Chapter 21: Chapter 21

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Deila's pov

The continuous tapping I felt on my back woke me up. I hated that it did, whoever was tapping me had been on a mission of waking me for over 10 minutes. I'd hope they would eventually get tired and leave but it seemed it was too much to hope.

Finally giving up pretending to still be asleep, "What?" I grumbled.

"Wake up sleepy head." It was Sia. Of course. I didn't think I'd ever been getting rested to my content when she was involved.

Ignoring I hummed, at the same time turned to the other side of the bed where she wasn't.

"Remember it's Monday.''

I jerked up, every trace of sleep vanishing completely as I was now wide awake.

"As you know, we escorted mum and dad to the airport yesterday. That leaves you, Dei in-charge of the company," she stated the obvious.

The bed I didn't want to leave seconds ago suddenly became the last place I wanted to be in. Alerted, I sat up from the bed, slipping my feet into my purple fluffy slippers.

"You are so right," I groaned. "I really won't pass off as responsible if I go late on my first day as an acting CEO." I rushed to the bathroom.

"Make it snappy," I heard her over the shower.

In less than fifteen minutes I was ready to go. I didn't know I could work with that few minutes and still have time to fuse about how I looked professionally.

The keys to the 2020 Benz my dad had assigned to me sat on the stool instead of the garage with the rest set of keys. I grabbed the keys, immediately making my way to the garage quietly, trying as much as possible to avoid the girls and my aunties. I didn't want them to involve me in any conversation that would make me late. There were times where I didn't mind them been chatty, but other times like now, it would be too draining.

I was already cracking the front door open when Aunt Mona's voice stopped me. "Dei baby. You can't leave without eating. Here, eat some."

My mouth watered when I turned to see her holding out a plate of chocolate cookies to me. My greatest love was anything chocolate, but there was no time.

"Thanks, auntie but I'll pass. I've to be at the office at fifteen."

"Yes, yes. I know," she said in a singing voice. "But, I promised your mum that I'll make you all eat well. Besides, going to work with an empty stomach isn't healthy. We don't want you getting skinny now do we?"

I chuckled at her tactics. "Aunt," I grumbled. "I'm far from being skinny. Me missing breakfast this once won't make me skinny or unhealthy."

"Maybe you'll pass on those delicious cookies, but you won't pass on potatoes and turkey sauce I packed for you," Aunt Monic stated.

"Here." She held out a silver cooler.

I smiled, appreciation warming my insides. Those two were too caring.

"Thank you, aunties." I took it from her hastily and grabbed a cookie before rushing out to the garage.

In the garage, I couldn't stop smiling as I took in my new car. My dad had said he was assigning it to me as an acting CEO, but the knowing look we'd exchanged said that we both knew there was no way he would be getting it back.

My dad been himself had first insisted the company driver picked me up every morning but I tough one when I reminded him of how much I loved to drive. He settled for giving me the keys to his newest Benz. I hadn't owned a car for so long. I sold my very first —and only car I ever owned— when I was about to leave for LA. It was unavoidable as I'd refused any kind of financial assistance from my parents or anyone. I didn't know why, I just wanted to do me. I wanted to start all over. I wanted to fend for myself and know how it was to not swim in the luxury they provided me with from birth. And I enjoyed it, much to my and everyone's surprise.

People often said when you're born with a silver spoon you don't know what struggling is, but I rendered that saying stupid by working my butt off to make earns meet in LA. Not because I wanted to prove to anyone, but because I wanted to prove to myself that I could survive on my own.

The wealth that oozed around my family didn't mean perfection. I never had it perfect... we were never perfect and not once had I seen us try to be. What people need to understand was, the financial struggle wasn't the only struggle there was in life. Some rich people struggle a lot emotionally and in other areas, so I didn't fancy the idea of calling rich kids spoilt and fortunate all the time. People go through a lot, whether they were rich or poor. People struggle, and having a different kind of struggle —that wasn't financial in my case— didn't mean there wasn't any struggle.

If anything, I'd say I got a break from life when I was on my own in LA than when I was home. Working in LA was a distraction, I didn't get to think so much about what was and what wasn't. I didn't get to think of my fears, I pushed my phobias to the back of my mind and forgot how much they limited me. And I was going to be doing so again.

I got to the office building at exactly 7 am, which was the official time for the start of work in the Babson Empire.

My Zara heels greeted the White marbles that shone at the entrance of the building.

As soon as I stepped into the large building I was greeted with hundreds of eyes, each wanting to catch a glimpse. I held my head up high as my nervousness threatened to kick in. Tugging my suit jacket down, I took a deep breath that calmed me.

As I walked towards the elevator I smiled, answering as many greetings as I could with either a nod or a "Good morning, thank you".

In the elevator, I released a breath I didn't know I was holding and worked on calming my nerves some more.

I was in my dad's office, sitting on his lush chair and going through some files I saw on his table when the door cracked open.

"I'm sorry. Can I come in?" a young lady asked peeking through the door.

"Um sure, come in," I told her and she immediately did.

"Ma'am" she smiled formally. "I wasn't sure if I should ring or not. I just wanted to introduce myself." She paused, continuing when I nodded in encouragement.

"I'm Racheal. I'm going to be your secretary. I mean I'm your father's secretary. You co-could ask for a-another person while you are here," she stuttered, recking of nervousness.

She was really beautiful and looked about my age. She had ginger-colored hair that brought out her blue eyes and I was reminded of Lari. Her white skin looked to be a little tan from obvious tanning, no doubt an Irish. She was dressed as professionally as I was. There was something to her that screamed 'passionate about my job' and I had no doubt she was. Anyone who worked under my dad had to be.

