The meeting was short and efficient. But it did little to improve Nazzer's mood. The entire situation irritated him.

He was used to getting his way, always winning. And the fact that the Lumière Group had managed to outbid him and ruin his days with you.

He stalked back into his office, slamming the door behind him. His eyes fell on his phone, lying where he'd left it on the desk.

He hadn't even read your last few texts yet.

He snatched up his phone, scrolling through your increasingly irritated messages with narrowed eyes. His thumb hovered over the keyboard for a long moment before typing.

Stop being dramatic.

No label yet. But you always demanded.

And stop texting me when I'm working.

I'll be back in three days.

He planned to take four days in Paris.

The next few days passed in a blur of conference calls, tense negotiations, and sleepless nights. He worked incessantly, pushing his limits. His assistant Han practically begged him to sleep or eat something. But he was like a machine, hyper-fixated on outdoing the Lumière Group.

He didn't read the countless texts you sent. He didn't check his phone once. He'd seen the missed calls but had ignored them all. He was too focused on work to even think of you.

His phone buzzed violently against his desk—once, twice—before he finally glanced at it. Your texts glared up at him in all caps. You were mad that he extended his stay there.

His fingers twitched against the armrest of his chair. He picked up the phone. Typed.

Flight delayed. Stop screaming.

He could feel Han staring at him from the doorway.

"Sir—"

Nazzer didn't look up.

"Get out."

Han fled.

Another buzz. Another text from you. Nazzer's thumb hovered and then swiped to ignore it again.

He wasn't definitely coming back tonight.

FINE. I WON'T WAIT. I WILL FIND SOMEONE BETTER NOW.

His eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening at your petulant words. He couldn't decide if he was annoyed or if he enjoyed the way you pushed his buttons.

Because even as he typed out a cold, curt reply...

Go ahead.

The image of you with someone else made his chest tighten. Unacceptable.

Four days turned to two weeks without a single peep from you. Not a call, not a text.

He is a businessman through and through. He'd dealt with difficult negotiations, high-pressure board meetings, and cutthroat competition. He'd even dealt with you and your obnoxious behavior.

But this was driving him absolutely insane.

He found himself checking his phone obsessively, as if he expected to see a new message. He was beginning to think you were actually serious about finding someone else.

Continue >>> (slide: part one and two)