Chapter Ten — The Agreement

Will’s POV:

I let out a sigh of relief as the cool night breeze covered my body in the balcony of my room. I was at my Dad’s house… Mansion. There were a lot of things about work to discuss and I had most of my office wears and ride at his house. If it were up to me I would drive myself to work but Dad would never be in support of that, he sees it as suffering and wouldn’t want the world to think he has gone broke. He asked that the driver take me with one of his limo’s whenever I was going to work and you know that whole billionaire thinking thing.

Somehow my thoughts wandered off to Irene. I feel so much pity for her, she is a really good person and yet she was broken and treated so badly by someone she trusted so much. Come to think of it that guy happens to be the same dead guy that was late to the meeting. He even denied knowing her when I mentioned her name. How could he be so wicked? You hurt someone so bad and still set out to ruin their lives by not letting them get the job they’ve always dreamed of. That’s bottom pit behavior. I’m glad she trusted me enough to talk to me and I really hope she gets the healing she deserves.

“Sir,” one of the maids said.

“Yes, Nate?” I replied.

“Your Dad has asked to see you. He’s in the library,” he said.

I nodded. That was enough response for him. He nodded in return and headed out.

“Hi Dad” I said as I walked into the library.

“Hey. I see you’ve decided to stop those childish parties,” he said.

“Dad they are not childish parties. I only host those parties because… You know what? Never mind. Why did you ask to see me?” no matter how I try to explain it he wouldn’t understand. Instead he would find more faults in me.

“I hope you know you are only an acting CEO? Till you resume your full duties for the job. And agree to the marriage between you and Megan” he said. The part about ‘acting CEO’ hurt my ego a little but getting married to someone I did not love. No way.

“Dad you know that marriage between me and Megan is not going to happen. Not in this world” I said.

“Why do you hate her so much? She isn’t that bad, she’s pretty, smart and wealthy and I can’t imagine any other person that would be good for you. There are a lot of opportunists out there but Megan is someone we can trust, her father is rich so there is no way she would want your money and her family is really accommodating” he replied.

“Come on Dad, don’t pretend like you actually care if she is good for me or not. We all know the real reason you want us to get married is so that they would make us their permanent Ads Company"

“Look son, for the sake of the company there are decisions you have to make, even if it means being selfish to yourself. And I’m only using one stone to kill two birds. You get to marry someone who loves you and also have your company flourishing. All I am doing is for you Will"

“I will not marry her. And as for the company I would stop going if that’s the condition” I said angrily.

“I never said you should stop. You could continue your duty as the acting CEO and in that time think about your Marriage with Megan. I hope you make the right decision” he said.

I shook my head and walked out.

*****

“Good Morning Sir"

“Good morning Hailey. I would be firing a number of people and I would be starting with the Mark guy in Recruiting department. So go ahead and fire him” I said.

“Well, I am sorry but the Boss said you aren’t allowed to make permanent changes in the office till you have resumed your role as the actual CEO and not the acting” she replied.

I scoffed. I can’t believe my Dad already made it known to my subordinates that I was the acting CEO. How did he expect them to take my words seriously? This is such a tough spot for me. A lot of changes need to be made urgently but not until I agree to Marry Megan. Not that she was obnoxious or anything like that. She was pretty, very pretty and also smart, but I don’t love her and it wouldn’t be fair to take advantage of the fact that she likes me and use her for the company’s gain. It’s only if I would try and see if I can fall in love with her, and from all I have seen so far she is a good person so maybe that could work.

“Okay Hailey. That’s fine. But you should draft the letter of termination already so it will make things easier for you when it’s time to fire all those people” I said.

She gave me a weird look like I was some sort of monster before answering “Okay, Sir."

“Wait,” I said, making her turn back to me. “Has Irene Juls resumed work?"

“Uh…y-yes…I think so. There was this young lady that resumed today. She should be in her office by now,” she replied.

“Okay. Thanks,” I nodded and gestured for her to leave.

I’m so happy for Irene. I should go pay her a visit in her office and reveal my true identity.

“Ike” I called out. He was more like a bodyguard and also a messenger so he always stayed around.

“Kindly find the office of Irene Juls who just resumed today” I ordered.

“Yes sir” he replied.

*****

I approached Irene’s office to see the blinds were closed and the door closed. I could hear the voice of a man and it sounded like that Mark guy. I stopped myself from going in and eavesdropped on their conversation. Just then I heard him yelling at her and telling her that she found a way to work at ADseen just so she could stalk him. Why was he being so delusional? I was really angry and stormed in.

“Will??” Irene said surprisingly. The shock on her face couldn’t be hidden.

“Good Morning Sir” Mark said as he took a little bow.

“Do you work here? Wait…Sir?” she scoffed. “What’s going on?” she asked. I knew she would be shocked. That’s why I decided to reveal my identity to her so it doesn’t seem like I was hiding anything from her.

“You should leave” I said to Mark.

“Okay” he said. He gave Irene one final glare before leaving.

“Boss? What? Are you, like, the owner of this place?” she scoffed. I don’t know what she was thinking, but it seemed like she would faint if I told her I was actually the owner of the company.

“Yes I am. I mean, technically. My dad owns this place. I am the acting CEO."

“Wow,” she scoffed again. “Did you have something to do with me getting in?"

“Yeah, and don’t think it’s because we are friends. I went through your credentials and you were qualified for the job. That whole thing your crazy ex told you about needing a PhD was a lie; he just didn’t want you to get in, and I will be having him fired for that,” I said. I watched her as she tried to get her head around what I told her. She scoffed and looked at me like I was an illusion.

“Wow, this feels like a dream. A good dream and I hope I do not wake up from it anytime soon” she said.

I let out a giggle. I’m glad she’s not annoyed.

“Thank you so much, Will. You’re a life saver, like literally.” She smiled. “And please, about the ex part, can you not fire him?” she asked.

I just don’t get though. Does she still love the jerk after all he has done to her?

“And why shouldn’t he be fired? He broke the company’s rules and also hurt my friend” I uttered. She didn’t get the ‘my friend’ part at first and thought maybe it was someone else. She melted when she realized I was referring to her.

“Will, you’re a very good person, like you’re too good. But please could you let me fight this on my own. And I would be just as bad as he is if I let my friend take his means of livelihood from him as means of payback” she replied.

She had such a soft heart. After all he did to her she is still bothered about him suffering. He deserved it because from all I have seen about that guy if he had the opportunity to take her out of the company he would do it. Not while I am here though, he would have to go through me.

“Okay, I respect your decision,” I replied. “How do you like your new office?"

“I love it so much. It’s like everything I always dreamed of. Thank you again Will” she gave a warm smile.

I looked at my wrist watch to see it’s few minutes to lunch time. I should ask if she’s hungry so we’d grab lunch together.

“I got you anytime. I’m just a couple of floors away if you need me. Plus, Are you hungry?” I asked.

She was about to reply or maybe she did but I didn’t hear her because my attention was zapped away when Ike knocked on the door to tell me I have an urgent call from my dad.

“Erm, See you later Irene, and I am glad you like your office” I smiled as I walked out.