BRIANS POV
Tap, Tap.
The knock was coming from the door as I stood in front of the mirror knotting my tie.
Tap, Tap.
The knock came again, louder this time.
"Who is there," i said, my voice deep and husky.
"It is me Linda said, mimicking a sweet angelic voice.
"What do you want, Linda?". I asked, adjusting my tie.
"I'm here to serve you breakfast." she replied still outside the closed door.
"I'm not having breakfast. There's no need for that."
"Well, I put in so much effort in making this meal, just a small gesture of appreciation for choosing me. No feelings attached."
Her tone was firm, every word landing with
quiet conviction.
I opened the door.
"Good morning," i said.
She kept her face calm, but i could sense something dark behind her wide smile.
"Good morning" she replied calmly.
"I won't be eating it now, pack it up, I'll take it to the office." I said while putting on my shoes.
"Okay, I'll be right back," Linda said, leaving the room immediately.
As I walked down the hallway towards the door leading outside, my steps slowed on getting to the kitchen entrance, drawn by the whispers inside.
Linda… Washing the plates herself.
The maids stood Frozen, watching, their mouths dropped open in disbelief.
"No way…" someone whispered.
Linda seemed not concerned by all their reactions, as she continued washing the dishes.
Alina was not there, Just mainly the cleaners in the kitchen watching in stunned silence as Linda did the dishes herself.
I continued towards the door, when Linda came running up from behind me.
"Wait up," she called.
Immediately I turned back, seeing her, I waited until she reached me.
Then she handed me the lunch bag with a sweet smile.
"Have a nice day at work," she said.
"Thank you" I responded, walking past her towards the door without looking back.
At the door, Daniel entered immediately,
"Good morning, sir," he greeted taking my briefcase and the lunch bag.
Five minutes later…..
We were finally settled into the car, the driver driving, Daniel beside him and me in back.
"How many meetings do I have today?"
I asked, laying back and scrolling through my phone.
"You have three meetings," Daniel replied, pushing back his glasses.
"board meeting for your final appointment as CEO at 10 am. Executive meeting scheduled for 12pm and investors meeting on the new product to be launched at 2pm.
That is all sir." Daniel said.
As soon as we pulled up at the Vanders Enterprise, reporters rushed to the car with their mics and cameras.
Daniel immediately came down holding my briefcase, and opened the door for me to alight from the car, only for the crowd of the reporters to double in size with their camera's flashing lights.
Daniel was trying his best by shielding me from the reporters.
"Mr Brian! is the rumor true that you're married?"
"Mr Brian who's the lucky girl?"
"When and where did you meet her?"
"How long have you people been dating?"
Cameras flashed nonstop.
"How do you feel, being married to the love of your life?"
Security from the main building rushed in to assist Daniel. We barely made it to the door before it was slammed shut.
Reporters were still outside, some were going live.
Immediately I entered the building, everyone instantly stopped what they were doing.
I could feel their eyes on me, sizing me from up to down.
The ladies were looking at my fingers as if they were looking for a treasure on it
"Oh I see it," a lady whispered to her other colleague, pointing at the diamond ring on my finger.
The silence that followed in the elevator was piercing, everyone was having conversations with their eyes.
Finally, I slumped into my office chair drained. Daniel came rushing in with a cup of coffee.
"Here it is, sir" he said, handing it to me, while dropping my briefcase on the table.
"Why didn't you inform me of the reporters?" i asked immediately, sipping my coffee slowly.
"I wasn't aware either", Daniel said trying to explain.
The board meeting starts in exactly thirty minutes, I'll go and make sure the conference room is being put in place, he said before leaving the office.
Five minutes later, Daniel came back rushing into the office, panting like someone that was being chased, Jolting me from my chair.
"What is the problem?" i asked.
"Sir you need to start coming to the conference room, " he said trying to catch his breath, everyone is already sitted they're waiting, the board of directors, the shareholders and your lawyer. The meeting started at 9am.
" How did you not get the accurate time?" i yelled at Daniel, while making my way furiously to the office.
One hour later…
People started exiting the hall, some expressionless, while others were frowning with furrowed brows, giving out deep sighs.
My appointment as the new CEO was a success.
I was still in the conference room having a conversation with my lawyer.
"Why were you late for the meeting?" My lawyer asked, with a slight frown on his face.
The meeting could have been cancelled if you had delayed for ten more minutes." he added.
"The mistake was from my assistant, I don't understand why he communicated the wrong time to me" I replied, still confused.
" I will take my leave now," he said leaving the room.
After he left, Daniel returned and made his way to where I was standing answering a call.
He started packing up all the documents on the table.
"Daniel Why did you tell me the wrong information this morning?" i asked with a frown on my face.
"Sir, that was the information that was relayed to me by the secretary.
I just met her and she told me that it was a mistake from her side." Daniel said, but… he hesitated. "I don't think it was a mistake, it was a purposeful act, Daniel added.
"Is that so?" I asked narrowing my eyes. *send the information across, there will be an After-work celebratory dinner. My treat."
Nine hours later….
The car pulled up in the Vanders mansion, Daniel stepped down holding my tie and my briefcase, he opened the back seat door for me, helping me come down from the car only in my white shirt with my sleeves folded leaning on Daniel for support stumbling with unsteady movement.
When we got to the door, I pushed Daniel back telling him to go home.
"You can go home now." i said with my eyes half-closed as I smiled.
"I can make my way to my room," I said, barely keeping my balance.
Okay sir Daniel said giving my things to the security guard, then he turned back to the car and left.
Sir, this way the security guard said trying to direct me.
" Let me be….., I'm not drunk" I said while staggering
"Okay sir," the security guard said, walking away to with my things.
I started making my way to the kitchen to get a glass of water wobbling and leaning on the wall for support, after drinking the glass of water.
I dropped the glass cup and turned around to leave the kitchen, just then I missed a step and completely lost my balance and fell on someone pushing the person to the floor.
She hit the soft rugged floor, A plate fell to the floor shattering.
I looked down at the beautiful face beneath me.
My gaze dropping to her lips, I leaned in slowly, my lips brushing her succulent lips before sinking into a slow, lingering kiss that sent warmth spreading through me.
Then everything went blank.