BUSINESS PROPOSAL
(Back to the Human Realm)
Alda’s POV
I made my way up to my office to meet my dad, struggling to keep my emotions under control.
I found him standing by the window, staring out at the city below.
His back was turned toward me, making it impossible to read the expression on his face.
“Dad,” I called softly.
He turned immediately, and a smile spread across his face the moment he saw me.
“I knew you would figure it out,” he said amusedly. “Even after I specifically told Peter not to inform you about my presence.”
“That's because I know you're the only person Peter respects enough to personally escort into my office.”
“I guess I simply have too many people who trust and respect me.” He let out a small laugh.
“It's not funny, Dad.” I folded my arms. “So what brought you here?”
“Can't a father visit his daughter anymore?” he asked, a teasing smile tugging at his lips.
“Dad, you and I both know my office has never been your social meeting spot.”
I raised an eyebrow at him.
“You're here for business purposes.”
“Sometimes I forget you know me too well to lie to you.” He chuckled softly. “But I wasn't lying when I said I wanted to see you.”
“I know, Dad.”
I walked toward the seating area.
“Come on, sit down and tell me why you're really here.”
“Hm.” He studied me with amusement. “You're more curious than I expected.”
“Because I know this is something important, and now I really want to know.”
“Fine.”
He finally gave in.
“I have a proposal for you. Peter informed me that you recently lost a very important model — the face of the company.”
“Yeah, I did.” I nodded. “But you don't need to worry about that. I'll handle it.”
“I know you will,” he replied confidently. “But I believe I have a better suggestion.”
He sat back comfortably.
“How would you feel about accepting a business deal from M & J Suit Up?”
I frowned slightly.
“M & J Suit Up? I thought they specialised in men's accessories.”
“Yes, and that's exactly where your advantage lies.”
His eyes lit up as he explained.
“If both companies collaborate on a couples' collection… coordinated designs for men and women… we could create something unique.”
He leaned forward slightly.
“A shared design concept between both brands could increase sales tremendously if executed properly.”
I found myself genuinely considering the idea.
“Hm… you're right.”
I nodded slowly.
“That actually sounds promising.”
I looked back at him.
“But do you think they'd be interested in partnering with us?”
“Yes.” He answered confidently. “I'll personally arrange a meeting with them.”
A thoughtful pause crossed his face.
“Or perhaps… we could discuss everything over dinner.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
A small smile tugged at my lips — one of the few genuine ones I'd managed all day.
“I'm really happy you're still looking out for me, even now.”
I stepped closer and wrapped my arms around him in a hug.
He hugged me back immediately.
“Sweetheart…”
His voice softened.
“Is it just me, or do you look a little pale today?”
He pulled back slightly, studying my face more carefully.
“Are you sick?”
My heart tightened.
For a terrifying second, I thought he could somehow see straight through me.
The ruined marriage.
The betrayal.
The heartbreak I was desperately trying to hide beneath makeup and forced smiles.
“No,” I replied quickly, forcing a small smile onto my face.
“I'm fine.”
“I don't think so. Maybe I should call Dr. Daniel to come check on you.”
Dad gently pulled me back to properly examine me, his eyes carefully scanning my face and body.
“That husband of yours probably wouldn't even notice whether you're alright or not.”
My body tensed instantly.
I couldn't let him suspect anything.
Forcing a smile, I took his hands and placed them against my forehead.
“Dad, I'm fine. See? My body isn't even hot.”
I tried sounding playful.
“You don't always have to worry about me. I can take care of myself.”
“Fine,” he said reluctantly. “But tell Seth to make time for us to meet.”
“Why?” I asked a little too quickly, nervousness tightening inside my chest.
Please don't let him know.
“Because that guy is terrible at handling business,” Dad replied bluntly. “And I can't keep supporting his company if he doesn't know what he's doing.”
My heart skipped.
“Are you thinking of withdrawing your company's support from his?”
“Yes.” His answer came without hesitation. “And don't try to talk me out of it.”
“I won't.”
The words surprised even me.
“I know that before you make a decision, you've already weighed both the advantages and the disadvantages. So… do what you believe you have to do.”
I meant every word.
I wasn't going to let anything about Seth affect me anymore.
He didn't deserve that much power over me.
Dad narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Why aren't you defending him today?”
A faint look of confusion crossed his face.
“That's unlike you.”
I lowered my gaze for a brief moment.
“Maybe…” I paused quietly. “Maybe I'm finally starting to notice the things I've been turning a blind eye to.”
“Hm.”
Dad studied me carefully.
“Things like what?”
“I'm still figuring that out.”
I glanced at my wristwatch, checking the time.
Peter had probably already started the meeting, and I still needed to join them.
“Do you have somewhere to be?” Dad asked.
“No, but I have a meeting with the managers from every department.”
I straightened slightly, slipping back into work mode.
“It looks like we urgently need to find a lead model if we're going to start running advertisements this week.”
Dad crossed his arms thoughtfully.
“Have you ever considered using yourself as the face of your company?”
I looked at him.
“How long are you planning to hide all this beauty behind Peter?”
“Dad.” I let out a soft laugh. “You know how much I value my privacy.”
I shook my head.
“Becoming the face of Glams Beauty and Fashion is practically the same thing as going public.”
“I've never understood why you're so against stepping into the spotlight.”
His voice softened.
“But even if you do… you can still stay behind Peter the way you've been doing.”
He shrugged.
“Most people already believe I own this company anyway.”
