Brielle POV
I took the glass of water and gulped it whole in one.
"Today is my first meeting with businessmen, who will sign a deal with us, which can be very profitable for both of us."
It's very strange, the Richardson's Empires, the skincare products are only a chain of their vast company. I'm surprised that Mr. Jared Richardson, himself, is coming to the meeting, instead of their representatives," Ivaan said while taking a seat across from me, taking hold of the file placed on the table about the deal.
I looked at him and narrowed my eyes at the wall beside him. He's right, why is Mr.Jared Richardson himself coming? This deal is like a small thing for their billion dollar multinational company.
I was startled by a knock on my office door. Lucas, my assistant, comes in.
He's the same age as mine and a university graduate like me. He was doing his internship in business management, which is why he's here as my assistant. He wants to learn and experience how companies are run by working with me.
"Brille, Mr. Richardson is here," he informed me, and I quickly straightened myself and looked at Issac, rubbing my shoulder.
He nodded at me, passing me a knowing look; he knows that I'm nervous as hell.
It's my first business meeting after all.
I looked at the door. When I heard the footsteps, a man in his late fifties entered my office. His lips are graced with a kind smile and his features are soft.
"Good Morning, Mr. Richardson. It's so nice to have you here," I said, and my chest felt so light when he passed me a kind smile, like I used to feel around my dad. "Good Morning," he nodded towards us. "Please take a seat," Ivaan gestured towards the chair across from me.
I took the tab from Ivaan and opened the presentation.
"Mr. Richardson, as you can see, the annual reports of an increase in the sales of all the skincare and natural food products are only 45 percent, but if we cooperate, then our natural way to make food items with herbal technique to make skincare products will increase automatically, with profits we will share 50-50." I finally said, and Lucas quickly handed me a water bottle, kept in front of me. He sensed that I was so nervous here.
"Hmm, but what about the net value of all multinational sales? I would like to sign it also. This presentation is really very impressive, and I gulped looking at Isaac. His eyes also widened Mr.
Richardson not only accepted a proposal of cooperation, but he also wants to cooperate with us with the sales of his international products too. It will be a turning point for my company.
"Of course, I will never disappoint you, Mr. Richardson," I can't even believe this is happening.
My company, soon we are going to collaborate with the international sales of products with the Richardson Empire. It still feels like a dream.
"I'm proud of you, Brielle," he said, after seeing my best friend's daughter, grown-up and a strong and ambitious girl. "He will also be very proud of you," he said.
I paused at my spot, tilting my head backward. He knows my dad, and he's my dad's best friend.
"Of course, Nicolas and I, we knew each other since childhood, but we lost touch when I went to Greece, and when I came back to New York, I got to know about him and Prisca accident," he looked at the floor, his voice heavy with emotion.
I handed him the water bottle placed in front of him.
"I can't even express the happiness I'm feeling after knowing that my dad and you were very good friends, and it's a kind of positive emotion that I've felt about them since they left me," I smiled. I know I'm about to cry.
"Your parents will be proud of you," he put his palm over my head, making me chuckle.
"I know they will," I said.
"Well, it's so nice to meet you, and I'm glad that you will cooperate with us in sales of our international products." Mr. Richardson said
I said while holding my head high. I just don't know before meeting Mr. Ricardson, I was so nervous, but now everything seems so favourable and interesting.
"That's like a milestone for the company," Ivaan said while driving.
"Indeed it is, I'm just so happy that Mr. Ricardson has this much faith in it," my cheeks are hurting from smiling continuously. It feels so great when your first business deal went so smoothly and successfully.
Finally, we stopped at my maternal grandfather's house.
I entered the house and found him, my maternal grandfather. It just felt like sunshine flooded into my soul.
He was laying in his bed, murmuring a prayer, while covering himself with a duvet.
My skin shivered when the cold breeze hit me, making me shiver.
"Grandpa," I went towards him.
"Bri," he chirped, and I hugged him.
I suddenly felt at home. Why is it so overwhelming whenever you meet the people you love the most, and my grand father is one of them?
He's a retired police officer, and he and my maternal grandma have seven daughters and one son. My mom was the third one among them.
