Misunderstanding

Robbie's POV

This whole week I had been very busy. I wanted to visit Tony but I repressed the urge. I didn't want to barge in his place putting him in a spot. This time if I visit him, I will tell him beforehand so that he does not get stressed out. Although I am not sure he would willingly meet me. These thoughts, however, did not stop me from sneaking a peek at him when he was busy at work.

The work was getting hectic by the day. Tony and Shah were the only ones present heading the main kitchen that served our multi-cuisine restaurant, our executive lounge, and cafeteria. However, being the Sous chef, Tony and Shah also had to look over the side kitchen that served the coffee shop, In-room dining kitchen, pantry, and the kitchen for banquet events. I knew the burden of work would be too immense for Tony so I had given out orders for urgent internal transfer, ten days back. Thankfully, the employees were shifted quickly on such short notice. After I found out Tony hadn't even bothered taking a week off this week, I started to fear he might fall ill. I had asked Boris, my Executive Chef, to give out proper breaks for meals, check the employees' health, and make sure that everyone gets at least one day off a week.

I never knew Tony was such a workaholic. I had seen him work hard during school but I assumed that it was because he had to earn the money for college tuition. However, our company provides quite a hefty salary. In fact, it was more than the average salary of the chefs in the market, plus they are provided with all the benefits, accommodation, medical insurance, employee discount, bonus, etc, and yet, he was working like there was no tomorrow. Perhaps, it was because he had to take care of Twen. I would have happily helped him with anything he needed for raising Twen, but remembering my promise to not get close to Twen without him wanting me to, I backed off. It made me feel really impatient.

To divert my mind from these thoughts, I started taking updates of the properties of other cities. The winter might be a peak season in Warham but not in every other city. There is a sharp drop in tourist flows in cities that experience a freezing winter, and hotels are at times are forced to close due to extreme weather conditions. In winter, hotels of these regions experience a major loss and such losses are offset by profits made by hotels in these cities, but in summer it's the opposite. My concentration was broken by a call.

"Yes," I said picking up.

"Sir, the chairman is on the other line," the voice on the other side said.

"Connect him" I replied, wondering what work does dad has with me.

"Robbie" dad spoke in his usual business-like tone.

"Yes dad" I drawled.

"Do you remember the collaboration we are having with the Home Plaza?"

"Yes!"

"I would be visiting out of the country to attend the 'Global Corporate Event' during that time so, I won't be able to sign the deal. You have to follow it up. I will send you the details of the collaboration tomorrow. Look through it. You have a month and a half to prepare."

I was a little surprised to hear that he wants me to take up the merger deal as he had been making so much fuss about this Resort project. I asked in a doubtful tone,

"Are you sure about it? What about my Resort project?"

"Delegate your duties to the General Manager. Brief him about the ongoings and the responsibility he needs to take care of. Give him the handovers" Dad answered in a crisp precise sentence.

Why did dad hand this over to me now? He prepared for this merger for three months, and it is an ongoing process. The talk for acquisitions was still not over. At a time like this, he decided to hand the entire responsibility of the deal to me? Dad was a very particular person and liked to complete his work on his own, so it was peculiar that he was actually handing this deal halfway through. I can't refuse, so I said sighing,

"Email me the details. I'll take care of it"

"Good. I will ask Rogers to provide you all the hard copies. You will be taking over the negotiations on acquisition from here on."

"Yeah dad" I drawled, once dad finished.

"During work, refer to me as chairman, not dad." Dad sternly replied and disconnected without bothering to hear my reply.

"Yes, chairman" I spoke to the dial tone.

Dad is always like this. If it is not business, then he would barely exchange any word with me. I don't recall the last time he spoke something familial or affectionate to me.

I looked at the time. I had a meeting scheduled right after lunch. I quickly got ready, pulled the blazer over my shoulder, latched my wristwatch, and rang the bell for my personal assistant, Jane. She quickly walked in and took up the files and the bag that will be required for the meeting. She was a lady in her early thirties, bespectacled, dark hair in a tight bun, skinny, and sharp features. She was very efficient in her work. I liked her as she was not nosy and interfering. I called my chauffeur as I was leaving my office, to bring my car and we took the elevator to the parking area. As we drove off, I saw Tony's Toyota parked with other cars and smiled thinking.

'The next time we meet, hopefully, we could at least sit and have a cup of coffee'

I didn't expect my thoughts to come true in such a twisted manner!

In the evening of that same day, as I returned to my office after my meeting to update my conclusion, I heard Sarah calling me. Although I rejected her many times, she would not leave me alone. No matter what mom said, this was really bordering on harassment. Alphas are generally very prideful but her behavior doesn't portray it at all. I ignored her and started towards the elevator but she grabbed hold of my arm which I quickly removed. I was already exhausted when she appeared and now I felt incredibly angry. I hissed in an irritated tone,

"Sarah, I think I made myself very clear. Stop being so pushy"

She frowned looking a little upset and angry, "Pushy? Is it now a crime to meet with one's fiance?"

Fiance?!! How many times have I told her that our engagement is dissolved? She was still under the impression that we were engaged. I opened my mouth to retort but was interrupted by a loud GRRRRR of a car speeding. I froze, shocked, as I watched Tony's car drive away. I forgot all about Sarah's presence and hurried towards it calling loudly, "TONY" but the car vanished, in a matter of few minutes.

The sudden turn of events left me flustered. Just when I had made up my mind to earn his trust, I lost it without having earned the slightest bit of it. I wanted to start building our relationship, at least be his friend and well-wisher, and right before my eyes, I saw the prospects turning dark.

What should I do?

How do I explain all this to him?

I have to do something. I am not going to stand here and watch my second chance slipping away.

I turned around, asked my chauffer to leave the car, and was about to seat behind the wheel when a hand grabbed hold of me.

"Where are you going? I came specifically to meet you" Sarah said, her voice higher than normal.

It was all her fault. Following me like a shadow and not leaving me alone. Whether or not she acted on dad's instructions, but now because of her, I have no hope of salvaging my relationship with Tony. If only she had accepted my refusal to marry her, this wouldn't have happened. With venom spitting from my eyes, I glared at her. She left my hand, looking astonished. I raged,

"Sarah, are you DUMB?? Can't you understand, I don't love you and neither do I wanna marry you!! LEAVE ME THE F**KING ALONE"

I saw her looking extremely hurt by my words but frankly, I couldn't care less. She had pushed me too far. For the sake of our childhood friendship, I tried being as polite to her as possible but she just doesn't seem to get the message. She had been clinging to me like a pest since last year.

"Do you love someone else?" she asked in a shaky voice.

"YES, I DO!" I yelled, "I LOVED HIM FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS AND I WILL FOREVER LOVE HIM ONLY!!"

Sarah's face turned ashen. Her eyes started watering as she said in a bitter voice, "HIM??"

"HIM" I retorted, "Now if you have any shame, stop imposing your presence on me" I harshly told her off, got in the car, and banged the door close on her face.

She didn't stop me anymore. As I drove off, I saw her in my rearview mirror. She was still standing in the same position, her hair covering her face. I couldn't bring myself to feel sorry for her. She really went too far this time.