Richard seemed to be losing concentration as his brain kept on recurring flashes of Vanessa Higgins.
His hands kept on shaking while he clenched on the scripts tighter, as if his life depended on it. Richard tried hard to keep his calm but was afraid - he was losing it gradually. His senses were failing him, yet he still held on to the script, smiling faintly at the audience as he struggled to keep going.
There he stood in the center among wealthy CEOs and billionaires with an expensive green suit matching an animal skin footwear which gave him a killer outlook. His dark curly hair was neatly combed and arranged to the back, while a handful amount of hair was left, lapping sexily on his cute face, covering a portion of his left eye.
He had three piercings along the line of his ears which gave him a feisty look. A stranger might assume he was a 'star musician' or 'prolific actor' mere looking at him but he is the CEO of RICHARDSON'S IMPERIAL COMPANY - a multinational group of companies which he inherited from his father and solely managed by him.
The speech Richard was giving was perfect, the audience who all belonged to the 'BILLIONAIRE'S CLUB' as he, listened with rapt attention. Their clear eyes set like an eagle, watching this influential bossy personality of theirs with utmost admiration, which was out of this world.
However, no one had an idea of what their all powerful CEO was facing at the moment.
Richard Lieu stared at the official script again and the words which were written in them seemed to be floating away, leaving a blank image of a crying Vanessa.
Richsrd couldn't bottle his emotions, anymore.
"RICHARDSON'S IMPERIAL will partner with the GREY'S for the next six months, striking a contract deal of 80%, a total of five hundred million dollars." He finally SAID, strangled, with the words stuck in his mouth.
Everyone gasped. For some seconds, there seemed to be total silence in the hall.
Suddenly, the realization hit the CEO of The Grey's company hard!
Richard Lieu wasn't joking!
He stood up, with an astonished expression on his face as he stared at Richard Lieu in disbelief.
Richard's Secretary, Jones Walker immediately stood up, rushing towards Richard as though he just heard a death sentence.
"Mr CEO, do you realize how much we will be losing to the Grey's? If you are not feeling too unwell, we might postpone the meeting till tomorrow." Jones said, looking worried as ever.
Richard's face tightened with no expression . His gaze fell on Jones, his secretary, and he seemed like he would seize Jones up with his eyes if he failed to disappear from his sight. Jones' lips quivered as he immediately handed the contract deal for his boss to sign on.
The CEO of The Grey's Company stepped forward, exchanging handshake with Richard Lieu. The crowd could see the excitement written all over his face. Indeed, he couldn't believe that luck was really on his side after so many failed attempts on his end.
He held Richard's cold hands for some seconds, staring at his emotionless face as if searching for a clue behind Richard's decision. He wouldn't have believed Richard Lieu, the world's most wealthiest and the number one manipulative man in the world of business, would agree to partner with his meagre upcoming company.
When he already declined top start-ups in the past. But now, he was approving doing business with his?
Like?
IF not for Richard's inked signature already on the Document, The Grey's CEO would have assumed he was day-dreaming.
He held Richard's hand, a while longer and didn't want to let go, relishing his fortune, not until Richard unfriendly stare brought his hand to a halt.
'Maybe he was paranoid' He thought to himself.
The audience questioned with doubtful look at the unbelievable drama unfolding before them?
Richardson's Imperial Company partnering with The Grey's?
"How was that possible?"
"Does it mean, he fancy partnering with the Greys?" Few thought.
"Of what benefit would be The Grey's Partnership be of use to him?"
"Why waste money for a valueless startup? WHY?"
"Maybe he is sick and forgot his senses at home!" Some grumbled annoyingly
A particular man who was watching the drama for a while stood up, hitting his fist angrily on the table.
"His brother is not so foolish as he is!"
His name was Tyson Rodriguez, also belonged to the Billionaire's club, too.
Every investor knew Tyson to be a very greedy man, who just wanted money and more money and more money!
He was never tired of the money!
And if the money didn't come just as Tyson wanted, he would go extra miles, no matter how desperate to get it.
Some years ago, Tyson Group had attempted partnering with Richardson's Imperial Company, but Tyson's attempts were always unsuccessful.
There and then, Tyson felt cheated as he imagined a mushroom company taking over the wealth he would have amassed, that would have made him become the sixth out of the eight most wealthiest in the globe.
Tyson Rodriguez, couldn't keep his calm anymore watching the foul play unfold before him.
Enveloped in an unquestionable fury, Tydkn stormed out of the conference room alongside his body guards, cursing and swearing as he walked.
"Wow!" Some exclaimed,
"We can't believe it!"
"But what if Imperial saw something unique in The Grey's…"
The men were uncomfortable, as they saw a wide grin appear on Richard Lieu's face. They were more surprised when Richard discarded the scripts and stood for a while, staring at the space and talking to himself.
"What has come over him again?"
Richard was immediately catapulted from his love dreamland back to reality when he glanced at his anxious audience, and they all glanced back at him with a perplexed look.
"Uhm, I'm sorry. " Richard cleared his throat while he spoke, "That is the closing speech for this year's budget remuneration, and the partnership with the five leading countries of the world including the partnership with the Grey's." Richard said with a killer flirty smile spreading across his face.
The crowd became perplexed again,
"Did he just say....'I'm sorry?'" A word which he has never said to anyone, not in his entire existence?" The men questioned.
Richard glanced at the crowd, amused and surprised at their perplexed expression.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" He called out. "Are there any questions to ask concerning Richardson's partnering with the Greys before we proceed to clearing off of Documents?" He asked authoritatively, the smile disappearing from his face and replaced with his usual 'don't come too near' cold expression .
*
The meeting was brought to an abrupt end as hundreds of filthy wealthy men and women, all rushed out, trying to steal a handshake from the wealthy tycoon.
They all had so many questions to ask, but they were afraid of being neglected, thus, they all walked side-by-side faking a smile.
Immediately Richard and his BILLIONAIRE'S CLUB members were headed to their fleet of cars, hundreds of paparazzi hurdled around him. They desperately struggled to take photos of him.
Some of them were surprised with the glint of humour playing on Richard's eye, that they had no other option than to query him.
"How was the Meeting, Mr. Richards?" A reporter asked.
"Mr. Lieu, do you think Richardson's Imperial company collaborating with the Grey's company in Asia will be a successful one?" Six reporters quipped in unison.
"What were your motive in agreeing to the partnership of The Grey's despite knowing the fact that The Grey's is just a fast new rising company, and you might loose huge amount of money in the future prior to this decision?" They asked, agitating his response.
Of course, they all knew that Richard Lieu was not a fool and in this case, he might be trying to manipulate The Grey's.
The reporters had no idea that all this drama was related to this strange young woman who had already captured the CEO's heart - Vanessa.
Richard cleared his throat, staring at the Reporters with a wicked glint playing in his eyes. "RICHARDSON'S IMPERIAL COMPANIES has the power to partner with whosoever they wish to partner with."
He pointed his fist at every of the reporters, "In no way, must I see this all over the media tomorrow! If any one dares me...!!" His voice rang, sounding as a warning to the reporters.
"No Sir," They nodded uncontrollably.
"We won't Sir."
"It will never be in the press, Mr Lieu. We all know what you're capable of doing." The reporters said, their body quivering like a leaf.
Richard's face gleamed with a satisfied look. This was just what he wanted to hear.
He slammed the door, notifying his chauffeur of his next destination.
"Clydesdale Hotel." He muttered.
Within a second, the Thin fleeted Limousine zoomed off to the smooth road, leaving the disappointed Reporters to their fate.