CHAPTER 62: 62

XAVIER

Nylah and I went inside, and she wore a look of surprise the whole time, like she was still processing what had just happened.

"Rex is back." She mouthed when we got to my room, and I nodded sharply.

She looked taken aback by my response.

"He was in danger because of me," I explained. "I brought him back because I don’t want it to continue."

She nodded and shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"I know you’re not comfortable because of what happened the last time. I still don’t like the idea of another man close to you, but I won’t react the way I did the previous time. I don’t want to see you hurt. But don’t do anything that will make me make you pay." Her breath hitched in her throat. She understood what I meant, and I loved how she reacted to it.

"What kind of man are you to Rex?" She asked. I wasn’t expecting the question, but I wasn’t surprised at the same time.

"I am different things to different people. Rex and I had a rough childhood, and we saw each other in different lights. Don’t pay that so much attention and focus on what you’re seeing, not what you hear."

She didn’t ask further, but I doubted she was convinced.

***

"You know, I’m still shocked you’re letting me do this," Rex spoke as we approached the meeting venue with the investors.

I shot him a glance and scoffed.

"This is the best shot you can take. You better do well this time." I smiled and nodded.

We got to the 4-star hotel where our prospective investors were supposed to be waiting for us.

"You got this." I tapped Rex’s hand as he exhaled in preparation.

"Are you the ones we are waiting for?" The first man out of the two men who were waiting inside spoke as soon as he saw us. He had a strong Pakistani accent.

"Rex nodded." Yes. We are the ones you want to meet. Hope we didn’t keep you waiting?" He asked, and they shook their heads.

We settled down and got right into the meeting.

***

"...That is why you have to invest in our company. The company is fast rising, and it has gathered goodwill and reputation throughout the years. It’s not a new company. This is a generational money drilling company." Rex continued, and I was impressed by his presentation.

The men listened with rapt attention.

"You can go through the company’s shares. Even when we had issues that were out of control, we rose above that and even increased our shares. Going into a new country, you need a company that will give your money security and give you returns on the money you invested, and that is just what this company will do."

Rex delivered his speech with so much confidence that I was impressed.

The men nodded as well. I was certain they were buying it. We found out that they were a firm of investors. They had other investors under them willing to invest abroad, and they came together, started a firm, and put all their money together so they could do it jointly.

Now, that was smart.

At the end of the day, the investors accepted the deal. We shook hands and signed some papers.

Rex’s shoulders were exceptionally high that day. I noticed. He deserved it, so I didn’t taunt him for that. It was also the first big thing he had done in years. And I was impressed, not gonna lie.

"You uh... did good today." I praised him when he returned from seeing the investors out.

He shrugged.

"I told you, the good you’re looking for might be underneath you the whole time. You just need a gold miner to identify and mine it." I arched a brow playfully.

"I didn’t know you also gave motivational speeches." We laughed at this and got to the car.

While we were in the car, a thought never left my mind.

"How did you know about the investors? I didn’t hear about such a thing happening in the city, and I’m certain that Marve also had no idea about this. He would have gotten to the investors first." I reasoned out loud.

Rex smirked and shrugged

"I just have my sources." He replied, and I scoffed.

The investment would enable us to have not only enough funding to do more for the business but also to have the backing of the Pakistanis.

"How about we have a dinner together to celebrate?" I asked, Rex seemed a bit surprised— caught off guard, but he flowed with it.

"Sure." He replied with a smile.

I’d never asked to eat together and never loved it whenever we did, so it was shocking to hear me ask to eat out.

"Do you have any spot you recommend?" I asked, but his smile paused.

"Let’s have it in the pack. We can have the kitchen make our meals." He suggested.

"Okay, if you say so." I agreed, and we got to the pack and headed for the dining room.

"You know, not a lot changed since I left." He started running his hand through the edges of the large dining table.

"Except for one thing, though." He continued.

"You are not as predictable as before. I mean, who would have thought that you would still have that girl here, huh? And I heard you made her the pack’s doctor. Woww what a twist!" He chuckled amidst words.

"Call her out. Let’s all have a meal together. I need to hear the love story." He teased.

I ignored his attitude.

"It’s your celebratory dinner. There’s no need for her to be here. Except you do not want it to hold." I replied, but he pouted, feigning hurt.

"It’s my dinner, and I want her here as well." He persisted.

I closed the distance, making sure our eyes met.

I leaned in and whispered into his ears.

"Don’t think I don’t know what you are trying to do, Rex. Just because I don’t speak about it doesn’t mean I am not informed. I already warned you. Stay away from her. She’s not your business." He squinted for a minute before exhaling.

"Oh, here we go again... You just love to ruin the fun, don’t you? Okay, fine. You can leave her out of the dinner. But what are we going to talk about?" He slumped into one of the chairs, and I did the same, still looking at him.

"We’ll find a topic or ask Siri for one," I replied. I wasn’t going to let him get to Nylah. Not on my watch.