Fought back

After my short encounter with Andrew, I followed dad into his office. When we were finally alone, he walked up to me and stretched his hands for a handshake.

"Congratulations Mrs. Dyson on your smooth entry into this prestigious company." I stared at his stretched out hand and chuckled softly. Why is he being so formal with me?

"Seriously dad??" I muttered in between my laughter.

"Dad?? We're at a working place so it's Mr. Dyson to you." He corrected as he tried to put on a stern face.

It sounded so funny to me but I decided to respect his wishes because Dad is someone that you could term too upright.

"Thank you Mr. Dyson for the warm welcome." I answered as I returned his handshake.

"Much better. Now, take a seat." He offered as he sat back on his chair. I sat down on the seat he offered which was opposite his.

"I have to admit, I was quite impressed by the show you put on there. I knew it would be hard to convince the directors to let you back unto the company but you handled it quite well." Dad praised.

"It would have been harder using you to convince the directors. They already gossip that this company is a family business because of my sudden departure and Andrew's arrival two years ago. I had to make them change their thoughts about us by using my own abilities and showing them that I can be useful for this company's growth." I explained.

"Well, not just them. You were able to convince me too. I really like the proposal you made. If things turns out the way it had been planned, we would be able to really expand our company." Dad said as he stared at the file I prepared.

I smiled when he said that. As always, dad had eyes for good and promising things. In my past life, when I prepared this proposal for Andrew, it helped him get a bigger spot in the company and our company grew ten times than it is now.

It was also what made my dad finally approve of his position in the company. Our company's shares grew and grew till the company was listed amongst the top ten in the country. If things continues this way, our company would be better than it was in my past life.

"Also Cathy.." Dad said suddenly turning serious. Since he had dropped the formal title he was using, I guess what he's about to say must be really serious.

"I am happy for your decision to finally rejoin the company and I'm also concerned about you. You've been acting different since the day you lost your baby and it's not like I'm complaining about the way you are now..."

"... I like the new you. You're so agile than before and you didn't let your loss stop you from doing what you want to do. I'm just concerned about how your husband might feel. It's quite obvious that he doesn't want you back in the company because there's no one to prepare his proposals for him anymore."

My eyes dilated in shock; "You knew those were my proposals??"

"You're my daughter. Is there anything about you that I don't know??" He asked back but I was too shocked to answer.

"Just because I overlook things doesn't mean I like them. Why did you think I never approved of your marriage with him?" He asked again.

"How come you never complained once?" I asked him.

"You were so hellbent on getting married to him that you wouldn't even listen to any advice from me your father. You didn't even tell me when you both got married. I had to find out from your stepmom. Do you know how devastated I was?"

Amara was the one that convinced me to have a secret wedding with Andrew and I agreed since it was obvious dad wasn't going to let me get married to him. Also, we agreed I would break the news to him when the time was right but Amara told on me a day after the wedding.

Due to the news, dad had an heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. I still remember how scared I was when it happened. Dad didn't speak to me for days and Amara took the chance to feed me with vicious thoughts saying that my father didn't know what was best for me and he wants to be the only one to have control over my life.

That was when the fight between me and dad began. I didn't put much thought in the fact that she was the one that told him about my secret wedding because I was too busy hating dad. Reminiscing my hurtful and disgraceful actions in the past was enough to make me shed tears.

"Dad... I'm so sorry for what I did. I'm so sorry for all the hurtful things I told you before. I'm so sorry for not listening to you." I apologized as drops of tears dripped down my eyes.

Dad stood up from his seat and walked towards where I was. "You don't need to apologize. I have forgiven you a long time ago." Dad said as he patted me softly on my back.

"It doesn't make what I did right. I have always been a very bad daughter to you and I'm so sorry for that." I apologized again as more tears pored out of my eyes.

"It's fine Cathy. Don't cry.." He pleaded as he wiped my tears with his thumb. I wonder what sort of charm Andrew hard used on me in my past life for me to have acted that way to my own dad.

