I took a long sigh and sat on the chair. It's morning, but I am exhausted as hell because I couldn't get a wink of sleep; the whole night, the scene kept repeating for no reason. I got up drained, and here I am at the company, my mind still occupied with the scene. Everything about the scene pisses me off. I took my cell, started scrolling through the news, and also checked the notifications. There were a few miscalls and texts, which I didn't bother to respond to. I immediately started searching for the specific video. I tried every social site and scrolled for at least five minutes, but I couldn't find the video, at least not a glimpse of it. The least I expected was that the video with images would be blurred; no one dared to post it, or maybe it was taken down immediately. Someone's PR was working like hell to defuse the situation. I hummed, intrigued. Dante did murmur something in a cold tone once the kiss was broken, maybe about this.
I scrolled further; there was a lot of news about Dante. It's been nearly 10 days since his return, and he has already taken over his empire, and his company's share price has boomed by 5%. Here, I am trying to take complete control of my own company by allying with Merdith. Wow, that's something I mocked myself for.
A few more minutes, I watched other videos related to Dante, and reluctantly, I put my cell aside. Work was calling, and I needed to focus on the routine. There were so many emails that were asking for my attention, and I immediately started to go through and respond to the important ones. I was going through some files when my dad entered. There was a board meeting today, and I had an urge to groan at that. As usual, most of the directors would get on my nerves; my dad's presence would ease the situation, but still, these days they are pushing too much.
My dad nodded at me, and I followed him towards the meeting, carrying a few files. "I suppose you heard the news?" My dad questioned me, and I squinted my eyes at him. "Of Morris's son, Rowan." "Yes," I answered in a stiff tone, like something burning in me. "Like always, you were late to know, right?" "Dad, stop it. Don't start; I have more headaches to deal with." He sighed at that. "His company's share value increased." "Yes," I replied meekly. "Today's board meeting is going to be tough; they will push you by taunting you." Why am I not surprised? I am always the centre of attraction. "They will compare and push you. Please don't react to anything." I sighed at that. "Let me try to handle most of the time, but when they question you, just be polite." I cursed at my fate. "We are going to announce your engagement with Meredith by this week, and things will turn a 'U-turn' for you. Mark my words, Rowan." The word 'engagement' will make sure to push me to the edge, and there is always a dread feeling like my world is collapsing. Well, this is going too fast, and I need to put the brakes somewhere. I didn't bother to respond to him, and we entered the room.
The meeting started, and as my dad predicted, it was about Dante and about the share value, his achievement and so on. These suckers should really take a break and leave me the hell alone. The slogan was repeated, 'Replace Rowan', and I just rolled my eyes. Our company is not underperforming; there is a decent increase in profit as well, and nothing satisfies them. We managed to grab a few good deals; graphs are looking good, but still, they are sticking to their bloody slogan. Everyone makes mistakes; I did too, and they always want to throw that in my face, highlighting the same. It's been years since I stopped minding them, but they would crave some reaction from me.
I was a CEO, but they still expect me to give a review of everything and also about the performance of the company. It's a quarterly meeting; every board meeting, they expect me to do this bullshit. "That's all, gentlemen." I gave a brief overview of everything and took my seat. The same whispers and murmurs started, just to get on my nerves, and as usual, I let them. My dad, besides me, watched everyone like a predator, waiting for one wrong move or word. From the beginning, he did his best to explain things, and now, he had had enough. As the minutes passed, the mummer and whisperer died, and I exhaled a slow, relieved breath. This shit happens every damn time, and I hate it.
My dad and I exited the cabin. "You were good." As we entered my cabin, my dad spoke to me in appreciation. "Everything will be stopped soon; don't worry." I rolled my eyes. "Count the days." He added. Get engaged to that uptight bitch and count your damn days. For sure. I murmured to myself.
Once again, I took out my cell and started scrolling through social sites, just to get an update on Dante. Please don't ask me why. He didn't contact me. It's been days; the hell, I am counting days; it's been fucking years. He ghosted me, and things were pretty much the same when he returned. Well, like I give a shit, but I will definitely get back to him for everything. My mind drifted to the kiss, and I don't know why it was eating me up. 'Fucking gays.' I yelled in my mind, I never hated gays, but now, I just hate them. Nope, scratch that; I loathe their existence. "Rowan," my dad shouted a little louder and sighed. "Yeah," I spoke slowly. "Did things get to you at the meeting?" Like hell, I never cared, nor am I going to, but something else is getting to me. "No," I replied to him. He nodded at that, watching me keenly. "Don't worry." Once again, he was making sure I was ok and at the same time securing my future, in his own way. Good luck to him with that.
