CEO’s REDEMPTION

I angle myself in front of the dressing mirror all dolled up for the meeting. The meeting I am not supposed to attend, but I have to, for the sake of Jerol. I am a nervous wreck right now. I have never been to any meetings, not to talk of a shareholders meeting of a multi-billion company. The inferiority complex is savagely surging in like a flowing river. What if I do something that will embarrass Jerol?

“Are you okay?” Jerol speaks appearing from behind me in his three-piece custom-made tuxedo.

He plops his strong arms on my shoulder, giving me a gentle squeeze which I relish in the hope that it will relieve the anxiety.

My eyes plunge on the scars on the back of his palms on the reflection. We took off the bandages, but the scars are so conspicuous. Even with this rich makeup that he insisted on me, the scars on my forehead couldn’t be hidden either. The recent one is the most conspicuous. I hope people will mind their business and not bother with our private lives.

“I’m just… I have never been to any place like an office, Jerol!” I state, veering around to him. “What if I embarrass you there? I did it once, remember? And it’s something that worries me to date.” I implore.

“Forget what arose at that dinner. I didn’t complain, did I? know you won’t, wifey! So, chill before you wreck my cool too.” He retorts, fondling with my cheeks.

“But what if I do?” I insist.

“Then I will just kiss you in front of the board.” He responds, calmly, but with a slight smirk before adding. “You just need to be by my side, Tessa, nothing else. You won’t even talk so you have nothing to worry about.”

I slightly nod my head, urging a small grin.

“And you, hubby? Are you ready?” I ask, fixing his collar and resting my arms on his shoulders.

“As long as you are here, with me, I’m all good.” He deeply mutters.

Why does he sound like I am his strength? What have I to offer? Beh!

“Okay. You will do good, Mr CEO! I have faith in you.” I say.

“Thank you, Mrs CEO!” He whispers, loud enough though.

That sounds, sweet, I guess?

“Shall we? We can’t afford to get late.” I state, and he nods his head.

I hem my arm on his, and we stride outside. We get into the back of his Lamborghini and settle beside each other as the chauffeur starts the engine.

An hour later, we get out of the car at the parking of Victoria courts, parklands – the place of the rich. The aura is so cool, compromising my moods. Now that I am here, I am bleeding anxiety and panicking like hell. The people I am going to meet are beyond my class. All the way here I have tried to act like the wife of this man but all in vain.

All the same, albeit my restlessness, I follow Jerol to the lift.

“Why are you tense again?” He asks the moment the lift closes.

“Can you blame me? I don’t belong to your circle, Jerol. I’m finding it difficult to keep calm.” I respond.

“Last I checked, you are Mrs McCall, Tessa! My wife! That alone should make you walk with your head held high!” He explains, rubbing my back with his free hand.

“Just for show, Jerol! But the reality is so different, and it’s killing me.”

He doesn’t utter another word. The lift is filled with a startling lull all the rest of the way up. We alight the lift, and he pulls me out to the reception.

“Morning, sir!” The receptionist greets, standing up to knowledge the presence of her boss.

“Call my P. A to my office right now.” Jerol orders.

“Yes, sir!” She replies and turns to the phone, while Jerol pulls me past the reception area.

After Dodging a few corners and long hallways, we saunter inside what I presume to be his office. Beautiful, and calm. I would love to ricochet my eyes around it and capture its beauty, but his silence is worrying me.

“You are awfully quiet. Did I say something wrong?” I ask.

He gawks at me for a while after parking his bag on the table, and then he sits at the edge of the table, beckoning me to get closer. I drag my legs between his and rack before him.

“I want to ask you for a favour.” He mutters, encircling my waist with his arms.

“What is it?” I curiously ask.

“Stop demeaning yourself! You are worth more than you think.” He states.

Demeaning? I’m just affirming facts here. We tried this game with his family, but we couldn’t deceive everyone. I not only embarrassed myself that day, but him too, and that broke the rivalry between his mother and I. What if I do the same today too? I don’t think I can fit into his class, and I can’t embarrass him one more time.

“It’s so hard to fit in your world, Jerol. I’m okay with being around you, but other people? I just…”

“Sshh!” He cuts me off. “Don’t mind other people if they bother you so much. Don’t even look at them. My handsome face is charming enough to keep you busy, don’t you think?”

Are we joking now? Kidding aside though-he is quite an allure. A real charmer! I would stare at him the whole day and still desire to look at him the next minute.

“Whenever you feel nervous in there, just steal a glance at this guy here, and all your problems will vanish.” He adds, and winks.

Funny enough, I think that’s all I need. Just a glance at him, and I am relieved. Just like now. You are becoming so dangerously addictive to me, Jerol! So addictive! This was supposed to be so simple, but we are diving deeper into hurdles as days go by.

A slight knock on the door disrupts us. My innocent thoughts tell me I should break away from this cage made of his tight embrace, but he doesn’t show any signs of letting me go.

“Come in!” He says, and a man strides inside.

“Good morning sir, and welcome back!” The nice guy greets and turns to me. “Mrs, McCall, good morning!”

“Good morning to you.” I respond.

“Is everything set?” Jerol asks.

Huh! Isn’t he being rude to the poor gentleman? I mean, no riposte to the gentleman’s greetings? Now that I remember, he also didn’t respond to the receptionist. Cold boss, huh?

“Yes, sir. They are waiting for you.”

“Okay. I will be there in five. Arrange a chair for my wife next to me.” He orders.

Ahem!

“Right away sir.”

The gentleman walks out, and I am left here feeling…

“You are my wife. That alone should give you confidence, Mrs McCall!”

He might have sensed the perturbations surging in me again. I give him a weak smirk as I master more courage.

“Okay, husbae!” I whimper.

“What’s that?” He queries.

“Husbae! Don’t you like that?” I tease, nuzzling his jaws.

“Mmh, it sounds so sweet.” He responds with a deep voice, a smirk on his face.

“Just like you, love… Uumh…”

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What am I saying?