"What do you say?" Robin asked, putting his hands in his pocket. He had his own motives behind his offer but then, it was all for their companies' good.
"Uhm, I will need to think about it," Cora said. "I know this is a big contract with Julls Corp and it can catapult my company to success, but I would need to think about it. I have workers whom I care for too."
"Do you understand?" She asked.
"Sure." Robin nodded. Behind her confused face, he knew there was a lot going on too. Cora wasn't just a company owner, she was also the heiress to a wealthy family.
Her family was close-knit with the Davenson family but Cora seemed to be the bad egg of the family, just like Robin. If she returned to the country, it would cause a lot of contact with her family.
"Should I drive you back?" He offered.
"No, I called a driver." She turned him down as fast as possible. Robin wasn't annoyed by that but he stood back, waiting for her driver to arrive.
A few minutes later, a car drove into the company premises and Robin frowned in confusion. The car was too flashy for a hired driver to possess and also, he found the car a little too familiar.
"That bastard…" He saw Cora curse as the car opened up. A man dressed in a suit, his hair styled messily stepped out, and Robin recognized him immediately.
He looked from Cora and back to the man, wondering what was between them. He had unearthed a lot of information about her but he stopped when it started bordering on her personal relationship with people.
"What are you doing here?" Cora stalked toward him, her body stiff and expression revolting.
"I came to pick you up, baby. I heard you were in the country." He leaned in to kiss her but she turned her face the other way.
Cora took a step back from him, holding her head in irritation. No matter what she did, her parents would always track her even though they claimed to have disowned her.
"I don't want you here, Ethan." Cora hissed.
"Why? Is it because of him?" Ethan boldly pointed at Robin.
"Stop it!" Cora caught his finger. "That's disrespectful. He is my business partner."
"Business partner?" Ethan chuckled, nonchalantly. "Don't worry, he is my brother."
"What?" Cora gasped.
"Is this true?" She stared at Robin in shock.
However, Ethan didn't like the way she stared at Robin. He got closer to her and wound a hand around her shoulders.
"Yes. He is the bastard son of the Davenson family. You shouldn't mind him too much." He said, his tone dismissive.
"Why shouldn't I?" Cora frowned, not liking Ethan's tone and words one bit.
"We will be married soon, Cora. As a daughter-in-law of the Davenson family, you wouldn't mind bastards, would you?" Ethan asked, with a sneer.
"Besides, Robin here has refused to come back to the family. He made himself a bastard."
With the way Ethan rambled on and on, Cora got even more disgusted. She flung his hand off her shoulder and seeing the way Robin was so unaffected, she liked him, contrary to the talkative Ethan.
"I am sorry, Mr. Robin. Ethan here is just a little too outspoken." She bowed. She didn't address him as a Davenson, since Robin never admitted to it.
"It's fine." Robin smiled.
But Ethan didn't like their interaction at all, "Why are you bowing–"
"I will take my leave now," Cora announced and before Ethan could stop her, she sprinted out of the scene as if her legs were on fire.
Robin and Ethan were left alone, their gaze clashing. Ethan hated the way Robin was so nonchalant and unaffected even after everything he had said. He hated the way Robin acted as if he was god.
"You let her get away! What will you do if I don't get married to her like father wants?" Ethan snarled.
"It's not my fault your fiance doesn't fancy you." Robin snickered, with a shrug. "Now, if you would excuse me."
"Stop right there!" Ethan yelled, rushing to block him. He looked feral as if he was about to bite Robin's head off.
"Do you think you are a god, huh? Do you think because you own Julls Corp, that's why you don't need our help anymore?" Ethan asked, gritting his teeth.
"Of course, I never needed the help of the family. Why would I start now?" Robin shrugged.
"I see…" Ethan sneered, stepping closer to Robin. Ethan held the collar of his suit jacket, a threatening expression on his face.
"I see you don't want to come back to the family. Let it be that way, alright? It's for your own good. Keep basking in the light because Father wants you back, but the moment you come back, you will fall back into your position."
Ethan leaned in and whispered, "Your position as the slave of the family. You wouldn't want me to take over everything you have worked for, right?"
Ethan grinned, and it slowly turned into loud and mocking laughter.
His insults and threats didn't faze Robin at all. However, he wouldn't leave without saying a word to Ethan.
"Considering how everything you touch comes to ruin, I wouldn't risk giving you my company, would I?" Robin chuckled.
"You fucker!" Ethan yelled, his fists clenched tightly.
Right from time, Ethan had tried to manage several businesses the family allocated to him but everything eventually closed down.
But Ethan didn't want to lose face.
"Have you not heard about me? I am the new and richest CEO in town. I set up another company, on my own, you didn't know that, right?"
"Of course, I don't." Robin chuckled. "I don't concern myself with affairs of those beneath me."
"What?" Ethan's smile dimmed. "How dare you…"
"You know what, Ethan? If your company lasts more than three days from now, then I will hand over Julls Corp to you."
"If not, prepare to lose everything you own…" He declared, catching Ethan off guard.
"Including Cora," Robin said in his mind.