Chapter 110: Tabitha's Presence

Brielle's POV

After the meeting with Mark, I took a cab to work. I was still soaking in the moment of that presentation as I sat behind my desk. I powered up the computer and reached for a pen, opening a booklet in front of me. I just couldn't help but tremble slightly coming down from my adrenaline that still coursed through me. I've impressed Mark and that should get me to work with him and bring my vision to life, right?

The uncertainty still made itself known. As I nearly started to write in the booklet, there was a knock on the door and I looked up, "I hope it went well." Tabitha said with a forced smile as she entered my office. She was curious to know, but I was more curious about her and Mark.

"It went great, Mark will get back to me on things and what he's decided." I smiled, still not saying much about it.

She pulled a chair out of the desk and took a seat. Something was on her mind, I could tell. "I'm glad to hear that things are going well with it. I just don't want to lose you especially if Mark takes you under his wing," She said. There it is. She was afraid of losing me to her competition.

"I will always be around," I smiled. "But what is really the deal with you and Mark?" I asked, gently placing the pen down in front of me, and clasping my hands.

"Mark and I came a long way in business. He is great at what he does, even better than me. I wanted to do everything the way he did, but he is my biggest competition. He is always the one to think about things first and then that idea is gone even before I thought about it to make this company unique. No one can really beat him if I can say that. I even went to the extent of throwing myself at him, and he didn't take me. I humiliated myself, and he isn't the kind of man to just go for any women like Daylan had done before. Ever since that happened, Mark has been even more guarded around me, but we haven't seen each other in three years as I tried to keep a distance. I wish I hadn't done that, all because I wanted to work with him. I just hope that it all works out with you because you have all the dignity, and you're not like some women who like me, throw themselves at men to get what they want. To be honest, I liked him when he had a fiancé. When that didn't work out, he met someone else who is far younger than him too. So, humiliation ruined everything to do with Mark." She said as her eyes glazed over.

"I guess we all learn by our mistakes in life." I felt sorry for her.

"Yeah, I've never truly been happy and now everyone is so happy." Her eyes glazed over.

"Maybe there is someone out there who is looking for someone like you. You just haven't met him yet. I also want to see you happy. I know it may seem as if it will never happen, but who knows when that will happen? Everything has its timing, and maybe you just have to keep your eyes open," I gave her a reassuring smile.

"I hope you're right. If I don't find that person, I might just grow old all by myself and that's something I don't want. I just have to keep my eyes open, maybe he could be under my nose, we never know," her smile widened now, and I was happy to put that smile on her face.

"Everything will be alright." I said as I grabbed my pen and started tapping it against the desk.

"You know, your idea of taking over Tim's company was actually brilliant, and I feel like I threw that opportunity away where I could be a competitor against someone else too. Maybe even bigger and better. This small division of publishing I have is something I never really took seriously until you wrote that book. I wanted someone to work here that would uplift the department and be a good manager. I had to get you involved. If I had listened to you about that company, we would've been something more out there." She said with disappointment.

"Well, if Mark doesn't give me an answer or if he turns it down. You will be the next person I will arrange a meeting with." I smiled, but I actually wanted this to be mine. Why did I feel like Tabitha was only doing this to get back at Mark or to be seen more as a company?

I sucked in a breath, "I would love that." She smiled.

"I will let you know how things go," I said. At this point, I just wanted her to leave my office. If Mark approves, I will do this and leave this company so that I can also be a success and not be in the middle of other companies' competitions. I will have my own publishing competitions, there is no doubt about that. But my ideas need to be better, and I'm not about to share them with people who will use it to benefit themselves. Tabitha turned me down at first, and now she wants to be included. I don't think I will even allow her to be part of it. Perhaps doing friendly business with her is all I will do.

"I hope I'm not interrupting," I looked at Rick, who entered my office.

"You aren't disturbing us." I held his gaze and he knew at times when his mother was an issue he had to get rid of her. He knew my gaze well.

"You are all invited to meet my girlfriend tomorrow evening. I will text the place and time." He stood next to Tabitha.

"I cannot wait," Tabitha beamed. "Just make sure you don't break this one's heart," she said.

"Mom, I want to settle down, and I think she's the one. No offense, Brie," he said as he realized what he said in front of me.

"None taken." I replied. Sometimes things work out and sometimes they don't.

I believe that Daylan and I were meant to be after Rick broke my heart. I'm having a baby with the man I love and this is also what changed Daylan to become a better man. He turned away from his past to focus on me and our little one. His dream is coming true, but might even end up in a tragedy. As long as I can make this dream come true for him and I can achieve my goals while I'm breathing, then that will make me the happiest person.

"So, how are the wedding preparations coming along?" Tabitha snapped me out of my thoughts.

"It's coming along alright. I just need to pick up my dress, and then we can go to the court on the specified date." I smiled.

"Every girl's dream," she said.

"I was never a person to have a huge wedding. I like this idea. I just want the people whom I love around on that day and I just want to be with Daylan and our baby."

"I think I have to propose soon though," Rick said in thought.

"This is not a competition," I chuckled.

"If you hadn't messed up then it would've been you and Brie," Tabitha chimed in.

"I know. But Dad's happy, and now it's only you that needs someone," he said, and I knew that was kind of a sensitive topic for her now.

Tabitha stood up and pushed the chair into my desk, "Someday, I will find the right person," she smiled at him before she left my office,

"So, what's gotten into her?" He asked.

"I guess it's Mark Stern," I said as I closed the booklet on my desk.

"Oh, that one she used to be obsessed over once upon a time," he said in thought.

"So, was it that bad?" I asked.

"Yes, very. Let me get back to work. Enjoy the rest of your day." He said.

"Thanks for saving me."

"You know I'll always save you." He smiled and then he left.

If Rick thought that it was bad with Mark, then it must be bad. Tabitha probably just told me a snippet of what she actually did when she threw herself at him. I don't even want to think about it. I don't even want to be in the middle of them when it comes to business. If they have issues, then they need to deal with them, but not involving me. I want to stay out of any drama because I have had enough of my own. I just hope to live a happy and peaceful life with no surprises and people taking advantage of me and Daylan. I'm still focusing on getting justice for Sophia and I won't stop. I will keep on fighting for that justice.