A Plaything For CEO Blackwood

# 18 Mr. Ratan Singh

Without waiting for the instructions, I stood up immediately and went to check the door, saving me from an inevitably awkward situation. I met a young lady at the door and she gave me a strange stare like she had expected to meet someone else.

“Sorry… I was looking for Mr. Maxwell Blackwood.” She said plainly.

“Yeah, you are at the right place,” I replied, standing in between the half open door and the wall. “Do you have a message for him? I would gladly pass it along.” I added immediately.

The lady hesitated, stealing quick glances through the little space between me and the door. I don’t know if she was trying to confirm that the CEO was there but that was really unprofessional.

“Hello?” I immediately called her attention and she looked up at me. Emphasis on the up, she was a short lady.

“Sorry, bad habit.” She apologized immediately and I gave a fake smile with a light chuckle. Good lord knows I wanted to slam the door in her face.

“Please inform Mr. Blackwood that Mr. Ratan Singh has arrived and requested to see him in the private bar up,” she replied, pointing towards the ceiling; I guess she was referring to the next floor.

“Alright, I would inform him.” I said and flashed another of my fake smiles.

She nodded and stood there staring at me, I waited there for half a minute and she didn’t move from her position, I was confused.

“I said I would pass the message, you can leave now.” I urged, pointing towards the hallway.

“What is going on out there?” Mr. Blackwood’s voice cut through the drama, I immediately pulled back into the room and turned to face him.

“Mr. Singh is here, he wants to meet you.” I replied.

“And when were you going to tell me?” he growled. “Let's go, get the files I asked for.” He urged immediately.

I stood there stunned. Who is this guy?

As we walked to the elevator, I couldn’t help but notice the hotel staff, yes the dwarf lady, glaring at us from a distance. I am pretty sure she was watching Mr. Blackwood; was she crushing on him? Eww… the thought of it alone makes me want to puke.

Why would anyone admire Maxwell Blackwood? Fine, he had the looks and the wealth to back it but his character was disgusting, he needs an attitude adjustment.

When the heavy velvet curtains opened to reveal the luxurious VIP bar, I couldn't help but gasp in shock. Luxurious cigars and fine liquor filled the air with their strong, intoxicating smell, making it both appealing and scary. I never thought that I would find the scent of cigar attractive someday.

With a quick scan of the environment, I noticed the walls were covered in rich mahogany paneling. The light from the chandeliers caught the grain of the wood and made it shine. Crystal sconces cast flickering shadows on the soft velvet couches that were spread out in the room. Each one begged me to sink into it.

In one corner, a grand piano stood with its ivory keys begging to be played. Someone was sitting alone on the bench, and his fingers were dancing across the keys, making a beautiful and haunting melody. Up till now, I thought a bar was just a place to drink, but there are levels to this thing.

I looked further into the dimly lit room and noticed a person sitting at a round table in the far corner. He was in his middle years and had an air of sophistication and power that was hard to resist. He had this well-combed hair, and permit me to say, his eyes were bright with intelligence and determination.

I could immediately tell that he was Ratan Singh, if not for the fact that he looked like HIM, then because he was the only one in the bar. His broad shoulders stood out against the tailored suit he wore. He gave off an air of confidence and success that was both scary and attractive.

“Mr. Singh…” My CEO said with a broad smile as we approached the table.

That man stood up immediately, reflecting a charming smile of his own. “My friend,” he replied and that accent gave him away instantly. He was Indian!! Of course, Ratan Singh! What was I expecting? A Caribbean?

From the way the two men exchanged pleasantries, I could tell they were really close and that piqued my interest. How does someone stand the likes of Maxwell Blackwood long enough to be close friends?

“Welcome, sorry to keep you waiting, there were some issues with my flight.” He apologized as they shook hands.

“Oh it is okay, I haven’t been here that long.” Mr. Blackwood responded.

The man immediately turned his attention to me, from the expression on his face, I could tell he was waiting for an introduction. “You brought a friend?” he asked with a tone of tease.

