20.

“I see your phone has stopped going crazy with messages and phone calls. Did he finally give up?” Raine asked over their shared cup of icecream. Lately, the number of treats she came home to had increased.

“Yea... kind of. He just stops by with food now.” Argen replied casually. Casper had given up on talking to her but not feeding her. Not that I mind it much. He always brings me nice things. “Oh, I remember. Tomorrow is your day off, right?”

“Yes, why?” she asked as she helped herself to another spoon.

“Carl called, said something about looking forward to seeing you and your friend. What’s that about?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking-” jumping in her seat suddenly as her spoon fell to the table. She put her palms together as she brought her hands to her face. “I had lunch with an annoying dude. We ran into Carl and Kain but I didn’t pay attention to the conversation. The dude is so annoying. Talks nonstop.... Argh!!! I’m getting angry all over again thinking about what happened today.” She picked her spoon again as she pulled the cup closer to her, she dug out a large scoop in attempt to calm her rising annoyance.

“You had lunch with Kain? Why? Shouldn’t you be happy though, I thought you liked him.” nursing her full spoon playfully.

She looked up with an exaggerated shocked expression on her face and her spoon dangling between her lips. “Why would you think that? Why should I be happy liking a person that does whatever he wants without listening to anyone?” she exhaled dramatically. “Always dragging me around at his pace.” She muttered.

“So... you don’t like him then?” she slowly pulled the cup to her.

Suddenly serious, “Gen give me that cup” she commanded.

Argen picked it up as she walked away from the table “Nope... go get your own.” She stopped. “Also, you are going to Moondrop with me tonight. So... get ready.”

“Why? I don’t really want to.”

“But you have no idea what it was your lunch friend said to Carl? You better go get ready or you might get into trouble. I’m calling a cab soon.” She skipped away with the cup in hand.

What exactly is going on here? Is he trying to use to garner favour with Kain? And what is up with this combination? Raine thought distressed as she sat at the meeting table Carl had arranged in a quiet inner room away from the activities of the club.

When they arrived, Sam had been waiting for her at the door. He followed them down to the basement and soon enough they had met put with Carl, who led them to the inner room. Shortly after, Sam excused himself for a brief moment only to return with Angus and Jason Greane. Now she sat opposite Carl, Kain, Argen and Casper (who was obviously here just to see Argen) who were on one side of the table, while she sat next to Sam, Angus and Jason on the opposite side.

Argen regarded her with eyes full of amusement. This witch, she’s enjoying this, isn’t she?

Carl spoke, once everyone seemed to be settled in. “Now that everyone is here and we are all comfortable. Shall we start with the discussion?” his question was directed to her group.

No. Can you not do that? I swear I don’t know these people. I’m not a part of this obvious scam that they’re trying to pull off. Deep embarrassment overwhelmed her as she struggled to sit up straight.

“Why is he here?” Angus asked not hiding his hostility towards Casper.

“I am an investor in this club and this is a business meeting. Should I not be here?”

“Now, now. Let’s be calm here. We are here to discuss business, let’s keep it that way.” Carl put an end to whatever was about to start between the two. His tone carried a heavy hint of passive aggression though he had a smile on his face. “We have looked through your proposal.” He dropped the bound papers in his hand onto the table. “It was quite interesting.”

This can’t be good, right? Everyone knew it was a scam from the moment those two came in, but why does it feel like I’m about to get scolded with them when I have nothing to do with this?

Carl inhaled and then continued. “So you want to organise a summer rave by the beach in...” he flipped through the pages “...in about two weeks, with Moondrop as the main host of the event and Argen tending the bar. Moondrop with shoulder a chunk of the costs while you will be responsible for promotions and advertisements. You stated here that Argen’s presence would obviously attract desirables which would in turn attract the target crowd. And after the event, we would split whatever profits 60:40. Is that about it?”

All the while Raine and Argen had been exchanging glances with each other. For some reason, the way Carl explained the proposal seemed extremely funny, as a result, Raine snickered. The attention of the room turned to her.

