Chapter 234
"I've already stated my case, haven't I? I can't pinpoint the reason, but I'm simply not satisfied," Caleb declared, lounging in his chair with the regal ease of a lion. His eyes held a trace of amusement.
He took pleasure in Susan's discomfort, her inability to resist him. For Caleb, the joy of tormenting Susan was worth more than any monetary value.
"You..."
"Susan, you must comprehend that preferences are personal and inexplicable. It's akin to how I once held affection for you, but now, my feelings may have shifted. I'm no professional designer, so when you demand a reason, I can't provide one. I just don't like it."
His justification was arbitrary, yet when spoken with Caleb's earnest tone, it seemed entirely logical.
Susan bit her lip, at a loss for how to appease someone who seemed intent on making her life difficult.
Even if her design was flawless, Caleb would still find fault, having dismissed it without a second glance earlier.
Over the years, Susan had dealt with numerous challenging clients, and as a result, had developed a thick skin. Yet, Caleb had a unique ability to ignite her temper, to the point where she had the urge to physically retaliate.
He was the boss, and if he expressed dissatisfaction, she was obligated to make amendments. The specifics of these changes were not his concern; she simply had to continue altering it until he was content.
Both Caleb's personality and his demand for revisions struck a nerve in Susan.
She swallowed her rising anger.
"Mr. Eilish, when I initially inquired about your preferences, you instructed me to follow my instincts. Now that I've completed the design, you express dissatisfaction. I cannot anticipate your tastes. Even if I continue making alterations until the end of time, I doubt I'll ever satisfy you."
"How can you be certain if you haven't attempted it? Are you admitting defeat so readily?" Caleb responded nonchalantly. He wasn't the one being provoked. In this game of cat and mouse, he held all the cards.
"Then tell me how to modify it," Susan snapped, her patience wearing thin.
"You're the designer, it's your job to figure it out."
"... "
It was a maddening cycle.
Caleb glanced at his watch. "Shall we dine together?"
"I have other commitments," Susan retorted, her tone curt.
"I was under the impression that you arrived at this hour to share a meal with me. Am I mistaken?" Caleb's eyebrow arched, a hint of mockery lurking beneath his words.
He was well aware that she had timed her visit to avoid his company, and he deliberately twisted her intentions.
'What an insufferable man.'
Susan had the urge to reduce him to pieces.
"I have plans for the evening."
Plans? Susan's schedule was indeed full.
Caleb's brow furrowed momentarily before a smirk graced his features. "Cancel them. Spending time with me is far more worthwhile than any other engagement."
"That's debatable."
A challenge?
Caleb had never lost a battle.
"What's his rate? I'll offer ten times more."
What did he think she was? Susan bristled at his audacity.
"Not everything can be quantified with money. In my view, the worth of something isn't necessarily tied to its monetary value."
"Money isn't a factor? How noble. Without that million, would you be standing here, swallowing your pride?"
"..." Caleb's words hit a nerve, leaving Susan feeling somewhat humiliated.
Caleb was aware he had struck a chord. He was resolved to provoke Susan continuously, to embarrass her, and if possible, to cause her pain. A woman who had betrayed him couldn't expect to escape unscathed.
Caleb rose from his chair and donned a long coat. His tall, slender frame was perfectly complemented by the garment, and his lean face radiated an icy aura.
"Let's go."
In the thick of rush hour, the arteries of the city were clogged with vehicles. The roads pulsed with the rhythm of congestion, a symphony of horns and engines echoing in the air.
Car lights flickered in the growing dusk, casting an eerie glow on the sea of metal and glass.
Within the confines of a luxurious Maybach, two figures sat in silence.
Susan, her gaze locked onto the cityscape beyond the window, kept glancing at her wristwatch. A day that had been earmarked for relaxation, free from the shackles of social engagements, had been hijacked. She had envisioned a quiet evening at home, savoring Victoria's cream of mushroom soup with Olivia. But once again, this man had shattered her plans.
Susan had toiled relentlessly, burning the midnight oil to ensure this dinner would materialize. She had even sacrificed two potential evenings of relaxation, all for the sake of this night.
Caleb, on the other hand, sat in oblivious self-absorption. He assumed that everyone else had the same surplus of time that he did, a testament to his egocentricity.
From the rhythm of Susan's breathing, Caleb could discern her irritation. A smug thought crossed his mind, 'Isn't it even better if Susan is annoyed with me? What better way to get under her skin?'
Suddenly, the car's sound system came alive with the melodious strains of "Für Elise".
The familiar notes of the piano piece instantly altered the atmosphere within the car.
Susan froze, her mind reeling back to the past. This was the piece she had played when they first met, wasn't it?
The memory was as vivid as if it had happened yesterday. She was 24, in her final year of graduate school, alone in the auditorium rehearsing for the school's music concert. As the last note faded, applause echoed from behind her.
She had turned to find a tall figure, his silhouette stretching towards her, clad in a sleek suit. He was draped in a long black coat, reminiscent of a character from a Korean drama.
At 24, she had experienced love at first sight. Her cheeks had flushed as she took in the sight of the mature, elegant, and somewhat arrogant man standing before her.
She had been oblivious to the fact that he was the benefactor of the school building, the vice president of the Eilish Group, a man of global renown and wealth.
That moment was etched in both their hearts as the most beautiful memory.
But it seemed Caleb had forgotten...
Yet, how could Caleb possibly forget? That initial spark of attraction was deeply ingrained in his heart.
For the first time, a woman had stirred something within him. Susan, with her purity and innocence, had evoked a protective instinct in Caleb, a desire to cherish her.
Thus began the love story of Susan, a naive 24-year-old student, and Caleb, a successful man in his thirties.
From the initial spark of attraction to the deep connection they formed, they had spent three blissful months together. But what followed was four years of heartache.
Love, as they say, is a double-edged sword. It can bring immense joy, but it can also inflict deep pain. More often than not, the pain outweighs the joy.
Caleb's face darkened as he abruptly switched off the music. The car was once again enveloped in silence.
Inside the upscale Western restaurant, the atmosphere was convivial. The patrons were all affluent and influential.
Caleb perused the menu before asking, "What would you like to eat?"
"I don't want to eat anything," Susan replied curtly. She yearned for the comfort of her home and the simple pleasure of Victoria's mushroom soup.
"If you don't like Western food, we can go somewhere else," Caleb offered, trying to accommodate her.
"No need. Western food is not the problem."
So, he was the issue? How dare she?
She was the first to show such disdain, to wear a sour expression as his companion. If Caleb didn't wish to further embarrass her, he would have already shown her the door.
A sour face, huh? Spoiled woman!
"Mr. Eilish, since we haven't even ordered yet, why don't we just skip this meal? Wouldn't it be better to go home and have dinner with your daughter and wife?"