I woke up to the sound of my alarm blaring in my ear, and I groggily reached over to turn it off.
"Shit, it's late," I exclaimed, throwing off the covers and rushing to the shower. I got dressed quickly, my mind already racing with the day's schedule.
As I reached the ground floor in the garage, I practically ran to my car, where Mr. Han was already waiting.
"Thanks, Mr. Han, but I'll be driving today," I said, taking the key from him.
I slid into the driver's seat, started the car, and zoomed off to Saints Company.
As I arrived at the company, I could feel the eyes of my employees on me. I nodded curtly at the few workers who greeted me, not breaking stride as I walked towards the office.
Frank, one of the older employees, and my grandfather's right hand man called out to me.
"Young Miss."
I stopped and nodded my head in acknowledgement.
"Frank, where's the old man?" I asked.
"He's been expecting you, this way, please," Frank replied, leading me to the office. He opened the door, and I walked in.
My grandfather, seated behind a huge round table, looked up at me. I adjusted my hair and approached him, but he stopped me with a raised hand.
I grunted and bowed my head in greeting.
He motioned for me to come forward, and I did.
"Old man, you like being dramatic too much," I said, planting a kiss on his cheek.
He scoffed, his expression disapproving.
"Young lady... you lack proper manners."
I smiled at him.
"Well, you raised me."
He turned his head, his eyes stern.
"You're not my granddaughter."
I laughed, a mischievous glint in my eye.
"Oh, really?" I said, trying to touch his hand, but he pushed me off.
"You can't bribe me with sweet words, young lady."
I pouted, putting my hands together in a plea.
"Ooh, gracious one, please have mercy on me."
He sighed, his expression softening.
"Fine, fine, you win."
I laughed, knowing I'd won him over.
"You always know how to win me over, you little brat," he said, dragging my ears softly.
I took a seat beside him, feeling a sense of comfort and familiarity.
"That's why I'm your favorite granddaughter," I said, smiling at him.
Grandfather James shook his head with a sigh, though the corners of his mouth twitched like he was fighting a smile.
"You're my only granddaughter, Kashi," he muttered, settling back into his chair. "And you've grown up knowing how to use that to your advantage. Spoiled through and through."
The way he said it wasn't cruel more like a truth he'd long accepted. His sharp eyes, however, lost none of their weight. Beneath all the warmth, he was still the patriarch of the Saints legacy, a man who built his empire with iron hands and ruthless decisions.
"Now tell me," he said, steepling his fingers. "What's this I hear about you storming Damian's office yesterday?"
His gaze cut to me, sharp and knowing.
"You think I wouldn't hear? The Saints and the Grays are too close every whisper finds its way back to me. You embarrassed yourself, Kashi. And by extension… me."
The words stung, but James didn't soften them. He watched my face closely, like he was testing me.
"I've let you get away with your antics long enough," he continued. "But Damian Gray isn't like the boys you've toyed with. He's not yours to order around."
"If you want him…" James leaned forward, eyes narrowing, "…then you'd better prove to me and to him that you're more than a spoiled brat clinging to her grandfather's name."
He sat back again, tapping the table lightly.
"Do you understand me, child?"
The question hung in the air, a challenge and a warning all at once.
"Yes, Grandfather," I said, my voice measured. Right now wasn't the time to argue. Better to let this one sit out.
"Take a look at this," Grandfather said, passing me a file.
I opened it and scanned the contents, my eyes widening in surprise.
"X Corporation wants to participate in the auction?" I asked, dropping the file onto the desk. My mind was racing with the implications.
"Yes, they've been running a lot of underground deals, and this time they don't want to hold back anymore," Grandfather explained, his expression serious.
I nodded, calculating the odds.
"Our chances of buying that building were at 80% earlier, and now with them joining in... it's been halved," I said, standing up to pace around the room.
As I walked, I tried to make sense of X Corporation's sudden interest in the auction. What did they want with the building? And how far would they go to get it?
"Is the building that important to you, Grandfather?" I asked, turning to face him. My curiosity was piqued, and I wanted to know what was driving his interest in the property.
Grandfather James watched me pace with that sharp gaze of his, the kind that had once made ministers and businessmen fold under its weight.
"It's not about the building, Kashi," he said finally, his voice low, deliberate. "It's about what it represents. That property sits at the crossroads of the financial district whoever controls it will hold influence over half the city's international trade routes."
"For us, it's leverage. For them…" he tapped the file with two fingers, "…it's power consolidation."
