"Miss Feng you really live up to your reputation," he leered at her openly, "your beauty is as breathtaking as they say."
"Mr president you jest, I am just an old lady now." Feng Xueqin laughed, the sound akin to tinkering bells.
"Mr president?" He laughed, "please call me David, don't act so formal."
"Alright David." Feng Xueqin agreed with a nod as she sipped her wine, the brezze gentle on her skin.
"The weather here is nice, I hope I can visit again." Feng Xueqin licked her lips to get rid of the remnants of wine, she noticed the way David's eyes followed, a shiver of disgust running down her spine.
"Certainly, you can visit again." David lifted his glass for a sip, suddenly feeling thirsty. "A woman of your grace is always welcomed here." His brown eyes shone with a lecherous gleam.
"So kind of you David." Feng Xueqin hummed. "But I believe our agreement tonight will determine that, if you sue Feng Corporations, don't expect me to waltz into Vinamet again." Her obsidian eyes drifted to the documents on the table, tension hung in the air like a knife ready to strike.
"There's no rush," David tapped his finger against his wine glass, "Have some wine and enjoy the ambience, I have ordered the chefs to prepare our traditional delicacies, dinner will be here any moment." Feng Xueqin forced a tight-lipped smile at the words as she feigned interest in the gentle sound of the music.
Feng Xueqin didn't have time to waste, the court case hung like a hammer over Feng Corporations and she had only managed to secure an invitation after a grilling two weeks of games with Vinamet, yet she had no choice but to wait.
"Oh! Here they come." David laughed with glee as the chefs brought the dinner, arranging them on the table with gentle care. They uncovered the plates, revealing appetizing dishes with stunning visuals and smells.
"Don't stand on ceremony, dig in." David cut into the fish when the chefs left. With a barely stifled sigh, Feng Xueqin forced herself to eat.
"David about the case..."
"Try these rice balls, their taste are to die for." David caught her off.
"David." Feng Xueqin's voice was firm, her gaze cold and cutting. "Let's focus on the reason we are here."
"Alright then." David nodded, his aura turned serious all traces of his former joviality gone.
"We would never bring drugs into your borders, Shelton Infrastructure fooled us, they..."
"Enough of the long talk Miss Feng, what do you want." Feng Xueqin strangled the rising anger at the interruption.
"Drop the court case, let's negotiate something else." Feng Xueqin sighed.
"Defeat is not a good look on you Miss Feng." David chuckled, as he ran a hand through his beard, the reddish color the se as his thinning hair.
"Drugs are strictly scorned in Vinamet, the citizens are angry at such a bold move of bringing drugs into the country, I can't let Feng Corporations off without a strike, what sort of president would I be if I let down my citizens?" David sighed with fake worry.
"Leave the citizens out of this. This is between me and you." Feng Xueqin said sharply. "If you choose to drag Feng Corporations to court and withdraw our permit," Feng Xueqin watched the man opposite her, "we both stand to lose, not only would we waste our time, we would also lose money." Feng Xueqin's lips curved into a cold smirk, a dark look gleaming in her eyes. "If Vinamet insists on dragging this case to court, I will make sure Vinamet doesn't leave unscathed."
"You are threatening me?" David scoffed
"If that's how you see it." Elegant shoulders raised into a casual shrug.
"Feng Corporations were the ones bringing drugs into my borders, it's clear who's on the losing side." David's tone was laced with dark anger.
"I don't need to remind you David, that dozens of my companies and stores were burnt and vandalized, hundreds of workers traumatized and jobless from the babaric acts of your people." Feng Xueqin stated coldly. "That's billions they destroyed,it will cost money to rebuild those properties."
"So what do you want Miss Feng? To fight with me?" David seethed, the food had gone cold since a long time.
"I am not here to fight you,I am here to bargain with you." Feng Xueqin slidded a folder to him.
David gave her a dark look and opened the documents, his expression unreadable as he read through the clauses.
"I refuse." He flung the contract on the table. "You are offering good money Miss Feng, a 30% increase in royalties is certainly tempting but not enough." David smirked.
"What do you want?" Feng Xueqin felt annoyance creep underneath her skin, the greed in his eyes disgusting.
"Your rivals are pleased about this opportunity to pull Feng Corporations down and compared to their offer, your deal is a bit too meager." His brown eyes held traces of a victorious gleam. "I want full rights and ownership to your mining company and I will drop the case."
"Absolutely not." Feng Xueqin's refusal was swift.
"Alright then," David's eyes bore something sinister, "I will accept the 30% deal, but only if you are willing to add 10% shares of Feng corporations and yourself."
"Pardon?" Feng Xueqin blinked.
"Normally I prefer younger women." David's brown eyes scanned her figure. Her black dinner dress was strapless, the silky gown hugging her like a second skin, a white shawl hanging across elegant and sharp shoulder blades, the top half of her hair was tied into a messy bun, the rest flowing down her back in gentle waves, few strands of grey hair shinning like silverly highlights. She wore a light make-up, her nude lipstick highlighting the shape of her lips, her aura was regal and elegant. Despite being in her early sixties, she looked no older than forty, the wisdom in her eyes the only reveal of her true age.
"But you are intriguing Miss Feng, maybe it's your beauty or the thrill of seeing such a composed alpha at my mercy, begging and broken, I want you in my bed."
Feng Xueqin laughed, the sheer audacity of this man. "I know you prefer younger women, in fact the younger the better right?"
David blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Don't you know what I mean David? You like them younger don't you? Fifteen? Thirteen? Ten? Seven?" Her voice was cold, eyes filled with frost.
"How dare you." He yelled in anger.
"Don't pretend now, I have pictures of your escapades." Feng Xueqin watched as his expression shifted between, fear, anger and doubt. "Wouldn't the whole of Vinamet love to know that the man who rules them is a predator who hungers for their young, how unsafe their children must be." Feng Xueqin sighed. "I bet your children would love to learn the fact, that their father runs a child brothel at the shores of Lead Coast were he holds sex parties, using cruel bondage play on children and sells drugs."
"You bitch." He wheezed, breath choking and face red from anger, he gasped,his body suddenly feeling hot, air refusing to fill his lungs as he leaned on the table, eyes widening in fear. "What did you do to me?" He rasped, red eyes locked onto Feng Xueqin as he struggled to breathe.
"Poison." Feng Xueqin replied calmly as she sipped her wine. They were both alone as the man had thought her no threat, an act of folly and misguided pride. "You were foolishly distracted by my looks, it didn't take much to slip it into your plate."
"Please." David cried, clawing at his throat, air refused to fill his lungs no matter how hard he breathe.
Feng Xueqin glared at his pathetic form. "I tried to be civil, but you pushed me. I am not a woman you can break and have at your mercy, many have tired before you and they all crumbled." As much as she preferred to watch him die, now was not the time. "I will give you the antidote if you sign the contract."
He squirmed, grabbing the pen she tossed on the table and signing the dotted lines quickly. A white pill was placed before him and he hurriedly swallowed it.
"Happy co-operation." Feng Xueqin smiled as she rose, the contract in her hand. "It will take an hour for the antidote to kick in, by them you should have suffered enough." She glared at David.
"Enjoy your dinner." The click of her heels announcing her departure, she paused at the door. "Don't you dare try to retaliate against me, I will break your bones and feed your body to the wolves. Don't test me, I am no ordinary woman."