Soon there was a slight knock on the door.
The awkward atmosphere cooled down inside the meeting room. The door opened Kyle entered with a vague expression.
Seeing Kyle entering the room, Clara was nervous. Oliver had informed Clara while they entered the meeting room that Kyle is now working with Evelyn, NO Kyle is working for Evelyn to repay the debt for quite some time now.
Initially, Clara was heartbroken when she thought Evelyn had not said a word about this to her. Her mind was deviating towards questions like 'Does she even think of me as her friend?'
But then she understood, Evelyn and Kyle hardly met and maybe, just maybe, Evelyn did not want to hurt her feelings.
Clara looked up at Kyle but was shocked to see him. She has never seen such an expression on Kyle's face before.
Kyle's eyes looked hagged with his forehead bulging with stress. It was a look that never graced Kyle's face before. He looked like a person who was given a certain amount of work when he had never even held a stack of papers before.
Alexander first looked at Clara. He was afraid to see something that he was not ready to see. But what surprised him was Clara herself. Alexander had never seen Clara look so calm in the presence of Kyle.
Clara's face had no emotions associated with Kyle. Clara never expressed many feelings for Kyle initially as well. Her eyes used to search for Kyle subconsciously. Clara always used to stare at Kyle's back while walking with a longing clouding her eyes, but not anymore.
Now Clara's eyes were filled with strangeness. It felt like Clara was dealing with a foreigner who has nothing to do with her.
After making sure Clara was okay, Alexander's sight followed Kyle's and reached Evelyn.
Evelyn was looking straight at Kyle with a slightly tilted neck. Her eyebrows arched in confusion. One of Evelyn's hands was placed on the table near him. Like a butterfly resting in a broad daylight.
Alexander's mind shifted towards Evelyn as he extended his hand and covered hers.
This movement distracted Evelyn as she looked at Alexander in amusement. But to Evelyn's surprise, Alexander was not looking at her but at Kyle. Even though this was the case, his hold on Evelyn's hand tightened when Alexander felt Evelyn's eyes on him.
Evelyn was unsure what Alexander was trying to do or prove. Was Alexander trying to tell her that he was with her no matter what, or was he trying to reassure himself?
"Kyle, any progress," Mason's words interrupted Evelyn's thought.
Mason was pissed. On one hand, Alexander was acting like an emperor in their company, and seeing Kyle standing here Oliver was behaving like a dumb person glaring at him like a predator. In this situation, it was better to get the root cause out of the door soon.
'Kyle does have a huge effect on others,' Mason smiled at himself with this realization.
"The deal has been finalized," Kyle said with a straight face. He was now looking at Mason with resentment. Although Kyle had completed a very important deal, there was not slight happiness on his face.
"What deal," Evelyn looked at Mason. Her eyes narrowed in question. It was true that Mason had the authority to deal with situations and partners as he finds fit in the company, but Mason would still consult with Evelyn on such topics before taking action.
"The royalty deal with BH Industries," Mason looked at Kyle with a smirk, but before he could ask Mason was interrupted by a soft and clear voice.
Selena's voice cut through Mason's words, "The percentage?"
The question was short and simple. Selena never enjoyed asking long, useless things that do not aid the purpose.
"17%," Kyle said with a slight smile. Kyle always felt that talking with Selena was easier than anyone else in the company.
"Not bad," Selena complemented.
"Selena!," Mason reacted, looking at the situation. His eyes showed the expression of 'Do not praise the enemy.' written all over.
"What?" Selena looked at Mason and smiled slightly, "You should appreciate hard work."
Selena held Mason's hand that had been turned into a fist below the table. She knew Mason was angry at her, but Selena was a person who would compliment others for their accomplishments. It was inherited into her soul, which could not be changed no matter how hard Selena tried.
Mason breathed a long sigh. He knew that his wife was not doing it to oppose him but was saying something which he should have said. After all, the deal was completed by Kyle, which Mason himself had passed it towards him.
Before Mason could react, Evelyn smiled and said, "That is true. Good work should be appreciated."
Everyone in the room looked at Evelyn and waited for her next words. Alexander's grip tightened over Evelyn's hand. He knew he should not interfere, but he still could not help himself.
"We can consider 25% of your debt paid," Evelyn said in a daze. Looking at her surroundings, Evelyn knew the matter had to be resolved soon, otherwise it would create a disaster which could be next to impossible to resolve.
"Mason will deal with the rest," Evelyn looked at Mason, not even giving an inch of her attention to the intruder.
'Deal with the rest! How was he supposed to deal with the rest?'
Mason looked at Evelyn with wide eyes. But he soon understood that his boss was not ready to explain any further. Not seeing any reaction from Evelyn, Mason simply nodded his head in understanding.
'It is better to keep the mouth shut and not say anything now, '
Mason's thinking was simple. He had taken a step against Evelyn's order. She wanted to use Kyle against Black's slowly, but for his anger and foolishness, Evelyn might not be able to do so.
"Kyle, you can go now," Selena understood the mood in the room very well.
Mason was self-blaming while for Evelyn.....
Evelyn wanted to avoid Kyle now. Even though Evelyn was never too enthusiastic to work with Kyle, she still felt he was beneficial. Most of Kyle's work was reported to Mason and there was an even lesser chance of them meeting, but now Evelyn wanted to cut that change out.
What was going on in Evelyn's mind was beyond Selena's imagination, but as a friend she could only support her.
After all, sometimes one needs only a good friend to understand and not judge. Just to listen and be supportive.
As for Evelyn, she could have done something else, but the result was not bad at all. Kyle brought an enormous amount of money inside the company. But the main point was that he could draw the money from his own family business.
A small smile formed on Evelyn's face. How will Kyle's and Dave's father react to this? If it was in her power, she would have made them go bankrupt, but an act of revenge should be sweet and enjoyable.
Kyle nodded his head. He was able to leave the IL Group soon. Kyle wanted to repay the remaining money and leave. Today was a brutal humiliation to his pride.
What went inside the BH Industries and how and at what cost he finalized the deal was only for Kyle to know. But being like a bug under Evelyn's hand in front of his former friends was still beyond Kyle's acceptance.
He looked at everyone in the room. Only two dominant emotions filled the room: either ignorance or hate. Kyle swallowed lightly and hardened his heart.
'In the path for success, there are going to be hindrances.'
'I am here to learn.'
Kyle tried to make himself understand. It was hard, but it was something to be done. After all, survival was never easy.
Kyle went out with steady steps, but before he closed the door, Kyle's eyes danced inside the room for the last time. He did not know what he was trying to see or hold. There was a feeling in his heart telling him that something near and dear to his heart was slipping away from him that he should be holding onto.
'Why do I have these feelings now?'
Kyle's eyes wandered onto each and everyone's face inside the room who had gone back to their work. Instead of his old friends, Kyle saw his old acquaints.
There was no reason to feel sorry now when Kyle knew he was the one who broke their heart. He was the one who took a knife and cut through their trust, damaging and running it forever.
If anyone asked Kyle now if he regretted it, he might not be able to say for sure. His love and his friends were constantly battling. Most of the time the love overpowered friendship but sometimes just sometimes Kyle wished everything was back to normal.
Kyle closed the door as a seed of regret started forming its place in his heart.
"Shall we resume our discussion now?" Selena's words brought everyone back.
There were more important things to focus on now.