Chapter 5

Lana Castroff After more than a week investigating all the products, we found no acid on every single product that we launched that day. It was weird for us to see. We did get the medical records of Phoenix's employees for it and they really contains acid inside that product. I was more than confuse at this point. I even asked my team to check it again but the result was the same. I walked to Phoenix's office building and his secretary led me his office. I brought the files with me and I saw him having all his lawyers ready. I guess I should have brought my lawyers but let's just see. I walked in and Phoenix turned to me. He gestured me to sit on the sofa beside him. I took a deep breath and walked towards him. I met his lawyers already and they greeted me politely. "Ms. Castroff, we already have the exact amount for the settlement." One of the three lawyers said. I nodded and gestured him to continue. "We want 1 million euros for this." He said and I was not surprise. We're talking about Phoenix Sterling, a businessman and a billionaire who always deal with this things on a daily basis. "I paid for their hospital fees, I gave them more money for the damage and that cost around fifty thousand euros. I know that your company can't operate well without your employees but one million is too high." I said trying to negotiate with him. He was about to say something but his phone rang from his pocket. When he saw who the caller ID was, he immediately asked his lawyers to go. He turned off his phone instead and he turned to me. "Play along and I'll reduce the settlement." He said and as he finished his sentence, someone bursted the door open. Phoenix immediately held my hands tight when I saw 2 women walking into the office. "Pho-" I'm assuming the woman who is in her 50s is his mother. "Mother, what are you doing here with Lorena?" Phoenix asked. "Mrs. Sterling." I smiled to her politely and she rolled her eyes at me. Well that's rude. "We're having lunch together, Phoenix. Don't tell me that you forgot." She said ignoring me and Phoenix nodded. "Meet my girlfriend, Lana Castroff. This is my mother and my friend, Lorena." Phoenix introduced me to them. "I'll be waiting for you at the lobby, we're going to have lunch together." His mother immediately left the room leaving us alone. I pulled my hand away from him and he sighed. "Stay here for ten minutes before leaving my office. I'll contact you later on." He said and he walked out from the office. I sighed and sat down on the sofa. I have to wait for a solid ten minutes before going out and I don't know why I have to wait. I took out my phone to check my emails when the door bursts open revealing Adrian. He was surprised to see me in Phoenix's office. "Hi.." He said as he walked to me giving me a light hug. "Hi." "Where's Phoenix?" He asked as he sat on the sofa across me. "He went out with his mother and his friend, Lorena." I said and Adrian raised his eyebrows. "That's a definition of a shit show." He chuckled but I didn't respond anything. I checked my watch to see if it's already 10 minutes or not. "You're waiting for him?" He asked and I shook my head. "He asked me to wait here for 10 minutes before leaving his office." "She's planning to marry him with Lorena again." Adrian sighed and I shrugged. I don't really care about other people's business. "Are you free now?" Adrian asked. "Why?" "I was wondering if you want to grab lunch together." He smiled to me and I nodded. "Sure." I got up from the sofa and he walked to the door opening it for me. "Thankyou." He forced me to get into his car and his chauffer can take my car to the restaurant. He asked me what I kind of food I like and don't like. Adrian is really sweet and no wonder he got his playboy title, he knew how to pleased a woman. "What did his mother say when she saw you?" Adrian asked as he stopped on the red light. "She didn't say anything, I mean Phoenix introduced me as his girlfriend." I said and Adrian turned to me with his mouth wide open completely confused. "He.. oh no.." "What? What's wrong?" I asked because his reaction seemed like I'm in a big trouble. "Did he ask you to be his girlfriend that second only or.. for the rest of.. I don't know..?" He started to drive again. "That second only, why would I date a guy like him? Even though it's a fake relationship." I chuckled and Adrian laughed. "I agree, he's such an ass." I laughed more because of his statement and Adrian suddenly gave me his phone. "We can hang out sometimes, Lana. You're kinda cool." He said and I took his phone from him typing in my phone number. "You're pretty cool too, I thought you will act like Phoenix since you both are friends." "No way, Phoenix is an ass. As for me, I have ass." He smirked and I laughed. The tone that he use was pretty much joking around. "He's a mama's boy huh?" I asked curiously. "He's not but the only thing that his family wanted was for him to settle down and give them grandkids." That's surprising. "Where's the fun is that? Settling down? In this young bachelor age?" I laughed at his statement because his own siblings were already settle down except him so I bet he got the same shit from his family about settling down. "I mean.. if you already meet the right person, why not?" "That's true but seeing my family act so stupid makes me not wanting to fall in love. I don't want to look dumb and follow my wife everywhere. I don't want to turn myself into a possessive maniac." He hissed and I laughed. "Well.. I can't wait to see you going through that." "In my second life, Lana. You'll see me like that in your second life."