All of my maternal aunts are happily married and live in different cities across the United States, except for my Uncle, who lives here with his wife, my aunt, their daughters, and their son, Isaac.
"Brielle," my aunt said when she saw me, and I ran over to hug her. "You didn't remember your aunt these years, did you?"
She is my aunt, but she prefers her daughters over me.
It's not like I want her to favour me over her own daughters, but I still remember
I used to live with her daughter Roohi, who is four years older than me, when I was a kid.
Roohi hit me, and I raised my hand back to her, and my aunt came to our fight and she was favouring her daughter, even though Roohi was wrong that time, and I hate this. It
's not like I was so desperate for attention and favor, but still, I don't like people who pretend to be different and are something else in real life.
I don't think that I'll ever understand my aunt's state of mind.
"Where is Roohi?" I asked.
"She got a job as an assistant manager in a share market company in Boston last week, so she's not here in New York," Ivaan said to me, and I sat on the couch in the living room.
"And Nancy," I asked,
"She is also doing a job in a local chartered accountant's office, so she will be here in the evening." Ivaan brought coffee for us and I quickly took mine.
But, I intentionally took the yellow mug. I have an unhealthy obsession with collecting coffee mugs and yellow attracts me more.
Grandpa quickly went towards a cabinet near the living room and brought my all-time favourite chocolate chip cookies.
I leaned back on the couch with a smile on my face, feeling light-headed and relaxed for the first time in a long time, perhaps because my life has begun to become easier.
I don't know but a frown married my head when an unwanted sense arises in my heart like this happiness is not permanent, something big and unexpected is about to happen.
I shook my head and swallowed.
Take it easy Brielle, everything is going to be alright, nothing wrong will happen now. You've already gone through worse, now don't overthink it.
"Here, the presentation with the raw goods deal with Skincare Gentle Limited," Lucas said as he inserted the pendrive into the laptop, and I stared at the screen, making a mental map of stocks and sales."Excellent, Lucas. I must say you are very intelligent. Just do one thing: change that previous date into the most recent one. "I just saw yesterday that new data from the stock market was released," I nodded while taking notes from the presentation. "Hehe, the first compliment from you means a lot to me," he said charmingly.I looked at him. He is about the same age as me and has brown hair with misty eyes. He even has a handsome face.Well, "he kept his hand over mine, and I jumped back." Relax, "he laughed, and I sighed."I was just wondering," he scratched his neck, "will you come with me for coffee?"There's a café near the office. ""Um, sure, but not today." Maybe I nodded, looking around. It's the first time I'll ever go on a coffee date with a guy.Like I said, I didn't do mu
I glanced at him. I found this weird. You know, he wants me to spend money. It's not like I'm having any problem spending my money, but he's the one who invited me here, so isn't it his responsibility to already buy those vouchers instead of waiting for me to buy them just because I'm a millionaire? I shook my head. Maybe I'm just overthinking this all. It's not a big deal.Sure, I'll transfer the money to your account. "Bring two passes from there," I said, shaking my head to block out any other unwanted thoughts.I gestured to him, and he looked up, smiling, and went there.We entered the club. The loud music directly came into contact with my ears, making me startled.Almost all the couples were dancing so intimately, crushing their alcoholic bodies. Lucas turned toward me as he was walking forward to lead me. I pointed to the bar, where I saw long chairs facing the counter, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't impressed. Those bartenders who're serving the drinks are very handsome
"First and foremost, I'm not an ugly duck," I said calmly, yet dangerously, making her gulp. "And the second thing is, I'm minding my own business, so you better judge me, and you better not show your face to me again,"I snarled at her and turned around to walk away, holding my head high.Who the hell these people are. They think they can insult me like I'm trash and I will do nothing. Then they're wrong, very very wrong. No one can insult me without my permission.I can feel his eyes on me the entire time, giving goosebumps to my skin. That man whose voice makes **********I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "Calm down, Bri, calm." I tried to calm myself."So, like this, you will do it, so your body and tense muscles get more relaxed." That physical trainer said, and I looked at the screen of my laptop and did as he instructed in the video. Finally, after my morning exercise, I took my energy drink bottle and set it aside, and made my way to my bedroom. Suddenly, my phone