“Oh, please meet my Personal assistant, Annabel Joseph.” He introduced

The man turned back to me with a creased eyebrow and I smiled, not knowing what to expect. He extended hands to me for a handshake. “Hi Ann, it is nice to meet you.”

“Thank you Mr. Singh.” I said proudly, he might not be familiar but no doubt he was a prominent personality, and I just met him!

“Oh, please call me Ratan, every associate of Max is an associate of mine. Welcome to Jersey City. You are so pretty,” he complimented and I blushed. “Did you say your personal assistant?” he immediately turned towards Mr. Blackwood.

“Yes… She is new.” Maxwell smiled.

“Yeah, I can tell. What happened to the former one?” Mr. Singh asked with a look of curiosity, I guessed he might have had a thing for the previous PA.

“Depending on which of them you are asking about, they don’t seem to stick around.” Mr. Blackwood joked and they both laughed as they took their seats.

I immediately thought through his words. Of course, they don’t seem to stick around, because who could? Life with CEO Blackwood was traumatizing, it has only been a week and I feel that way about him.

“Why are you standing behind me? You are an assistant, not a bodyguard. Now sit down lest you give Mr. Singh the impression that I don’t treat you right.” Maxwell said with a grin on one side of his face.

Fuck! I can't believe he said that out loud! Why must he always embarrass me? At times it feels like he never talks and other times, he just wont stop.

“Oh please sit dear,” Mr. Singh pointed to the space in the cushion beside Max.

I forced a smile. “Thank you Sir, some people just don’t know how to ask properly.” I immediately launched an offensive at Maxwell, rolling my eyes at him as I sat.

Mr. Ratan Singh burst into laughter. “You two are hilarious, are you a couple or something?” he asked immediately, with genuine curiosity on his face.

“What? Noo!!” Mr. Blackwood and I denied simultaneously, more like rejected. He wore this look of disgust at the mention of us being a couple, I guessed he despised me that much.

“Well, why not?” Mr. Singh pushed on.

“Because I would rather date a pig or even a buffalo, I could even go to Australia and marry a crocodile, but not her.”

“Oh sure, just so you know, the feeling is mutual.” I fired back, I didn’t care we had an audience, I was not going to take his insults lying low.

Mr. Singh once again erupted in laughter, I could see he was enjoying the confrontation between Maxwell and I. “Honestly, let's keep business aside, you two would make a great couple, you are fit for each other. I have known Maxwell for two years and he never had this much chemistry with his previous Assistants or secretaries.” He laughed.

Just then, the server arrived to take our orders. I had almost forgotten this was a business meeting, why do they choose to meet at a bar rather than an office like normal humans do?

“So how is production going?” Mr. Singh asked.

“Good enough for the economy, and you… My sources say marketing in the Diamond Department hasn’t been too good.” Maxwell responded.

“Yes, that is right. My jewelry store has faced a few bad days, but it is nothing we can't pull through for. That is part of the reason why I asked to meet. I am planning to make major exports to India, I received a big contract and it is only right that I work with your company to make it a success.”

As the conversations were going on, the server returned with the drinks they had ordered and from the way he looked around, I think Mr. Ratan Singh realized that I hadn’t placed any orders.

“Don’t you want something, Ann?” He asked immediately, signaling the server to wait.

“Oh no, she doesn’t drink, she is very boring actually.” Mr. Blackwood chirped in immediately.

“Boring? That is a lie, Sir. I am not boring.” I stated clearly.

“Yes you are, Ann. Don’t try to deny it, you are the most boring person I have met.”

“How can you conclude that? You have only known me for what? A week?”

“Noo, much longer… If you are not boring, prove it.” He demanded.

“Oh sure I will,” I retorted without thinking it through. I just wanted to prove him wrong. “I will have the same thing as him.” I said to the server.

Mr. Blackwood burst into an evil laughter, the look on his face told me I had made a bad choice but I chose to stick by it, whatever the outcome.

“You two have just made my list of funniest couples.” Mr. Ratan laughed whole-heartedly.

Their conversation continued and I listened attentively while drinking. The drink I was served was quite sugary and so I mistook it for a soft drink, I didn’t know I was in for drama.