Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Yes, I am fine. What are you doing here? I asked looking at Mark.

"I should be asking what he is doing here". Mark remarked, looking at Tom

"Get out of here jerk, you are not welcome, Tom retorted.

"The only one who is not welcome is you Tom so get the fuck out of here. I want to speak with Maya alone." Mark barked at Tom. I didn't like this at all. They had both lost their dignity and kept shouting like teenagers. At this point, I am more concerned about the image of the company. I had to speak before they start throwing any punches.

"No way Mark, Tom is my fiance, I said showing him a fake engagement ring I picked up. And he is also my business partner so you should say everything in front of him. He has every right to know". I said calmly and firmly.

"Well, I came to invest", Mark said indifferently.

"No point. All investor openings are closed." Mark said disapprovingly.

"Why Tom? Can't you stand a little competion? You know she still love right?" He smirked.

"Mark, please leave." I pleaded. I didn't want Tom to get hurt with Mark's words because I chose Mark over him and he still stands for me. I respect him too much to see him get hurt again because of me. I had to make Mark leave at all cost.

"Then you should walk me to my car". Mark said, teasingly looking at Tom who was completely angry and remind quiet.

"No will do." I said firmly. "You walked in here by yourself and you are going out the same". I said in one breath.

"Then I will stay right here," Mark says pulling a chair and making himself comfortable. His behavior was so irritating. I thought he will leave me alone after that dinner.

"Why do I have to walk you to your car?" I asked him, hoping to get a reasonable explanation.

"Because you embarrassed me in front of your employee. You hurt my ego so you have to pay". He smiled.

"You idiot, what exactly do you want?" Tom asked with fury. I clearly understood how he felt. Mark was being a Jerk. He ignored Tom's question and pretended to be doing something important on his phone.

"I did not embarrass you. I only wanted to know why she made an exception to our procedures and let you in without informing me?" I said. Hoping it will make Mark leave.

"Did it maybe occur to you that I must have scared her a little", he smiled again. That smile. It makes me lose control but I have to be strong and get him out of my office.

"How on earth can you scare my staff? That is not possible." I said.

"I think you are the only person who forgets my position and power. I may not use it when I am with you but your workers are no exception. I can fire them you know?" He said that cooly as if it was no big deal.

"You have no right in my company." I said firmly.

"Maybe you should know that I can defame their character and publish it. You will have no choice than fire them." He remarked. I always knew he was arrogant and had a very big ego so it was no suprise to me hearing him say that.

I can't believe I ever loved you. You are such a Jerk. I yelled at him.

When such words come from you, I can never get offended. You know why? Because I love you so damn much....He smirked. I hated this side of Mark. To end a long story, I decided to walk him out no matter what it may seem for my staff. Tom wasn't pleased but I didn't have a choice. I will rather walk him out than have him stay and make more troubles for us.

Mark held my hand immediately we stepped out of my office as if we were lovers. My employees kept greeting and saluting him as if he owned my company. What is heavens name? I know that he is well known and all but should he be respected above me in my own company? They never gave me that level of honour before.

Let go. I said immiedately we reached the parking lot.

"of What?" He said innocently.

My hand you jerk. I said, withdrawing my hand from his.

"Oh, I kind of go to used to it. Too bad you don't feel comfortable about it.' He teased. I decided to tell him my piece of mind to make his stop coming to my office.

Mark with all seriousness, I want you to stay away from me. I will never have a reputation of being your side chick because I am nothing of that sort to you. Please leave and never come back...I said with all firmness and seriousness. He face instantly changed into a frown or was it anger?

"Let's have it this way. You keep Tom away from you and promise to wait two years before having any relationship and I will never bother you but keep Tom in this company and you will see my ugly side." He said coldly before he added "This time, I mean it with all seriousness. You have three days to decide. Only three days". He hammered and sat in his car, then drove away.

I stood at the entrance so speechless and confused. Why did my life have to be this way. Ever since I met Mark, he has brought me nothing but pain. Why doesn't the heart do what the mind tells it to do. I must confess that I still have not gotten over him and eventhough Tom is my good friend, I always want to have him around. He helped me build this company. Intellectually, Financially and even motivationally so how can I tell him to stay away from me? You must be out of your mind Mark.

A few days passed and nothing happened. Mark never showed up again and he never called. I was happy but deep down, I wish I could just see his face or bump into him again somehow. Tom continued being relentless. Eventhough he had other companies, he devoted his time as if this was his only company. I should have fallen for him instead because we made a perfect couple. He understood me and supported me every step of the way. Even when I took wrong decisions that came with a heavy price, he will support me and get everything back in order. We grew closer and we thought it was time to involve Tracy full time to handle the Sales and Marketing Department. She was excited but had to wait for a month to help her handover properly at her current place of work.

One day, I got to the office to see a letter on my desk. That's strange. No one knew where the letter came from and the security cameras didn't capture whoever brought it. Looks creepy right? That's what I thought. I opened it and it was a law sue. So funny. I was being sued for Trespassing on S&S incoporated. How funny. But the details of the letter was convincing. It said I had attempted to claim the company by registering his company name in mine. Wait a minute. How did my signature get on all these documents.

Jesus, if this goes any further, I can end up with a jail term or lose my company all together. This is worse than I thought. My first question was how my signatures got on those documents. S&S incorporated is the largest business venture in the country and I don't stand a chance against them. Tom came as usual and I showed everything to him.

"Why did you sign this Maya?" Was his first reaction. This is the first time I ever saw him this angry at me. I hope I didn't disappoint me. I really need him to trust me, I thought to myself.

Trust me Tom, I never did. I mean, I don't remember appending my signature on anything like this and you know I will never do that.

Tom's POV

I know that Maya is so smart and she will never do a thing like this. But this is a very serious case. If we are not able to find out how her signatures got onto those documents, no lawyer will be able to defend us. The court works with proof and that is what we need but looking at the name of the company, I have only one suspect in mind.