It's been three years, and things are well, pretty much the same. My dad is still the CEO of the company, and recently, at the board meeting, they have decided that I could act as CEO in the absence of my dad and also make decisions. Something is better than nothing, but I wasn't ok.
Over the past 3 years, I have gained knowledge in every aspect and have been deeply involved in the company's matters, yet they are still voting against me. I was ready to handle things, but the board is dead against the idea.
Meanwhile, I completed my master's in finance and tax, too. I am planning to pursue a master's in marketing, probably next year. Once a month, I visit Isabela. I tried to keep my visit on the weekend for the sake of both of us. Everything is good between us, including sex, but she doesn't want to return. She has completed her studies and also started to work there. It's bloody hard to fly to a different country every damn month. It's not the issue of money but the constructive time that I am running out of. I have to give my full attention to the damn company matter; still, I will be successful in committing some mistake, and sometimes it will be a major one. I have to get through this phase; I needed her most, but she wants to concentrate on her career. I can't blame her either; she has dreams, like me, but I wish she had opted to work here rather than in a different country. I need to increase my visitation more than once for our relationship's sake. I need to manage somehow, and I know I am going to fall under my dad's wrath.
"Stop thinking too much." Davis nudged me a little. This is the only thing that has never changed till now, our beautiful friendship. "And also stop sulking." I groaned at that. "I know what's running in your mind." I sighed at that. "You know I would have shown the middle finger to the board long back and bracing all this bullshit for a reason." Only because of my dad am I holding myself back; he really wants to see me as a CEO and that man working hard toward it. Davis chuckled at that. "I bet." "And my grandfather is still alive, and the idea is not sitting well with me." Davis barked out a laugh upon hearing that, well, seriously, that guy is going to be a big problem. Bedridden or not. "It's been two years, and you are still hung up on that old man." I groaned at that. "Don't take him lightly. My dad's visitation has been increased; before, he was visiting him once a month." "I know how your grandfather was in his time, and trust me, we need him at the moment." I huffed at that. "I don't think so." He rolled his eyes at that. "It's been two years plus, and he is successful in stopping the person who was trying to get hold of the company. That alone speaks a lot." "But he is cunning like hell." He sighed at that. "I always told you to prepare yourself, but you never listened." "Hey, I am working hard; what more do you guys expect?" He sighed in resignation and chuckled. Shaking his head like it was a waste of time to continue the topic. "I don't think you have any reason to worry. Your mom literally slits anyone with her piercing gaze when it comes to you. Chill out." I chuckled at that. "Of course, she would never let anyone go against my will, that's for sure." "Yes, mama's boy, she knows how to take care of things when it comes to you. Husband or not, she wouldn't spare anyone." "Yes, that's for sure." "My lifesaver." He hummed, and we stayed in silence.
"How is Isabella? She completed her master's, right?" "Yes. We quarrel here and there, a major fight regarding me not taking over the company." I leaned back on the chair with a sigh. "She really wants to see me as a CEO," I added, and I don't know when I am going to fulfil her dream. "You will one day." Davis, as usual, with his positive vibe. "When is she coming back?" That's another thing on the bucket list of my misery. "Not anytime soon. She has started working there to gain experience." He was shocked after hearing my response. "Why there? Why not here?" "Because of the company and the package. She has fallen in love with the place, and she wants to explore more and spend as much as she can." He hummed strongly, annoyance peaking in it. Nothing is falling in my cup of tea.
My dad cleared his throat, seeking our attention. "Are you guys free to work for the day?" Davis smiled awkwardly. "Rowan." I hate my name nowadays. "Did you prepare the report?" I was working on it, damn it. "I will prepare in 10 minutes." Immediately, I turned toward the laptop. "You are giving every reason to them." I don't know about them, but I am giving every reason to my dad. Always nagging me, finding some error, like it's a curse. I watched Davis, who was sniffing his smile. "Davis, why are you wasting your time rather than taking over your dad's company?" "Sir, give me a year; there is so much more to learn." My dad studied him from head to toe, as if he were seeing him for the first time. "Well, talk less and learn more, then. Now, go to your cabin." He nodded and literally ran. I huffed, and once again, I scratched my brain to get hold of the report.
Once I had prepared the file, we went to the meeting place. In one of the finest resorts, the bidding is held for a huge construction project worth a billion dollars. This is a huge one; top-level businessmen would attend this bidding. My dad is 100% sure that we are going to get this project.
