards her and reached out for her hand, pulling her back towards his car.
The trip back home was silent but Hayri kept on stealing side glances at her. Though she wore a business attire, but his blood boiled up to see her grey pencil skirt rising above her knee, displaying her long, shapely legs. He hated to think that some other men may had feasted their eyes on her.
"Wear pants next time. " He commented without looking at her, to Allie's amusement.
Instead of going home directly, he took another direction and later pulled out in front of a tea garden. Once seated on an elegant four - seater table overlooking a splendid sea view, he did not sit across her but beside her.
"Zheen.." He finally broke the silence as he reached out his left hand and held hers. "I'm sorry. "
Allie sighed as she glanced up at him. "Why didn't you go home? "
Hayri smiled faintly. "My mind is on you. I'm afraid you'll be sleeping alone in the house. "
"I'm not a child anymore, Hayri. There are guards, right?" She replied, wanting to pull out her hand from his.
"Zheen, am I too difficult to love?" He said as he held her even tighter.
"I love you, Hayri. As a big sister and friend. "
There was pain in his expression, exactly the kind of pain everytime he talked about his father. It melted her heart in pity. How could she tell him that she was already married and commited to someone else? She was afraid of Ajie's safety. Eventhough Hayri was totally a different person than the tyrant mastermind of the torturing of her neighbors and relatives, she couldn't tell him about Ajie.
"That's not exactly what I want, you know that. I want to hold you in my arms, kiss you and hug you as I sleep..." A pulse of shivers run up through Allie's spine as she heard him say it.
"Hayri, you're too fast. I need time. "
His eyes lit up as the dawn begin to light in him. "Then, I'll patiently wait. "
"To patiently wait, Hayri, means no demand. " She challenged him since he couldn't possibly wait until forever.
"Promise. " Allie laughed and pinched his nose.
The waiter arrived with their cups of tea and some side snacks. Distracted from their topic, Hayri brought out Allie's business this time.
"Why don't you introduce your products to our company? "
"It's unethical, Hayri. I'm even ashamed that you found it out. I'm doing it as a secret because it's a conflict of interest but you sneaked on me. "
"Do it and I'll back you up. I will also recommend it to all our branches. "
"Put your hands out of this. Wait until I can build my own company of marine supplies before you'll spread it out. My goal as of now is to close a contract with all the shipping companies within the country before I will start to introduce my own products. Rough Seas is just my channel to build up my name. "
Hayri shook up his head in admiration. "What a brilliant mind you have. "
"The blood of a businessman runs in your vein, Hayri. I want to see you taking over the whole shipping line your dad has established. And as for the shipyard, I want you to separate it from the main company of Gretel Shipping Lines because I want us to expand it from a ship repair yard to a ship building arena. "
"So you promise to stay with me. "
"I stand on my word, Hayri, until my promise to this company will be fulfilled. I want to be the builder and designer of the world's greatest and most beautiful superyacht someday under your company. "
"Your determination and your drive to get hold of your dreams make me love you more. " He said with full admiration in his eyes, making him pull out her head and kiss it.
Allie got startled as she was caught offguard. "Stop it, Hayri. "
"It's your choice not to love me, Miss Kiamko but you can't stop me. "
Allie sighed. How long could she resist him?