Chapter 3 Run far away...

...

Raina felt very nervous as she ran Soter and Bakhita through the presentation she had prepared to convince them about why picking a site in the heart of Bristol was best for their company.

She could feel Soter's eyes boring into her and it made her very unsettled.

She knew her voice sounded nervous, and her palms were clammed. Theodore stared at her with a smile on his face, she knew he was trying to encourage her.

Enough of the facts ma'am, what do we hope to gain from choosing that sight? How can we effectively monetize that site? What are the business potentials? Please give us the values already, Soter said, irritation clear in his tone.

Raina dear, what Soe is trying to say is that we're more concerned with the returns this site can produce, rather than the facts or statistics. Bakhita said with a warm smile.

That smile... It was a smile that Raina would come to love in the future years, a smile that would keep her whole and sane when she was sinking low.

It's fine, ma'am Raina replied. I was only trying to familiarize you with the environment before cutting right into the potential returns.

Raina was a bit irritated with Soter, who did he think he was staring at with those criticizing eyes and trying to beat down her confidence? She would show him!

...

Soter smiled inwardly, he could feel Bakhita staring at him with that questioning look she gave him when she felt he was being unnecessarily mean.

He had achieved his goal anyway, he could see the nervousness in Raina's face, she kept straightening the non-existent wrinkles on her trousers, and her hands were balled into tiny fists. But he could see the confidence in her eyes, he loved the way presented her ideas and made him see why it should be his ideas too.

She was very convincing, and by how she spoke, he could tell she was smart.

She's not just a pretty face after all, he thought.

He loved the way her voice captivated the whole room, and how effortlessly she convinced him over and over again.

I guess we're convinced already, he said out loud, standing up, and cutting her off abruptly.

We'll sign the deal now and my accountant will sort out the payment procedures with you, please where are the documents?

Over here, please come this way Theodore, Rayted's co-founder said. Please read through and sign over here, Theodore said.

While signing the documents, Soter looked around the room for her, she had her back to him, and Bakhita was saying something to her, probably apologizing on his behalf.

He felt a bit ashamed, he knew he wasn't fair.

Raina had done nothing to him, and he had treated her unkindly which was very unlike him.

He was sure she hated him already, and for a brief moment, he felt a tugging in his heart that startled him for the umpteenth time this morning.

You care about what she feels about you, his inner voice explained before he could ask.

Why? Why did he care about what this total stranger felt about him?

He inhaled deeply suppressing his thoughts, read through the documents and signed.

Khita, I'll be in the car he said heading towards the door. Have a nice day he said to Raina who had turned to stare at him. His heart skipped a bit at her piercing gaze.

You too Mr. Soter, she said with a bright smile, revealing her two dimples.

For a moment he felt rooted to the spot. He wheeled for the door and walked out of the room. I'll be in the car, he said to Bakhita but his voice was barely a whisper.

What's wrong with me? He thought. You can't run away from her, his inner voice whispered.

Yes I can, and I will, he said to himself. He was going to run very far away from her ...