Leanna

Everyone was dumbfounded except for Cain, who didn't even blink as he continued watching me in amusement.

I ignored them and averted my attention on my food, wanting to finish it so I could leave.

I was confident that they wouldn't agree to my ridiculous demand. After all, all said and done, I'm just a sixteen years old teenage girl with no backing and no company of my own.

". . ."

Cain smirked. "Alright, I'll send the contract to you later."

I was shocked and almost vomited all my food. I gaped at his handsome face with bulging eyes. My mouth opened and closed, wanting to say something.

"If you have any more demands, best if you send it to me within the day," he added.

I wonder if it was just me, but the ice on his face melted a little, and then a new layer of frost took over as he said, "With that, can you tell us what you think of VIOS. Is it worth investing."

His question was never a question. He stated it as clear as day that even without my opinion, the project would continue, come fire and snow. The confidence in his voice was truly overpowering that if you were a little weak hearted, you'd find yourself curled under the table, shaking and crying, disparately hiding from him.

All of a sudden, I felt pity for his subordinates.

I huffed a forceful sigh. I should have said 'no' from the start.

I just have to dig a hole for myself.

Realizing that it was too late to back out now, I took a deep breath, feeling dejected.

I underestimated him.

"I think you already know that it will be a difficult investment. Development and testing alone take time. The first two years, you won't have any monetary gains. I don't study statistics, so I can't give you exact numbers. What I'll offer are my experiences and intuition. I'm confident that after four years at most, you'll double, even quadruple your money, depending on the software you wish to develop," I said in one breathe.

Fin rested his back against the sofa and crossed his arms. "Pardon my saying but, you talked like the project will succeed without backing it up with facts," he said, raising an eyebrow.

Clyde leaned forward. His teasing smile was replaced by solid hard stone, impassive face. "You don't have to worry about the funding. With Cain here, money is not an issue. This is a big investment worth billions of money, and you said it would succeed based on intuition? Can you give us some more . . . concrete evidence?"

"You guys––" Zhane protested, but I raised my hand to shut him up.

I observed their expressions. Their real faces were showing. Cold, calculating, hard, vacant –– in the end, it all came down to returns.

I leaned against the backrest of my chair and crossed my arms and legs, feeling at home.

"My intuition hasn't been off the mark. I think that's concrete evidence enough. If you want another explanation, it's this generation. I know all of you know it too. In the future, according to information, almost ninety percent of the world's population will rely heavily on computers and phones. Any development of software and applications now is a genius idea."

Fin and Clyde remained unmoved, but I saw in their eyes that I was right.

"Then, we'll start with the project," Cain said as he circled a finger over the rim of his cup.

. . .

. . .

What?! That's it?! This man is so decisive! Isn't he at least bit skeptical that I'm just spouting nonsense?

I wanted to go to the toilet so badly to check myself for there seemed to be something on my face that his eyes found amusing. Or maybe he was intentionally doing it on purpose to rattle me . . . 'cause it's working!

Everyone was stunned. All eyes snapped to Cain. Many emotions written on their faces.

"Clyde, contact Steve and tell him to finalize the papers. I want it ready within the week. Fin, tell everyone to ready their proposals, presentations will start next week. Zhane, inform ARAB to proceed with the construction of the building."

Cain then flicked his attention to me, a flash of tenderness crossed his eyes. He smiled for the first time, softening the hard contours of his face. It reminded me of a feeling when flowers bloomed in a glacier.

"And you . . . ," he said, voice so soft my heart doubled in size. "You finish your food. We won't disturb you anymore."

It was a good thing that I crossed my arms, preventing me from caressing his lovely ice sculptured face.

I blinked and stared down at my food and began to eat, afraid of what might happen if I stared moments longer.

After that, they started discussing the project. Sensing I was no longer needed, I finished my meals and said my goodbyes.

I was about to leave when I thought of something. I turned to look at Zhane. "Why are you in New York by the way?"

Zhane grinned, showing his canine teeth. "I'll be a student next week at Zephyr University. It's near Artem. Let's see each other more often, Princess."

I was shocked for a moment. "I thought you are just all about developing software. I guess you wanted a life too."

I still heard their laughter even halfway to the exit, and when the valet brought my car, I drove off to my condo.