Shadow's Decree

"But today, I wish to have a latte.” Sion said, leaning back and relaxing on his super soft leather chair while staring at her in a dare.

She raised a finger to him in a warning. “Look, I don't have all the time to serve you coffee. I'm here to learn about work.”

Sion raised a single brow and gave a lopsided grin. “My office, my rules. If you don’t want to do it, you can…”

“Stop.” Safia already knew what was coming out of him. “I will go and bring a latte for you.”

Thankfully the elevator was working today. The devil had finally decided to relax her torture. She knew the lift was working for everyone in the office the previous day but for her. It was all a part of his plan to make her suffer.

She had made the latte and brought it to him within five minutes. “Hmm, it tastes good. So tell me what is my schedule today.”

“Schedule? Isn’t Layla going to make it?”

Sion looked at her boredly. “I don't have a money minting machine here with which I can feed two assistants. Since you are here, Layla will not be working as my assistant anymore. She is transferred to another department. I don't have all the day for your learning and need my schedule for today within ten minutes. If you bring it even a minute later you will not be allowed inside my room and can go back to your home.”

“Such an asshole…” She muttered and did not waste a minute standing there. Safia practically ran to her cabin and started preparing the schedule of Sion at the speed of a computer. Though she was only one day old in the office, she referred to several files, spoke to a few people who had an idea about the company’s work and prepared the minutes schedule. She was left with hardly a minute before she almost jumped into his office.

Sion had a hard time restricting his smile. He was having super fun at the cost of Safia's grimace.

Safia started reading the contents in the paper she had brought with her. But before she could complete reading out the whole of it Sion stopped her. “At 10:30 I meet the Russian delegates regarding our textile industry collaboration and at 12:00 reach back to the office to attend the shareholders meeting? The traveling time itself from Park Avenue Square to my office will take me an hour because of the peak time traffic. Where will I have time to discuss the important issues in the shareholders meeting? You can't even make a day’s schedule for me and you think you can put your insolvent company back on track without my help? Well it is very obvious to me now, how you got your company to float all these years.” He looked at her curvaceous form head to toe in ridicule.

The eyes of Safia were threatening tears. She knew what he meant by looking at her physique ‘that way’. But she was not going to show her weakness to him by any means. “Please give me two more minutes, sir. I will make it work this time.” Though trying her best, her voice broke in the end.

For a moment there was sadness in Sion but he quickly concealed it bringing his mind back to the present. He had suffered more than a decade because of her. It's not even ten days since she joined Wellcrow Vineyards. He will make her suffer till her forefathers come out of their grave and plead with him to save her.

****

The next week on Sunday

“So what's your analysis for third quarter numbers?” Karen asked, playing billiards with Sion.

“They've been improving dad since we took over Sangria Vineyards. We will soon be the richest and most powerful wine makers…” Sion was stopped by Karen.

“Not so early, son. Los Santos has the only vineyard that we don't own. It's finally on the market. 50 acres and it's in probate. The executor is required to sell the property by the 24th December. There's a showing up there tomorrow afternoon at 3 pm. So it's going to take a little finesse. Blend in. If word gets out that Wellcrow Wines is interested, we could find ourselves in a bidding war.” Karen informed aiming the red on the billiards board.

“Okay dad, I will tell Layla to book our private jet for tomorrow morning.” Sion spoke, taking the red which Karen missed earlier.

“Good job.” Karen made a high-five. “Take Layla with you. She is experienced, and will be a great help to you at Los Santos. By the way, the name of the mission is Honeybee estate Vineyard.”

“It is the oldest wine we now have in our winery. How does it taste?” Karen asked with expectancy after Sion took a sip.

Sion put the glass at an arm's length and gave a satisfactory nod observing it. “Blue berry, black pepper and earthy, I like it.”

“Your palate is incredible, son. I wish to relax now and you take over the whole company.”

“Don't say such words dad. You have a long way to go.” Sion hugged his father.

“It’s a Shiraz blend from the cooler climate of the Yarra valley.” Karen pointed to the glass in Sion’s hand.

“I would like to add something more to our conversation.” Sion said hesitantly in thought. “Instead of Layla, Safia will be coming with me.”

Karen raised his head and looked at his son appalled. “You were a tosser, angry and destructive as a kid. I bore it and all this while I maintained my silence. But now it's time, I need to warn you, the game you are playing is very dangerous. Some people take years to sketch and counter their enemy but you brought her to live under your own roof. You had a registered marriage with no third eye coming to know about it. What are you going to tell the media? I heard you had already promised a press conference.”

“Sion” Karen held the upper arms of his son in affection. “Your mom and I had already suffered for years losing your sister, we can’t afford to lose you too.”

Sion kept his silence for a moment, taking a sip of wine. “Dad, there is no fun in the game which has no challenge in it. I had suffered enough because of her. This time, the victory is mine.”