A Tinge Of Cray Ray

Chapter 5

Delilah

This is it. I just need to conduct a couple of interviews. I've written down some questions, researched and sought advice from the experienced. How hard can it be?
Gastordale, Gastordale, Gastordale.
The name rang in my mind.
One of the most powerful and renowned families in this city. They owned more than half the city, Started off as a electronics manufacturing company, then they extended to textile and ceramics, fashion and skin care brands.
Now they owned malls, hotels and resorts and housing estates.
Everyone knew the Gastordales, the most popular member being the eldest son whose uncouth behaviour was a norm nowadays.
Every member except.... 'The Phantom Heir of Gastordale Industries'
Sounds ridiculous right? But that's what the media call him.
Whoever came up with that.
No one knows what he looks like, He made sure to avoid the media or any form of social gathering.
As expected, ridiculous assumptions arose, some said he was disfigured that's why his family hid him from the world, Some said he was suffering from a chronic illness which rendered him bedridden while some said he was a psychopath that hates other people.
As time passed, people talked less and less.
What would have warranted this ghost's desire for exposure now? I had no clue.
Who cares though.....
It would be great for our company.
The competition will be gnawing with jealousy.
An exclusive interview with the mysterious Kieran Gastordale?!
How cool is that?!
But I felt like a sacrificial lamb though, what if he really was as dodgy as the rumours?
I snapped out of my reverie when a male secretary announced that I could now go into the main office.
Here goes.
What I saw inside left me breathless. This place was reeking with the bucks. Three-quarters of the walls were glass overlooking an impressive industrial area of the city.
I caught my reflection on the spotless floor which looked like tinted glass.
Maybe it was, I don't know.
The office was incorporated with furnitures of rich dark tones, blacks, greys and a splash of whites.
I shook my head to avoid the distraction.
Time to get serious.
The most important thing now was the man splayed in the executive chair behind the desk with his back facing me and his line of vision on the vista overhead. The dominating and ominous aura around him got my senses tingling.
I moved timidly like a rabbit treading into a lion's den but that did nothing to muffle the click clack of my heels.
"You're late." He said suddenly, startling me like a kid caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
"Sorry about that."
"Have a seat."
I sat down in the seat opposite me.
Slowly he swiveled to face me and...
Oh.My.God.
He wasn't disfigured. At least his face wasn't.
His face.....was out of this world.
It was sculptured to perfection. If you ask me, God was quite bias when creating him and that was an understatement.
But why did he look so familiar..
Eh.
I brushed it off.
"Sorry again Mr Gastordale. I'm your interviewer, Delilah Summers." I stretched out my hand for a handshake.
He looked at my hand like it was some foreign object before taking it.
"Pleasure." He said with a strange glint in his eyes and dropped my hand so quickly you would think I zapped the guy.
Weird.
"It's such an honour to be given this opportunity."
"I presume your employer has told you the entails of the agreement."
"Certainly. I'm sure the general public would be delighted to get to know more about an outstanding figure such as yourself and all your achievements so far." I beamed.
Let's stroke his ego a bit.
He seemed rather bored than flattered.
Eh. Tough luck.
I pulled out a pen and jotter from my shoulder bag, I could feel his eyes on my every move.
"Shall we begin?" I asked.
"No."
"Pardon?"
"I'm afraid we will not be doing any interviews today Ms Summers."
"What? Why?"
This is bad. If I didn't get Kieran Gastordale to go ahead with this interview, I might lose my job.
"By all means, Did your employer not inform you of the special demands of this agreement."
"Special demands?"
"Very well, I shall do the honours."
My stomach churned.
He took out a file from a drawer and pulled out a paper.
"There. Number 4."
I took it with trembling hands.
A written contract?!
Condition Number 4.
Party C must temporarily relinquish all involvements with party B until the sole aim of all parties are met.
Blahblahblahblah
Time range: 12 weeks.
"Why? I don't understand. "
"It's simple. Within the time span of the agreement, you are to cut all ties with the paper you work for and work for me."
Work for him? Why didn't Mr Devine tell me this? That jerk completely sold me out! What a traitor!
Okay. Let's be cool headed about this.
So I'm guessing I'm party C, Our newspaper is party B while he is party A? I gave him a tight smile.
"But Sir, I'm afraid I'll be of no use to you. You see, Journalism is my specialty."
"Then learn, You look like an intelligent young woman. I'm sure it will be a breeze."
Was that sarcasm?
The nerve of this guy!
"But.."
"Learn." He pressed on.
"I was assigned to conduct a series of interviews and not adhere to some  contract. Why should I take responsibility for that?"
"Oh you have a lot of things to take responsibility for." His voice a sexy rubble.
Seriously Delilah you can't possibly be attracted to this guy.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
He ignored me.
"You must work for me, Whether you were aware of this or not is between you and your employer. Backing out now is a breach of contract."
"A contract I never agreed to in the first place."
"Well you're about to now. Think about it, Three months with me is  more that enough to cover a good story for your curious audience. It seems to me that your employer overstated your resourcefulness."
He was right, but did he really have to be so snarky about it? That last sentence was totally uncalled for!
Asshole.
But the way he emphasized that with me made me feel weird...
"Since you insist on being adamant, You should know this. The penalty for breaching the contract equals five times the amount  invested as stated in the contract."
I perused the paper. My eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets when I spotted the number of zeros to refunded as penalty.
This is insane
Isn't this extortion?
I mean it's not extortion per- se being that it was an agreement but you get my drift.
"Fine. I'll do it." I sighed in defeat.
" But first of all, what's your sole aim? For someone who hates exposure, why ask for it now?"
"I believe that is my business, Ms Summers. Now do you agree to the terms and conditions?" He asked folding his brawny arms.
Does he ever smile?
"Yes I agree." I strained through gritted teeth.
He slid the written contract to me.
"Very well. Sign here please."
I scribbled down my signature with a frown but then a smirk stretched out my lips.
Why am I getting worked up?
I'm Cray-Ray  and I was gonna find a way to go through this.
Let's do this shit.
"It would be my greatest pleasure working with you Mr Gastordale. So let's enjoy this for as long as it lasts, Shall we?"

Author's note:
What do you think Lila is up to?
Any guesses?
I hope you enjoyed it😅😅
Chao 👋👋