It took 30 minutes, and we were in the place. The representatives welcomed us with a warm smile and asked us to take the designated seat. Mr. Tamare is the one who is representing the bidding and allotting the project. Insider dealing, too. This deal is almost done, behind the door. I have accompanied my dad, and the deal has already been settled. Oh boy, no matter what, I feel like I am still a toddler. There is a long way to go, and there is so much to learn. Nothing is enough in this business world, especially while running a company. It's never-ending.
We sat on the designated table and waited for the bid to start. All other tables were slowly getting occupied, and most of the faces were new, as if they had newly entered the business world. But that wasn't the case; most of the figures were decade-old but wouldn't make any public appearance. Only if it is necessary will they come out of their hole, and I could grasp how much this means to every one of them, including my dad.
Mr. Tamare approached our table and whispered something in my dad's ear, who, in return, glared at me. What did I do now? I cross-verified the file twice. My dad walked with Mr Tamare and returned after 10 minutes with the same glare. I gulp at the sight. Couldn't I just get a break?
The bid started and went on for an hour or so. I held my breath all along; on the other hand, my dad looked relaxed. The bid was closed; we ended up getting the deal.
We were in the car the whole way; my dad grumbled underneath. Well, be prepared for another lecture after reaching home. He is not sparing you today. This is not the life I had dreamed of. I knew I would be on my dad's throne when I crossed 18 or 19 and lead a luxury life by checking the files, attending meetings, and just sitting in the CEO's cabin. Not that, I am not leading a luxurious life at present; I thought it would be this simple in the future too, I mean, present life. My dad's work seemed so easy, pretty, and luxurious. Most of the time, he travels in a private plane with bodyguards; someone or another keeps following him, and he rules like a king. That awestruck me, and I was drawn into my dad's throne even more.
This reality is sucking my life, making me drained. Leading a busy life is one hectic thing, and being alert and grasping the latest market trends is another terrific thing. Things should be easy because of my background, but it isn't. From my childhood, my dad's life was portrayed falsely, and I was drawn into it. He didn't show me clarity, or else I would definitely run. And again, holding a degree and a master's should make things a little bit easier, but oh boy, once again, dealing in reality is completely different from the studies. This shit is not simple; I would love to hand over my throne if only I had any siblings, that too male. I know my sisters are happy in their careers, unlike me, who is making mistakes and surviving because of my dad. Well, his dad is helping him, too, which is only making me less guilty of everything. Only one relief: my dad is nothing like his dad. He can complain a lot, grumble, and get annoyed sometimes, but never judge or lose hope in me. That's something to be positive about and hope for the best. Still, this life is not as pretty as it was portrayed.
The car was parked in front of the company; as I got out, I saw that it was crowded, media and flashes everywhere. Like they were waiting for me. I was taken aback when the crowd became a little aggressive as they saw me, and they were shouting so many things that I couldn't grasp a word.
Davis ran toward me and started dragging me inside with full force. "Where is your damn phone?" He asked me while I was in the elevator. "Last night, my dad grilled me in his study cabin and threw me many files for me to study. I didn't get any chance for anything, and it's dead. "I grumbled, totally forgetting about the current situation. "What's happening?" He took me to my dad's cabin.
As I entered, my dad was already on the call, and Davis was doing something on the tablet. Couldn't I just get a break? What the hell did I do this time? Where I am successful in grabbing media attention. It looks like I am doomed for sure. Slowly, Davis passed me his tablet, where a video was paused. I looked at him, but he averted his eyes, and my dad was successful in dodging, too.
I played the video, and it took only a few seconds for my whole body to go stiff, and my breath was caught at the scene that played in the video. My breath labored at the moans and grunts, and I clenched my fist when the ecstasy went to a high pitch. I shuddered when I saw the orgasm was released, and the lips were locked immediately. The craving was palpable, the atmosphere was intense, and the naked bodies wanted nothing but to be close, plastered to each other. The sex was fierce, rough, and too much, of yes, yes, yes. I never came across this side of her; probably that's her kinkiness.
I stopped the video when they released the orgasm, and there was more. It's an hour and a half video, and I saw enough that could cover this lifetime of mine. I shut the tablet, exhaling a long, shuddering breath. I closed my eyes to calm myself and to distract just for a second, but the images were hitting my mind sharply, reminding me of reality.
"We have taken down the video, but millions have watched already." My dad spoke slowly. My eyes were staring at nothing, and my mind was blank. My dad has lost his composure, not knowing what to do, just like me. I couldn't open my mouth to respond to him, as my throat was dry. I don't know why I feel like I need to see her the most at this point.
