Chapter 4. So Desperate

I heaved a sigh. Well, I couldn’t blame her. She has a reason for herself. And it was my grandfather’s mistake. 

I couldn’t help but notice her appearance. She wore very simple clothes. Unlike the grandmothers of rich billionaires in the news, she seemed too simple and classy. Well, not in a bad way.  

Just then, Phoenix appeared to us and gave us the coffee that Lola Nanding ordered him to make.  

His hair was dripping wet, looking like it had just taken a bath. He was wearing a black shirt and blue shorts, different from earlier outside picking up grass and dirt.  

Now that he's clean, I could smell his scent, his strong perfume. It was a clean, airy scent. He has dark brown eyes and thin lips. Its nose is pointed and its eyebrows are thick.  

Thick lashes and sharp jaw. Muscular and tall. It is not white, he has tanned skin.  

I diverted my eyes from him, realizing I just checked him out. He smirked at my reaction. I then looked at the coffee he made and hesitantly took one.  

Gosh, I suddenly realized it. The mafia boss I thought yesterday turned out to be an heir billionaire was serving me coffee right at this moment. 

It’s not that big a deal for someone, but it is for me. Should it be me serving him?  

Phoenix was just standing beside me and waited for me to drink it. “What are you hesitating for? I didn’t poison it.”  

I chuckled nervously. Haha. Lola Nanding scolded her grandson. “Stop it, Phoenix, you’re scaring her.”  

Phoenix just shrugged and sat across from me. “So, why did you want to talk with my grandmother now?” He asked me, ignoring his grandmother who was giving him a look from beside me.  

Lola Nanding sent me a small smile, looking at the both of us. “I think you two already know each other, am I right?”  

We nodded our heads.  

“Then that’s good. I don’t have to introduce you both.” Facing me, she cleared her throat, turning serious now.   

"If you ask me, Sereia, I'm willing to sell it back to you. I know how important this land is to you. I know how much courage you mustered to come here personally about this matter.”  

She then paused, before continuing. “But I already registered the title to the land with my Phoenix, my grandson. I think you should ask him about that, not me." She sighed and stood up, patting me on the shoulder. “I'll let you two talk alone. I need to go now to supervise my mini-mart."  

With the two of us left alone with each other now, silence fell. Dead silence. Phoenix just stared at me, reading me and analyzing me like a specimen.  

“Sereia.” He called out after a minute of just staring at each other, breaking the silence.  

"Yes?” I responded to him. “What is it?”  

"About this land…forgive me but I won't allow it." He said out loud, and I turned to him, finishing the coffee he just gave us. “I figured you’d say that,” I commented.  

"This land is mine, Sereia, I know Lola Nanding already told this about you but let me be clear." He firmly said. 

I nodded, clasping my hands in front of me. "I know it. But I'm not asking to buy it. Instead, I’m proposing that I will buy it, even without your approval.”  

His jaw clenched, and I could feel him getting angrier. "That's not what I'm referring to." 

I gritted my teeth, thinking of another proposal. There is no way I will lose this. "I can double my payment. I'll only buy the land. If you still want, the mansion is yours, but I need the whole land.”  

He crossed his arms in front of him and leaned closer. "You’re not making any sense. Isn’t it obvious that if you buy the land, you’ll also buy the mansion?” He asked. 

“And I have already planned out my business here and it's starting to grow. So if I were you, I would mind my own business." 

Mind my own business? I winced at that. What is this guy's problem? 

"Why do you want to buy my land again?" He asked. 

I contemplated what to answer. I clearly know the answer, I just don't want to explain it. 

"This is precious to me. There are many memories that happened here. Plus, I already had a plan. I want to cultivate this land and form it into my own farm and resting house." 

He raised his eyebrows. "Just that?" 

My eyebrows met. "What? I’m sure you know my grandfather is the past owner of this land and now, I want it back." 

At this moment, both of us were standing up now. His eyes were turning dark now. "Well, princess. It's unlikely to happen because as far as I know, I didn't put a 'For Sale sign outside this house. It's mine and I'll decide whether to sell it or not." 

I gritted my teeth. Damn this man. Annoying! I thought he was reasonable enough!  

I sighed. Calm down, you are an elegant young lady. You are Sereia Philomena Hudson Isolde. You can do everything. Face this.  

I blinked and heaved deeply. When I was calmed enough, I asked again, "You're really not going to sell it to me?" 

He shook his head. "No." 

I met his gaze, not daring to back down. His hazel eyes clashed against my brown eyes. I almost drowned in his gaze, feeling a bit intimidated. He then blinked, and I hatched a plan.  

“What should I do for you to sell it? You’re a billionaire, right? You’re wealthy and can afford any land you want. Can’t you just give this up?” 

I asked. I swear, I’ll do anything, except selling my body or fake pretending to be his wife or something because I’ll strongly reject that idea.  

He paused, considering my request for a second before grinning. “Well, there is a way…” 

My ears perked up at that. “What is it?”  

He pointed at his lips, smirking as he looked at my lips. “A kiss…How about you kiss me?  

I thought about it for a second before agreeing, “Okay.” 

His eyebrows raised at that, surprised at my answer. “Wow, you’re really agreeing just like that? That easy?”   

“I’m not easy. I’m just desperate right now.” I interjected him.  

He shook his head. “I see. So you’re really that desperate to regain your land. You’ll really do it right?” 

“Yes,” I answered and without thinking, I leaned into him and smashed my lips on his.  

A gasp escapes from his lips, watching me do all of that. He really couldn’t believe it.  

The kiss lasted for only a few seconds and I pulled away from him quickly.  

I smirked at him, then winked. “What about now?”