Wild Young Princess: Mister, let's sleep?

"Young Master, it seems Mister De Luca had some emergency and can't make it to the meeting," Derek informed him as soon as he received the message.

Lewis frowned as he halted in his steps. "They're just telling me now that we're here?"

"Yes, Mister De Luca won't be present in the negotiations, but he entrusts all the negotiations and decision-making to his eldest son." 

"Good." Lewis nodded and resumed in his strides. "Fill me in the details of what kind of person I'll be negotiating with."

The two walked as Derek gave out the most important details Lewis had to know about the person he'd be negotiating with. Since the other parties were foreigners and this would be a huge deal for both parties, Lewis' party must treat them as his distinguished guest… or not.

"I see. He sounds remarkable." Lewis nodded, pleased at hearing the achievements of the heir to De Luca Vineyard. "It'll be a pain if I ended up talking to an airhead."

"But young master…" Derek trailed off as he cleared his throat, a little hesitant to tell Lewis. The latter didn't falter in his steps, waiting for additional information from his reliable assistant.

"Derek, if you're hesitating to tell me he had a terrible personality, just think how his assistant also hesitated to tell him the same thing." He uttered, unfazed by the likely scenario. "So long as he is good in business, I really don't care."

Although personality mattered, in doing business, the market and investment return potential were more important. Lewis had met good businessmen with terrible personalities in his life. Even though it was a pain to admit it, some of them had truly an innate talent in making money.

"It's not that, young master. It is just that..." Derek paused again and cleared his throat. "By sheer coincidence, the name of the son of Mister De Luca is also Quentin."

Derek could consider it was just a coincidence. It was more believable if he put it like that. However, knowing Lewis, if he had the power to remove the name Quentin from this world, he would've done it already.

"Quentin?" Lewis arched his brows, narrowing his eyes into a mere slit. "That's some interesting coincidence, indeed."

It wouldn't be, right? What were the odds that the Quentin she called in her sleep as if she was so afraid of him was the same Quentin he was meeting?

"Young master, this is an important negotiation."

"It is, Derek." Lewis's eyes glinted as the corner of his lips curled into a cunning smirk. "Let's hope it's just a coincidence."

Derek's brows twitched. "Young Master, you don't sound like you mean it."

"Because I don't." Lewis didn't even bother masking the malice in his voice. 

Soon, the two of them arrived inside a private meeting hall. Lewis's eyes immediately searched for his prospective business partner. But it wasn't only him who searched for him as they almost instantly locked gaze.

"It's an honor to meet you, Mister Qin." The man, Quentin, greeted as he beckoned a proper bow. "Please forgive my father for leaving before the negations can start."

Lewis sported a smile. "How can I blame Mister De Luca? If Mister De Luca entrusted this deal to a very capable man. I am the one who is honored."

Both of them exchanged a ton of formality and flattery before they went down into business. Both sat from across each other.

"Here is the proposal of our family, Mister Qin." Quentin slipped the document in front of Lewis. "We revised it just as you wished. I hope you reconsider that by doing so, we also had a few additional conditions."

Lewis picked up the document, gazing at the man's platinum hair that was neatly tucked back and the pair of tantalizing hazel eyes that were fearlessly staring back at him. For someone who looked very foreign, Lewis could not help but notice.

"You have a good intonation and accent, Mister De Luca."

"Thank you. The person who taught me is quite good," Quentin replied with the same polite smile. Lewis only nodded as he skimmed through the documents.

This man bothered him, Lewis thought. Although Quentin seemed decent on the outside, there's just this aura Quentin exuded that made Lewis a little leery.

"So?" Quentin raised his brows once Lewis put down the document, keeping his polite smile.

Lewis smiled. "It's impressive." That was what he only said. Indeed, it was impressive, considering both parties had gone through a lot of troubles before the De Luca and the Qin finally set a date for an official meeting.

"I'm pleased to hear that, Mister Qin."

"And I'm more impressed that we can communicate better. I prefer good communication with my prospective business partners." Lewis nodded, pleased at this courtesy, although he didn't mind if they spoke English. "No wonder Mister De Luca entrust this to you. Before we proceed, may I ask if you led the entire project?"

Lewis cocked his head to the side, still smiling. Of course, he was glad that the De Luca had followed his conditions with feasible conditions of their own. It was actually perfect and this deal could proceed smoothly.

However, this would probably be the first time Lewis had to break his own rules with the matters of the heart involved. Lewis tapped his fingers against the documents lightly, thinking whether to keep the enemy close or chase them out far, far away. If his gut feeling about the little chance that this Quentin was the Quentin he was looking for, the answer would surely be the latter.

"I contributed my ideas here and there, but that's all. It's the effort of the entire team who made this happen, and it just so happened I'm fluent in Mandarin." Humble. But this kind of personality was not something Lewis was truly fond of.

"I'm curious, Mister De Luca." Lewis cleared his throat, tired of going around in circles. "You seem to like our culture. Have you stayed in our country before?"

Quentin smiled. "Yes," He answered in a light tone before adding, "I stayed here for a little while to have a better understanding of our current and future business partners." 

"Is that so?" Lewis nodded in understanding because that was quite the effort. Well, the De Luca wouldn't be successful if they wouldn't do just that much.

"You really impressed me, Mister De Luca."

"You can just call me Quentin, Mister Qin." Quentin proposed in a friendly tone. "Of course, only if you're comfortable with it."

"Very well, call me Lewis, then." Lewis sported a smile. "Since that's the case, can I pour you a glass of wine?" 

"It'll be my honor." Quentin slightly bowed his head as Lewis poured two empty glasses of wine for the two of them while explaining the said wine's market value and the sort. When Quentin accepted the glass, they both raised it as a toasting gesture before drinking it.

Lewis would be lying if he said Quentin was not an impressive individual. There were only a few people that truly impressed Lewis without trying too hard. However, he couldn't rule out the possibility that Quentin was the same Quentin he wanted to shred into many pieces... with his bare hands.

The meeting proceeded smoothly, with a bit of change here and there to prolong the contract signing. Quentin agreed. He was well-versed in how meticulous people said Lewis to be, so he didn't jump to the conclusion that Lewis was purposely postponing signing with them. But that didn't mean Quentin didn't notice it. 

"I actually came with my sister, and I'll probably use our time in here to show her around," Quentin said as they were done talking about business and just casually chatting now.

Lewis quirked a brow. "Oh? Yes, I heard about the princess of the De Luca Family. If you ever need some assistance, I can introduce you to someone I trust to show you around."

"Thank you, but I hope I can introduce you to her some other time." Quentin humored, which Lewis understood. "But please, no pressure. I hope you don't misunderstand my intentions."

"How can I? I'll take it as a compliment since I heard the De Luca really cherishes your sister."

Quentin's eyes softened.. "Indeed, and we only want the best for her."