My dad left the cabin, and I resumed my scrolling. I don't know why I was obsessed all of a sudden; probably I had never got any information about Dante before, and now, he was everywhere. I am trying to fill the gaps, I told myself.
My cell started ringing, and I sucked in a breath when I saw the caller ID. Well, it's been two hours since our previous conversation, and I missed her dearly. I grunted and swiped on the screen. "Hey, baby, my dad and yours are discussing the venue for our wedding." My eyes went wide at that, and I shouted. "What?" she burst out laughing. "Oh, sorry, my bad for the engagement." I exhaled my sharp breath. She will give me a heart attack sooner or later; I should somehow make sure to keep my heart somewhere safe and sound. "I don't get why you shouted and panicked. Once we are engaged, we will not delay the marriage part." Right, she would never delay anything in her life, especially to get into pants at the earliest. "Honey, the reason I called you is about shopping for our engagement." I wanted to cry when I heard the word 'shopping'; like, hell, I am going to entertain this shit once again. I rambled in my brain for an escape plan, not that she is going to buy any reason so easily, but I have to do something. "Shreya, surprise me." The line went silent for a few seconds. "Excuse me, babe." "You heard me; surprise me. You know my size, and your choice will be final, so select our engagement attire. Let me scratch my head about your surprise." She chuckled at that. "So, you meant it when you talked about our vacation?" "Could anyone bluff you?" I retort to her. "Well, they can't escape my wrath, that's for sure, my dear fiancée." My breath hitched at that. What could she possibly do? Looks like someone was going to find out soon. "Ok, then, I am going to select the attire for our engagement, and don't bother about anything else about you, too. I am going to look after your grooming too; after all, it's my engagement, and things should be perfect, just like me. Make sure you are present at the venue along with your family on time." Right, that's the only option she has given me, and I am making sure to serve her better. After all, I would never get this chance again and again to serve her with extra care.
I sighed when the call got disconnected, reminding me to take her on dinner dates soon. Well, she is good at giving reminders and forcing anyone to follow her command. I have not come up with anything to cancel the engagement, but strangely, the confidence has skyrocketed. I should come up with something, and in a situation like this, I wish running were an option. It was handy; I could just vanish.
The next day, as I reached the office, I grabbed my cell to check the notifications. I never thought I would be trending for a whole different reason. There was a comparison trend going on between Dante and me about everything. My overall rating is kind of predictable, but I am not getting why this thing started all of a sudden. Lots of people were highlighting the age factor, and I kind of wanted to pout. As I scrolled, there were a lot of videos, and many of them were circulating. Yesterday, nothing was there; today, I am already everywhere for a whole different and unexpected reason. This is not how I planned to be on trend. I huffed as I scrolled through emails. My PR team informed me that they were already working on removing the videos. Yeah, I am already everywhere, and they are still working on it. Can't a guy get a break?
I sighed and leaned on the chair, swaying on it. One or the other person would always be on my business, targeting and circulating bullshit. There is a pattern, only highlighting negative things about me, more from the beginning, when I was more exposed to the media. It all started when I started to date Isabella; we kept our relationship a secret. Unwillingly, she agreed too, but paparazzi would appear wherever I would take her. When the directors went against me overnight, the next day by evening, I was everywhere. All the time, when the opportunity to become CEO slipped, someone would post on the social site. This keen observation about me is not sitting well with me. Not that I care, but damn, when they make my business theirs and try to twist things, then it becomes necessary to get involved.
I don't know what's happening in my life anymore. Am I inviting the irrelevant or negative things, or were they self-inviting themselves? It is strongly debatable. My life before was calm, and I was content. Yeah, my fatness was shaming me, but I never let that thing get me because of my family. Things were ok with my family and Davis. I have a few other friends who are just for name's sake and because of my surname. In that list, the top name is Tristan's, who swore to hate me from the beginning for no reason. His smirks, his contempt that oozes from him, are just irrational and palpable. I tried my best to befriend him, but the guy was not on the same page from Day 1. Outright, he didn't hate me or show it with his words, but his behaviour said it all, and I am no fool.
