Chapter 2 EPISODE 2.

The tension in the air was palpable as Susan stood before John, the man she had traveled so far to meet. She couldn't deny the magnetic pull of his presence, yet it was laced with an intimidating aloofness that chilled her to the bone. She clung to her determination, fighting to maintain her composure. 'It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr .' His stern expression and sharp words shattered any illusion of a warm welcome. 'This isn't a social visit or a children's party, Miss Grey. I don't want or expect politeness. I don't do small talk or pleasantries.

I don't care about the weather or the nature of your journey. If you find that approach to business challenging, then you'd better leave now.' Susan felt her confidence waver, the weight of his words pressing down on her. She took a breath and reminded herself of the purpose of her visit. She was here to present her plans, to fight for her business and the livelihoods of her team. 'I can do facts and figures,' she said quickly, her voice steady despite the tremor in her legs. 'I have all the documents in my briefcase. Everything you'll need to help you make a decision.' John's expression remained impassive, a daunting wall that she had to scale. His silence drew out, making her wonder if he was going to dismiss her without a second thought. She held her breath, waiting for his response, hoping for a flicker of interest. Finally, he spoke, his words measured and decisive. 'Very well, Miss Grey. Present your case.' "I have made a decision. My answer is no. » His jaw was rough with stubble and she saw the muscles tremble in his thin cheeks. "But I made that decision before I had a chance to talk to you." She ran a damp hand down her skirt, not allowing it to dampen her natural optimism. "I hope that after I explain what's going on, you can think again. " "Why should I do that?" Insecurity grew within her. "Once you see the numbers and our plans for the future, I think you might change your mind about withdrawing the funding." She looked at his face hopefully, looking for something - anything - that might indicate that he was willing to negotiate further about the project. subject. Anything that would show she hadn't wasted any time coming here. But he didn't answer. He did not comfort or encourage her. There is no hope at all. He just looked at her and behind her, up in the tree, came a shrill groan, followed by maniacal laughter. Susan turned her head and squinted at the dense forest around them. Once the helicopter was gone, she suddenly became aware of the constant background noise surrounding them. Jungle sounds. Cry, cry, cry, cry, and cry. It was as if the whole forest was alive. "It looks like someone is being murdered over there." With a smile in her eyes, she turned towards him, looking to establish an emotional connection, and stumbled at the first obstacle. No connection. There was no smile in return. And it's impossible to know what he's thinking because his face doesn't reveal any thoughts. "Are you afraid of the forest, Miss Grey?" » His tone was not encouraging. "Or is there something else worrying you? » Something else? Like her whole life was about to turn to dust, maybe, or was she alone in the rainforest with a man who clearly didn't like humans at all? There were so many things that worried her that she didn't know where to begin her list, but he wasn't exactly a man who enjoyed confiding, so Susan pushed away the mental images of jaguars and snakes. and two thousand wild animals. insect. "I do not worry..." "Really? » He looked at her for a moment then narrowed his eyes. "Then let me give you more advice on how to do business with me. Don't waste my time, don't lie to me, and above all, don't cheat. These are definitely three things that annoy me, and I never say yes to anything when I'm cranky. What do women see in him? He was wrapped in a cloak of skepticism so thick that it did not let the slightest ray of light penetrate. and his eyes shone with an impatience that he did not bother to conceal with the common jokes of the world. "I will not lie to you. I won't lie to anyone. But she hasn't been completely honest with him, has she? She did not reveal everything about herself when she took out the loan. A feeling of unease and guilt ran down her spine and she quickly remembered that there was nothing in the contract that required her to tell everything about herself. And nothing in her personal history had anything to do with her ability to run a business - she was sure of that. However, she felt a touch of betrayal touch her cheeks and saw him smile. It was just a fleeting smile, not a particularly kind smile, but a clear sign that he had seen her blush and took it as a reproach to her. "You are a woman, Miss Grey. Lying and deceit are ingrained in your DNA and you cannot change that. The best we can hope for is that you have to fight against thousands of years of evolution while you're with me. » He opened the door and stood aside so she could pass. She stood there for a moment, looking at him. "Don't threaten me." Her voice was hoarse and a little shaky, but she forced herself to continue speaking. "My business isn't going well and I know we have a lot to discuss, but don't try to threaten me." She will never allow this to happen again. "Am I bullying you?" She was willing to bet that he scared everyone he met. "I think you can At least try to be a little friendlier. " Friendly? » His voice was a bit mocking. 'You want me to be friendly?'