"No."

When I saw her tense I knew she got the wrong message.

"I mean no, I don't need a replacement for you. If my dad had you as his secretary then you'll be best for me," I assured her giving her a polite smile that was meant to her at ease.

"Okay, ma'am."

"Deila will be fine please," I told her. The 'ma'am' she was addressing me with seemed awkward as hell.

"Alright, D-Deila. Here's your schedule for today. I should let you know there isn't much, It will just be Mr.Timothy putting you through in certain areas as instructed by Mr.Barbson, and then in more critical areas another person will be sent."

I sighed in relief. I could use a person putting me through. "Okay, good. Where's this Mr-" I was cut off by a masculine voice.

"Right here," The voice was familiar.

I looked at the door to see none other than Nathaniel at the entrance. Nathaniel the guy I, Eva, and Lari had met at the airport and he had kept in touch with ever since. He was dressed in a really, I'd say too tight suit because all his biceps were on display and he looked to be struggling with the discomfort. Asides from that he looked professionally handsome.

"Nathaniel?" I asked still not believing what was going on.

"Yeah, Deila. I was also surprised when I saw the pic of who the new boss was on the company group chat," he told me, grinning.

"Wow. And you didn't think to tell me when we spoke on the phone days ago?" I asked feigning a scrowl.

We had become quite acquainted, he did conference calls with me and the girls a few times. I still blamed Lari for giving him my number without my consent.

"I'm sorry," he said with a shrug. "It might just have slipped my mind, or maybe I wanted to see your reaction." He pouted and I giggled.

"I see you two are already meet. I'll leave you to it now, may I?'' Racheal asked in a polite tone.

"Yeah, you may."

I turned to face Nathaniel or Mr.Timothy as Rachael had addressed him.

"Let's get started then, Mr.Timothy." I gestured for him to take the chair across from me.

I wanted to get straight to the point as I wasn't seated for a social function. We already had our informal chatter and it was time for me to get from him whatever I could. Heading a big company like Barbson Empire will call for it, though I was a business naturale, there were still things only a professional could know and I planned on taking as many notes from Nathaniel as I could.

I made a mental note to be a nice but firm boss, as my dad had suggested—being too nice would make them not take me seriously, and being too firm would make them fear but not respect. So it was better to settle in between, be nice but firm when it called for.

Taking his seat, his smile remained on his face. "Please call me Nat."

"I think that's quite unprofessional. How about I call you Nat outside of this office building and settle for Nathaniel or Mr. Timothy in here?"

He nodded. "Nathaniel's preferable, please."

"Now if you may please come over to explain some subjects to me."

It was almost 6 pm and the deafening sound of emptiness that surrounded the office came with heavy fatigue that filled me. I gathered my things, deciding to call it a day and head home.

I picked up my phone from the table and just then I heard it beep with a notification. Unlocking it, I saw it was a message from an unknown number-

Hey beautiful. You left me hanging.

I shook my head in a mock disbelieve, thinking It had to be Dawn or Lari trying to play a trick on me.

Who's this? I texted back to play along.

I got a reply almost immediately -It's James. A certain boy still waiting for you to get back to him... concerning the dinner of course.

I was suddenly grinning, with all my teeth on display.

I wasn't really surprised he got a hold of my number... after all Dawn was still his best friend. Even with the guess, I decided to still ask out of curiosity.

I tucked my bottom lips between my teeth unconsciously -How did you get my number?

A second later a beep came, indicating he had replied and I opened the text eagerly.

Let's just say I've my ways and I seem to get magical powers when it comes to you.

As I read the message I felt tingles, butterflies fluttering in my belly.

7 pm T&F If it's convenient, tomorrow would be fine

I sent the message before the realization of what I had just done. Fucking tomorrow?

For God's sake, I still had a lot to cover at the office. I should've picked a weekend day and that could've done a lot to delay my seeing him again. I mentally slapped myself.

Tomorrow it is, beautiful. I can't wait to see your pretty face.

The tingles in my stomach rose as I read his last message. James wasn't the romantic type, even while we were dating. He was all sweet when we had just started dating... maybe like two months in, but for the remaining two he was kind of distant. Yeah, the remaining two, we dated for four months, my first and only relationship, and it was a big deal to the kind of person I was. I couldn't blame him for how distant he became before I finally ended the relationship. I pushed him. God, I pushed him away from me. I blocked him out and told myself it was for his good.

I pushed him away because I started to drown in my love for him and it was too overwhelming. I didn't know how to handle it with my many fears.

I was suddenly pulled out of my thoughts when a knock came.

It went all quiet for minutes and then the knock came again, loud.

Worry started creeping in. I was supposed to be the only one in the building. Who could it be on the door?

I heard a sigh before the knock came again.

I gulped. "Who's it?"

I heard a deep rumble of a chuckle.

More dread.

"Open up, Deila. It's Nat," I heard from the other side of the door.

Nat? He was supposedly left by 4pm. Why was he still here? Better it was Nat and not some dangerous creep I feared from the way he knocked and chuckled.

"Oh, Nat. You can come in."

"I thought you left?'' I asked as he entered.

"I did. I came back to get some stuff, and decided to say hi when I saw your office light was still on.''

"How thoughtful of you." I gave him a tight smile. "It's my father's office remember. "

He chuckled lightly. "Okay, If you say so. Can I drop you off?"

"Thanks, but I'll pass. I came in my car." I zipped up my bag as I finished gathering my stuff.

"Alright. Mind grabbing a bite from across maybe?"

I grumbled hesitantly.

"Oh come on. You know it's been a long day, and I guess...no, I know you must be starving."

"It's late though," I argued but follow him anyway.