TOBY.
"Do you have all the documents I asked for?"
"Yes, I think so." Aiden answered.
"Let's get to work on these reports then." Everything needs to be perfect for my first board meeting since I took over from my father.
We worked in silence for a few hours, I was trying so hard to put everything in order and familiarise myself with everything that had been going on in the company so far.
"I can see that you and Ruby have sorted out your differences."
I let out a snort at his statement "what gives you that impression?"
"I don't know. Maybe it's the little prank she played on you or the fact that you guys shared a room at the resort, you must have been getting it on."
"She's not my type."
"How can you say that? She's hot."
"Well then, maybe you should get with her."
"Bro, how can you say that? She's your wife for goodness sake."
"Don't go preaching at me like you don't know the circumstances, you can act like you don't but we are all smart here so I'm sure you do."
"Fine, do you but you'll just be complicating the whole thing especially if you're still keeping Yasmin in the picture."
"Yasmin is a whole other case that's stressing me," I said, rubbing my temples.
"What is it this time?"
"Well, before this whole marriage thing, our relationship was fun, I could always call her up for a good time but now she's dragging all these emotional stuff into it. She needs reassurance all the time and has me making all these promises."
"She wants a defined relationship, that's what you mean right? Something you've never given anyone in your life?" Aiden asked in his all-wise tone.
"That doesn't sound like any fun."
"Relationships are not just about fun, you have to put in the work."
"No thank you," I replied to him before getting back to work.
I still felt like I have a few things to go over when my assistant came to inform me that all board members were already seated and ready for me. I tried to appear as confident as possible as I stride into the room shaking hands with the people closest to me, I nodded at a few familiar faces around the room including my father and when everyone settles down, I began my presentation. I was nervous at the beginning but I tried my hardest not to let it show and I started to get relaxed when I began to give them facts and figures about our improved sales projections and profits in the next few months.
"What you have presented to us is nothing out of the ordinary Mr. Toby Daniels. Your sales projections are only a result of the work your predecessors put in. This is why I suggested we forget family ties and hire another CEO, a more competent one." An unfamiliar woman on the board said.
"It's too soon to start making such conclusions, I've not been here long enough to make such a mark but I will in the long run. The fact that I have been able to maintain the trajectory of my predecessor proves my competence." I defended.
"Excuses, a more competent CEO would be discussing innovations that would take us to higher leaps and bounds not the former sales that isn't even his work."
I was about to respond when my father's voice cut our back and forth short, "if there are no concrete suggestions on how to move forward then I suggest we end the meeting here."
***
"Who does she think she is?" I fumed at Aiden back at my office.
"Calm down, you don't have to take it personally. These board members are tough, most of them were only taking it easy on you because it's your first time and because you're the heir and all that."
"It felt personal, Aiden!"
"I assure you it isn't, you just have to find more creative ways of doing things and getting better results."
YASMIN.
"You have to eat something." My mother said to me outside the door of my room. She doesn't even get it, does she?
"I just want to be left alone," I said sitting up in bed.
"Stop sulking, there are other men out there." She said entering my room with a tray of food.
"I don't want other men. Other men isn't Toby and I want Toby. Toby is mine. Do you know how much effort I have put into that relationship?" I said standing up, stomping my feet and pulling my hair in frustration.
"Don't be a fool, is this how you expect to keep him as yours, sulking around my house all day, looking and smelling like that?"
"I'm just so tired mom," I whined.
"Tired people don't win. Only does who fight the hardest and the dirtiest win."
"I'm all out of ideas, what do I do?"
"You can't leave any space between him and that woman who is trying to snatch him. You must be between them at all times, even in your absence."
"I'm trying."
"Try harder! For starters, eat something, clean up, dress sexy, show up to his office and demand to see him. Leave him something that keeps him thinking about you." She said with a wink "His mother wants to work with you so use that to your advantage, say you're there to draw up the contract."
"I almost forgot about the contract, I can kill two birds with one stone. You're the best mom." I said, hugging her to me and squeezing her tight.
I was definitely giving sexy corporate vibes while strutting into the lobby of Toby's office, I was wearing a red suit, with a flair short skirt and nothing but a corset top under the jacket.
"I am here to see Mr. Toby Daniels," I said with more confidence than I was actually feeling, I was good at masking things with confidence actually.
"Do you have an appointment?"
"Yes, his mother sent me actually, I'll be working with her clothing brand." His mother's name did the trick. The Secretary took me seriously, making some calls and in no time, she directed me to a private elevator that led straight to his office.
"What a pleasant surprise," Toby said as I walked into his office.
"I'm here for business."
"Just business." He said with a raised eyebrow and a playful smirk.
"Yes. Have you drawn up the contract yet?" I said taking my seat opposite him and unbuttoning my jacket. A small smile graced my lips as I watched his gaze lower to my breast.
"We have a standard contract but it's open to your input." He said.
"I'll have a copy then, my manager and I will look over it."
"We could have done this over the phone, now to the real reason you're here."
"What reason?" I said, playing hard to get.
"I missed you and I know you missed me too."He said standing in front of me. He took his seat on his desk, pulling me up against him. "Why didn't you pick up my calls." He whispered into my ear.
"I'm here, aren't I?" I said before crashing my lips against his.