“Excuse me. My throat is a bit dry.” She cleared her throat.

“Yes.” Jason answered his question. “I think it is a great opportunity.”

“Really?” sarcasm dripping heavily from his question. “A great opportunity for whom, if I may ask? Mr. Greane, if you were Moondrop, would you invest in such a thing?”

Maybe this will stop me from laughing out loud. Raine reached across the table for a glass and the jar of water provided earlier for the meeting.

Annoyed Angus spoke up. “Look, you’re just a manager, the owner hasn’t said a word. What do you think Kain?”

“Rejected.” Kain’s dry reply came almost immediately.

Raine spat out the gulp of water she was about to swallow to the side as she choked on both water and her repressed laughter. What was he thinking? If Carl says no does he think Kain wouldn’t agree?

“Miss Simma, are you okay?” Carl asked more amused that concerned.

“Yes. I’m quite fine. I’ll clean this up, please, carry on.” patting her chest softly, she replied in between breaths as she struggled to compose herself.

“It’s fine. Just leave that.”

Angered, hot headed Angus barked at the group opposite him. “What is wrong with the proposal? Is it cause we split the profit 60:40? We were being generous enough.”

“You think 60:40 is generous enough?” Casper started. “When I tell your father that the both of you are-”

“Casper. Stop.” Kain interrupted.

I’m no business guru, but I can tell at a glance that all this is just plain fraud. Who would go along with them?

“Carl. Please explain.”

“K...” he obliged Kain’s request. “First of all, your plan was not well thought out. Two weeks is not friendly enough a time frame for a rave of this scale. Secondly, you want Moondrop to shoulder all the costs. Your cost plan is poorly done; you have put down a number of outlandish and unrealistic numbers. It is quite clear that there was no form of research carried out and you will also be in charge of all expenditure, which implies that we will just keep pouring money down your pockets until you say stop. You have put to counter measures in case of a loss...”

This session of criticism went on nonstop for almost 40 minutes. Carl doesn’t really hold back, huh? Why doesn’t he take them across his laps and spank them to tears...

Finally, Carl finished talking leaving Sam wallowing in embarrassment and the brother duo seething in anger. Completely disinterested, Kain left the room with Carl following behind.

“Let’s go.” Argen nodded towards the door almost immediately. Casper rose and accompanied them out, leaving the just disgraced three behind.

“Hey.” Sam appeared by her side next to the counter with the Greane boys behind him. “Could you umm... perhaps talk Kain into reconsidering our proposal? We will revise and make it better.”

“What?” she asked in complete disbelief. Argen, who was beside her, stifled a laugh. She wasn’t on but came upon Carl’s request. “Are you serious right now? You got me involved in your little scam without my knowledge, now you’re trying to use me again?”

“Look, I apologise about that. If you want we can loop you in.”

She scoffed “I don’t want that. Who wants to be part of your poorly planned two-bit scam?”

Argen leaned over towards her. “Be careful, you don’t want to get banned, do you? Try not to start trouble... thought I would enjoy watching that.” Smiling as she whispered in her ear.

Sam, clearly agitated by her continuous baiting “It’s not a scam, can you please stop that. Yes, our plan was a bit off. If you would just talk to-”

“What are you acting so saucy for? All you have to do is spread your legs and ask him. You are together, aren’t you?” Angus interjected.

“If it’s so easy, why don’t you spread your legs then?”

“This bitch, don’t be so rude to me.” His voice raised.

“You were rude to me first, why can’t I be rude to you?”

Their exchange started to draw attention towards them.

“Are you a person I can’t be rude to? Have you done anything worth my respect?” she continued to bait him. Argen tugged on her arm, hinting for her to stop.

“What?” *It’s bad enough that we were dissed so badly in there, now some cheap ** is insulting me*? Anger clouded his head as Angus reached for a bottle that sat on the counter. And with full unforgiving force, he swung it violently aiming at Raine’s head.

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