Don't bite more than you can chew

"Good morning, Miss Camellia,"

A gentle yet loud voice greeted Camellia as soon as she stepped out of the elevator. A receptionist was looking at her with a smile on her face. She looked sophisticated with the way she tied her hair in a high bun.

Camellia reciprocated in the same manner, wishing her good morning with a slight smile on her face.

"Miss Camellia, there's a car already waiting for you outside," the receptionist informed her while her hand gestured towards the waiting area outside.

"Thanks," Camellia said as she continued to walk outside. She was quite satisfied with the hotel service. Everything she had asked was executed exactly the way she wanted.

Inside the car, Camellia made a quick call to Lenny who then wished her good luck for today's meeting. She didn't forget to remind her to call her once she finished her business. Recalling her so-called stern voice made Camellia's lips to slightly rose. She never failed to brighten her day!

"Miss Camellia, we're here."

Camellia was startled at the sudden interruption but upon seeing the man's clean face, she instantly calmed down. She looked around and noticed that her destination was just a few steps away from the car.

Seeing the open car door, she stepped down from it.

"Please don't hesitate to call me once you need my service," the man bowed at Camellia who was already standing outside the car.

"Thank you. Please enjoy your time while waiting," Camellia said as she slipped some notes in the man's hand. She could see the shock and joy in the man's face as he looked at the notes in his hands. It was enough for him to enjoy a luxurious meal in a famous restaurant!

'What a generous, rich woman,' the man thought with head slightly shook in bewilderment. This was the first time he received such a huge amount of tips! In that instant, he prayed for the woman's success in everything she was doing.

"Miss Camellia, you're here!"

Mr. Herold's big smile was already waiting for Camellia at his company's entrance door. With him were a hundred people who wearing almost the same outfit like his. Black suit with a white shirt underneath and shiny leather shoes. A man was taking a picture of the whole event, probably being hired by Mr. Harold to do so.

The moment Camellia walked out of the car, everyone's attention was already at the woman who looked so young compared to them. When they heard Mr. Harold greeted her in high regard, frowns were in almost all their faces. They couldn't believe that the arrogant president would bow down to someone insignificant as her.

As far as they knew, she was here just to share her thoughts on their project, so why the need to welcome her like she was the descendant of the royalty? Moreover, they were forced to wear such thick clothes in this sunny hot day just to meet someone normal like her?

The few people who didn't recognize Camellia began to spit angry words inside their mind. However, no one dared to move away from their spot for they knew how mean Mr. Harold was once his plan was ruined. Therefore, they continued to stand there and watched the young girl with hidden resentment.

"Mr. Harold, I remember saying that I'll see you at your office before meeting with your workers," Camellia's cold voice was the one greeted Mr. Harold. Her face was as per normal but the aura surrounding her started to fluctuate. However, the man thought that she was simply surprised by the grand welcome. Hence, he grinned satisfyingly.

"Miss Camellia, you're my important guest. I want everyone to meet you before the meeting as to avoid conflicting issues," Mr. Harold explained in a low voice. Then, without giving the woman any chance to talk, he turned around and introduced her to everyone present.

"Everyone, this is the person I've been talking about, Miss Camellia W.SR," Mr. Harold didn't notice the disappointed look on Camellia's face and thought that he already redeemed yesterday's failure with today's surprise welcome.

Albeit, it was all for naught.

Camellia was a low-key person and since the first time she started her endeavor to the business world, there was little chance for the public to get an exposure of her. She did it as not to alert her enemies.

Yet, here she was, strutting in between the runway made by the lining people on her left and right side.

"Mr. Harold, I clearly stated my rules before we proceed with the deals. So, what's this?" Camellia's raw voice was almost capable of freezing everything around her. This time around, Mr. Harold could catch the chill in Camellia's voice. He swallowed nothing and looked at the face of the woman standing next to him.

Her face was serene but the eyes, they were looking at him in disappointment.

"This-" he couldn't reply. He was only doing this to let Camellia knew of the power he held as to avoid her to think of him as someone unworthy of her guidance, but here she was demeaning everything he did.

Plus, he was only trying his best to charm her into his company. What's so wrong about that? Almost every company that hired her was doing the same but the treatment she gave was not like this. This was unfair!

