Meeting The Scott Family

SELENA'S POV:

SIX MONTHS LATER:

“Good morning!” I announced my presence as I stepped into the kitchen, meeting Henry in a singlet and some fitted black suit trousers, looking as hot as the meal he was preparing for us.

These past six months have been amazing, stressful, and heart wrecking for a variety of reasons. It was super stressful, settling into the mansion Mr Havin Scott, Henry's father, had gifted to us though I was yet to meet him. It was such a dream home for every single person who dreamt of having kids and a partner, the gardens, about eight bedrooms, parking lots, a swimming pool. I loved how serene and beautiful the entire mansion was.

It was amazing because I felt a friendship 

developing between Henry and I, we talked about work and literally everything and anything. He prepared breakfast every morning and apparently he cooked so well. He was also extremely strict and mean to other people but he was like a marshmallow to me. Most importantly, he never hesitated to boost my confidence every time I got nervous about work or meetings.

He was such an amazing man.

He looked up and smiled brightly then gave me a look that always made me feel I was a rare gem in the eyes of a beholder, “Good morning, you look beautiful.” 

“Thank you, what are we having today?” I asked, observing and he kept his eyes on the flapjacks.

“This is all for you, I have a meeting in about twenty minutes. I simply wanted to make you breakfast before leaving.” He informed me and I instantly felt a wave of disappointment, I looked forward to our breakfast in the morning and our weekends preparing dinner together. They were the highlights of my days amongst other things, but this was just something I needed.

“I can stay back and just cancel it.” He hastily added, but I quickly forced a smile.

“I'm fine, trust me. Go ahead and get dressed while I pack up your coffee and finish up with breakfast.” I assured, literally pushing him away by my hip which made him laugh.

“Alright, don't burn down the whole kitchen.” I rolled my eyes at his comment, which made him chortle as he walked off.

“Oh and by the way, my parents are landing today, we are joining them for dinner. They are excited to meet you, especially my mom.” This was one of the reasons things were heart wrecking, with all these unexpected surprises and feelings, tugging my heartstrings.

Since we had gotten married, I had only spoken to his parents a dozen times except we hadn't seen each other in person and this was so nerve-wracking, because what if she doesn't like what she sees? Her son is handsome and with makeup, I'm barely even pretty. What if she brought with her another woman who is beautiful, with a magnificent body, less problematic? What if she and Olivia have been making jokes about my very glaring unequal arms? Were they unequal? 

But what if they actually love you? I heard a small voice ask but I dismissed it because now my head was hurting.

I had successfully gotten my plate of flapjack and took two pieces out of the six he had made and packed up his coffee, heading his footstep descending down the stairs.

“Here you go and open your mouth.” I stretched out a fork with a large cut of the pancake and he obliged, taking it all in which made me laugh.

There was a stain of syrup by the side of his mouth and I don't know if it was because it was almost that time of the month, but Lord knows how much I wanted to lick the stain off of his mouth. 

He doesn't even find you attractive in that way. A loud voice echoed at the back of my mind, which made me hand him a napkin instead.

He grinned and appreciated in his deep voice making my heart skip a beat, “Thank you, beautiful!” 

“I will pick you up from work later tonight. Have a great day.” He pulled me for a quick hug and I caught a strong whiff of his cologne, wishing the hug was longer because it was short yet so calming.

He had been so respectful with me, and I appreciated it so much, the only thing he had done that seemed slightly romantic aside from all his gentleman ways, was a quick kiss on the cheek.

We were really just friends, weren't we?

“You too.” I said as he rushed out and he turned around, smiled at me and waved cutely.

I heaved out a breath, finishing up my breakfast and dashing out, slightly ready for the busy day ahead at the Monica's Company.

**********

LATER THAT DAY:

“The store in Dalaba is crumbling to the ground and the store manager has suggested it would be better to close it down.” The COO, Mr Gunnerside, reported in the operations meeting which had been set for 1.p.m and the tone in the mid-aged man had all of us stressed out.

Just after my amazing lunch over Facetime call with Henry as we both ranted about our days so far while I slightly mentioned my appointment with my therapist at 11. 

It was helpful in a way.

I scanned through the report and the chief financial officer, Miss Yolana, both glanced at each other seeing the numbers were extremely poor and this was the second store in the past six months under my leadership that was about to get closed.

I can just picture David's mean looking face, laughing at me shouting in my ears, “See what I said, you know nothing!”

“Ms Monica!” I snapped out of my thoughts at the sound of my new name, Monica, after my gracious mother’s name. I couldn't find words to explain the fuzziness in my chest everytime I heard that name, I was continuing her legacy!

“Right, unmm….” I took a minute to catch my breath, trying my best to be relaxed in the midst of the eyes, anticipating their CEO'S view on the pressing issue.

You got this, S, you can't afford to prove David and Sandra right about you.

“I think we should just—-” Miss Yolanda began speaking but I cut her off in a haste.

Everyone already didn't have faith in me since I was young, they were also people I needed to prove wrong, especially Mr Gunnerside and his look of disapproval that was plastered on his face.

“Why do these stores keep declining? Why does the only option being suggested only revolves around being shut down? How about marketing strategy? How about getting the root cause of the problem? How about investing into rebranding or conducting interviews with customers to dig into the issue and show we care? This is not just a regular store down the road, this is a multi-million generating store and suddenly only a few bucks per week is all it is able to generate. Let's put on our thinking caps, what do you think, Mrs Karen?” I placed my hands on the conference table, looking at each and everyone finally looking at the head of the marketing department who by the look of things was already dreaming.

She was an aged woman who looked like she was in her late sixties, why was she still heading over our marketing department? 

I heaved out a breath and postponed the meeting, giving time for the appointment of a new chief marketing officer and to also contact Mrs Karen's family, to ensure she gets all the care she deserves whether at the senior citizen's home or what not.

As I walked out the conference room, talking to Mrs Karen who was confused on where she even was, I couldn't help but chuckle and overhear that voice I had come to know so much, Mr Gunnerside, mutter,

“So that little girl is going to fire Mrs Karen who has served this company for over thirty years? I guess we are all next people!”

I rolled my eyes and continued on my way, holding Mrs Karen's fragile hands which reminded me of my grandmother and her repetitive words to me.

“You know you can do it, if you put your mind to it, right?”

Yes, grandma, which is why I'm also going to make the Scott family fall in love with me tonight.

Maybe just every single one of them.