Once the door closed and it was just the two of them left inside, tension rose and Annabelle felt like running out of there, not out of fear, but because it was a place she didn't belong. Now that the adrenaline was gone and the little vengeful voice whispering inside her head had ceased and she could think normally again, she didn't think she had it in her to ruin the works of her own hands.
"I was certain you didn't come here to admire the interior of my office, Miss Marudas. Perhaps I was mistaken?"
"Yes, and I am sorry for wasting your time, Mr Quinn," Annabelle spoke, her head dipped down but just a little as a show of her sincerity. "I shouldn't be here."
He beheld her, his gaze deep and unreadable. "You look troubled, have a seat, and leave when you are calm," he said, turning his back to her. He walked to his desk and sat down as though her presence there never bothered him.
Annabelle saw him sit and begin his work so naturally that she couldn't help but envy him. Unlike her, everything in this building was his. Every effort he puts into it counts, and he doesn't need to prove to anyone that he is worthy of his position. He was the president of Colossus, and that could not be changed.
"I apologize that our first encounter has been this awkward. I'm sorry, truly," she spoke, and he paused, raised his head, and met her gaze.
"I don't know what your problems are, but if being here helps you in any way, suit yourself. It doesn't have to be this awkward." He replied, and she offered a half smile and then walked closer to his desk.
"Mr Quinn," she called. He only looked at her, but that was enough. "I came here out of anger and frustration. I wanted nothing but to see everyone who hurt me crumble in despair," he sat up and looked at her with interest brimming in his eyes. "But I've come to realize that I can't do it."
"What were you going to propose?" He asked.
"To help you destroy Marudas Inc. It was the only thing I wanted but…"
"But now you are having second thoughts because of all the effort you have put into it," he said, completing her sentence.
Annabelle nodded her head. "Yes. I'm ridiculous, right?" she said, smiling as though she had just found something amusing. "It's even more ridiculous that you were the only one who came to mind when I thought of ruining the Marudas." She chuckled. "You must think I've gone mad."
"No." He said, and she paused. "Like I said, I don't know what happened to you…yet. But even I can see just how troubled you are. Not just troubled, you are hurt and have no one to talk to. For today, let me be the ear that listens to you. That is the most I can do for you."
Annabelle felt her heart skip a beat. Her eyes stung with unshed tears. He was a stranger and even more so, her business rival. Yet, here she is, taking consolations from him. Whining and venting in front of him like he was an old dear friend.
"You are nothing like the rumors say about you," she uttered, a small smile playing on her lips.
"There are rumors about me?" He asked, looking genuinely confused, but Annabelle didn't seem to catch on to that and continued anyway.
She nodded. "You are younger than they say and pretty too," Came her words without realizing she just called him pretty all the while counting her fingers as she continued listing. "You are also patient, I mean, how else would you give the time of day to your enemy, right?" she said, all the while staring down at her clenched hands.
He looked at her with an arched brow, an amused smile on his lips. "Miss Marudas," Annabelle immediately whipped her head up. "I don't know what rumors you have heard, but I am not as kind as you think I am. I am a businessman, I don't get involved in anything that I have nothing to gain from."
"...."
Hearing him, she paused, then nodded. "That's right. I almost forgot. Then…. What do you have to gain from listening to me? For giving your ear today?"
For a moment, his expression changed as if taken aback by the question.
"The CassianQuinn wouldn't do anything unless he had something to gain from it, right?" she probed.
"I believe I have listened enough and you seem to be doing better already," he said, but she didn't react, still waiting for him to answer her question. "That means you should leave, Miss Marudas."
"Right," she stood up, pushed the chair back, and walked around it. "Thank you for your time, Mr Quinn. See you next time."
"I hope the next time we meet, we'll have something of mutual interest to discuss," he said before she could walk out of the door.
"Likewise," she replied before closing the door behind her. Her steps halted when she saw who stood in front of her, glaring at her as if she killed his lover. "I'll be off now, Mr Stones. It was a pleasure meeting you."
"If only I could say the same. I'm glad you are leaving." Came Isaac's cold words, but Annabelle just smiled, she then nodded at Kevin, who leaned leisurely against the wall, and he nodded back.
***
Inside, Cassian kept on staring at the closed door. His brows knitted together her question still lingering in his thoughts and he couldn't find the right answer for it.
"Then… What do you have to gain from listening to me? For giving me your ear today?"
He could easily say he wanted to know her weaknesses or come up with a similar excuse but he knew that would all be lies and the last thing he wanted was to lie to himself. Even while knowing that Maduras Inc. was unstable, the thought of taking advantage of that didn't cross his mind at all. He was just listening to her.
So, why? Why did he?