Zuriel pov"Do you really think I'm going to let you ruin your own life by playing with different girls and bringing scandals every second day?" He raised his eyebrows, and I sighed."Those are just my one-night stands. I already told them clearly, no strings attached, they're just gold diggers, nothing more than that, and they're lying," I huffed while running my hand through my hair."Your dad is right, Zuriel. You have to get settled, either sooner or later." I want to see you happy," she smiled while placing her hand over my shoulder. "No, I'm not going to marry her and that's final." I frowned at them. At least meet her once. I invited her and her family to our upcoming charity event. "Trust me, you will like her, and you will remember the condition right," he said, and I turned around and sighed.My dad put a condition before me that if I didn't marry within this month, he would transfer his entire company to an orphanage.I have no other option but to get married, but a serious
Brielle POVIssac said hurriedly, "Are you sure you're going to do this," while Zach pouted alongside my bed. I know they both vehemently oppose this plan of mine.I nibbled on the inside of my lips. I know Luke betrayed me recently, but I won't let that stop me from seizing the possibilities that will come my way.Finally, I put on mascara to prepare for my said date with that man, whom I was going to wed shortly, my alleged future husband.**********Five days beforeBack there when Brielle and her family when to a charity event organized by Mr. Richardson "Aww, you're looking so beautiful, sweetie," Mrs. Richardson said, with a beautiful smile reaching to her eyes."Thank you so much," I raised her back, and my muscles tangled with the positive energy I was shaving from her.Indeed, she's a very amazing woman. She just felt like a family to me, even though it's not even hardly a minute passed since I met her.Next, Mr. Ricardson pulled me into a warm hug.She and Mrs. Richardon ar
I kept standing at my location, not wanting to turn back because I knew if I did, I would lose my cool."What did you say?" I whispered."Look at my eyes," he ordered, and I turned around and looked into his eyes. My family is my biggest weakness.Tears welled in my eyes. I bit my lip."Now, when my dad wanted me to marry you, we will get married because he doesn't leave any other option for me either, but don't worry, get ready to face hell now. Now you will realise what a devil of a husband you have," he said.A lack of energy makes my skin feel like someone is piercing it with a knife.Flashback over.************"Please Bri, no," Ivaan said while following me as I was heading down the stairs."Please Ivaan, it's already very difficult for me. I'm very nervous about it being my first official date with him. Please just cheer me up instead of discouraging me," I said while smiling forcefully, "I seriously don't want Ivaan to know what happened with me and Zuriel that night. I just
My hands grabbed the papers I was reading, but I barely looked at them because my mind was preoccupied with the message I saw on his phone.It was from a girl, who was saying how amazing he was last night, and she really loves the branded expensive lingerie set he gifted her this morning. He spent the night with one of his nightstandsI can't even believe I'm going to marry someone like him. He is a manwhore for real.I hate you!I kept my hand over my head, breathing heavily. I quickly took the water bottle placed in front of me and gulped it down.Suddenly, a sharp pressure formed inside of me, and I coughed hard.Tears started coming out of my eyes.There is no way I will marry him, not in this fucking life.Never!It's final. I will say a big no to him.I just can't do this. As for Ivaan, he is mature enough to solve his own life problems. I just can't marry that man. He practically forced Ivaan to marry him with the threat of ruining Ivaan's life, but now I don't care. Ivaan is n
Past Our paper got started, and as soon as I got the question paper, the teacher rolled her eyes at me.I know everyone here hates me except Faith.Finally, when I saw the questions, I sighed in relief. Actually, it's our social studies paper and I know the answers, so I will easily get passing marks on these.After writing those answers, which I remembered when I revised last night, I glanced at their questions, which I don't know.I don't want to cheat on this paper."Shh," someone says quietly, prompting me to look up.I looked up at Faith. She was gesturing me something. I followed her eyes. Oh, she wants to know an answer.I kept my head down and slowly nodded to her, and slowly took my answer sheet and passed it to her carefully.Thank God, the teacher is still busy with her phone chatting with someone I didn't know and was not interested in.She took my answer sheet and quickly opened the papers of the question booklet, trying to cover my desk so that no one could notice that