Talia was furious until the call got connected and the silence on the other side for a couple of seconds made her a bit doubtful making her wonder if she dialled the right number. It was the right number.
'Did he change his number? Or...'
'Did he think I won't figure him out and I'd just do as he wished?'
She got more furious.
'Or... Does he not remember my phone number and that's why he isn't picking up..?'
Her spirit got down and she bit her lips but then her fury rose for reasons she couldn't figure out.
'Hmm... Why should I care if he remembers my phone number or not?'
Before she started to speak, a deep, smoky voice like a distant thunder, rolled in her ears making her scalp numb.
"You there, blue?"
The way he said 'blue' was smooth like butter, filled with affection. Like he'd been saying that word all his life. This time, it was filled with elation, expectation and slightly erotic.
At least she thought it was erotic. Was his voice always this deep baritone? Can ten years change him so much?
"Iris?"
His smooth voice tickled her ears once again so close in her ears, like he is next to her, whispering.
She felt her heart vibrating with some emotions and placed her hand there. These feelings were familiar.
He called her Iris when they were in high school.The same emotions she used to feel whenever he was with her back then in high school, revived her heart almost dead to love. The feelings she used to think were love. Like any girl in her teens, she thought she was in love, with him just because of these feelings.
But... He abandoned her when she needed him the most and left her to face everything alone.
No more! I won't be swayed by him anymore. He is the only person in this world I can trust to not trust. Others may love me or hate me but I know he doesn't love me.
Her eyes that seemed like a pond with gentle ripples with all those emotions closed and she took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes, they were still as the deep sea.
She is used to control her emotions this way. She practised and perfected it. This is the only way she could survive with some capacity after the trauma ten years ago. These silly methods and antidepressants.
"Mr. Sinclair" her voice clear as a bell rang making the man on the other side go stiff.
'So distant and cold! ' leaning on the door, Arthur closed his eyes, taking in another whiff of the cigar. He knew what kind of words he will hear next. They won't be kind and polite like how she usually speaks with others. He prepared his heart.
'But will she accept my explanation?'
"Hmm"
His voice vibrated in her ear and once again her heart started beating like a drum.
' Hopeless!'
She chided herself.
"Forcing me back by coercion, huh? Your Majesty!"
Her voice was cold as she tried to focus on her task. Now is not the time to be swooning like a hormonal teenager.
"Actually..."
'I have nothing to do with this' Arthur wanted to say but his words were swallowed.
"I don't bloody care for your defense, Mr. Sinclair. I know all about your glorious accomplishments and your crowning as the king of the business world. But, I'm not one of those who'd be awed by your splendour and bow to you! May this be the first and last time you try something like this on me, "she spoke in a loud voice, uncharacteristic of her and continued.
"Threatening the company I work at? Haven't you taken enough of what's mine already, Mr. Sinclair? Why must you be greedy for more? Will you be happy only after I die? I already told you I want nothing from the Brunton family's wealth and the Northern Star is yours alone. Should I draw a contact with my blood to assure you more, Mr. Sinclair? Should I for your sake, forfeit my life? Will you rest assured then? You won, Mr. Sinclair. In the centuries old feud between our families, you won! You got everything of the Bruntons and became king. Isn't that what you wanted?
And... What are you planning? Why do you want me there? Did you think I care for this company and just because you threaten, I'd run back there with my tail between my legs and lick your boots?" she snorted and Arthur bowed his head dejected with a dry smile in his lips and his eyebrows furrowed as he tried to keep the tears formed in his eyes in.
'Is this what you think of me, blue? I don't want anything from you, I only want you. '
" I don't! I don't care for this company..." Talia continued, twirling her fringes, not caring that she is stabbing the man on the other side with her words.
"In fact, I care for nothing and no one but me! If you disturb me again, I will leave here in a heartbeat, breaking the deal we made long ago and go dark. You remember the deal, right Mr. Sinclair? My freedom in exchange for me letting my grandfather watch over me from a distance. That's the deal. If you infringe on my freedom, I'll go somewhere you can't find me and you can't even see my pictures by then. I hid for a year once and I can do that again and this time it would be forever!"
Talia picked up a glass of water in the table and took a sip as her throat has gone dry by talking this much. Only after this long speech did she feel like she has made her stance clear. There is no way she'd return to Esteria, ever.
In her anger towards him, she didn't even realise the contradictory beliefs she had. She believed Arthur wanted to beat her family and she didn't think twice about the reason he is still taking care of her grandfather. Her grandfather is still the Chairman of the Northern Star Group and Arthur is still a paid employee as the CEO. All the power still lied with her grandfather.
She in fact, didn't care much for her grandfather either. After the scandal ten years ago, her grandfather forced marriage on her and that made her run away from Esteria and she didn't step foot inside the country ever since.
" I understand "
In the end, Arthur decided not to explain himself since he could feel her seething rage through the phone. It won't be prudent to try and reason with her when she is this mad. It is not good for her health. For now he will accept every blame she puts on him.
This time, it is his fault for not keeping his employee in line and letting him go rogue. That insolent fool even had the guts to threaten his wife!
"How are you doing?" he asked unable to hold back. Her words hurt but hearing her voice was so pleasant for him. He wanted to hear more.
*Click*
He heard the call end and he bowed his head, with a short sigh.
When he looked up, how eyes were like there were a thunderstorm in them and he'd zap those in front of him with lightning.
"Was it your brilliant idea?"
He placed his mobile phone in his pocket and leisurely walked towards the table of that chubby manager.
The skinny hacker in the side stood up out of fear and tried to run but seeing the door locked he felt like his life is going to end here.