Chapter 172 - Shiela 3

Counting numbers from one to three in her mind, she took a deep breath and smiled at Allie, but ignored the other one across her.

"Miss Ferrer, good afternoon. Are you alright?" Allie walked towards her and helped her sit down.

"I'm sorry, Miss Allyza. Something came up on my way here," Shiela replied, but Allie's soft and concerned look cut deep in her heart in a warmth of sympathy that her eyes threatened to shed tears again.

"It's okay, Mr. Yu here and I are just chatting while waiting for your coming," Allie assured him while stealing a glance at the said, Mr. Yu.

"Is he joining us?" she asked, her widened eyes showed both her displeasure and disgust. She knew her question was out of the way and was a sign of disrespect, but seeing him there was just too overwhelming.

Allie looked between her and Mr. Yu before answering. "Do you find it uncomfortable, Miss Shiela?"

"Not-not at all," she answered, but not after she threw an angry look at him.

"So, if it's alright with you, shall we start?"

"Okay, Miss Lopez," Mr. Yu answered with a smile, but how he addressed her made Shiela frowned in confusion.

Allie may have read through her unspoken questions because she explained before proceeding.

"Miss Shiela, it's a long story, but Miss Zheena Kiamko and Allyza Reyes Lopez is the same," Allie explained as she shifted her gaze from her to Mr. Yu. She was sitting at the edge of the table, facing both of them.

"I see," Shiela replied in shame.

"The company is aiming right now to expand further into other territories. Along with that, we are planning to manufacture our own products. Well, that still needs a lot of planning and preparation, but we will be there."

Shiela's spirit sank; it only meant her contract is temporary until the company could generate her own products.

Allie's eyes fell on Shiela, and she understood her frustration. "Don't worry, Miss Shiela. If your products maintain its high quality, I can assure you a long term partnership until we are both established."

Seeing that Shiela just nodded and did not say anything, she continued. "Miss Ferrer, Mr. Yu here is our new investor for our UAE branch. I would like you to present your company profile and your products to him personally because he can best decide which products he would distribute. I'm also calling out the representatives of other companies to do the same."

Shiela felt choked that she wanted to flee out of the room. If only she knew she would be dealing with him, she would have looked for other companies. But she had already signed the contract and to breach it would mean a considerable loss to their treasury.

Allie saw Shiela's reaction, and she understood that there was something not right between them. She didn't know if it was right to leave them alone or if she would stay. Seeing that Mr. Yu stayed calm throughout and did not show any reaction, she addressed him a question.

"Mr. Yu, can we proceed?"

Mr.Yu sat up straight and nodded, "Sure, Miss Lopez. I'm just waiting for Miss Shiela to proceed," he answered with a teasing smile as Shiela stole a gaze at him. Her expression turned uglier as she saw his mocking grin.

"Miss Shiela?" Allie turned to her again. With a feeling of helplessness, she turned her laptop on and clicked on to her presentation.

Allie praised Shiela after the presentation for rendering it efficiently and eloquently as if she was in her best spirit. Little did Allie know that many times during her presentation, she almost gave up and leave the place. This man's calm facade was a mockery to the turmoil inside her heart. Did he think she couldn't survive without her partnership?

After a few more topics, the meeting ended, and Shiela stood up ahead to leave. She asked Allie's permission to leave while forcing herself to address him also. This was a business, after all, and personal feelings should not be involved.

"Thanks for the time, Mr.Yu. Goodbye," said Shiela with a quick stare before turning towards the door to leave.

The moment she settled herself behind the steering wheel, her phone vibrated. She glanced down at it on the phone's stand and saw an unregistered number. Thinking it was business, she picked up the call and swiped the call button.

"Hello," she greeted, "May I know whose this, please?"

"Miss Shiela, how about asking your father?" said the familiar voice on the other line. He had come overboard. This man knew how she respected her father because she endured all the hardship just to spare him from shame and worries.

"Go ahead, if you want. You'll get nothing."

Without answering, she heard a ringing phone in a loudspeaker mode.

"Mr. Ferrer..."

Shiela's airways constricted at what she heard. Perhaps, Neil did already an investigation about her, and maybe, he also searched for his father's contract.

Shiela did not show any fear. She already prepared herself for this. No smoke can ever remain hidden forever. She deserved his father's wrath. The only consolation she had was the fact that she was still his daughter. She knew, anytime soon, her father would call or visit her, and she prepared herself for that moment.

"You can still get nothing from him. Why do you have to bother yourself for that? The child was still a blood when it came out from me."

_______

Meanwhile, in a secret room in a hidden part of the world, a man sat before a grand piano. He stroked his fingers in a hard slam before he ran his fingers over the keys to deliver a rhythmic and difficult strain, depicting the anger inside his heart. In every second that passed by, the tempo got faster and complicated. The sound got louder, scaring everyone who listened outside the room. Every time they heard him play such kind of music, they got nervous. It meant another omen of fury and revenge.