Adrian POV
As I paced the length of the living room calmly waiting for my father to arrive. The soles of my shoe made a sound clicking against the tiles. I could hear laughter on the other side of the door.
" Adrian I think you need to sit down."
" Mum, I'm fine"
Few minutes later the door opened and my father, Mr DeMarco and a girl who I assume is Vivian DeMarco came in. My eyes moved to each of them's faces.
" Mr DeMarco you must have met my son Adrian Cross."
" Yes I have."
" Good day Mr DeMarco" I said stretching my hand to shake him. He shook my hand before giving me a curt nod.
" This is my daughter Vivian." I wasn't paying attention to whatever he was saying my gaze was directed straight at my father and his gaze too was on me.
" Excuse us please Mr DeMarco."
The door shut close after the last person left.
" Adrian, you don't have a choice." He said as he walked to the mini bar to pour himself a drink.
" Where were you on the first of May?" I asked making him to choke on his drink.
" Where is this coming from?"
" Well, I have been really busy with the financial reports of Cross Tech and I've been seeing a lot of errors and I thought I should ask you."
" Well I was right here at home with your mum."
" The records show you were in London at that time, coincidentally you had a meeting somewhere around my company's location."
" What are you trying to say?"
" About ten million dollars was spent that day and it wasn't accounted for."
" We are here to finalise your wedding arrangements and not talk about business."
" I already told you I wasn't marrying that girl."
" I thought you loved your mother." He said with a evil grin.
" If you lay a finger on her." I said charging towards him but restricted myself knowing that if I make a move on him now it would end up spoiling my future plans.
" That's what I thought." He said before walking out the door.
I stayed fixed to a position as rage filled me. I felt helpless, like I couldn't do anything about the monster that had my mother under his thumb. I needed to act fast before my father even thinks about it. Few minutes later, I heard the door open again I turned around to see who it was. It was Vivian DeMarco. She was probably sent in by my father to change my mind. I wouldn't budge at all
" Adrian Cross, it's nice to see you after all these years."
" Nice to see you too Vivian DeMarco, but I have to go now." I said picking up my coat to go.
" The marriage is necessary." She said lowering herself down on a chair.
" Well you clearly do have some misplaced priorities." She scoffed probably angry with my statement.
" The Lyle family want to take over Cross Tech and they could do that easily."
" You think marriage is the solution."
" Well it is the closest way to stop the Lyle dynasty. They are the second biggest shareholders of Cross Tech after the Cross family. If they can get another minor shareholder to their side they would clearly have the final say. So deal with, I don't also want to marry you."
" I'm not getting married to you." I walked out of the room.
I got to the office by six o'clock pm and my assistant was not in. Seems this is strike two coming. I sat in my office waiting for the time to be Seven o'clock.
At two minutes to seven I heard a knock on the door which I replied with a come in. I looked up to see Marina coming in with a cup of coffee.
" Good morning sir" she said with a smile before dropping the cup of coffee on my table.
" Morning, what's my schedule for today like?" I said picking up the coffee. As she fiddled with her tablet probably looking for the schedule, I took a big sip from the cup of coffee.
I felt bile rising in my stomach as I let the content that was in my mouth out. I rushed to the mini freezer that was at a corner of my office, taking out a bottle of water and downing it all in one gulp.
" Are you ok sir?" She asked with concern in her tone.
" What the fuck is that?"
" Coffee?"
" That is not coffee." I took a breath realising that I did not tell her about my allergy to milk and cream.
" Marina, when I ask for coffee. I mean plain black coffee no sugar, no milk, no cream. You nearly killed me." She nodded
" Use words Marina. Do you understand?"
" Yes ....sir. it won't happen again.
I walked back to my seat stretching my hand forward for my schedule. I looked through it and squinted when I saw something.
" Why do I have a meeting with Vivian DeMarco?"
" I learnt she is a co- heir and your father asked me to."
" Do you work for my father or you work for me?" I said in a calm yet dangerous tone.
" I work for you sir." She stuttered.
" Then do what you need to do." She said before running
I was working when I felt my phone vibrate on the table. I picked it up from the table, it was a text message from an anonymous source.
" Your enemies are closer than you think."