{NICHOLAS}
March 10, 2017
I sat back in the black leather chair, slouching on it, placing one of my legs above the other and holding my head in my hand. This was incredibly boring, and I couldn't sit through one more second of this. I'd rather listen to Taylor Swift if I want to be bored and annoyed at the same time.
It has been an always thing, I knew that this was important or whatever my dad always says. I just don't get why I have to stress about it so much. I'm not the boss yet, right?
"Nicholas..?" I heard my dad call, causing me to snap my head at him and then look around.
"Yes, sir?" I asked him. I took a look down at my dad's ID badge, he really needed a new one. It looked like it had been through thick and thin, I think he hasn't had a new one for years. Unless he still has black hair and a full stubble I always miss when I look at him. Who knows?
"What is your input, son? About the company, I was just talking about?" He asked, raising both of his eyebrows and curving the corner of his lips- a clear sign that I was way too used to. He always did that when he was bothered or when he was begging me to not embarrass him. I looked off to the side to the huge billboard behind him and looked at the company name. Imperium, oh, yeah! That was the one.... oh, I have this.
"In my opinion, they're not apt for the business we offer, Mr. Aleshire. I truly believe that Imperium is a great starting company but to be professionally honest, they don't have the economic support or nearly enough influence for our company." I said, watching my dad nod with almost every word and then motion for me briefly to sit up. I rolled my eyes mentally but did as I was directed.
"I'm sorry," I heard from the other end of the table. Everyone's eyes traveled to the source of the intrusion and of course, it was Christian Tremblay.
"Mr. Tremblay." Dad nodded and stood straight, waiting for Tremblay to give his intrusion. Tremblay stood and cleared his throat.
"I agree with Mr. Aleshire, I do. However, I feel that Imperium is a great company, maybe it's not worth so much right now but I feel like if we just give it a little bit of effort it will one day be a great company. Our job is to provide other companies or businesses money, right? So, I believe it's best to trust them." He says, and my eyebrows furrow. Why didn't I see it coming? This clown always has something to say back to anything I do or say. It's always an. 'I'm sorry' that tries my every nerve.
"I think the kid is right, Kol." Joseph Arenas, our Co-Manager agrees, pushing his chair forward and sitting up straight, looking at dad. "I say we take the investment and see how it works from them. What have we got to lose?" He asked and I scoffed.
"Money," I said, oblivious as to why such a smart man like Joseph Arenas would ever agree to anything Christian Trembling, or whatever his name is, says. If a company is shady don't buy! Don't invest!
"How's that, Mr. Aleshire?" Yvonne Cauldron asked her red lipstick in an innocent yet curious smile. She was my dads' secretary, and he was so damn lucky. I have always had a thing for Yvonne. We flirt a lot, but she's never taken it further than that and I respect that but damn. She is just so gorgeous, with her dark wavy hair and her dark blue eyes. And don't get me started with her body. I forced myself to push the thoughts about her aside and I looked at her, a small smirk appearing on the corner of my lips.
"Well, what good is a company that no one knows anything about? Let's say that we do give them maybe two million dollars for sponsorship and relations. Who is going to rely on a company like them? Without any back profit, there's no investment. Unfortunately, Ridge Company is a lot better at sales than they are. Imperium has insane prices because they don't have money." I said, being cut off by Christian again.
"Their prices will go down. They won't need more money from sales once we give it to them."
"Sure they will," I said, this time standing up abruptly. staring at him and squinted. "because no one will buy, either way, our lead competition basically hands them a daily chest full of gold to promote deals and lower prices when necessary." It was the same shit, for every company, except nobody wanted to say what everyone was thinking: We were always second best.
"I don't know, Nick, maybe Christian is right." My dad said and I couldn't help but clench my jaw. The reason we were always second best was that the owner with all the power always listened to the dumbasses and dimwits like Christian freaking Tremblay. I scoffed and nodded. My dad went on about a rant about all the benefits of investing money on Imperium. "...you do understand, right, Nicolas?" He asked me and I looked at him. It's not like he needs consent from me to do anything. It's your company old man, not mine.