That was when he heard Camellia sighed. Then, he heard her spoke. One that made him realized, he was the one doing the unnecessary.

"Don't bite more than you can chew. I've made my rules clear, "

Upon hearing the sentence, Mr. Harold felt shivers running down his whole body. Due to the intense pressure, he immediately dismissed the people and asked them to wait in the meeting room.

After, he asked Camellia to follow him to his office. This deal, he needed to secure it, therefore, he wanted to get down to the business as soon as he could.

Now, he completely understood that Camellia wasn't easy to tame. She was more complex than the problem his company was battling at the moment.

In the office, Mr. Harold gave Camellia a brown envelope. "This is all the information I have about Mr. Willow Jr.," the man spoke awkwardly. He stared at the envelope that was now in Camellia's hand. Hands fidgeting uncontrollably as he watched her unsealed the envelope.

Camellia ignored the man's anxiety and took out a piece of paper inside.

"Explain," she demanded. Her eyes were staring at the information in her hand; a picture of two men enjoying their drinks. No caption, nothing.

Camellia lifted her face and stared at the man with confused eyes. Seeing the confused look on Camellia's face, Mr. Harold finally opened his mouth to explain.

"My deceased twin once brought the man to our home and I heard them talking about going undercover to infiltrate an underground organization. But, that was around 15-16 years ago. I had forgotten the name of the organization but I remember they talked about imitating its symbol of a dragon or something. They forced me to take the photo on that day. I'm sorry, it was a vague memory," Mr. Harold explained.

He tried to construct his sentence in an orderly manner but it was hard work for he felt nostalgia as he recalled his deceased twin. They might not be the best of siblings but he was the only one that had blood relation with him.

"I'm sorry about your twin," Camellia sudden remark surprised Mr. Harold. He looked at Camellia apprehensively, wondering where the kindness came from.

"Thank y-"

"Now, please answer my question. What's the relationship between your twin and Willow Jr.?"

The fleeting warmth Mr. Harold felt from Camellia's concerned voice immediately vanished the moment he was interrupted by her question.

Was this woman this heartless as not to give him chances to think of his twin brother? Mr. Harold could only swallow bitter taste inside his mouth.

"They were best friends. That's what I assume after seeing them the whole night talking and drinking. To be honest, that night was the last night I saw them. A month later, I was notified by the town hospital about them finding Henry's deceased body," his voice lowered as it reached the end.

Camellia watched at the struggling face of the man sitting on the chair opposite of her and without giving him a chance to be saddened even more, she continued to ask.

"How did he die? and was there any news about Willow Jr. after that?"

Mr. Harold's blank stare was on Camellia's face. He really felt that the woman in front of him was trying to anger him.

"Deal is a deal. You'll get what you want once I get mine,"

'Alright!' Mr. Harold could only silently surpassed his anger. He didn't dare to think anymore. He felt that Camellia was like a witch, capable of reading his thought.

"He died because of suffocation. I'm not sure what and who came up with the verdict but the police found no clues even after five months of investigation and after a while, they just closed the case. Well, now that I think about it. I really never given a damn about him before. And no, there was no winds about Willow Jr."

Camellia watched the man conflicted look as he tried to explain everything. His face was solemn but at times, it was regretful.

"Now that I have told you everything. Is the deal still on?" the man asked. His voice, hopeful.

"Have you ever heard Willow Jr. mentioned anything about a woman or anything related to his life?" Camellia ignored his question and asked one that she was curious about from the beginning.

Mr. Harold shook his head.

"i don't know much about him except that he was close to Henry. About the deal-"

"It is on. Let's proceed with the meeting," Camellia stood up and lifted one of her brows indicating that she was ready to accomplish their final transaction.

Mr. Harold heaved a sigh of relief. He was thankful that Camellia didn't burn their deal to ashes after everything that he did.

He led them to a big room. Inside, there were a hundred pairs of eyes watching at the duo impatiently. They had been waiting for an hour and only now did the two of them came. Their patient was running thin.

"Miss Camellia, the stage is yours," Mr. Harold motioned for her to stand in front as he took a seat next to his worker.