Trusting Betrayal

Chapter Nineteen

  I apologize for any grammatical error. I will edit later.

    
      Have you ever felt like slapping yourself when you had done something wrong and you had totally forgotten until you remember when you’re caught? That was exactly how Lexie felt as she stood under Mr. Swanson’s gaze. How could she have forgotten that she had come late, spilled coffee on his very expensive shoes and run out on him? He was obviously not letting her get away scot-free, at least not with that look on his face.
      “Good morning sir. You called for me” she pretended that she didn’t hear his comment.

  Mark grinned. He had just been about to find out about her and here she was on a platter. He leaned forward. “What’s your name?” Let’s start from there.

  Lexie screamed mentally. She was hoping he wouldn’t ask for her name. “I am-”

       “Alexandra Nielson”

She jerked. How did he know that? She looked at him, confused. “Yes sir?”

  Mark grinned. Either she hadn’t figured out that he had seen it from her ID card or she had forgotten that she had it on. Either ways, it was amusing to see her so confused. No one had ever dared to look confused in his presence before. “Why are you still confused? Can’t a CEO know his employees name?”

Lexie forced a smile onto her face. “I am sorry for that, sir?” Her gaze fell onto the red file. “Oh! You read it. Venalz lawyer called to know your decision and…” she trailed off at the sudden change in the CEO’s expression. What had she said wrong? Or maybe she shouldn’t have said anything?

  Mark growled as he was forced to address the file again. He was having so much fun confusing her. Well… “What is the meaning of this?” He shoved the file at her.

Lexie picked it up and flipped it through. Couldn’t he read? “This is a proposal from Venalz to partner with Swanson Jz for a duration of three years, sir”

Mark pushed back from the chair with so much force that Lexie flinched as if he was her dad. Mark noticed but didn’t interpret her expression correctly and raised his brow. “Haven’t you been shouted at before, Miss Nielson?”

   Lexie struggled to pull out from that dark corner. She was in the office for God’s sake and she couldn’t let anybody get a glimpse into her dark life. “Of course, I have, sir.”

“Why do all of you think I am blind? I know that’s a proposal. I am going to make it clear to you since you’re the one that was incompetent enough to see it through. I am not interested in partnering with Venalz. Does that come across clear to you?”

Lexie was bewildered. Swanson Jz has been pushing for that partnership for a long time and now that they had it, he was against it? How about all her efforts and beating she had risked to get the paperwork? She cleared her throat and spoke. “With all due respect sir, we can’t just decline. Swanson Empire has been asking for this partnership and now we have it. The board of directors is scheduled to meet for approval”

   Mark placed his palms on the table. “When was all these scheduled?”

      “The proposal was sent to you last week and a memo was sent to you informing you about the meeting”

   Mark swore. “So, you’re telling me it is basically final?”

She nodded. “Pretty much, sir. You were the one that asked for a quick finalization once we got the proposal.” Lexie wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. His expression was terrifying… not that she hadn’t had her share of terror and her back was aching. It was time for her medication.