"Mr. Adams it says here in the contract that the revenue gained from this partnership shall be split equally. I wish to change that to 60-40, we taking the greater part obviously" James Kuti my General manager protested looking intensly at the contract.
"And why is that Mr. Kuti?" Luke inquired.
"Well for starters..."he began closing the contract and looking up at him. "Hope's Fashion world originally owned the contract given by the Government of the United States but given the time limit at which we were expected to finish the designs it was impossible for a single company to do such and so they sought your company's assistance. Furthermore, we would be doing the major work like the design preparation for the clothing lines and the measurements of the entire guests while your company helps in the less hectic areas like the sewing, sorting of materials and so on. The general supervision would be done personally by Miss Hope ." He said giving me a slight nod.
I watched him as he whispered to his assistant. They seemed to be debating the matter. I tried to make out what they said but it proved difficult. Finally he spoke up " That's fair enough Mr. Kuti but i would assist Miss Hope in the general supervision if you don't mind" he said as he gave me a quick glance and turned to face him.
James looked at me and i signalled to him that it was alright.
"That's alright by Miss Hope. Its a deal then." he said standing to give him a handshake.
"Mr. Adams if you don't mind seeing me to my office to make the necessary amendments so we can both sign." i finally spoke leading him out of the conference room towards my office.
"That's a really good manager you have there" he commented as we walked to my office.
"Yes he is one of the best" I said proudly.
James was really good at his Job and has contributed greatly at putting the company on the map. He had stayed with us even when he had been offered better jobs by other big companies, he had respectfully declined them all just to help my company grow and i was really lucky to have him as a manager and a friend.
"His attention to detail is impeccable. I see why your company is one of the best in the country." He said walking into my office and taking a seat.
"Yeah. But we are kinda hoping for best in the world" i smiled.
"Hahaha...I like this ambitious lady i see" he laughed. "and i think i am going to love working with her" he said staring intently at me.
" Mr. Adams are you always this flirtatious?" i asked as i tried hopelessly to hide the shade of red growing on my cheeks. I was still getting used to this strange feeling for another human that wasn't Iyke.
"Oh. please call me Luke, we would be working together after all and trust me i am not always like this it's just that for some weird reason i can easily connect with you on an intimate level.
I really do hope what i said just made sense to you because i don't want to make you feel uncomfortable " he said nervously.
Of course it made perfect sense to me because i felt the same way. I felt like i knew him even though i just met him. He had this great vibe around him that felt very welcoming but i wasn't going to admit it not to him at least.
"Not entirely but we can work with that....So back to business" i said trying to end the topic "How are you the C.E.O of Zarah's collection?" i asked " i thought the C.E.O was a woman besides i was informed that a representative was coming not the actual owner of the company"
"Oh!.. So that explains your initial shock when i introduced myself earlier on." He confirmed. "Well..." he began "The owner of Zarah"s collection as you have rightly said is a woman who is my mother. She is currently indisposed and has handed over the company to me as her only son. I have heard many wonderful things about your company and i just wanted to see for myself the brains behind such accomplishments. Well I guess i was in for a shock for she is not only intelligent but extremely beautiful."
I was blushing so hard i couldn't feel my face. Who was this man making me lose all my cool in a matter of mins. I tried to pull myself together and speak.
"W... Well thank you for the compliment but this beauty here is already taken." I said trying to discourage him from flirting with me.
"Are you married?... Oh I'm sorry i guess i just assumed you were single because i didn't see any ring on your finger. i'm so sorry for assuming." he said sincerely.
"Not married... Just engaged. I haven't really gotten used to wearing a ring all the time" i said awkwardly.
"Well....i think he is a really lucky man for finding someone as extraordinary as you and i pray he doesn't mess it up or else i would be waiting" he said attempting to make a joke but i could see he was dissapointed which i think was odd for someone you just met.