Tristan is a spoiled brat just like me; in fact, he's more spoiled than me. He was thoroughly spoiled by his parents and his sisters. He has two sisters, and he is the only heir of Sawyar Constructions, mines, and the Sawyar hotel chains. His dad is a role model for the young and middle generations, and I adore him, but that family is too arrogant to acknowledge anything. His dad is a brilliant guy, too manipulative and successful. Every Sawyer's chain is running successfully, and his dad's hold is in a top notch from the decade. Now, Tristan has taken over the hotel chain, and he has proved he has the same hold as his dad, and he is his father's blood. I love to add, unlike me at this point, but I have gotten bored with it. I bet everyone else has too. So, I am sliding the statement this time. Let me come back to my summary. When we met, it was because of my surname, tagged along with Davis and me, but at some time, he would always make sure to ditch us. His sisters are tough competitors to mine; we are not rivals, but his family always takes everything about us personally. For no reason.
Once we were done with the degree, Tristan took over the hotel chain immediately. We met occasionally, but every time he made sure to mock me about my incompetence. His dad would always question my authority in the company and would gloat about his son at every fucking party. Eventually, I tried to avoid them, but they would always find their way to grab my attention.
I seethed when I saw Tristan, who was slowly sipping his wine and whispering something in the ear of Jennet, one of our friends from our degree. She is a gorgeous girl, engaged to an architect. We were in the VIP section of a high-end pub, a small get-together, and I don't know whose idea this was. I glared at Davis for dragging me over here, and he immediately averted his gaze. Tristan got up from his seat and sat between Davis and me. I wanted to do something to show my displeasure, so I made more space between us, like it's going to make any difference. His smirk, his perfume, and the aura of being overconfident successfully pushed me to the edge. I didn't let things reach or affect me in any way, but me, being me, my mood swells a little by watching him.
Tristan cleared his throat, and I don't know whose attention he is seeking. "Well, Rowan, it's been a long time. How have you been?" His tone was calm and soft, with a layer of smirk on his face and an undeniable mocking tone, which I never miss. "Good." I almost wanted to spit the word, but it left my mouth in a stiff tone. "I heard you have finally taken your dad's position. Finally, cheers to that." Once again, his tone was laced with mocking. He would never miss a chance like this. "But I also heard that you are still under regulation with certain rules." He is getting better at this, ridiculing me. "Will you just shut up, Tristan?" Davis spoke in a firm, authoritative tone. "I am stating the obvious; sorry for that." He spoke casually, and "sorry" meant nothing. "I am sure Rowan is doing his best, like always," Janet added, giving me a warm smile. "Yeah, doing his best for five and a half years." Tristan lazily added. I didn't try to add anything; he will always find something and come back to me. It's best to stay away from him.
"Have you heard from Dante?" I fucking knew it. If I think of it, my calm life didn't get disrupted because of Tristan or any other friends, but when Dante entered, it did. Things bloody flipped. How the hell did I miss the bloody clue? I was not myself, acting like an idiot around him, irrespective of being an elder. He changed me and my way of living, and because of him, I gained so much attention, especially Tristan's. He always popped up whenever Dante was with me and acted like a goody-good kind of guy. All of a sudden, he disappeared, completely erasing his trace from my life and didn't contact me again. Like, I fucking care anymore.
I went stiff for a moment when I heard Dante's name along with Davis's. Once again, in the given situation, I know why I went stiff, but I don't know why Davis mimicked me. These days, I don't know what's happening with him either. From the time we saw the fucking kiss, things changed, or something consumed both of us. Neither of us is willing to point out or try to find out what changed from that day. Eddie William stirred something in both of our lives in a different way. I never hated him this much when he was sort of a bully at the college, but now, everything is submerged, and I am hating his existence.
"No." The word left me slowly with a sour mood. "Not even a text or message from him? " He is damn curious, and he is always curious about Dante. Something passed when Tristan questioned me, like an ache. The second before, I was irritated, and now I was gloomy, and my mind drifted to the kiss, mocking me in return. I waited patiently, anticipating some messages or texts from Dante, but he never contacted me, and when he appeared, he was kissing a jerk, which was like a punch to my guts.
"No." Once again, the word left my mouth tasting bitter. "Are you sure?" Once again, he asked softly, facing me, waiting eagerly to confirm the obvious. I thought he was getting on my nerves like usual, but when I saw his expectant eyes, I ruled that out. Tristan treats things differently when they are related to Dante, with more dedication and seriousness. I wanted to add the word "longing," but that would be far-fetched, or am I missing the point? I don't know either of them. I sighed when he was still waiting for my answers with those eyes. "Yes," I answered, meeting his eyes, and relief flickered in them. "I wonder why, anyway; good to know." By saying that, he got up from the couch. The spirit was high when his eyes fell on me. He bid goodbye to everyone with a bright, energetic smile and left the room. I sat stunned at his odd behaviour.