CHAPTER 16: A f*****g joke 

Nick Nico,” Bárbara arrived in the kitchen as I was having breakfast. She was just back from her trip. “How are you, darling?” she asked, kissing my cheek.“You’re back early,” I said, lifting the coffee cup to my lips.“I had to. It’s Grace’s birthday; I couldn’t miss it. You know I adore her, so I came a day early. We have an appointment in two hours; she wants me to help her choose some pending details.” She sat in front of me as one of the girls served her breakfast.l nodded, placing the cup on the table. She breathed in and looked around the house. She had always liked it, though I never did. That was why I wanted the other one, the one Alaia bought.“I heard they rejected your offer for the new house,” she said, taking a piece of pineapple to her mouth.“Someone beat me to it,” I said bitterly. “Someone named Alaia Russell.” She eyed me. “What a coincidence, right? That’s her name, though I don’t know many Alaia. But that’s the same name as your ex, my rival,” she said, wiping her lips.“You know she was never a rival to you,” I said seriously.“I know, she never was and never will be.” She smiled and continued eating.I stood up, said goodbye, and left the house. I only needed a coffee. I got in the car and drove to pick up Will. We’re going to deliver the signed contract; I’ll have to drive him since he left his car at some club last night.*****“Garnett, I’m glad they accepted and signed the contract. I knew Killian wouldn’t refuse an offer like ours.” Minister Lander shook my hand. Of course, he didn’t accept it; he just signed the contract provisionally, that’s what he thinks.“We’ll get started, Minister,” I said as Lander’s assistant checked the signatures.“Sounds good. I imagine you’ve already reached an agreement with T–World; we received their contract this morning,” he stated, looking satisfied.“I have a meeting with their representative as soon as I leave here,” I lied. Alaia wasn’t interested in contacting us.Will looked at me; he knew that I was lying.“Perfect, we’ll have a meeting in two weeks to discuss how the two companies will organize.” “Absolutely.” We said our goodbyes to the minister and left.“I didn’t get the call for that meeting.” Will walked beside me.“Now you know. We’re going to T–World’s office. As you saw, they accepted the proposal, but they haven’t contacted us yet, and I doubt they will.“If I were her, I wouldn’t want to talk to you either,” Will said mockingly.“It’s not about me, Will. It’s about the project. She’ll have to meet with me.““It feels like a damn joke from fate.” He shook his head and got in the passenger seat.I remained silent, agreeing with Will. I got in the driver’s seat and headed to T–World’s office.“Are you going to kick her company out of the project?” my cousin questioned, and I immediately shook my head.“No, I won’t. What Killian and the board demand has to be approved by me. In the end, I have the final say, and they have to accept my decisions,” I asserted.”One of the perks of taking the deal you accepted two years ago,” Will said, and I nodded in silence. We arrived at the enormous building. The receptionist gave us instructions to reach the office located on the top floor.“You should have called her,” Will said when we were in the elevator. I looked at him with irritation. He raised his 

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hands and laughed. We stepped out as soon as we reached the floor and found a young man to whom I asked for Alaia. He gave us directions to her office.“Good morning,” I greeted, looking around, and then I noticed a guy in an office. Ignacio was the name written on his badge.“Good morning,” he responded, looking at my cousin and me, though his inquisitive gaze lingered longer on me.“I’m Nick Garnett, and this is Will Garnett,” I introduced us.“Mr. 

Garnett, how can I help you?” he asked. 

