My colleagues and I were already working on our own pitch. Even though I dreaded working with his company, it would make our goods well known. Today is the day we meet with his company. From what I heard, from Lisa, Lucien will not be coming. Calling me happy is an understatement. I am not just happy, I am ecstatic. The way I had hoped he would not come, I was overjoyed. The only reason I was not, was the fact that I did not know who exactly would come to our company today. I was also hoping my former colleagues won't be coming, but I knew it was impossible. I expected to see at least two unless they had quit. I wish they had, but maybe I should just be content with the fact that Lucien won't be coming. Which I was.
I was already seated in the meeting room, when the meeting door opened, and our CEO's assistant, Mia, walked in with them. My mouth dried up when I saw that Lisa was wrong for the first time in her life. I am in shock when I see Lucien right in the meeting room. It takes everything within me not to hide. I almost have a panic attack, but I steady myself. I feel his piercing gaze on me, when I am sure he realizes that someone is staring at him.
I look away when I notice how the shock leaves his face and is replaced by anger. I should have known he still did not know the truth even after five years. He is not the only one in shock, I see Oscar, their managing director. I shake his hand, and I am grateful everyone sits down so I won't have to shake Lucien.
I did not want to touch the man I was though loved me. The one who accused me of being a gold digger and also claimed I betrayed him, then he threatened me, blocked me, and blacklisted me.
I glare at him for a minute and look away. I unclench my fists when I realize that they are tightened.
The moment the meeting starts, I try as much as possible to concentrate, but I feel his gaze on me which angers me. I listen to what my managing director is saying, and pitch in here and there since we both talked about what approach we will use to market this device.
His own side talks, and we all listen. After a while, the meeting is finally over and rush out like a dog after a bone. I lock my office door the moment I get in so that no one will enter. The first thing I do is drop the pictures of my twins inside my drawer. I sit down on my seat to catch a breath, and I hear a knock on the door. I don't need anyone to tell that it is Lucien. I debate not answering the door, until I hear his deep voice say, "I know you can hear me. You either open the door right now, or I kick it open, or I say what I want to say outside.
Knowing him, I knew he was serious, so I open the door reluctantly, and go to my sit. He does not wait for me to tell him he can sit down, but he does anyway. He looks at my small office, and says, "It is okay. What do you do here?"
"I am an assisting managing director."
"You finally put your marketing degree to work."
I give him a noncommittal, "Hmm."
"What are you doing here?" I ask.
"To collaborate with this company of course," he says looking at me intently.
"Why this company?" I know there are others that probably fit the criteria he prefers, and he says, "My mother insisted I work with this one. I should have known she had another plan up her sleeve."
My heart hurts slightly when I remember his mother. She was kind, beautiful and generous.
"So, what did you want to say to me? If you are here to threaten me please make it snappy. I have work to do."
"I would like to go out on a date with you," he says.
I laugh out loud like he just told me the funniest joke in the world, and in a way, he did. I would never go out with him.
"No," I say. "Say whatever you want to say here."
He runs his hand through his hair, and says, "I will like to apologize for the way I treated you five years ago."
Out of everything I expected, that was the last one. "I know you are shocked," he says.
"The thing is, I found out you were innocent all along. My mother probably knew you were working here, which was why she insisted I collaborated with this company."
I look at him with anger, and he continues, "It was also my mother who found out you had been framed, and she was the one who ensured I remove you from being blacklisted."
"I guess I have to thank her," I say. "She, who I was not in a relationship with, knew I was innocent and fought for me. While you, who had been with, thought the worst of me, and decided to make my life a living hell."
He looks pained, and I continue, "I do not accept your measly apology, and I never will. You are the reason I was blacklisted for so long. You humiliated me and thought the worst of me. I do not forgive you. Please, leave my office, and thank your mother too."
I already planned to thank her, but he did not need to know that. He rubs his face in exasperation, and nods. He leaves my office, and I exhale in relief. Finally.
I know that if Ama hears about this, she will flip out, but if my brothers and father hear of this, they will be happy because they finally get to beat him the way they always wanted to. Which is why, they will not find out.
Lucien will be back to New Jersey soon, and I am already looking forward to it because he has managed to unnerve me, and I don't like it.