As Laurel was in her thoughts, she didn't realize when David came back into the lounge and stood by the door watching her for a while.
She looked more beautiful than she had looked eight years ago, though a bit stressed but better. With better looking body, even for a mother of one. David could not help admiring her from his position. As he did his feelings for her that has never left came afloat all over again that he felt the raw need of her poke his consciousness.
The truth is that after looking for Laurel for five years without success, he'd gone back to his normal promiscuous self. But his only rule was that he never slept with one person twice, and never wakes up in bed with any girl at all. It had only happened with Laurel and he wanted to keep it so.
The year before, his family had agreed behind his back and revealed it to him during their family gathering which they had every middle of the year, that they've agreed to get him married to Cheryl whether he liked it or not.
Their reason being that she's the only constant girl in his life and she's from a very respectable family. Her father was a business partner in Alpha Technologies and his father's good friend, hence they felt there was no other person that would best suit the position except Cheryl.
As they'd expected, David had bluntly refused and as such his mum tricked him and had him propose to Cheryl in front of the camera during her press conference about her NGO foundation found in the name of her unborn grandchild.
It was a situation in which David couldn't get himself out of. His mother had threatened to end up in the hospital if he didn't show up and at least act the part. And since she was diabetic and easily had panic attacks, David had to do as she said.
It was more like a forced proposal, but both David's mother and Cheryl was happy. He knew it was what Cheryl has always wanted because he had stuck with him even when he didn't want to forgive her and treated her badly for what she told Rose. But she still stayed pleading until he eventually forgave her.
She stayed with him all along, trying to get him to at least acknowledge the fact that she had feelings for him. But with Cheryl, he never felt that way, what he felt for her was not as deep as what he'd felt for Rose the few months of being with her. And he always made sure to tell her how he felt for her, making it clear that he'd never have anything to do with her.
When he was told about the marriage proposal, he'd gone to her and pleaded that she rejects the proposal but she refused, because according to her, fate was finally bringing them together. David however did warn her that marrying him would be the biggest mistake of her life cos he was never going to give her the happy home that she deserves, but she went along with his mother's plan.
The proposal was like no other, as he stood and just handed Cheryl the engagement ring while she and David's mother feigned surprise and happiness, hugging each other. Before Cheryl could come to hug David, he hurriedly walked out of the scene unperturbed by the questions the press were throwing his way.
Since then, he'd never acted towards Cheryl like his fiancee. She always came around him but he always paid her less and less attention. Even when he tried to be nice to her, he'd always ended up making her sad or even cry.
Staring at Laurel right now from the doorway, something inside his heart was sure that his engagement to Cheryl will end in disaster. "You look more beautiful than I remember." he commented as he walked closer to Laurel and sat beside her.
"You don't look bad yourself." Laurel tried being polite.
David poured himself a glass of drink and refilled Laurel's glass. He raised his glass in cheers but said nothing before taking a sip of the drink. Laurel took a sip as well.
"Firstly," he started, "let's talk about the office. Did you finish with the documents I asked for?"
"Actually, I did. Was going to give them to you before I leave. But..." she trailed off as she pulled out a big file from her handbag and handed it to David. "...here they are." David took the files from her and looked through the content.
"This is everything I asked for?" he asked and Laurel nodded confidently. "Good. Now let's talk about your position..." he said but Laurel interrupted him before he could continue.
"Isn't that something you should think about after you go through the documents I've given you? I mean, everybody's file is there, all our workers, I added there files in case if you might need them." she offered.
"Rosie," he called and her heart caught. Laurel muttered something that David didn't hear and he asked, "What?"
"I said, don't call me that." she said with a very tight voice that feels like she was dragging the words out.
"I can't stop." David strongly said and Laurel lifted her head sharply to stare at him like he was joking. "I know I'm the only one that has ever called you that, I like it and that's what I'll always call you, at least in our privacy. That's whether you agree or not." he told her with conviction.
"What do u want from me, David?" Laurel said with exhaustion.
"I gathered you're being doubled as the chief designer and as the Mr Burke's PA. So I want to let you know before I act on my plans, I'll be retaining you as the chief designer, I've seen your designs and they're very beautiful and they're the best set I've seen. While Charles whose being my PA will continue as that. That way the stress is lesser for you and you'd have enough time in your hands to make more designs and get us back on track."
Laurel nodded as he talked listening with care in order to understand what he was saying properly. "We need to revive the company as soon as possible so we it can be profitable to us. And, you are the only one I know for now that can help me achieve that plan. Hence, your pay will be increased from what it is now to something better."
"No," Laurel suddenly added and David was confused as to what she meant.
"What?" he asked.
"I said, no." Laurel repeated, "I want something better."
"Tell me about it." David urged.
"I need a contract, I get to work for your company for an agreed stipulated time, then I'm free to go start something of my own, and my pay will be as good the designs I make. And then we get to negotiate my working hours cos as you can see, I've got a reason to work on that." Laurel couldn't believe she just voiced out all she did, it's always been something she'd wanted to bring up with Mr Burke but didn't know why she thought this was a good time to discuss it.
"Hmmm," David hummed, "that's quite a request. You drive a hard bargain."
"That's my condition, either that or I walk away and go somewhere else." she said without thinking too much.
"Okay, I see." David noted. "That means I'll need some time to actually look into this clearly." he agreed finally.