Accidentally Yours, Mr. Stranger-Chapter 56: Convincing Brendon

Brendon stared at Sienna as if she was a mythical being. Wasn’t it mythical beings’ specialty to be absurd and do something outrageous? Otherwise, why would she ask him to join her company and that too as the CFO?

Sienna didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when she saw the man’s incredulous gaze. He was scrutinizing her, outright condemning her as if she had said something blasphemous.

"Mr. Curtis, what do you say? Do you want to join me?" she asked again, hoping the man would reply positively.

"If not for your tone and expression, I’d have assumed you were pulling my leg, kid," Brendon said, displeasure dripping from his tone. "You must have lost your mind. Go back, kid."

"Mr. Curtis..."

"Sienna, don’t force me to be harsh with you. You know why I don’t work for anyone," Brendon warned her subtly, and Sienna went silent immediately. I adore you, kid. Go back before I do something I might regret."

Sienna wasn’t smiling anymore. Her eyes were filled with an emotion that no one in the living room could comprehend. It was as if a switch had been flipped and she wasn’t herself anymore.

Brendon was shocked to see the change in her. He had never seen such a stoic expression on her before. He felt his heart ache when he thought of all that had happened with her and her family. Her change wasn’t shocking anymore. Anyone who went through that pain would change.

"You know, Mr. Curtis, I don’t have many people I can trust in the company. The shareholders want me to resign and hand over the reins to someone else. I don’t know how many employees are still on my side. I thought that with my people occupying the top positions, I would have one less trouble on my plate."

Sienna smiled suddenly and it was filled with bitterness. There was a different kind of melancholy in her eyes that tugged at Brendon’s heart and his mood dropped all the more.

"Looks like I got the wrong person. My bad. I won’t trouble you anymore."

Sienna stood up, prompting Amy and Kyrell to follow suit.

"I won’t hold your time anymore, Mr. Curtis. Have a good day."

Sienna nodded and walked towards the door with Kyrell and Amy behind her.

’One. Two. Three.’ She counted silently in her mind, reducing her pace as much as possible. ’Four. Five.’

"Wait!"

Brendon stopped her right when she counted five and Sienna’s lips curled up subconsciously. But she was quick to stop herself and returned to her expressionless self.

Even Kyrell and Amy didn’t see the minute change in expression, let alone Brendon who was far away from her.

"Do you have to blackmail me emotionally, kid?" He sighed helplessly. "You know I can’t see my people sad and vulnerable.

Sienna turned around, facing him blankly as if she didn’t know what he was saying.

"You don’t have to feign ignorance. I may be old, not stupid." Brendon scoffed and Sienna’s expression cracked for a moment. "I know you were acting to get me to agree to work for you."

Kyrell’s eyes rounded, baffled to learn the truth. ’Was Sienna acting all along? Why did it not like it? My, my, she acted so well that she tricked me!’

"Sit down, kid. Let’s talk." Brendon relented, not having the heart to scold her anymore. His previous words too had all been a lie. He could never be harsh with her. She was his friend’s daughter, the lady he had come to treat akin to his daughter over time.

Sienna grinned sheepishly, hiding her guilt behind her smile.

"Mr. Curtis, are you willing to join the Lawrence Group? Have you decided?" Sienna looked at him hopefully. He was her only saving straw.

"We’ll discuss that later. Let’s talk about something else first." Brendon studied the lady before him and noticed that Sienna had lost a lot of weight. She looked feeble and depressed, nothing like he remembered her to have been in the past."

"How are you, kid?"

"I’m fine, Mr. Curtis," Sienna replied, not understanding what he was getting at.

"How are you, kid?" Brendon repeated the question, a strange emotion passing through his eyes which Sienna understood.

Realization dawned upon her instantly and she lowered her head for a moment. "I’d be lying if I said I’m doing fine, Mr. Curtis. I’m surviving, just."

Although Brendon hadn’t visited Sienna after her family’s mishap, he had kept an eye on her. So, he knew almost everything about her, even the fact that she had moved to the Bay Area after the previous night’s attack.

Brendon poured himself a cup of tea and prepared three more cups for Sienna and her guards.

While Sienna took it with a smile, Kyrell and Amy took it only after they were forced.

"I saw your press conference," he said, after taking a sip of his tea. "Quite impressive I must say."

Sienna remained silent, accepting his words of praise graciously.