“We’re from Garnett Morgan & Co. We’ll be working with T–World on an important project,” I said impatiently, as the guy didn’t recognize our last name.“Do you have an appointment?” He 

checked his iPad, and my impatience grew.“No, but given the importance of the matter, I 

imagine it’s not necessary.” I crossed my arms.“I understand, give me a moment.” The man 

took his phone and made a call while I checked my watch. I’ve never been received like this in 

a company.“Mr. Garnett,” the guy said, and I turned to look at him.“Miss Russell can’t see you 

right now; she has an important meeting.” He looked at the door, which I assume was Alaia’s 

office. “She suggested that you make an appointment,” he said calmly, which annoyed me. She said she’s not one to play games. It seemed like she was playing with me.l shrugged my shoulders and walked towards the door. I saw Ignacio standing up but Will stopped him.l grabbed the doorknob and opened it to see Alaia dressed in a white suit. She came out of a 

double door on the left side of her office, which she quickly closed as soon as she saw me. The guy who accompanied her at the meeting with Lander was on the couch, writing 

something on an iPad, which he lowered immediately as soon as he saw me.“What are you 

doing here?” She walked towards me, furious.“I’m sorry, Alaia, I couldn’t stop him.” Ignacio 

arrived behind me with Will.“Call security if these gentlemen don’t leave in three minutes,” she 

told the guy, and I raised an eyebrow.“We have a project to start, and your company hasn’t 

contacted us. I don’t think this is the way to treat people who will be working with you for the 

next year.” Alaia laughed then I heard a faint noise behind the door she just exited, making me 

look in that direction.“You will be working with us…” she spoke. “… you have three 

minutes.“We need to discuss the project, or did you plan to handle it yourself?” She checked 

something on her phone and looked at me.“Maybe.” She shrugged. “I was going to send you 

an email,” she said calmly.“Do you plan to manage it like that?” I questioned, crossing my 

arms.“Anything that doesn’t involve seeing your face.” She crossed her arms, too. Damn, she 

was kinda annoying me already.“I think that’s enough, Alaia. We need to take this seriously. I 

believe…what happened between us shouldn’t interfere with our work,” I said and she looked at 

me.“That’s not an issue for me; it’s all in the past,” she said in an icy tone that made my jaw 

tense. “The problem is that I don’t trust you or anything related to you and your family.“I 

couldn’t refute her words; my past actions gave her that reason, though her attitude irritated 

me.“It’s a contract that benefits my family, my company. I don’t have a reason to play dirty,” I 

assured, uncomfortable having to clarify it.“Of course, it’s always about you,” she responded. I 

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could feel her hostility. “Well, since you’re so interested, you and your companion can start by getting to know the deployment we’ll do of the systematic tools that will be used in the project. We’ve been working on it. Ash, could you accompany them?” The guy walked over to us.“Will Garnett,” my cousin introduced himself to the guy.“Ash…er Russell,” he responded, shaking my cousin’s hand. Will and Alaia saw each other a few times while I was married to 

her. My cousin never intervened between us; he was very discreet, though, at that time, Will didn’t take girls seriously, including someone she knew, which made her upset with him.“I remember you,” Alaia said, looking at him and taking a few steps closer. “Do you still sleep with anything that moves?” she questioned, and the guy named Ash covered his mouth while my cousin was taken aback by her question.“I see my reputation precedes me, though I’m not that guy anymore,” my cousin clarified and smiled sideways.“I doubt it,” Alaia responded. She had always been a woman who speaks her mind without caring about anything, and these years have undoubtedly sharpened that quality.“Go ahead,” the guy showed us the way. Will nodded at Alaia to say goodbye and followed him while I stayed in the same place.“You never told me whose daughter you were,” I said when we were left alone.“Was it important?” She 

raised an eyebrow. “Oh, of course, I forgot who I’m talking to…someone who only cares about 

money.” She looked at me intently.“Alaia…” 

“No.” She raised her hand and quickly closed it, allowing me to see the enormous diamond engagement ring Cedric gave her when they got engaged, which caused an unpleasant sensation in my stomach.“You’re getting married again.” I looked at the ring and then at her.“I am.” She smiled and her face lit up when she looked at the ring.I moved my neck to relieve the tension. I heard a new noise behind the double door again.“I have important matters to attend 

to, Mr. Garnett. My cousin must be waiting for you,” she said, pointing to the door and turning 

around, walking confidently as my gaze remained on her.