Chapter 4: I’m Stressed

• I was sitting in my office, not knowing what to do. Everything was so suffocating for me now. I didn't know how will I face him. What will I tell him? Why did I say that I'm in a relationship? Oh god.
• Maya entered the office because she's been knocking more than five times and I didn't hear it.
• "Mam, Are you ok?" she asked.
• "Yes, Maya. Tell me what's wrong?" I asked.
• "The CEO of William Corporation is here mam
• ," she said. The words were enough to make me shiver. I was very scared. 
• "S-send hi-m in
• ," I said. 
• She looked a little confused because of my
• behavior but she went out. Soon Adrian came inside. I looked down and started doing some work on my laptop. 
• "I hope you've got a lot to say, Marie
• ," he said. I looked up. 
• "Ad-
• rian," I said. 
• "Why did you say that? Don't you know relationships bring a lot of defam
• ing to business?"
• "I
• ... I didn't have any other way..." 
• "Marie! First
• , you were the reason I disappeared. Now you've made it difficult for me to bring this business up again!" 
• "Did I ever say I want you to disappear!?" I yelled. 
• "But you wanted it!" 
• "Then why do you care what I want or not!" 
• "Because I like you, Marie"
• "Just stop liking me, then!" 
• "I can't." 
• "Listen, Adrian. I don't want anything. Your father
• ... He had gone through a lot of struggles to make your business the way it is. He has done so much and now you're at the top. Don't think about me. Don't get affected by my words, because this life you're having right now, it's not just of Adrian. It's also the life of the CEO of the biggest business company"
• "So?"
• "What do you mean by so?" 
• "I want you, Marie. Please" 
• "Adrian it's already over. What happened three years ago, what happened five years ago. It's all gone now" 
• "And it doesn't affect you?" 
• "....." 
• "Marie..." 
• "No Adrian. Now go. Please. Go and manage your business" 
• "Still I'll wait for you" 
• He said and went. I started crying. Why? Why does every
• time I see him, I cry? I don't like him. That's true. But all this. I can't understand. 
• After about half an hour, Maya came to my office again. 
• "Yes
• , Maya?" 
• "Mam there's an important meeting after an hour for all the selected companies and we're in it. There will be a few leading companies. The William Corporation has faced a loss recently. So they are trying to do vertical coordination"
• "William Corporation?"
• "Yes
• , mam. This news was announced by Mr. Adrian himself"
• "Oh ok.." I said.
• Why Adrian. I said manage your business. I don't want to merge this business with you. I have to go otherwise my company will put a question mark on me as to why I rejected such a great offer. But I don't want to merge my company with you.
• Maya left me and I got home to get ready. I went to the venue ten minutes
• earlier. Every company that was almost at our level was already there. But Adrian still hasn't arrived.
• "Good evening, Everyone" I heard a familiar voice. It was
• from Adrian. He came just now. 
• Everyone stood up and so did I. He sat down and so did everyone. 
• "So as you all know I'm here to select a company that will be vertically coordinating with William Corporation. The terms and conditions are written in the contract kept in front of everyone. Please read it" he said. 
• Everyone started reading. I picked it up too but put it down just after a minute after reading the first sentence. 
• "The company will merge with the Williams Corporation and will get shares. After that, the CEO will have
• a total understanding of each others' business and will have to be ready to come together for any problem in any of their Companies" 
• I kept it down and saw everyone was still reading it very carefully. 
• "Miss Marie, I think Smith Corporation is not ready for this?" Adrian asked me. Everyone's gaze shifted on me. They were shocked. 
• "I.. Actually
• ... Yes Smith Corporation will not take this deal, I'm sorry" I said confidently because I have to be brave. After all, I'm the CEO. 
• "Miss Marie, you're a great businesswom
• an and I hope that you take time and think about it," He said and took out his phone. I received a message, so I looked at my phone. 
• "Don't mix your work and life, Marie" Adrian messaged me. 
• I looked at him. There was a little smile on his face. 
• I didn't know what to do. I was struck. I can't deny this offer. Of course
• , I can't! There's so much profit in this. But...