7!He made no mistake!

ZARA

I looked at myself in the mirror with my two-piece blazer suit hanging on my body like it was made for me. The dark navy blue matched the serious look in my eyes. Today wasn’t just another day. It was the day I faced my past.

Hazel was still sleeping, her small body curled up in the middle of the bed. I leaned down, kissed her forehead, and pulled the blanket closer around her.

Vic walked into the room holding a cup of coffee. “You look nice,” she said, with a bit of skepticism in her voice.

“What do you mean?” I asked her, searching her eyes.

“I don't know,” she said as she sipped her coffee. “You have always been a trailblazer when it comes to your dressing style but this is different.”

“How so?” I asked her, checking myself in the mirror again.

“You want him to notice you,” she said with a smirk, and I found myself blushing. But quickly brushed it away.

“I do want him to notice me, but notice that I mean business,” I said. 

“Hmm,” she said with coffee in her mouth. 

“You are ridiculous,” she laughed and laid on the bed beside Hazel.

“She will be fine,” Vic said, noticing my eyes on Hazel. Auntie Vic is here.

“I know, and you have no idea how much I appreciate this,” I said to her.

“Of course, just make sure I have a job in your new firm, and we will be squared away,” she said, sarcastically but I held those words to my heart.

Meeting with Matthew is a journey to that realization. He has to know I have no intention of marrying him, but I'm taking over my father's firm. 

We both need to find a way around the clause, and move on with our lives.

I walked out of my duplex, and noticed the driver who picked us up from the airport when we arrived.

“You are here, early,” I said to him. “What's your name?” I asked.

“Evan, ma'am,” he said, opening the passenger door for me.

“Thank you Evan, Russell Enterprise please,” he nodded, closed the door, and drove off immediately.

The drive to Russell Enterprise was quiet. I stared out the window as the city came alive,people walking fast, cars honking, tall buildings touching the sky. Everything looked the same, yet I felt like a different person sitting in that back seat.

My phone buzzed in my purse. I took it out and saw a message from Maria.

Good luck today. Remember, power is nothing without control.

I smiled a little. That was something my father used to say, and she knew it would push me to stay focused.

After a few more turns, Evan pulled up in front of the building. It was sleek, tall, and made of glass and steel, cold, just like the man I was about to meet.

Evan stepped out and opened the door. “We’re here, ma’am.”

“Thank you, Evan,” I said, stepping out. My heels clicked on the pavement as I walked towards the entrance.

The receptionist at the front desk gave me a polite smile. “Miss Taylor, Mr. Russell is expecting you. You can take the elevator to the 18th floor.”

I nodded and walked past her. Each step I took made my heart beat louder. I wasn’t nervous, I was just... ready. Ready to get this over with.

The elevator ride was short, but the silence inside felt long. I looked at my reflection in the mirrored walls and straightened my blazer.

The doors of the elevator opened, and a hallway was revealed. I walked a few steps, and noticed Matthew's name on one of the doors. It had the word CEO inscribed on it.

I took a deep breath, and opened the door. The Ac greeted me first with a fresh lavender scent. There was a huge room before me, and another door by the left side. 

I moved to the door and held the doorknob. Slowly, I pushed it open.

The moment I stepped inside, my heart stopped.

Matthew was there, but he wasn’t alone.

He was standing by his desk, his arms wrapped around a woman. They were kissing like the world didn’t exist around them.

My breath caught in my throat. I froze.

For a second, I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach. I couldn’t move. I just stood there, staring.

This was the man my father wanted me to marry? This?

The woman pulled back first, her eyes wide when she saw me. Matthew turned slowly, wiping his mouth, not looking the least bit sorry.

“Zara,” he said, my name rolled off his tongue like a sweet symphony just like it did yesterday when he saw me at the cemetery.

I stepped inside, closing the door behind me. My face was calm, but inside I was burning.

“I see you’re... busy,” I said, my voice sharp but even.

The woman who was on his desk got down quickly and adjusted her shirt. She emitted class and grace, just like any other woman would.

“Uhm, Zara, this is my girlfriend, Monica,” he introduced us. “Monica, this is Zara, an old friend,” he said, and I scoffed silently.

“Old friend, huh,” I said to myself. We were more than that Matthew. We were inseparable. We couldn't keep our hands off each other, not until you took the life of someone who mattered to me.

“Nice to meet you, Zara,” Monica, the girlfriend, held up her hand for a handshake. I looked at her, and her hands for a minute before taking it.

“We need to talk, Matthew,” I said to him. He nodded, and faced her. I walked away a little to give them a bit of privacy.

“I'll call you,” he said to her.

“But…” she tried to protest.

“I promise,” he said, and I turned to look at them. He said that word to me once. When he promised he would never drive drunk again, but he did.

Monica looked at me with anger in her eyes, but there was nothing she could do about it. She kisses him, while looking at me then walks out.

I scoffed, and shook my head. I'm not here for your man, I'm here to take what belongs to me without him interfacing.

“What can I do for you, Zara,” Matthew spoke as soon as she was out of sight.

I brought out my father's will, and handed him the part where our marriage clause was mentioned.

“I don't see how this concerns me,” he said, nonchalantly. 

“You have got to be joking,” I said to him.

“Well, I'm not. And I would have been happy to tell you all about it, if you had answered my call yesterday at the cemetery,” he said, and I looked at him confused.

“I have nothing to say about that,” I said, folding my hands. I picked up the documents, “I need access to my father's shares, so this concerns you.”

“Well, it just means we are getting married,” he said, clapping his hands.

“The hell we are,” my voice echoed. “I'm not going to have anything to do with you, and my father made a mistake putting this clause together.”

“He made no mistake,” Matthew said, and I looked at him confused.

“What are you talking about?” I asked him.

“Your father, and mine made that clause together. I have one in my father's will as well,” he said, and I gasped.