Chapter 2 — Introduction (Part 2)

Kyle's POV:

"What is this?" I looked at the presentation before me in disgust. "What idiot prepared this?" I looked from the presentation to the two men standing in front of me.

"Well...sir...it was." One of them stuttered, and I became more infuriated. "No. Don't tell me. You both are fired! Get out of my office." I glared at them, and they left the office.

I can't trust anyone in this building. They are all useless. Can't even make a proper presentation.

I dialed for reception, and a female voice answered. "Come to my office now!!" I angrily said to the phone, and my door burst open in ten seconds.

It was the receptionist, Lisa. Lisa is acting as both my secretary and the receptionist. I fired the last one yesterday.

"Yes, sir?" she calmly said, and I stared at her stupidity. "Are you stupid or what?" I stare at her, and she looked at me confused.

"You are a dumb one," I said to her again, and she just stood there confused. I sighed and adjusted my tie. It seemed I had to spell it out for her.

"I'm confused, sir," she finally said, and I rolled my eyes. "You came into my office without authorization! You didn't knock," I explained to her, and she still looked confused.

Where the fuck did they get this girl from.

"The thing is, I thought you knew I was coming because you were the one that called me in—" she spoke, but I waved my hand, causing her to stop.

"You talk too much. You thought, hmm? Stop thinking because your thoughts are stupid," I said rudely, and she started looking at her shoes.

"I'm sor—" she wanted to say again, but I interrupted. "Go outside and knock on my door," I told her, and she left, closed the door, and knocked.

"Come," I said, and she came in. "I need you to give this to my father. He's in his office." I handed her a file, and she took it from my hand and stood there again.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm done with you. You can leave now," I said, pointing to the door, and she turned to leave. "Again, I'm sorry, Mr. Matthews."

"Your apology does nothing for me." I didn't bother looking at her, and she left.

I opened my laptop and looked at our stocks. They were falling. That was why this marriage needed to be done, so a merger could occur between the two companies, increasing our stock price in the market.

My phone buzzed, but I didn't hear it because I was staring intently at the computer's screen.

My peripheral view caught sight of my screen, and I grabbed my phone. It rang again. It was Penelope. My soon-to-be wife.

I answered it, and she seemed cheerful. She has been madly busy trying to plan our wedding and all.

"I'm coming to your office" was the last thing she said before hanging up.

There was a knock on the door, and the person obviously didn't wait for a response and just threw my door open.

People don't have manners these days.

It revealed Penelope in a yellow dress that complimented her black eyes and brown long hair. "Hi." She smiled brightly as she came in, dropped her purse on the chair, and sat down.

"You look rather stressed." I studied her look of tiredness. "I am. It's like all the wedding planners in New York are conspiring against me. They don't have what it takes to plan my wedding," she complained and let out a frustrated groan.

"Relax," I said, trying to calm her down. "Let's go out for lunch," she suggested. I tried to turn her down, but she could be really persistent.

"Where to exactly?" I asked. "Anywhere," she responded.

I made sure my blonde hair was alright and not messy, and we left the office.

We had lunch in a fancy Chinese restaurant, and unlike everyone else, I was wearing a suit and was dressed formally.

After lunch, I decided not to return to the office and went straight home. Yes, home.

My father thought it would be good for us to move to New York, so we moved our family here.

I got home and greeted my mom and dad. Emily was in her final year at Oxford University.

The dinner table was quiet. The only talk we had at the table was between my father and me. We were talking about business and how profitable it would be if I married Penelope.

My dad spent three years teaching me how business worked and that sometimes sacrifices had to be made for the company's betterment, and thus I agreed to marry her.

It wasn't a really difficult choice as we were friends. Since Alexis left me, Penelope had always been there, helping me build this new attitude I had so the world wouldn't hurt me the way she did. She was like a sister to me, but right now, I had to marry her.

I excused myself from the table, went to my room, and changed my clothes. I opened my cupboard, and I saw a small wooden box.

I picked it up and sat on my bed to carefully open it, and it revealed a crumpled white paper that turned brown because of constant touching.

I opened the paper and saw the letter Alexis wrote to me for the last time. It was the last thing I have of her.

I remember the dates, her smile, and her beautiful emerald eyes. The best memory was of us in that crappy motel and how intense and passionate the night was.

I smiled, thinking about her. As tears tried to creep into my eyes, I stopped.

I shouldn't be remembering her. For eight years, I'd hoped she'd reach out to me, but she didn't.

She was the first and only girl I loved, and she freaking left me. No. I wouldn't get emotional now.

It had been eight years. I wondered if she still looked the same. Or if she was more astonishing.

Ugh... Kyle, you're stupid. We just agreed not to remember her. You're a lost cause.

Even my mind was tired of being assaulted with thoughts of Alexis. But my heart craved to see her again.

But it had been so long.

Would destiny bring her back to me?