I wondered why I got distracted too easily, some people called me immature and young, I thought I was just reasonable and wasn't afraid of what I thought or if I wanted to say it or not. "Yes, sir," I said and then heard the meeting room doors swing open. I took the opportunity and stormed out, pushing past Christian's secretary and walking to my office. My assistant and best friend Fernando was there, immediately frowning and putting his pencil down.
"Nicholas, what's going on?" He asked me and took his glasses off. Fernando was in charge of all my numbers, whether it was my banking and accounting information or simple handling the money I run in the company. He didn't attend the meetings for business but he was important to me. I would much rather have him in there than Christian. At least he has some brain cells.
I met him a long time ago back when we were in school together. He was a very poor boy from Queens and I remember when we met, we didn't have the best relationship. My mom had an affair with my dad and ultimately divorced the man she was married to and then married my dad but she was already pregnant before her divorce. Of course, we can never talk about it because the public would destroy us. I was born in Brooklyn, and we both were in NYU from scholarships and of course we had some sort of silly rivalry because of the city we were born in. But life just brought us together and he's always been a great friend to me.
I sighed and begun explaining to him what was going on, and I didn't hold anything back. He was someone I could trust and truly, what else could go wrong in my life?
I just wish there was a way that I wouldn't have to answer to anyone or tolerate anyone's bullshit. Especially not Christian's.
-
{EMMELINE}
Today is the day I can't be afraid of what happens any more, I've decided that eleven months is more than enough to grow some guts and tell my parents about Stefan. I'm done being afraid and I'm done being unmarried. Every time my parents have tried to set me up with one of the men in our society, I've declined them and told my parents I want to marry someone that I love. My mom thinks it's some sort of crime or preposterous idea to have but thankfully my dad has respected what I've wanted and had patience with me.
I hear it from my mother on the daily, that all of my girlfriends are married and even some have at least one child. I have a friend, Pamela. She's a gorgeous blonde haired girl who's young, she's 22 and married to a 43 year old and even has a baby with him already. She insists that getting married to him wasn't a big deal and it got her family off her back but I'm not sure that's the life I want for myself. Her husband and her barely socialize unless they're out in a social gathering. Thanks, but no thanks.
I sighed and smiled at myself in the mirror, I feel good today. I'm going to do the one thing I've been so afraid to do. I heard a knock at my window and I smiled widely, running towards it and opening the window, letting Stefan inside. "Hey," I said and was stopped from saying anything else to Stefan's lips immediately catching mine in a passionate kiss. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer, kissing him deeply and pushing him inside my room, feeling myself fall down on my bed. He pulled away and smirked. "If you wanted me in your bed, you could've just asked." He said and I smiled up at him.
"Nope. Not yet." I giggled and sat up, pushing him up with me and looking towards my door, making sure it was locked. I sat across from him and I saw him take something out of his back pocket. It was a small red container and I shook my head. "No, Stefan.." I started and he shushed me.
He looked in my eyes and opened the box, my eyes falling down and seeing a beautiful gold necklace with his name on it. I smiled and felt tears well up in my eyes. "I love you, Emmeline and I want to give you everything. I want you to be my world and universe, forever and always." He said and I nodded.
"Can I put it on you?" He asked me, "I know you have to take it off but I just want to see you wearing it." He said and I nodded, turning and letting him put the necklace on me. He wrapped his arms around me from behind and I held onto his hands, watching us together in the mirror in front of my door. The necklace was beautiful.
"Stefan... I have a gift for our anniversary too." I said and bit my lip, squeezing his hands and letting out a pleasing breath.
"What's that?" He asked, pressing a kiss to the back of my head and then my shoulder.
"I'm going to tell my mom and dad about you, today," I told him and his eyes lit up.
"Are- are you serious? Em, that's the best news I've ever heard!" He said and squeezed me tightly.
Things couldn't be any more perfect.