I know I should be paying attention, but it was so fucking difficult to do so when I was so mad at that prick. And he was effortlessly listening too, maybe he was even pretending, but no one could tell. That was one of the things I hated about him back then too. He was effortlessly perfect at everything. It grated on my nerves how I had to work very hard to get things, but he barely put in effort and everything bows to him and gives him everything on a silver platter.
I worked my ass off to deserve the position of CEO, despite it being my birthright as the heir of the Vega couple.
His position was also his birthright, as the only successor to the Reyes Empire. But that fucking prick got the position of CEO immediately he turned 21. I know because dad mentioned it. But I had to toil and learn for three years after turning 21, before I could claim my position as the Chief Executive Officer of the Vega Conglomerate.
Now he had the guts to imply that I would be learning how to be a CEO from him? Because he didn't have to toil like me? I bet my life that I would be the one fucking teaching him. That fucker.
Besides, I was aware of the dark rumors about the Reyes Empire. How the CEO used dubious means to get to the top. And judging by the dark energy surrounding him and the rest of his escorts, I can tell the rumors weren't far from the truth. And Mom and Dad blindly wants us to merge with such a fucking empire with questionable secrets?
If this alliance was going to hurt my conglomerate, then I was going to fucking fish out dark evidence and end this pathetic merging.
I heard the room start to applaud, and the executive settled back into his seat.
Another executive stood up and started his own speech, and I leaned back against my swivel chair, using all my will power to listen intently to what he was saying. I was controlling myself from looking across the table to that fucker, because I just wanted to glare at him. Even his silence pissed me off. Kim suddenly materialized beside me, elegantly placing a cup of expensive honeyed coffee in front of me. I exhaled in relief. She was such a godsend.
She knows me so well.
I gave her an appreciative glance and motioned for her to lean closer. She did and I whispered an instruction to her. She nodded and moved away diligently. I didn't have to wait long before she appeared beside the fucker, placing a steaming cup of coffee in front of him. Strong coffee, with lots of sugar, I had specifically instructed her.
I watched him glance down at the coffee in alarm, eyes darkening when he looked across the table at me. He hates coffee. I remember. Just the smell of it was unappealing to him. And now a whole mug of steaming coffee was right under his nose. He said something to Kim, probably telling her to take it away, then he lowered those metallic eyes to me, glaring death straight at me.
He was pissed off.
And that was exactly what I wanted. I was satisfied to see that I was not the only one who was infuriated by the other person's presence. I gave him a smug smirk, and raised my own mug to my lips, tauntingly taking a long sip of my coffee.
Our silent glare-down was interrupted when the executive rounded up his speech and sat down, while the rest clapped. The Vega Chief Of Operations leaned forward in seat, asking me politely, "Ma'am, do you have any thoughts on what he just said?"
I placed my mug down and dabbed at my lips daintily with a serviette. Then I replied in my most neutral and cool tone, "No. But I do have certain concerns on the recent assumptions the public have of the Reyes Empire." The room went dead silent, as if they knew I was about to drop a bomb.
I could see Dad's eyes widening from his seat, as if trying to tell me to let it go. But I sat up higher in my seat and looked straight at their CEO, making sure to look as haughty as possible, like he was just a speck of dust on my table. He met my stare unflinchingly, his expression unreadable. His silence felt like a string ready to snap, despite the fact that he was confidently relaxed in his swivel chair.
I continued. "Reputation means a lot, in the business world. This alliance is to elevate, not to sully the Vega name with any scandals we might not know about yet-"
He interrupted in a level voice. "You do not have to worry about your reputation. Just being partners with the Reyes Empire has boosted you up several steps up the fundamental business food chain." He gave me an arrogant stare like he was doing us a favor by being here.
They were a larger and wealthier empire, but we have what they don't. Powerful connections with the richest set of people in the world. The Oil tycoons. And that is why they reached out to us.
I arched an eyebrow. "Then your PR team must be slacking, if those unfounded rumors are still running wild."
His voice was venom. "It's called strategic publicizing, Miss Vega. My PR team is the strongest in the world, and nothing escapes them. If any rumors are out there like you claim, then they are in control of it, because it benefits the empire." He gave a dark grin. "I'm sure you wouldn't understand the complexities of these matters. My offer still stands, and I'll create time to enlighten you."
My cheeks flushed with anger. Create time to enlighten me? Did he just have the nerve to insult me?!