Then he looked directly into my eyes.
“So go ahead and become the face of Glams Beauty and Fashion. I'll cover for you.”
His words caught me off guard.
“I want you to do what you genuinely enjoy doing.”
His voice grew gentler.
“It's time to stop hiding, sweetheart.”
“When you first came to me with the idea of starting this company, I supported you because I knew you had something special in you.”
He smiled warmly.
“If you're not willing to stand in the full glow of Glams Beauty and Fashion… then at least allow yourself to shine alongside it.”
His words lingered in my mind.
And for the first time…
I questioned something I had never truly thought about before.
Was I actually hiding?
I had never considered it that way.
I simply never believed the world needed to know that I owned Glams Beauty and Fashion.
“I'll think about it,” I finally said.
“But I really need to go join Peter and the others.”
“Your mother has been asking about you,” Dad said as we began walking toward the office door together.
“Tell her I'll come see her this weekend.”
“I'll let her know.”
I followed Dad to the elevator and watched him step inside before the doors slid shut.
Then, taking a quiet breath to steady myself, I turned and headed back to join the meeting.
Xender’s POV
“Dad, what are you doing here?”
He had been sitting in my office for nearly twenty minutes, completely ignoring every question I asked him.
“Am I not allowed to visit my son's workplace?” he asked casually. “Don't tell me you're avoiding me.”
“Dad, please.” I rubbed my temple in frustration. “I've already had an incredibly disappointing morning, and my afternoon isn't going any better, so please don't make it worse.”
“Are you suggesting that I might add to your misery?”
“Yes.”
I didn't even hesitate.
“So get to the point so I can get back to work.”
“Son… how old are you?”
I let out an audible sigh, forcing myself to swallow the irritation steadily building inside me.
My relationship with my father had never exactly been ideal.
“Does my age really matter?”
“Yes,” he replied calmly. “It actually has everything to do with your age.”
A smile sat on his face.
A deeply irritating smile.
“I'm in my mid-thirties,” I answered when it became obvious he had no intention of dropping whatever bizarre conversation this was.
“You're a very successful man for someone your age.”
He said it so casually that I couldn't even tell whether it was supposed to be praise or criticism.
“Thanks, Dad… but I'm still waiting for your point.”
“You started M & J Suit Up when you were only twenty-five.”
He leaned back slightly.
“I was proud of you then.”
A brief pause.
“And I still am.”
I stayed silent.
“Tell me… how are your investments doing? I trust you're putting your money into the right companies.”
There it is.
The real reason.
The second he asked that question, I knew he already knew about the Sebastian investment.
“Is that why you're here?” I asked dryly. “To remind me how strongly you opposed me working with Mr. Sebastian?”
I crossed my arms.
“Well, don't worry about it. He's going to repay every single dime I invested into his company.”
“I certainly hope so.”
The sarcasm in his voice was impossible to miss.
“Because his real estate company is practically collapsing, and most of his supporting investors are already pulling their companies away from him.”
He tilted his head slightly.
“So naturally… I'm curious how he plans to repay you.”
Then he shrugged.
“But don't worry. I'm sure you have your own strategy.”
I clenched my jaw.
“If that's all, then I'll be leaving. I have a meeting with my lawyer.”
“Relax, son.”
He held up a hand.
“I've got a proposal for you.”
I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.
“How would you feel about collaborating with Glams Beauty and Fashion?”
I blinked.
“Glams Beauty and Fashion… owned by Mr. Barnard?”
“Yes.”
He looked entirely too pleased with himself.
“They're willing to work with you, if you're interested.”
“They're willing to work with me?”
“Yes.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Shouldn't you be happy? You've wanted a project with them for years.”
That… was true.
“Well, lucky for you, I happened to run into Mr. Barnard. We got talking, and he said he'd consider it.”
I stared at him, genuinely stunned.
I had been trying to arrange a meeting with Mr. Barnard for months.
Months.
Emails.
Calls.
Networking attempts.
Nothing.
So how the hell had he managed to pull that off so casually?
“With that expression on your face,” Dad said smugly, “I'd say you already love the idea.”
He stood from his chair.
“I'll contact Mr. Barnard so we can arrange a proper discussion.”
That satisfied smile on his face was beginning to annoy me.
He adjusted his suit before stepping closer.
“Why are you helping me?”
He looked at me as if the answer were obvious.
“Because you're my son.”
A bitter laugh almost escaped me.
“You and I both know that's not the real reason.”
My voice hardened.
“You were completely against this company when I started it.”
“Believe it or not, son…” his expression softened slightly, “I'm trying to look out for you.”
He straightened his jacket.
“I'll secure this project for you. Consider it a gift.”
Then his tone shifted into something more serious.
“I know you lost a lot investing in Mr. Sebastian.”
He met my eyes directly.
“So don't screw this up.”
I stared at him.
“This is unlike you.”
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
“You barely spoke to me for years because I refused to take over your company.”
I shook my head slightly.
“And now… suddenly… you're helping me?”
“Just say thank you and stop being a jerk.”
He lightly smacked my shoulder before turning toward the door.
Typical.
“By the way…” He paused at the doorway. “Your sister is back.”
My entire body stiffened.
“Come over this weekend. We'll have a family reunion dinner.”
And just like that…
He walked out.
Wait.
Emily is back?
A terrible feeling settled immediately in my stomach.
Why is she back all of a sudden?
That could only mean one thing.
My troublesome sister had officially returned to town.
Charles was about to lose his mind.
