FOUR : Christian

Today is a shitty day for me. After gulping down gallons of tea, listening to bored talks and the pain of long flights, I failed to secure the kH deal simply because the finance team failed to submit an accurate budget for the project.

It happened that there was a last minute addition to the budget which somehow managed not to be present in the budget that was submitted to me and not only did I utterly humiliate myself and lost the deal, I am on my way to the airport to board a plane back to New York to receive a lecture on responsibilities from my father and demeaning remarks from my brother, who had been after my position since day one.

"I want a meeting with the head of the finance department first thing tomorrow morning." I instruct my Sarah, secretary who has been trembling since the meeting and despite the fact that she was seating in the front seat very close to the car's cooling system, she is still sweating, despite the cool temperature of the car.

I let out a frustrated sign. The KH deal was a huge deal and now that we have lost it. There is no stoping our rivals from going after the deal.

The loss of the deal also means an introduction to New never ending board meetings, tiresome business trips and gallons upon gallons of tea.

I place a call to one of my many friends, who happens to be one of the executive to the king's group, which was the company handling the KH deal.

"Tristan, I need a favour from you."

"What favour?"

"An invite to the King's group chairman's inguration ceremony."

"Still pushing your luck with the deal, Mr grumpy?", he teases.

Damm. He knows that I hate being called Mr grumpy. "You know me, I never give up on an opportunity."

"Fine, I will email you the invite but you must promise me that you will attend my wedding."

"Wedding, I thought you were married?." I'm unable to hide the shock in my voice.

"Long story dude. I will fill you in when you attend my bachelor's party, ok?."

"Sure."

I end the call. I pull out the stake of paper that reminds me of the day's failure and start to review them. If I have to get this deal, then there has to be some modifications to the proposal so as to make it so irresistible.

I write down some new ideas and make a few amendments to the existing ones. "Schedule a board meeting tomorrow to discuss the proposal for the KH deal."

Yes sir, was all I heard before getting lost in the work at hand.

"We are here sir." Sarah's shrieky voice pulls me out of my work mode. I arrange the papers back into a file and alight from the car. Sarah follows with our suitcase (hers and mine).

I head towards the information panel while my secretary moves to book our tickets.

VOLARIS AIRLINES

12:00 New York ON 997 11 13:00

The words on the panel hit me. Just an hour before I will be subject to the mercies words of my father and brother.

Sarah soon joins me and we proceed to other airport protocols.It was just remaining thirty minutes to take off, when we were done. I move towards the lounge area with Sarah who is going on and on with a run down of my schedules for the day.

Taking a seat, I ask Sarah to fetch me a cup of coffee after which I resume my note taking when she leaves.

She returns back with the coffee and hands it over to me. She receives a call and excuses herself to take it.

My phone rings and the caller ID drains out all the colour on my face. It was Chloe ,my ex. What the hell does she want after cheating on me with my driver.

I had gone on a business trip and had returned a day earlier than expected and that was when I saw my now ex-girlfriend having her brains fucked out by my driver on my kitchen counter.

The image of that day still remains fresh in my memory. The way the two of them falter to a stop at the sound of my case falling to the ground, the surprise shining in their wide eyes when they

saw me, the sweat glittering on their faces and bodies.

I shake my head in bid to get rid of all that memory. It was the one of the most painful days of my life. Seeing the love of my life being fucked by a mere driver.

I ignore the call and stand to move towards my boarding gate. Sarah who had been on the phone was now by my side and is carrying my files.

Just as I move few steps away from the lounge area, I collide into a young lady. Her sweet vanilla scent hits me before she falls to the ground. As I made to move, I feel her strong grip on my jacket as she stands. And that is when I saw her face.

She looks so beautiful and by looking at her, one will know that she has been crying for a long time. She has a bruise on her forehead. Her blue eyes glitter with tears and there is pain in them.

Before I could open my mouth to speak, I hear her gentle voice but she is not saying any kind words.

"Did you lose your manners or you had none to begin with?" She snap at me as soon as she gains her footing.

Her voice was sharp. She was venting her anger on me.

"What did you just say to me" is all I could manage to say. I know I was being rude but I couldn't help it. I am already in a bad mood because of Chloe's call and I can be an insufferable jackass when I'm in a bad mood.

"Exactly what you heard, Mr whoever you are." She thunders back at me. She may be beautiful but she is feisty.

I yanks myself out of her hold, my gray eyes burning with rage as I stare her before turning and walking away.

"Jerk." Was all I heard her say in a fist of rage. 'we will meet again, miss' is all I said to myself before moving towards the boarding gate.