Make Me Yours

Chapter 7

The only reason why Zoey picked up the phone on the first ring was because it had startled her out of her thoughts. She had been carried away once more, thinking of the numerous ways to win this battle. Or perhaps to just give it all up.

Mr Li had meant it when he had said he wasn’t going to play fair. The man was two steps ahead of her – always. It was almost driving her crazy. Not to mention, the sleepless nights filled with worry and what not were starting to tell on her.

“Hello?”

“Miss Martins, there is a call for you. It’s from a certain Mr Li. He insists he must speak directly with you. Should I put you through?”

Mr Li? She jerked up, becoming fully alert. Why was he calling her? It had been a month since that last meeting. Well, there was only one way to find out.

“Put him through, Owen.” It wasn’t like she was so busy. Everything else could wait.

“Alright ma’am. Right away.” As her secretary signed off, she went quiet and waited for Mr Li to come on.

“Good day, Miss Martins.”

And here she was, thinking that she was ready to hear his voice. Oh well, she definitely hadn’t taken that assault of fluttery emotions well.

Clearing her throat, she shifted uncomfortably in her chair, trying to calm her heart.

“Good day, Mr Li. This is such a surprise. I wish I could say it’s a pleasant one, but I have a feeling that I’d be left in a sourer mood than I already was by the time this conversation ends.”

He smiled. Figuring out how she had felt it, would be like understanding algebra, so she didn’t even try.

“Now, now, Miss Martins. I understand that we haven’t exactly had pleasant run-ins so far, but I beg to say that I am not such a terrible person. You speak as though I am the harbinger of bad news.”

“Well, you wouldn’t blame me now, would you? After all, you said it yourself. We haven’t had pleasant… run-ins, as you so choose to call them. How may I help you, Mr Li? I assume there is a reason why you are calling? Although, I would like to have you know that if it’s to run an errand for you, I am unavailable now and forever. I’m sure you can get one of the million people who work over you to do that.”

“There are 562,000.”

“What?”

“The people I have working under me. They aren’t up to a million. Anyway, no need to get all defensive, Miss Martins. Believe it or not, I come in peace. I was wondering if you would like to meet me up for lunch today. As you can guess, it is concerning the Belmont property.”

“Are you going to tell me yourself that you’ve finally given up? If not, then I’m afraid I would have to politely decline.”

“Charming. Sarcasm does become you, Miss Martins. However, you are wrong. I am not about to tell you that I have given up on the property. Nevertheless, I am certain that you would want to hear what I have to say. After so much back and forth in the past month, I have given it quite a lot of thought. Since neither of us seem to be getting what we want, how about we reach another agreement? Some sort of a compromise.”

A compromise? Oh, this man sure knew how to get her attention.

“I’m listening.”

“Not so fast. Meet me at Gruby’s at 1 p.m. and I’ll tell you all about it.”

Zoey’s first thought was to decline and insist that he met her somewhere of her choosing. Maybe to pay him back or maybe to feel in charge even for a fleeting second, but she decided against it. She was done with these games; maybe this meeting will end up better. So instead of disagreeing, she replied,

“Do I have to bring my lawyer?”

“Do you mean your lover? No. I hate feeling like the third wheel.”

“Very funny. Mr Sage is a very good and old friend, nothing more.”

“It didn’t seem that way to me. He was looking at you like you were the giver of life, and I was the reaper sent to take yours. Only a man in love does that.”

They shouldn’t be talking about her personal life. It did not matter at all in this conversation. He was goading her, Zoey knew. She also knew that she could very easily tell him to mind his business, so she did not know why she didn’t.

“The fact that he is in love with me does not mean that the feelings are returned. He is a good friend and my attorney and that’s that. If you would be meeting me alone, then I too shall come alone. If at any point in the conversation I feel like I would be needing legal counsel, I’ll place a call to him.”

There was a small pause and she patiently waited for his response.

“Quite understandable. Anyway, you have my word that there would be no need for that. You can simply choose to leave and take all the time you need, considering my new offer.”

There was something different about this Mr Li. If not that she already knew his voice so well, she might have suspected that she was speaking to an entirely different person. He seemed kinder, more gentle. What had gotten over him?

“Alright, then. Since you strike me as a man of your words, I shall be at Gruby’s by 1 o’clock.”

“Awesome. Thank you, Miss Martins.”

And just like that, he went off, cutting off the call.

For a long moment after, Zoey just stood staring at the phone which she had returned to its place. She played the conversation over and over again in her head, word for word.

If Mr Li had been like this from the start, then perhaps she would have found him bearable. She liked this version of him. Still proud, but at the very least, kind. Maybe Colorado and its easy-going nature were beginning to rub off on him.