Killian Lei Blackwood's POV~
It's been a month since that cruise vacation. I've managed to go on with my days perfectly, like always.
Being back to work and doing what I usually do made me feel like I could finally breathe again, that vacation 'almost' made me go nuts.
And by 'almost', I mean that I smashed five phones in a day in that week long vacation. And no, it's not an exaggeration.
Right now, I'm on my way to a business dinner on a Russian Restaurant. Because the man I'm meeting; Vinn Ruscov, his company is our new target for a merger. And he only wants to eat local food from his country.
*And I don't like it.*
I hate adjusting for anyone. But a scheduled dinner that's been planned accordingly must be followed through.
The car drives through the streets, busy people passing by.
A thought crossed my mind. 'I hate streets.'
But another thought came in shortly after the last. 'That man in the cruise.'
Since my encounter with that mysterious man who calls himself Maximo... I've been trying to find him.
I sent my personal investigator to find him, but now, even the whereabouts of the person I sent are unknown.
If my first impression on Maximo is right, that he's a crazy person.
Then my personal investigator is most likely dead by now. I need to put that on the list of things that must be replaced.
Well, Maximo did say... 'Don't look for me, I'll come find you.'
I guess he's hiding from me. Too bad, I hate being told what to do. And my patience is running thin.
*I've got to get him.*
My thoughts gets disrupted as my assistant/bodyguard named Carlyle who was driving the car pulls over in front of the restaurant and warns me.
"Sir. If I may speak, this man is rumored to find joy in messing and playing with people. He's a psychopath, sir."
This man is, Carlyle Davis; A man who's a year younger than me, British and handsome. An efficient secretary who makes sure that every detail is perfect just like how I want it. He's also my bodyguard and he makes sure to tell me anything that can cause harm, damage and anything risky.
But that's just to sugarcoat it. In summary, he's an efficient worrywart.
'Rumors aren't to be trusted. They're based on people's imagination.' is what I would say if I wanted to argue over something senseless.
"I got it." I say dismissively instead.
Carlyle smiles and gets out of the car and opens the door for me. Then he holds the door and I get out of the car in a swift step.
I'm wearing a three piece dark grey suit and leather shoes, my pale skin standing out. And my hair smoothly combed back.
I fiddle on my cufflinks in each sleeves to check if they're fastened properly.
Carlyle lets me take the lead. I enter first and he follows closely. And after entering the restaurant, you can come up with the conclusion that, 'just as the outside, the inside is luxurious and top quality.'
Looking around the place, a table in the middle of the others stand out. Because no one else is inside and I remember Carlyle mentioning that the man we'll be meeting rented the place out.
4 guards standing on each side of the table, an old man who screams 'rich' just with his looks and posture. And a younger man is sitting next to him with a tall and buff build, seeming to be his secretary with a polite smile on his face.
A guard notices me and Carlyle then whispers in the old man's ear. Then the old man stands up from his seat and waves us over.
Carlyle sees that too and nods at me. Signalling that in the table over there, is where our future business is sitting at.
I stare at that table for a minute longer than necessary, specifically to the man sitting beside the old man. He looks and feels familiar for a reason.
I clear my throat and start to approach them with Carlyle following me, my gaze on that younger man never leaving.
Unlike what other people say that, 'Staring at people is disrespectful.', it's completely common, it starts to be disrespectful if that stare is with malice, lust or judgement.
We arrive at the table and Carlyle pulls out my chair before I sit down, facing the old man. He swiftly sits beside me, the younger man across him.
"Good evening, Mr. Blackwood. Thank you for humoring me in this dinner. You too, Mr. Smith." The old man greets us, politely.
He keeps fumbling with his watch on his right hand. Seeing that action makes me frown slightly.
I ignore the older man and I glance at the younger man, staring intently and he looks me in the eyes as well. Professionally, I scrutinize his face. It's too familiar.
I hear Carlyle greeting as well in the background of the tense atmosphere between me and the guy next to the old man. I notice Carlyle calling the older man 'Vinn Ruscov' but I stop him before he can finish his greeting.
"Stop." I raise my hand at Carlyle. Staring straight at the man across him. "You don't have to call this old man as 'Vinn Ruscov'. He's not their real boss." I lower my hand.
"Sir? What do you mean by that?" Carlyle asks curiously. Confusion evident in his expression.
I nod at the younger man in front of Carlyle. "The guy in front of you will explain it." Carlyle immediately looks ahead of him.
That man's polite expression stretches into a wide grin of amusement.
And just with that...
*I already proved my point.*
He starts to speak. And his voice... Is definitely familiar in the most literal way. "Mm. I am Vin Ruscov, not this man over here. Hehe. How'd you know, Mr. Killian Lei Blackwood?"
The older man cautiously gets up from his seat and leaves hurriedly, as if running from his life.
I ignore that and stare constantly at this Vinn Ruscov's eyes. "I just said that you'll explain it." I say coldly.
He softens his grin as he chuckles. But his amusement remains. "Haha... There's a lot to like about you, Mr. Blackwood."
Analyzes complete. This man is the one I'm looking for. He's the same man as the man in the cruise.
Just from thinking that, my heart starts to beat faster than it's normal pace, as if in a race.
*Tsk. I almost didn't recognize him.*
He looks normal right now. The person I met at the cruise was smiling like a psycho all the damn time. Seeing him like this is strange. But I guess that I don't know him well enough to judge him.
"Well, let me explain to your assistant then. Since you nicely asked." He smirks. "I am Maximo Vinn Ruscov. The owner of Ruscov. Bank. That guy who ran off is a useless unnamed actor."
Carlyle freezes in his seat as he takes in the happenings. And I glare at Maximo, intensely. "Carlyle. Go back to the company. Summarize those files in my desk and before I get back there, they have to be done. Or else I'll break down hell here on Earth."
Carlyle blinks multiple times then nods hesitantly. Then, he bows and leaves, but not before looking at me worriedly. But I nod at him to ease him up.
As Carlyle leaves, I look back at Maximo. My eyes fierce. "Why did you do this? I hate things being complicated. We wasted ten minutes. And I hate my schedule time being spent on something senseless."
Maximo smiles at he looks at me. The kind of smile that someone uses when he's looking at an interesting show. A smile of interest and amusement.
"You're honest in your dislikes, Mr. Blackwood. I thought perfectionist people liked to maintain a perfect image." He grins, his teeth showing.
I calm down a bit. "I don't like waisting time. But I'll humor you."
"Maintaining an perfect image is being imperfect itself. Being pretentious is an effort to be perfect. But being perfect is when things are how they must be." I answer straight, leaving no room for playing around.
My answer seems to make Maximo more amused. Definitely a psychopath. "HAHA! There's really a lot to like about you... Killian Lei Blackwood."
He says that as he smiles, revealing that psychopath smile that filled my dreams for a month now.
Truthfully... I'm glad to see him again.
*And he won't slip out of my fingers again.*
*Once was enough.*
I can almost see my own eyes glinting with obsession.
*Twice is never gonna happen.*