The contract 2

Chapter 12 The contract 2 The shiny sun simmered through the window but it did nothing to warm the coldness of my mood. I've been a bit cranky since I received the call the previous day. I spent a lot of money and human resources to make sure that I got the franchise but it still fell through. I refreshed my mail again, thinking maybe they'll have had a rethink about it and award it back to me but nothing popped up. For as long as I could remember, I've never fail to acquire any contract I set my mind on. This was truly the first and it was too hard to accept. How the hell did it slip through my fingers that I didn't even notice? Failure as never been in my dictionary and I try as much as possible to avoid it and so the fact that I couldn't get deal this was making me feel restless and cranky Just then my assistant walked in empty handed, spiking my anger. 'Why are your hands empty? Where are the reports I asked for," I shouted, making him shiver with fright. 'I'm still on it. I'll make sure it gets to your desk before the day runs out," he said calmly but I could tell he was already afraid. 'Before the day runs out? You want me to wait till then. If I had such time to waste, do you think you'd be hired?" I asked and he shook his head. 'You'll get to that report and bring it back within an hour or you are fired," I screamed and he scurried out. I let out a sigh and held my head in my hands. In truth, I didn't need the report until tomorrow but I was angry and frustrated at the agony of losing a contract I worked off my ass to get. As I thought about what next to do, I considered getting help from close allies. The ideas sounds good but I still have to be careful. Spreading my wings into Oil and gas was supposed to be a secret untill I got my hand in the game and with the look of things,it sure wasn't going according to my plan. Reaching out to allies and business partners was as delicate even if it sounds convincing especially as no one can be trusted. What if they go behind my back and get it from themselves? I did a mental scan of the ones I could trust with the information and would be able to help me fix the mess on my hand Just when I decided on one of them who had pledge allegiance to me years ago,my phone buzzed through the intercom. 'Mr. Robben," my secretary spoke. 'Miss Cullen is here to see you. She has no appointment but she wouldn't stop saying she had to see you because it is important." Important? I thought, what could be so important that she drove all the way here instead of calling me on phone? With the situation at things l, I'm certainly not in the mood to entertain unnecessary visits. What's more, she doesn't have an appointment with me. 'Mr. Robben?" My secretary calls again as I've been too quiet. 'Send her in," I said before hanging up. I sat back in my seat and straightened my suit. It didn't take too long before she knocked on the door and opened it slowly. Even though I wasn't ready for whatever she has on her sleeves, I managed to smile as she walked in. 'Please have a seat," I said as she got in She had with her a big brown envelope and she looked calm and confident. 'So, to what do I owe this visit? We saw each other just yesterday, I don't think we have any unfinished business." I said as a matter of fact. 'I'll go straight to the point because I know how busy you are," she said as she cleared her throat. 'To begin with, I happened to overhear your conversation from yesterday.' "Oh? She came here because of that. I knew she couldn't be trusted. Did she get it for herself and she's here to gloat about my failure? 'Believe me when I say it wasn't intentional. I wasn't eavesdropping. But I did know that the contract botched and you seemed quite distressed by it." She said, 'So? You are here to tell me how much of a failure I was?" I asked,my anger slowly rising. 'Of course not. Infact, I actually came with a solution," she said and presented the brown envelope she had with her on the table. 'And what might this be?" I asked in surprise as she slid it towards me. 'Please take a look." She said, leaning back on the chair. I opened the envelope and brought out the files inside. As I did this, I maintained gaze with her before slowing drifting my gaze to the files I had brought out. My mouth was left agape as I stared at the contents in the papers. It was the exact contract that had fell through from yesterday, awarded in my name! 'How… How exactly were you able to manage this?" I asked as I flipped through the pages, still astonished. I checked the name again and saw that it was indeed the name of my company. Just how was she able to pull this? 'Well, let's just say I have my ways. I reached out to a friend of mine there. I told him to revisit your contract submission as I could vouch for you. He mentioned that they'll renegotiate some of your terms, so I'm sure you'll get an email from them before the day runs out," she explained. ‘I…I really wasn't expecting this. I thought it was gone but here it is, right in my hand." I said stuttering. 'I thought so too. I figured you really didn't like me and I get. I'm just some mysterious lady who has it easy, like you said. However, we are allies anyway,I should help in whichever way I can." She said, Her explanations didn't calm me in any way because I simply couldn't get the reason why she helped me, seeing that she knew I didn't like her. 'If you know that, why help me then?" I asked. 'Believe me when I say, I can vouch for you. I've seen the empire you built for yourself. It's only right to say that you have what it takes to and you deliver just perfectly. So, why not?" She shrugged. At this explanation,my mind calmed a bit. Finally, she has realised that I'm someone she has to reckon with, not some cheap business owners who need her crumps. 'I see potential in you and in our relationship Mr. Robben. Why make you loose out on such big projects when I can help. Plus, it would add to my feather that I have an important personnel at Crest Oils." She said m 'Thank you Myra, thank you. I definitely will remember this for a long time." I said happily. 'You are welcome Mr. Robben." She said as she stood up. As she turned around, I looked at the files in my hand again with relief and gratitude. To be honest,I didn't think she'll be a good partner but with this, she sure has my trust. 'Myra?" I called just as she was about to open the door. 'Do you mind if we go out for lunch?"