Chapter 168 - Frenemies (1/2)

~~Oslo, Norway~~

The bright ceiling light was illuminating the windowless office where the atmosphere of tension had become so severe and pervasive that one could barely breathe. Aside from business suits and egos, one could see the blank expressions of people around the table. When the lights turned off and the projector was turned on, every pair of eyes went to the screen as the slideshow began.

Darren looked at his friend and business partner, Asher Andersen across the boardroom table and tried to display the agony in his eyes as if to say, 'Just end it already!' But since Asher wasn't done with his presentation, he disregarded the pleading eyes of his friend. The thing he hated about these meetings were the numbers on those slides that always left him dizzy. Designing cars was his passion but one could say if Asher wasn't there to help him, he would have never succeeded in his own business.

If Darren could avoid, he would love to opt-out of such board meetings. His phone screen had flashed six times already and he had to return all those six urgent calls but he was stuck here from the morning. As his phone buzzed again, his eyes darted over towards the screen on reflex and his brows knitted together.

With the phone in his hand, he shot up from his chair which stopped Asher from continuing.

”Excuse me for a moment,” said Darren as he rushed out of the room.

Considering the time difference, he knew that Xiu must be on her way back home right now. But she never called him at this time. So, her sudden call really alarmed him. As he had just placed the phone against his ear, he heard Xiu's sulky voice, ”Boyfriend, when are you coming back?”

Darren pressed his lips together as he imagined her pouting like a kid and a faint smile lingered on his lips. He had come to realize that every single time, her first question had been, 'When are you coming back?' followed by, 'How are you?'

”Soon,” replied Darren and went on, ”I'll be back soon.”

”Hmm... Okay,” said Xiu in response. ”Are you busy?”

Darren looked towards the closed door of the meeting room and replied with, ”Absolutely not. I've time...” he took a pause before adding, ”For you.”

Xiu giggled at his reply and said, ”Then I have a lot to tell you.”

He leaned against the wall saying, ”Go on, I'm listening.”

”Let me start with the highlight of today,” said Xiu excitedly and continued, ”Here it is, I finally made Dylan my friend.”

Darren's brows quirked up in surprise, ”You and Didi are now friends?” he sounded uncertain.

”Yes,” replied Xiu but when he stayed silent, she asked, ”You don't believe me?”

”If you're saying it, then I have no reason to question,” was Darren's reply.

Xiu thought over it before speaking, ”Sheesh. You really don't believe me.”

Darren chuckled, ”Sweets, then make it sound a little believable. Or at least, say something believable.”

”Okay, I accept. It's not friendship. But it's still something along the lines of that,” Xiu didn't talk about her compromise-treaty. ”Depending on the time and circ.u.mstances, we'd be friends or enemies.”

As Xiu elaborated on the nature of her new relationship with Dylan, Darren said, ”So, you guys are now frenemies.”