I felt bad now for bringing it up. I mean i was supposed to let him know right? It was the right thing to do but why did it seem like i was letting go of something rare. I pushed the feeling aside. Just then i heard a knock on the door and Ariel came in with the contract. It had been amended and what was left was our signatures.
"Sir, you need to sign here" she said indicating where he was to sign.
I was grateful Ariel had come in when she did because i was really starting to get uncomfortable being alone with Luke in my office notwithstanding the bombshell i had just thrown at him. I thought it was cute that he liked me and if i wasn't already engaged with Iyke i would probably date him but i was engaged so it was what it was.
"Ma'm, it's your turn to sign now" she said instructing me on where to sign.
"It's official now" i said shaking his hand which still sent shivers down my spine.
"Yeah it is. Cheers." he flashed me one of the most beautiful smiles i have ever seen. He seemed to be in lighter spirits now and i was happy for that.
"See you next week then" i found myself saying. I was rather to excited to begin the project with him much to my displeasure.
"Yeah, okay. Have a great day" he laughed as he walked out of my office escorted by my assistant.
I breathed a long sigh i hadn't realized i had been holding in the entire time. I opened my workbook and began some sketches when my phone rang. looking at the caller I.D i saw it was Adrian.
"Hi Hopey, how are you doing?"
"Adrian, you know i hate it when you call me that" i frowned.
"No need to get worked up over this... You know i won't stop" he laughed.
I knew for sure he wouldn't, he had started calling me that after he heard my grandma call me that way by mistake. (She had meant to say happy). He had decided he liked it and he and Shay hadn't stopped teasing me with it ever since.
"I can't even stress myself arguing with you. I am already stressed as it is" i said giving up the fight.
"Hey! Did something happen?" he sounded worried.
"No... No...Nothing really I'm still quite hung over from last night" I said assuringly
"True though, so how was it?...t'was lit wasn't it? even from the phone i could tell he was smirking.
"I am never doing that again... ever! " i blurted.
"Not on my watch" he laughed "anyway i wanted to tell you i would be free tommorrow for that photo shoot you have been begging me to do with your new clothing line."
"What about the runway showcase?" I asked silently wishing he would agree
"Yeah... That too just send the time and venue to my assistant ."
"I would. Thank you so much... This means a lot." i said excitedly.
"Come off it. It's the least i can do for my friend besides you have been asking me for this for quite a while now but i have been really booked"
"Is Shay coming with you? I inquired.
"No he has a photo shoot in France tomorrow...his would be next week "
"okay then see you tomorrow. I have to start making the necessary arrangements."
"Ok...Go do you" he said ending the call .
I was really excited that Adrian had decided to do this considering how long i have been bugging him for this... I mean he was a top male model, the least he could do for me was model for my brand even if it was for a short while.
I called my secretary and told her to send the time and venue for the shoot and runway showcase to Adrian's assistant.
I was about wrapping up in the office and getting ready to go when my assistant rushed in
"You really need to see this Ma' m" she said turning on the tv.
"....and on entertainment news, Judy Adams, the C.E.O of Zarah's collection which is one of the best fashion house in the country , has been diagnosed with cancer of the liver" I heard the newscaster say. "The news which had been kept a secret was revealed by one of our sources... The 76years old business guru who had been diagnosed with cancer for 3weeks now have apparently left all business dealings to her only son Luke Adams and is to undergo surgery. We wish her a speedy recovery."
My head began spinning as i turned off the tv. I had a lot of questions i wanted to ask. Why cancer? I remembered Luke telling me his mother had been indisposed but he didn't really tell me why. I wanted to see him, to find out if he was okay. I kept wondering how he had managed to smile throughout the meeting while his mother was about to undergo surgery. I knew i wouldn't be able to get through to him especially now that the news had leaked. i would just have to wait till i saw him next week. It was marvelling how the day had gone from really nice to straight up shitty all at once.
************
Thanks my fateful readers.
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