"It's done!" Isaac had wrapped up her foot in a bandage and stepped away with a victorious expression.
"Thank you, "Peace replied, and slowly got up from the seat.
"Is that it? Are you going to ignore the fact that I just saved your life, and That I wrapped up a wound for you?" Isaac asked.
"What do you want?" She asked.
"Hm…" Isaac thought deeply, "have you eaten yet?" He asked.
"No! Do you want me to buy you food?" Peace asked with a confused expression.
"No, I am hungry. I will think about that once I am not hungry." Isaac said.
"Hm," Peace nodded.
"Here is your phone, Miss." Mark brought her phone to her, Peace took it and glanced at the cracked screen. Her eyes widened with shock when she saw the number of missed calls she got from Alex.
"Oh, no!" Peace mumbled.
"Give me a moment," Peace said to Isaac and took a step away. Her steps were unsteady, so Mark gave her a hand. She took it without resisting much.
Isaac's stomach boiled up with frustration. When he stared at Peace's hand that was resting in Mark's palm. Peace did not know what was going on. She quickly dialed Alex's number and took the phone to her ear.
"I am sorry I didn't pick up," Peace spoke into the speaker.
"What happened?" Alex asked with a growl.
"Nothing, just a minor accident at the construction site." She replied.
"Are you sure you are okay? Do you want me to pick you up?" He asked.
"I still have work to do, so you can pick me up in an hour," Peace spoke.
"Okay! Send me the location...and take care of yourself," he huffed.
"I will. Will call you back later, when I am done." Peace spoke and then ended the call.
Peace turned around and saw something peculiar to the eyes. She saw Isaac glaring at Mark with a hateful gaze, while Mark too responded with equal disdain.
"Is— everything okay?" She asked,
"Yes," Isaac replied after he had given Mark a last hateful glare.
"So where do you want to have lunch?" She asked. Isaac blinked a few times as if trying to decide. He then gave a nod.
"I know a place," he said and gestured to her to get into the car.
The
Peace got into Isaac's car and sent Mark back to the office. On the way, Peace avoided any kind of conversation with Isaac. She was stiff as a rock and one could tell she was holding her breath.
Isaac felt she was uncomfortable, and he glanced at her, but then didn't ask her the reason for her actions. He brought her to an expensive-looking restaurant.
At their arrival, many eyes followed them, one reason was that Isaac was holding onto Peace's shoulder tightly as she was Limping, Peace had taken off her heels so that it would be easy for her to walk, she was bare-footed when she entered the restaurant. Isaac pulled the seat for her.
The server came to the table quickly. He had a broad, warm smile on his face and handed them the menu.
Isaac didn't bother looking at the menu and said.
"I will have the usual." At this, the server gave a nod and looked at Peace.
"I will have the same." she placed the menu back and grabbed the water glass, and gulped it down.
"Is there a problem? Are you not feeling well?" Isaac asked.
"No! Nothing," Peace replied as she looked around.
"The contract you wrote for Miss Charlotte impressed me. You seem to have a lot of experience in this field." Isaac started the conversation, his fingers gently circling the glass on the table.
"I do." she gave a brief reply and sipped the water from the glass.
"And about the board meeting. I didn't expect you had some plans for your sleeves," Isaac asked, expecting a longer answer this time.
"I have plans way ahead in the future." Peace looked straight at Isaac when she spoke.
Her deep blue eyes petrified Isaac. There was a whirlwind of emotions. They were so intense, yet so faded that one would get lost in them. Isaac blinked suddenly and looked away. He grabbed the glass of water and gulped it down in a go; He looked back in her direction, where Peace was still looking at him with her straight face. Isaac clicked his tongue. He tried to get back to the conversation.
"But I think your plans are very flawed. You won't be able to stay in that position for too long." Isaac changed his way of speaking, he spoke in a more business-like manner. Peace looked at him with a blank face, and just then the server arrived with the food. He served the dishes and bowed slightly before leaving.
Peace glanced at the pasta that the server had served them. Her lip curled up, and she picked up the fork elegantly.
"Some things never change. It's scary sometimes," She spoke in a soft voice, it caught Isaac by surprise.
"I didn't get you," He asked.
"Nothing," Peace added and dug into her food. She slowly chewed the pasta. None of them spoke for a long time until Peace broke the silence.
"I know I won't be able to stay on that seat for long, And I know who is going to remove me from that position…" She spoke.
"You do?" Isaac lifted an eyebrow.
"Yes," She nodded, "It's a game of money and power. Things like feelings and emotions don't matter here. Be ready. Anyone—just anyone can stab you," Peace added. "But I too am prepared," She said and waved her hand at the server.
"What are you doing?" Isaac asked suddenly.
"Paying for the meal," she replied in a stern voice.
"Hah!" Isaac scoffed. "It's my treat, you don't have to pay," He said.
Peace blinked a few times and then withdrew her hand. She picked up her phone and typed something before looking back at Isaac.
"Thank you for the kindness, I will leave then," She said prepared to get up.
"Are you leaving just like that? What about repaying me for saving your life," Isaac asked. Peace's eyebrows twitched, and she seated herself back in the seat.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Can you talk to me less robotically?" Isaac asked with dissatisfaction. Peace didn't respond for a few seconds. Then she slowly placed both of her hands on the table and leaned a bit forward. Her eyes filled with curiosity.
"I have heard many things about you, Mister. Mendoza, but right now you are making me believe that all of them were just flying lies," Peace replied.
"Things? Like what?" Isaac asked with amusement.
"That you are a perfectionist, and that you are a cold and ruthless leader that knows nothing about forgiveness," Peace stated.
"Am I not?" He asked.
"No, you look like a pushover. It seems like you have tried hard to make yourself an image that you can't keep, it's just a paper castle you have built," Peace replied.
Isaac's eyebrows ceased. He was not very pleased with her words.
"I was hoping we could get on the good side of each other, but I was wrong." Isaac frowned as he spoke. The fork in his hand stabbed into the plate.
"Glad that you realized it," Peace replied, and slowly pushed the table to get up safely. Her foot was still hurting, but she clenched her teeth and tried not to show her pain.
"Huh?" Peace suddenly made a sound. She felt a hand slowly wrap over her waist, and someone picked her up.
"You said you were okay! What is all this?" Alex was frowning, he held Peace tightly against his chest. Peace's eyebrows had ceased. She had gotten stiff like a rock when she was scooped up suddenly. But then her muscles relaxed her. She saw who it was.
"I didn't want to worry you," Peace mumbled.
There was a sudden silence in the restaurant, it seemed like a scene right out of a dramatic film. Isaac had already gotten up in a very shocked manner. Alex was holding Peace in a precious way as if she was the most important person in his life. Many had already taken their cell phones out and were recording them.
"Well, I am worried. And who wrapped the blanket around your foot?!" Alex glanced at the bandage that Isaac had wrapped.
Isaac heard Alex's sarcastic words and boiled up. "Bl-blanket?" He asked.
Alex was not looking at Isaac, but he noticed him when he spoke.
"Who is that? Do you know him?" Alex asked. He deserved an Oscar for his acting.
Peace tried to control her smile and looked at Isaac. "Mr. Mendoza, please don't meddle with The Strong Hold, And especially don't interfere with the projects they are working on. You will regret it," Peace spoke in a deep voice. It sounded like a threat to many, but when Alex heard those words his eyes showed a sign of heartbreak, his fingers curled around Peace possessively and he stepped away after giving Isaac a death glare.