Chapter 4
Kai nodded, as if convinced by her words, and applauded her presentation. Brenda knew he wasn't here for business—just to annoy her.
"A woman's whisper? No wonder you supply eighty-three percent of the clubs and bars here! Deal done."
He stood and shook her hand.
"I'll send you the roster for how I'd like my Scotch supplied." With that, he left the office. Before stepping into the elevator, he turned and winked at Brenda, whose eyes were glued to him. The wink made her blink exaggeratedly.
Back at her desk, she sat, leaned back, and closed her eyes.
"Greg!" she called.
"Yes, madam!" he replied, hurrying over.
"How many meetings do I have left?"
"Your schedule is clear till tomorrow at ten-thirty."
"Thank you." She got up and left the office.
At home, with nothing pressing to do, she decided to go shopping. She rarely had time to pamper herself—always caught between work and worrying. She bought a few gowns and shirts, headed to the salon for a retouch on her locks, and finally settled down to eat.
Looking through the menu, nothing caught her interest. She settled for a chocolate-mint ice cream. Brenda was happily enjoying it when a pregnant woman, her husband, and a child about seven years old sat across from her. Brenda marveled at their happiness—their smiles and the child's laughter.
At her age, she was neither married nor had children—let alone engaged. Her ice cream melted as she watched them. When they got up and left, she wished for a family of her own—a husband who would love her unconditionally.
Realizing how much time she'd wasted, she drove back home.
The next morning, humming sounds drifted from downstairs. It had to be Mrs. Curtis. Brenda descended the stairs.
Mrs. Curtis saw her and smiled brightly.
"Oh, my darling!" She hugged Brenda tightly. Mrs. Curtis was Brenda's Nana—not by blood, but by heart. Brenda met her about seven years ago when she found Mrs. Curtis and her husband homeless by the roadside. She took them in for a year and helped set them up in a home. She'd been supporting them ever since.
"I'm angry at you, Nana!" Brenda said, hugging her back and gently caressing her.
"You didn't come see me for two weeks!"
"I was busy, dear. I had to take your Papa to the doctor for physio. He rarely goes unless I'm with him!" Nana laughed, her dimples deepening.
"How is he? I hope he's keeping up with his exercises?" Brenda asked, taking Nana's hand.
Brenda's expression faltered, her eyes drifting off, lost in thought. Nana noticed.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
Brenda chuckled. "It's nothing, Nana—just work." She quickly shifted topics before Nana could press further.
"I've been thinking about changing the interior… what color do you think I should use?"
"I think you should leave it. It's already nice—open and independent-looking." Nana smiled warmly.
They continued chatting, and Mrs. Curtis made Brenda's favorite meal—shrimp with Chinese pasta. Whenever she was around, Brenda turned into a lazy child, letting Nana cook and feed her.
"I don't have children or grandchildren, but God sent you to me, so I have to feed you—you're my dewdrop!" Nana said lovingly.
"Shall we eat?" Brenda asked, checking her watch. She was headed to work, and Nana couldn't stay because of her husband.
"I came with my car, so I'll go in mine. You go ahead—I'll clean the kitchen." Nana kissed her cheek.
"It's been a while since you gave me a lift! Mind dropping me off, Nana?" Brenda made her best puppy eyes.
Nana smiled and agreed.
At the office, the whole place was buzzing. Everyone was moving up and down.
"Morning, madam!" they chorused when they saw her.
Greg didn't notice Brenda enter—he was sitting in her chair with iPods plugged in. She smiled and tapped his shoulder.
He jumped up, fumbling with the pods, unsure what to do.
"Madam, you're here!"
"Yes, and you're sitting in my seat!" she reminded him with a smile.
She sat down comfortably. Greg's face was full of embarrassment as he ran a hand through his hair.
"What's on the agenda today, Greg?"she asked.
"We have a meeting with the board and Sir Kai."
"Sir Kai? What does he want?" Brenda asked, surprised by the meeting.
"We're about to find out—the meeting starts in three minutes and eleven seconds!" Greg grinned.
Brenda stood and headed to the boardroom where everyone was waiting. Upon her entrance, all stood, then sat once she took her seat. Kai sat two seats to her right, a big smirk on his face.
"Let's begin," she instructed.
Kai stood. "I'm humbled and excited to do business with Belair Distillery—the company that produces the finest Scotch. I asked myself this morning: why not be part of the company and build our legacy together? So here I am, trying to be part of the company."
He took his seat.
"Nice thought. Please elaborate—how do you plan to be part of the company?" Mr. Jaiswal, the eldest board member, asked.
"Well, the only way to be part of a company is by being a shareholder." Rosemary chimed in.
"Yes, that's right! I want to buy shares of Belair Distillery!" Kai said sharply.
"I was hoping one of the shareholders might consider selling."
Silence fell.
"I'm offering four million for three percent."
Gasps rippled through the room—two million for a slice of the company was bold. Then a hush followed.
"You seem desperate, Sir Kai," Brenda finally said, having listened quietly.
"No, madam. Desperate isn't right. Ambitious makes more sense."
Brenda nodded slowly, approving his choice of words.
The room was quiet. Kai, frustrated, asked,
"May I speak with the shareholders? I want to purchase shares as soon as possible."
"Belair Distillery doesn't have shareholders. It has a single shareholder—an owner," Mr. Jaiswal informed him.
"One shareholder? How's that possible? Who?" Kai asked, a muscle twitching in his jaw.
"Brenda Belair," Mr. Jaiswal said.
"Me," Brenda said proudly, pointing at herself.
Kai's face changed—stiffened with disappointment or something else Brenda couldn't read.
"I own one hundred percent of this company—the building, the furniture… even the chair you're sitting in."
"That doesn't stop me from wanting to buy shares," Kai said stubbornly.
"Belair Distillery isn't selling any shares, unfortunately," she said, raising her voice just enough to command attention.
"Hmmm. I can buy shares in other Belair Distillery companies—in Seattle, or Venezuela! Surely you don't own all the shares there."
He thought he'd cut deep, but to his surprise, the whole room laughed—including Brenda.
It took a while for them to get it together.
"See, that's the thing. I own a hundred percent of the shares in all the Belair Distillery companies. I own it all!" She shrugged, putting her joined hands on the table.
"All eight of the companies?" He asked, not believing her.
"Actually, all nine of them! I own everything there is to my name. And I said I'm not selling anything. Meeting dismissed!" She ordered. Everyone left the room, leaving them alone.
"I wonder what you're trying to achieve, but good luck with it!" She said with a mocking tone.
"I want to be close to you, Belair!"
"Is that why you had to come pull this charade at my company? Grow the fuck up, Kai!" Brenda grabbed her phone from the table, about to leave when Kai held her hand to stop her.
"I'm not leaving this place unless we clear the air between us!" He threatened, acid dripping from his words.
"Let go of my hand, you're hurting me!"
Kai loosened his grip. Brenda knew how stubborn he was and arguing wouldn't get anywhere.
"Meet me at the Red Bowl restaurant tonight at eight sharp!" She instructed. She needed to know where she stood with Kai. Was there hope for them? She didn't understand why she was having those thoughts. The fact that he was engaged should have been enough to stop her licentious fantasies — but somehow, it wasn't.