Meeting the new boss
“Oh! Come on Grandpa, you can not do this to me.” Mark raised his hands then dropped them in frustration, as he leaned on the office desk looking at the stubborn old man.
Raising his eyebrows, the old man looked at him the way he mostly did at the conference room.
“Grandpa, that promise was made years ago when I was a small boy. I didn’t have anyone in mind then, but now I already have someone I like.”
“You! What do you mean someone you like?” Pointing at him, he questioned getting more agitated.
“I love someone else grandpa, and this marriage with Sasha won’t be a happy one. If I’m not happy, I can’t run the company well, besides we don’t need a merger, the company is doing well. We will keep doing business with them anyway.” Using what he believed was his grandfather’s weakness, Mark made his argument.
“You think I only care for the company, huh?” The old man questioned looking at him intently. “I love you my grandson, and very much want to see you happy, but I can’t let you make the same mistake your father made.”
“This is not a mistake grandpa and dad didn’t either. He is very happy with mother because they love each other, and I won’t leave the company like dad did. I’ve already shown you my capabilities.”
With an heavy sigh, Mr Johnson looked at his grandson thoughtfully. “If I let you call off this engagement, what will I say to my old friend?”
Hearing his grandfather’s words, Mark smiled walking over to seat be side him. It was not everyday the old man easily agreed with him.
“I will personally explain and apologize to Sasha and her family. I’m sure she too does not want to be forced into this.”
“Your father defied me in everything and now it seems, I can’t win with you too since your mind is set and you have your parents approval. We have been friends for years so you must set things right with that family. We don’t want to lose the partnership our companies have had for years.”
“I promise we won’t lose them.”
“Okay, I’ll let you do this, but you have to bring that girl you like, so I can meet her.”
“Thank you grandpa. I’ll bring her to visit soon.” He said hugging his grandfather.
“Ha ha! Stop, you are not a child anymore. Help me to my room I need to rest talking to you is really exhausting.” He joked around holding onto Mark as he helped him from the sofa to the bedroom.
“Won’t you have dinner first?” Mark inquired as Mr Johnson got on the bed.
“Have it brought to my room, I’ll eat it here.”
“Okay, take good rest and don’t exhaust yourself with work anymore. I will leave first but I’ll be back tomorrow to check up on you, and don’t worry about the partnership grandpa, I’ll handle everything.”
“Good. Go have some rest too, you had a long flight and be sure to introduce that girl to me soon.”
“Okay grandpa, I promise I’ll bring her to meet you.” After briefly talking with the house manager who was also his grandfather’s personal doctor, Mark drove from the mansion to the villa eager to see the one person constantly on his mind.
….
As Melissa sat in her room, she thought of how she would manage to meet her father’s last contact. According to the documents she got, she had to go to the capital sports club, but sadly only club members and employees would get access yet she was neither.
Membership was for the wealthy class, which she was not part of neither did she have money to join.
If not for the company’s accommodation and transport she couldn’t survive in the city on her own without any money, and since Mary had informed her that the boss would be back today, she made her hair trying to look presentable as she planned to meet him so she could thank him for all he had done to help her.
Tucking the strands of hair trying to hold it in a bun, a message popped up on her phone. Looking at the screen, she found a message from Diana asking if they could hang out together the following day.
She had not thought of Diana, and though Diana was the last person Melissa could hangout with, because of what her father had done, she was the only one who could get her in that club.
“Yeah Diana, I would love to meet and catch up on all the years we have not seen each other.” Melissa wrote a reply, checked it a few times then sent, and immediately got a reply.
“Do you have a place where we can meet?”
“Maybe we should go to the capital sports club, it’s been awhile since I went to such a high class place.”
“Okay then my treat, I know your short of cash. Send me your address I will come pick you up.”
“Pick me at the Eastern mall, I’m staying at a friends house who does not like me giving out his address.”
“Is he a boyfriend? Why can’t you give me the address, we have been friends for years, we are practically family.”