"How’s everything at the company?"

"It’s not that bad, Mr. Curtis. For now."

"Are you sure you want me to join the Lawrence Group? It could be worse for all we know," he warned, giving her a mysterious look and Sienna understood at once what the man was trying to convey.

"Mr. Curtis, would it be evil of me if I say I want it to turn worse?" she questioned, placing her cup and saucer back onto the empty tray.

"Am I your method of luring the bad sheep in your company?" Brendon narrowed his eyes thoughtfully and when Sienna nodded, his eyes turned into slits, his jaw ticked tensely.

"You do know you’re playing with fire, don’t you, kid?"

"I have no choice, Mr. Curtis. I can’t wait for them to attack first. I’ve already lost a lot. I can’t afford to lose anything more." Sienna felt defeated. It was either she attacked first or allowed her enemies to attack her. Both paths were detrimental.

Since she was left with no choice, wasn’t it better to act first rather than to wait for them to attack her?

"Moreover, I have a top-notch security team protecting me. With their help, I’m sure I’ll manage."

Sienna wasn’t lying. She truly believed in the Cheetah Corps’ abilities, especially Kyrell’s.

Kyrell and Amy were taken aback to see the amount of trust Sienna had placed in them. It was one thing to say that she trusted them in private. It was something else altogether to vouch for them in front of someone else.

Brendon glanced at the man and woman who were sitting at the side. He didn’t have to think much. Just from their posture and temperament, he knew they were exceptional, maybe even with a military background. They didn’t seem like normal guards, but more like military soldiers who fought at the frontiers.

"Why do you want me to be the CFO? I’m sure there are other brilliant people out there." Brendon was curious to learn why Sienna was fixed on him. He wasn’t that amazing, was he?

"I won’t deny there are other brilliant people, Mr. Curtis. But no one can surpass you," Sienna said honestly. "Moreover, I need someone like you, shrewd and daring."

Brendon was silent. He didn’t agree to her request right away. Instead, he gave it a thought.

"Who is the COO?"

"Simon Brown. He was Dad’s assistant."

"Simon’s a good man. He’s a good fit."

"Yes, Mr. Curtis. I just need you."

"I need time to think."

"Are ten minutes enough?"

Brendon glared at her in dismay. "Are you joking with me, kid?"

Sienna snuck her tongue out mischievously. "How about an hour?"

Brendon snorted and turned his gaze away.

"Fine, fine, Mr. Curtis. How about a day? I can’t go beyond that." Sienna stopped teasing him.

"Kid, I thought you would continue before giving up. Tch, tch, tch. Fine. Send me the contract whenever you have time."

Sienna’s eyes lit up with excitement and she stood up suddenly. "Do you agree, Mr. Curtis? Do you really agree to work for the Lawrence Group?"

Sienna had thought it’d take a lot of convincing before the man accepted. Who knew he’d accept right away? The man didn’t need an hour or a day. He just needed a second.

"I do. But I have my conditions."

"Anything, Mr. Curtis." Sienna didn’t hesitate even for a moment. She didn’t care what conditions the man had. Anyway, they wouldn’t be harmful to her or the company.

"I’m used to working alone. So, I don’t need an assistant or a secretary."

"Easy."

"I’ll only work four days a week. Friday to Sunday is my time and you can’t force me to work then unless absolutely necessary."

Sienna’s lips stretched into a smirk. The man hadn’t clarified how many hours he’d work on the four days. It was a loophole for her to fill.

"And lastly, I’ll not go against my conscience and do anything even if you force me to. That’s not me."

Brendon could compromise on the first two conditions, but never on the third one. It was one of the many reasons why he never worked for anyone. His ideologies didn’t match with capitalists. So, he was better off working alone.

"I accept all your conditions, Mr. Curtis. What about your renumeration?" Sienna asked, finding the man more admirable as time passed.

"I’m sure you have that covered. I hope you’ll not disappoint me."

Sienna burst out laughing. "Rest assured, Mr. Curtis. You’ll be paid well."

"Good. Now that we’re done, go. Go. It’s time for my dinner or are you waiting for me to invite you to stay for dinner?" he gave her a look that said if she nodded her head, he’d change his decision about working for her.

"No, Mr. Curtis. I won’t be staying. Thank you for offering though."

"Whatever. Now, shoo. Off you go."

"Goodbye, Mr. Curtis. See you on Monday."