When Asher arrived at Knox Holdings, he was greeted by dozens of flashing lights.
For a moment, he froze. His hands grew clammy and a distant memory of bright headlights filled his mind.
But he was quick to regain his composure.
George and Rick skillfully navigated the crowd of reporters, escorting him into the building.
The reporters clamoured outside and the security team rushed to keep them from breaking into Knox Holdings.
A few employees lingered in the lobby, staring at Asher whilst whispering amongst themselves.
They looked like they had just seen a ghost walking by. If only they knew.
Asher didn't spare a glance back. He made his way up to his private office, flanked by Rick and a few of the security team.
In the safety of his office, he finally released the breath he was holding. Settling at his table, he leaned back into his chair.
His phone lit up. An incoming call from Emmy.
"Before you say anything, I'm sorry." He interrupted her rant before it could begin.
"I have to hear from the news that you died. And I have to hear from them that you came back from the dead?" She hissed.
He winced. "The media is going a little out of control with the stories."
"A little??" Her tone was disbelieving. "Where were you?!"
He glanced over at Rick and then cleared his throat, lowering his voice by a tone.
"The door got stuck somewhere and I couldn't get out." He explained briefly.
She fumed, "You are a clumsy nuthead."
"I'll come by later tonight." Asher reassured.
Emmy murmured profanities beneath her breath, but she let him off.
"The client just arrived at the parking lot." Rick reported.
It was time.
"Have someone deliver Emmy a new coat." He said to Rick as he glanced down at his wristwatch.
---
The boardroom exuded a ghostly chill the moment the door opened. Asher should have known then.
But he didn't guess it till he was standing across the table from two of his clients.
One: Mr Ross Burns. CEO of the construction company he was to partner with for the renovation of Marrick's abandoned towers.
Along with his secretary and two lawyers.
Two: Dominique Tates. The Demolition King.
He lounged on the seat across from Ross Burns and his group, like a third party invited to the meeting. Only that, Asher was the only one who could see him.
He froze. A chill crept down his spine.
Tates didn't wave, or smile. He didn't do anything really. Other than glare at Asher, and sit like he owned the place.
Malignant ghosts could leave their residence of manifestation, he realized. And he had just given one an invitation to come by his place anytime.
Tates had wasted no time taking him up on the offer.
"Mr Knox," Mr Burns greeted. "It's a pleasure."
He nodded awkwardly, shaking Mr Burns' offered hand. "Yes, a pleasure."
He couldn't bring himself to sit. His gaze shifted between Dominic Tates and Ross Burns. For a moment, his vision spun.
"Mr Knox?" Rick nudged him from behind.
'Focus!'
Asher forced a smile to his lips and took his seat across from his two clients.
Client...he was beginning to dread the word.
"So, I take it you have reviewed my proposal?" Mr Burns enquired after pleasantries were exchanged.
"I have." Asher replied simply.
"And?" Mr Burns pressed, leaning back. A smug look in his eyes.
"I appreciate the offer." Asher replied, sliding a file across the table. "Now, you can take a look at my proposal."
Mr Burns raised a brow, almost imperceptibly. Then he chuckled. "Mr Knox. Here's the thing, my proposal is to your benefit..."
"The thing is, you're well informed that I'm on probation for succession. And every deal closed in this duration strengthens my position." Asher interrupted. "And because you know that, you intend to exploit it in the mistaken belief that I will accept even an unsuitable offer for personal gain."
Asher leaned back too. Tates replicated the gesture. He ignored him.
"But you have misjudged the situation. With or without the title of CEO, I have the entire Marrick fortune to my name. I don't need to prove anything."
"And I certainly do not see any reason to give in to you."
"I've reviewed your yearly reports."
He hadn't. Rick had.
He couldn't interpret a financial report to save his life.
"Without this deal, your company will go under within a year. So tell me, who do you think has more to lose?"
Mr Burns didn't look pleased at being called out. A tense silence settled between them.
Behind him, Rick fidgeted.
Nervous. Rightly so, but he hid it well.
The truth was, Asher needed this deal and if it fell through, he would be booted out of Knox Holdings.
He would still retain the $12.6 dollars in Marrick's offshore accounts, but he would fail to keep up his end of the contract with Marrick.
There would be consequences.
Asher didn't want to find out what.
On the other hand, Asher couldn't... wouldn't appear like a push over in Tates' audience.
He wouldn't give the ghost the pleasure.
If he couldn't handle a fellow human, how was he to convince a malignant ghost to sign his contract?
At this point, it was all or nothing.
Mr Burns finally caved. Reaching for the file, he examined the contract and handed it over to his lawyer who sat stiffly by his side.
They exchanged a few words in quiet tones.
"We will review the terms and communicate our decision." Mr Burns finally said.
"Of course. Knox Holdings looks forward to a possible partnership."
Asher stood, shook Burns' hand firmly and turned to leave.
A scotch glass on the table shattered out of the blue. Mr Burns exclaimed in shock.
Asher? He didn't turn back.
When he arrived back at his private office, Dominic Tates sat behind his desk. Spinning around in the rotating chair.
Asher spared a glance to Rick. To his eyes, a chair rotating on its own must have seemed a technical failure.
"There must be a malfunction..." He said uncertainly. "I'll get someone to take a look."
And then he was gone. Leaving Asher to himself, with his spectral guest.
"Mr Knox." Tates broke the silence first. "Don't I pay you enough for exclusivity?"