"Ella's POV
Mr. D is already sitting at a corner table by the time I arrive at Jakara Hotel's coffee shop. His eyes dart sharply at me the moment I push the door open. His glare makes me feel awkward as if I am walking naked in his eyes. If I hadn’t known him for a while already, I would have seen him as a different person. But I know Mr. D long enough to vouch that he is not as creepy as he looks; only that he’s weird.
Just as I make myself comfortable in front of him, the waiter arrives with a tray of two steaming cups. Having coffee with him in this coffee shop in the past, I peer right away into the latte art. And I giggle as soon as I see two versions of my portrait.
“You call Yen as the inspiration. What about me?” I can feel my eyes sparkling at my question. He narrows his gaze on me as if he's just got a new idea. I mean it as a joke only but he seems to take it seriously.
I then fish out for my phone from my bag and click on the camera from my peripheral view, my eyes barely leaving his.
“The beloved,” he says lazily, and I find him amusing. My suppressed laughter then rumbles from my chest -- too fascinated at the title he attributes to me. Then, taking two close shots of each latte art, I post it on my social media.
“Mr. D, have you been in love?” Looking at him with a poker face, I bite my lips to stop myself from giggling.
“There are four types of love: eros, philia, storge, and agape. A human can’t skip all these.” He raised his brow, apparently challenging my knowledge.
“I mean, eros.”
“Eros is a concept in ancient Greek philosophy referring to sensual or passionate love, from which the term erotic is derived.”
“Yes. That erotic and passionate love. Have you felt that already?”
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”
I burst out laughing. How can a mere human give out instant lengthy quotes, like his brain has the capacity of a computer memory?
“Amen. That’s from the Holy Book. So, it means you haven’t yet.”
“Your coffee is cooling down,” he glances at my cup before looking back at me. I get it that’s it’s his way of changing the topic, so I also shut my mouth.
“I can’t drink this. Sorry, it’s not good for the baby.” I smile sadly, my mouth watering as the aroma of the freshly-brewed coffee stimulates my senses.
“Don’t you think I’m unaware of pregnancy restrictions? It’s decaffeinated. Take a sip or two to treat your cravings.” Now, he sounds like an average person, and I grin.
“But the art will be ruined.” My lips curl into a pout.
He shakes his head like he can’t believe his eyes and ears. Like I'm the most ridiculous person on earth.
“I’ll make hundreds of that if you like. Anyway, you can afford it.”
I burst out laughing again, and finally, I see his lips curving into a smile. He even watches me affectionately as I take a sip.
“Now, what do you want?” he says after I put my cup down.
“Mr. D, 60/40. Is that alright?”
His reply comes instantly. “No, 70/30 is acceptable.”
I heave out a deep sigh. If James had not prepared me for this possibility, I would have been horrified and walked out.
It means he wants 70% of the share, and mine is 30%. He’s not going to sweat out a fortune, but his creation. Sensing my reluctance, he tilts his head to the side and looks right into my eyes.
“Ella, I have already prepared a year-long set of products to launch every other month. And instead of Kim Yuan, Jamella Tech will reap skyrocketing fame and profits out of these. And I won’t take this partnership as free. I will pay the full 70% of the total expenditure of this company.”
I pull my face into a hard frown. This entire thing sounds so ridiculous, like we are only fooling each other. I just feel being tricked if I am to judge. But James said otherwise. He has already expected that Mr. D will ask for the 70%. He didn’t even expect that Mr. D will buy out the share literally.
“Kim Yuan Microelectronics started as a single company in Japan. But with the coming of my team, Kim Yuan has multiplied into several branches in Asia. But if you consider my offer, it will be Jamella Tech’s turn to shine.”
“Fine. I will send you the contract the earliest possible tomorrow.”
I drop another sigh that echoes throughout the space, earning me a worried look from Mr. D.
“Think more about it because that won’t be all.”
I shoot him a dagger look. Does he think James just picked his money like fallen leaves in the backyard?
“Just so you know.”
“What else, Mr. D?” I grit my teeth, grinding my ass on the surface of my seat. One more annoying demand, and I will storm out of this room.
“I’m looking for a lost painting. Go back to your lover’s house and get that painting for me.”
My eyes pop wide! Lost painting?
Immediately, the scenes of that secret room come flooding into my mind. The paintings…those ones on the table that I’m sure are not Mr. D’s.
“It’s a portrait of a father and a child,” he says, his eyes beaming like he’s sure Zed has it.
Lost painting. Does it mean that Zed stole it?
So, many questions run in my mind as I wrack my brain on recalling if I have seen that portrait. But no matter how I force my head, I never remember seeing that portrait.
“Aside from that, Mr. D, what other conditions do you have in mind? So that I will know at once.”
He stares at me for a long time, sending my hair standing on its end.
“What?” I challenge him. How dare can he demand something more?
“Marry me.”