"I need to see her; prepare a private plane, Dad," I spoke slowly, pain etching each word. "She arrived early in the morning and was waiting for you in your cabin." That's it; I ran toward the cabin, which was on another floor. Davis was behind me, not crowding the space and not leaving me alone.
I barged into the cabin, and Isabella was startled; her eyes were puffy and red. I slowly entered the cabin; she stood from her seat, shaking. I sat in front of her and gestured to take her seat; wiping the tears, she obliged. Davis was at the far end of the room, seated.
We stayed silent for a while, and I stared at her in a daze. Should I ask how the sex with the guy was? I almost chuckled at the thought. My world was slowly crashing due to work pressure and my inability, and now it has turned upside down. I was determined when nothing was ok in my professional life to achieve something for her because she was in my life. My personal life was the only satisfaction that I had to boost my energy and ignore every other thing. It kept my balance; I leaned on it, and I survived because of it. Now, that's collapsed. I have my family, thank God, and I know they are desperately trying to reach me, and my dad is handling them. But I was more dependent on Isabella; I needed only her, and I couldn't get over this pain, not any time soon. With or without family, the lifetime agony has made its permanent place in me. I am not getting over anything anytime soon. She is the angel I always dreamed of and craved for, and she made sure to mark her memories with her betrayal. The future without her terrifies me, and my breathing became ragged at the thought.
"Rowan, please listen to me just once." She hiccupped. "He was my classmate, and he was flirting with me, but nothing harmful." She ran from the chair and was beside me in an instant, crying. "I was attracted toward him a little, I agree; I shouldn't have let him continue with his flirtation, I agree with that too, but it wasn't harmful, and we never crossed boundaries." She clutched my hands. "Please trust me, Rowan, I swear I didn't have any intention to sleep with him." I chuckled at that, not meeting her eyes. Hiccups were echoed in the cabin and her sniffing. "It was just an attraction, nothing she hiccupped, nothing more than that." She wiped her tears. "We were partying with our classmates and..." She stopped, not knowing how to continue. I sighed at that, unclutching my hands from her grip.
"When?" I couldn't comprehend any further, and I really hope she understood, as if it matters to me, but I am finding something to hold upon. I always wanted something with her, always. I was a damn kid, barely knowing anything, but she occupied my mind from that day till today. "At a party." She whispered. Horrible enough for me to hear. "Exactly when?" The hold on her skirt grew tighter at that, and I knew I was not going to like it. "On the night of the graduation party." And I couldn't breathe. Three fucking months, she hid it from me very well. How the hell did she manage this long?
She was acting weird after the graduation, snapping for no reason and getting irritated. She would call and apologize to me, giving the reason as stress. That one particular month, she avoided having sex with me, giving bullshit reasons that I bought. Honestly, being with her was more important to me than having sex, so I brushed that off. Gradually, things were ok between us, except she didn't want to return.
"Rowan, I am sorry. We broke the contact after that; he tried to persuade me to break up with you and to start a relationship with him, but I couldn't. I love you so much, I swear I do." She was sniffling, brushing her tears roughly. "Please give me a chance." In a barely horrible voice. "I wanted to erase those memories before coming back here." I leaned back on the chair, not knowing what to say. I really thought she wanted to do something with her career and help her dad in the future. I let her; I supported her, but that cost the most precious thing, my relationship, which I latched onto like my lifeline.
How could she shut her mouth all these days, acting like things were normal? Yeah, only once a month, I visited, and also, I tried to visit twice whenever it was possible. She played all along till today, and if the videos didn't leak, then would she really confess to me? Granted, we were getting only two days in a month, but still, how can she act like everything was fucking normal? The off mood was not because of stress or her period, but for an entirely different reason. Wow, I am such a bloody fool, blindly believing and also being sympathetic toward her, thinking that she was fucking working damn hard. She was working hard, but for entirely different reasons. What a low blow. Why are all the blows' targets and hits at the right time? She was my survival line, and right now, I depended on her so much. I even started to prioritize her and gave preference just to make her happy and to make her feel how precious she was.
I couldn't stand this shit anymore, and I stood from the chair, and she was startled. "Rowan." She was panicked; well, she should be. I met her red eyes with my fierce ones and spoke. "This ends now. Don't contact me, ever again. Thanks for everything. I really had a good time with you, Isabella, and best of luck for your future." I saw Davis, who was in a daze and sad, speak. "Please escort her." He nodded at that. I started walking, and Isabella was matching my footsteps, pleading. Davis held her back, and I was out of the cabin.
Every fucking thing sucks in my life except my family. Tears started to flow, and I let them, which was much needed to overcome and steady myself for the future.