Chapter 5 WE MEET AGAIN.

Chapter 05.

WE MEET AGAIN.

Emily's POV.

"Time is of the essence, so can we proceed, please?" I folded my arms across my chest, and leaned back in my chair.

"Sure." Marcus said with a brief smile.

He looked over his shoulder, and with a subtle nod of his head, he cued for the man standing behind him to proceed. Picking the signal, the man walked to the table, picked up some documents, and began to hand a copy to everyone present in the room.

"Thank you." I said with a smile as he handed a copy to me.

"Ahem," Marcus cleared his throat, and adjusted his tie as he righted himself from his chair. "I want to believe that we all have a copy of the document now."

He turned to the left, and then to the right to be sure. After confirming that everyone had a copy of the document, he picked up his from the table.

"In this document is a break down of how the contract works." he said, turning his head from left to right to be sure he had everyone's attention. "Please, I'd like you to turn to the first page. There's something I'd like to show you."

While we did as he'd asked, he pushed his chair back, and walked out of the space.

"If you go through it, you'll realize that this isn't like any contract you've seen." he said, tucking his chair into the table. "Even a toddler would grasp the concept of this contract."

A smile pushed my lips to the side. I couldn't say if that was the way he'd intended to explain it, or perhaps that was him just trying to impress me. To me, it did seem like the latter because I don't think he would have said that if it were Ash that was present and not me.

"In this contract," he turned on the projector, and turned to face the screen. "You will see that there's an expected return of profit for every amount in percent that would be invested."

He dropped the document on the table.

"Bryan?" he called, his gaze on the screen.

The man who'd shared the document earlier picked up a remote control from the table, and pointed it at the projector. Before long, the image on the screen changed.

"Take for instance," he explained, pointing a finger to the graphical representation appearing on the screen. "If you invest over twenty percent in this, then you're likely you make over fifty percent profits."

"Likely?" I narrowed my gaze at the words.

I didn't mean to interrupt him. But earlier, he mentioned that there was an expected amount of profit to be made. If anything, he sounded certain that the figures could be achieved.

But then, saying that it would most likely be the case seemed like he was contradicting himself. Or perhaps, was I being a distraction to him?

"Yes, likely." he smiled as if expecting that such question would arise. "I said so because the economy is good on this side of the country. Not to worry, there won't be losses. We hardly experience such here. Instead, there will be lots of profits, and that was why I said, likely."

He did the air quotes.

"There is every chance that you could make the profit expected, or perhaps even more." he added with a shrug. "However, there wouldn't be a case when you record less than the profit expected."

"And how are you so sure about that?" I asked, in a curious tone of voice. "You just mentioned that the economy over here is quite good. I have no issue with that. But the economy can crash anytime. How would you deal with that if such situation occurs?"

I didn't want to interrupt, and throw questions at him in the middle of his explanations, but I just had to be sure. However, it seemed like I was the only one who was concerned, or better still had questions for him. The others seemed to understand everything he said. Or perhaps, were pretending to do so.

"We have a proven strategy to help us overcome such situation." he said. "In the last five years, we have only had to experience a decline in the economy just once,"

He emphasized with a finger.

"However, I've got a team that knows how to handle such situation, so you've nothing to worry about." he concluded.

"Very well, then." I took a sip of the coffee in front of me.

"Does anyone else have a question before I wrap up this part, and move on to the next?" he asked, turning to both sides to see if anyone had. "Please, feel free to speak. If there's something you don't understand, then you can ask. I will do my best to provide clarity on it. Anyone?"

He swept his eyes all over the room. Meanwhile, the others who were present turned to each other, murmuring some words to themselves. But that was it, neither of them stood up to ask any question. It seemed like they all understood all he'd been saying so far.

"In the absence of none, we move on to the last part of the contract." he said. "Please, can you turn to page five of the document with you."

He offered a few seconds for us to turn to the page he'd mentioned.

"Bryan?" he snapped his fingers.

Knowing exactly why Marcus had called him, he picked up the remote control, and pushed a button. Again, the images on the screen changed.

"Thank you." he said, and turned to face the screen. "Now, I need you all to pay attention to me at this point."

The words had barely left his mouth when my phone began to vibrate. The screen came alive, and as I glanced at it, I realized that it was a call from Ash. I sighed, and declined it because I didn't want to cause a distraction.

Marcus had mentioned that there was every need to pay attention to him concerning that part, and I didn't want to miss out any word from it either.

However, my phone began to vibrate again.

"I am sorry, but I have to take this." I righted myself from the chair, and exited the room.

Outside, I swiped at my screen, and accepted the call.

"Hello," I said, covering my mouth with a hand.

"How is it going over there?" Ash asked.

"Well, it's been good so far." I said. "However, you just called at the wrong time. He was about to explain the most important part of the contract to us, but you've denied me the chance to listen to it because of your call."

"Oh, don't you worry, we can always make up for that." he said.

I heard the smile in his voice.

"You think?" I asked.

"I know so." he said. "However, I'm sorry for calling at such a time. I figured you must have been done with the meeting already because there's somewhere we have to be."

"That can wait." I said. "However, I have to return inside now. We'll talk later."

That said, I hung up the call and returned in.

"That is it for the contract." Marcus said as I walked in.

I looked around and noticed that those who were present were preparing to leave already.

"Are you done?" I asked, walking up to him. "So soon?"

"Yes, I am." he said, looking me straight in the eyes as if trying to take off my mask of pretence. "I am sorry you missed the last part, but you can read through the document to know about it."

"In that case, I'll take my leave now." I walked back to my seat, picked up my bag, and left the room.

As I walked towards the exit, I heard the sounds of footsteps approaching from behind me. Suddenly, I felt a hand pull me back.

"What in the world is wrong with you?" I yelled, angered by the fact that I could have tripped and fallen.

"You are her, aren't you?" Marcus asked, darting his gaze back and forth as if trying to search my face for some clue. "You can't deceive me."

"I have no idea what you are talking about right now." I said, shaking my head. "However, you're hurting me, so let go of my arm."

"You are, Emily, aren't you?"

My heart shook at the words.