“He’s just a friend and it’s his private life, since he doesn’t like giving his address then I think its best I shouldn’t. So will you pick me up at the mall?”
“Fine Mel I’ll be there at 10:00am.”
“Thanks D you’re the best, see you tomorrow. Have a good night.” Typing the few words, Melissa smiled grateful to have found a way to get in the club.
“Okay, see you Mel, you don’t know how much have missed my best friend. Good night.”
“Best friends in deed.” Sneering in her heart, she kept the phone aside.
Though she didn’t know why Diana wanted to meet her, when they had just met, she couldn’t trust anyone until she found out the truth.
“It seems I need to get really close to Diana, it’s the only way I can know what her father is up to. I promise I’ll get the whole truth and avenge you, mum an dad.” Swearing to herself, she touched the gold chain necklace her father gave her on her sixteenth birthday.
As she sat on the bed, thoughts of all the happy times she spent with her mom and dad flooded her mind. The birthday parties they always organized for her, and all the vacation they went together, made her miss her son more, hoping in her heart that she would give him a happy childhood. As the knock sounded at the door, it forced her from her deep thoughts.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.
“Melissa dear, dinner is served come down soon.” Mary said as she opened the door.
Though a little older than all the other employees, Mary was loving and caring, always thinking of everyone’s well being.
“Thank you Mary let’s go. I was not that busy anyway.” Responding she stepped out of the room following her down stairs.
Since Mary took care of her like a mother would, Melissa respected her as one, but it was a shame Mary didn’t have children of her own. “Did the boss come back already?” As they got to the dining room, Melissa inquired looking around eager to meet him.
As her eyes fell on the table adorned with different type of dishes that she had helped prepare as a way to thank her boss, a smile formed on her face.
“He will be here soon…” Just as Mary was responding, they heard a car drive in.
“I’m sure that’s him, why don’t you sit here as I go to receive him then we can eat together.” Excitement written all over her face, Mary walked out without waiting for Melissa’s response, leaving her with no choice but to sit there waiting for them.
Since her boss had helped her so much, she felt it was a good opportunity to meet and thank him for everything in person.
“Oh, you’re back.” Opening the door, Mary wrapped her arms around Mark in a warm embrace. She had taken care of Mark since he was a child, and to her he was like her son.
She loved him so much part of the reason she decided to follow him when he moved from the state where his parent lived, to come take over the company after his grandfather’s illness.
“Nanny how have you been? I told you not to wait for me at the door every time I get back.” Breaking from the hug, he said placing a warm kiss on her cheek.
“My boy, you know how worried I get whenever you leave for those business trips. I’m always happy to see you back safe and sound.”
“Thank you nanny, I’m always happy to see you too. Where is my guest? I hope you took good care of her.” He asked looking around eager to meet her.
“She is a nice girl and yes I took very good care of her. I left her at the dining hall waiting for you to have dinner. Come, let join her.”
Responding, Mary proceeded him walking to the dining room as the other employees who had joined her to welcome him went to their work stations.
Following closely, a smile formed on Mark’s face growing broader with every step he took, eager to see how surprised Melissa would be when she realises he was the boss she was waiting for.
“No where to run to.” He thought to himself as Mary opened the door.
Seeing the door open, Melissa stood up with a smile on her face ready to welcome her new boss only to see the man she hadn’t expected to meet in the big city standing behind Mary.
“No it can’t be.” She said as their eyes met locking in a stalemate gaze.
Seeing the smug smile on his face mocking her, she realized what he had done.
She had fallen into his trap and couldn’t run this time since she was in his territory. He hadn’t bothered looking for her when she left the hotel because he knew he could easily get her to come to him. The company that gave her the contract was part of the Johnsons group, and she was staying at the Johnson villa but she never thought Mark could be the boss everyone was talking about.
How stupid was she to believe such a company would hire someone unqualified to handle a big project, without a college degree like all her coworkers had as per the company’s rules.
He did all this so she couldn’t get a way from him after signing the contract, but why? She didn’t understand what he was up to.