He leaned back, exhaling heavily.
"X Corporation has always kept its dealings in the shadows. Ruthless, silent, faceless. But for them to step into the daylight and compete openly? That means there's something more."
James rubbed his temples, his age showing for just a flicker of a second before his steel returned.
"Whoever runs X is no ordinary man. Even I don't know his face, Kashi. And I don't like playing games with ghosts."
He said the weight of his words pressing into the air.
The silence that followed was heavy, until finally James said, almost grudgingly:
"You've always wanted to prove yourself, child. Here's your chance, make sure we win that building."
His words hung in the air, a challenge and a test all at once. I felt a surge of determination course through my veins.
"And stay away from gray while you're at it, I need you to not be distracted by that brat," Grandfather adds.
"Grandfather!" I said softly. "Don't talk about him like that."
"I'll say what I want to say; he's no good for you," he said and turned to Frank.
"Isn't that right, Frank?"
"I have no say in this, sir," Frank said and bowed, avoiding getting into this dispute, which would save his head from being severed. He smiled painfully
.
Grandfather James stared at him and spat out,
"I still don't like him."
He crossed his arms.
"You will, Grandfather. He's the only one I want," I insisted.
"Our engagement will come through, so please, Grandfather, be nice," I said and picked up my bag to leave.
"Frank, send me the details of the auction," I said and turned to leave without saying a goodbye.
The sound of Grandfather's disapproving sigh followed me out of the room, but I didn't look back. I knew he would come around eventually. He always did when it came to me.
I stood behind my car, outside the company, feeling frustrated.
That sly old fox, why couldn't he just agree with me on this one? He always found a way to condemn Damian. He's the man I wanted; why wouldn't he just play nice?
I thought to myself and kicked the tire of the car in anger, pain searing through my feet.
I quickly covered my mouth to prevent the screams of pain.
"Sighs, I need coffee," I said and entered the car, zooming off to the coffee stall.
Getting there, I went straight to the coffee stand and ordered coffee. The waitress attended to me and served me coffee.
While admiring the weather outside and listening to songs on my phone with my AirPods, I noticed the atmosphere around me change. I looked up from my phone and saw a man sitting in front of me.
"This table is occupied, chico; find yourself another one," I frowned at the man sitting in front of me.
"I like the view from here," he replied, and my frown deepened. Why does everyone have to get on my nerves today?
I rubbed my temple in anger.
"Listen..."
I removed my AirPods to talk, and I'm suddenly stunned by the man's appearance. I didn't notice before, but I certainly do now. His wavy black hair is neatly parted, his jawline is straight, and he has the clearest blue eyes. His whole appearance is a sight for sore eyes.
Dressed in a black suit, the way he is seated is majestic, and he has a dark aura written all over him.
"Since you like the view so much," I picked up my coffee cup and stood up to leave, "have at it," I spat the words out and made a move to leave when the man suddenly stopped me with his words.
"Did you receive my coffee?"
Coffee? What?
I turned around to him.
"What coffee?"
He stood up to face me.
"You don't remember me?"
He said with a smirk.
Blue eyes, demeaning rude aura, where had I seen this before... oh, that's right.
"You're the guy who bumped into me and spilled my coffee," I pointed at him and said.
"I believe you bumped into me first," he chuckled.
"You also sent that coffee," I asked, to which he nodded.
"Did you like it?" he asked with a tilt of his head.
I got a coffee delivery at the company the day after the incident, but since it came with an anonymous delivery, I thought Damian sent it over as an apology since he knows about my favorite coffee.
Guess I was wrong.
"It... was alright," I finally said.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"I'm Kashi... Kashi Saints," I said and stretched out my hand for a shake, to which he took.
I noticed he was wearing black gloves on his hands.
"Your hands are cold, Kashi," he said, and I'm stunned and surprised, quickly withdrawing my hand.
"What's your name?"
He hesitated for a while, and just when he was about to speak, a man rushed over to him and whispered in his ears. To which he nodded and waved him off.
He turned back to me.
"Say what... I'll tell you my name when next we meet, Kashi," he said with a smile.
"I'm not sure that will happen," I smiled back. "Thank you for the coffee, though."
He nodded and excused himself, leaving me to stand and ponder for a while.
And my phone rang, and sure enough, it was Zarri.
"Hey, girl," Zarri said over the call.
"What's up?" I replied and walked out of the cafe to my car and got in.