"I just hope that you'll never ever make the same mistakes again and you would always let me know before taking any step in your life." Dad said and I nodded immediately.

"Also, I hope you'll continue with this new attitude of yours at our upcoming charity event." I stared at dad in confusion when he said that. We have an upcoming charity event?

Dad gave me a dissatisfied look; "Don't tell me you've forgotten so soon."

That was when I recalled the charity event that occurred days after the loss of my baby. The day that marked the beginning of my downfall.

"Don't worry dad. I haven't forgotten. I'll work hard to make that a success too." I assured him.

"Good. That's more like it." He said as he gave me a warm smile.

○●○●○●○●○●○

♧LATER THAT EVENING♧

After a very long day at the conpany, dad and I returned home together. I still had that happy smile on my face as I entered into the mansion. I was first greeted by Andrew's hard gaze even though he fought so hard to hide it due to dad's presence.

For the first time in a long time, we ate dinner together as a family because dad was very happy about what happened at the company today. Through out the dinner, dad and I were engaged in small talks mostly about the company.

I noticed how Amara would always try to butt in or change the subject into something else but dad ignored her all through. Andrew who was sitting besides me remained silent till dad directed a statement towards him.

"Today was a very good day for me except for the fact that someone almost tarnished my name." Dad said as he turned his attention towards Andrew.

Andrew bowed his head in shame as he couldn't say anything to defend himself.

"You've always known that I never for once agreed to your marriage to my daughter. Don't you think you need to earn your keep if you still want my name backing you up?"

"I'm so sorry father." That statement came out form Andrew's mouth like a squeak.

"Save the apology and do better. The next time something like this happens, that's the last time you would be an employee in Dyson's corp." Dad sneered before he left.

Amara stood up and gave me a harsh look, thinking I couldn't see her before she followed dad. Finally, it was just me and Andrew left in the large dinning hall. I stood up like I was done with eating and was about to leave when Andrew suddenly pulled me back harshly making my body hit against the dinning table.

"What the hell Andrew!!" I cussed out in pain as I held my hurt waist.

"What's the meaning of that stunt you pulled at the company today?" He asked back but I ignored him. I straightened my back and was about to leave again when he held me back.

"Don't walk out on me when I'm talking to you."

"Why not??" I asked back, matching his dark gaze. He was startled because he didn't expect me talk back at him talk more of stare at him that way.

His shocked expression quickly changed into an amused one; "Wow.. Catherine. You really outdid yourself today. Congratulations, you were able to humiliate me in front of so many people."

"How does it feel hubby??" I asked back with mockery laced in my voice.

"What??"

"How does it feel to be in my shoes?" I asked again.

"You made me a laughing stock and you still have the guts to make it about you??"

"What I did toady is nothing compared to how you've made me feel since the first day I got married to you!!" I screamed at him angrily.

"So this is how you want to pay me back huh?? By going against me??"

"I don't live to please you. You don't own me so how I live my life is none of you busin..." I was able to complete my words when he suddenly gripped my neck harshly.

"I am your husband so I own you!! You exist to please me!!" He shouted as he pressed harder on my neck.

I was loosing my breath really fast so I did the only thing I could do at that moment. I moved my hands to my side and gripped whatever my hands were able to touch. The next thing that was heard was the sounds of a breaking plate and Andrew's painful groan.

He let go of me immediately and held his busted head. I held my neck as I fought so hard to catch my breath. His eyes widened when he noticed the amount of blood rushing down his head.

"Y...you hit me.." He stuttered out in shock.

"Yes and I would do it again if you ever dare to lay your filthy hands on me again." I said without fear.

"You!! You'll pay for this!!" He swore.

"So great that you just said that because I don't intend on holding back too. This would be the last time I'll ever let you lay those hands on me or let you walk over me like you used to. Try it next time and I'll aim for a more vulnerable part of your body." I threatened before leaving him to bleed out.