The CEO

DEREK'S POV

"I still can't believe you were able to defy that demonic girl's attack, you and our precious baby." I watched my mother say to Melissa as we had dinner together. 

Melissa's smile was very bright and cheery. "Thank you so much, ma'am."

"Please, call me mom." My mom said with a pleased grin. "Good riddance, anyway." 

I was silent all through dinner. The meal was not as delicious as I'd hoped it would be. Funny me was starting to find differences between Melissa and Tara. Their cooking was not the same. Tara's was better. Then, if I were to compare their beauty...

"Fuck you, moron!" I groaned and everyone turned to stare at me. Clearing my throat, I averted my attention and pretended I was watching the TV. 

There was a way my uncle glanced at me, like he had stripped me all naked and could very well see a transparent version of me with all of my hidden thoughts and feelings. I didn't like it. 

"Excuse me, let me clear this." Melissa got up, taking all our plates to the kitchen. She was always extra like that. Why bother at all when there were maids everywhere to do that?

But my mother seemed pleased at least. "Oh this is why you're my favorite. Not even Desdra, don't tell her I said so." She chuckled. Desdra had not been able to make it as she was busy, else, she would have protested.

Together, Melissa and my mother left the table, leaving me with my uncle. Great! I sighed and waited for his supposed words of wisdom.

"I know you don't feel the same without her around." He said at last. 

I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing through me so easily. "Uncle, how's aunt Maria?" I asked, just to change the subject.

"Oh you know, she's chilling down there. In her graveyard." My uncle Miles said casually, and my heart ached for a split second. 

"I am so sorry." I quickly apologized. His wife was dead eight years ago. How could I say something so stupid like that!

"Its okay." Uncle Miles just smiled. "I miss her everyday. And it hurts because I will never be able to tell her that. Or how I always loved her apple pies, even though they tasted like burnt cake."

I heaved in a deep sigh. "Don't try to give me advises on Tara, uncle. She's a murderer!" I snapped. "She hurt Melissa on purpose. That's how she is. Besides, whether it was true or not, I suppose it was best Tara left the way she did. Finally, mother can have grandkids. Something Tara couldn't provide." 

I remember all her attempts, all the visits to the hospital, all of her muffled tears at night at the fear she might never be able to give birth. How dare someone like that have the arrogance to divorce me? It was just too sudden!

"If that's what you would love to tell yourself at night, then fine." Uncle Miles said. "But I want you to always listen to your heart, dear boy. You need to--"

My mother rushed out, "that's enough, brother.  Why must you try to make my son's life miserable like yours? The woman he loves is in the kitchen there. So don't try to ruin this beautiful relationship with your stupid advises." 

I rolled my eyes. My mother could be over dramatic at times. But I chose to stand by her words now. 

"Sorry, uncle." I said out loud. "But my mother is right. I do love Melissa. And I will never forgive Tara for what she'd done." I made a mental promise to myself. 

Ronaldo, my trusted man and P.A walked in. "Oh, Ronaldo. Do you have news for me?" I raised my brows, hoping he was around to deliver what I'd asked. He gave a firm nod. "Very well then. Come." I said to him, leading him to the library which my private study room was also located. 

Once inside after the door had been shut, Ronaldo sighed. "We found nothing, sir."

I scoffed, huffing in anger already. This wasn't the first time since two weeks after Tara's disappearance that Ronaldo had been failing to bring me news of her whereabouts!

"Where could she be!" I groaned. "You have always been so competent, should I be worried now?"

"Sir," he flinched. "The thing is that we keep getting 'invalid' in most of our searches. Like she had blocked her locations to the public." Ronaldo tried to explain. I couldn't blame him though. I waved off for a dismissal and he gave a slight bow before walking out. 

"Fine. If this is what you want Tara, I will find you soon. And sue you for this damage. How can you just divorce me and disappear like this!" Part of me was hoping that she was alright. It would be devastating to find out anything bad had happened. 

I decided to hope for the best and save my strength for when I find her. 

7 YEARS LATER 

"Everything is all set." Melissa was adjusting my tie and getting me ready for the evening. "Seriously, it was an effort to drag you away from your study room. Damn it, when did you become such a nerd?"

I rolled my eyes. "Just finish the knotting. We wouldn't want me to be late now, would we?" I smirked, hoping it sounded convincing enough. For seven years, I have tried to act natural around Melissa but it just never was the same with Tara. 

Thankfully, I'd been able to distract my mind with other things pertaining to work and it had really paid off. Now, the Marisol Law Firm was beginning to reach top places globally and meeting the list at top 10 successful businesses on NYC list. 

I couldn't ask for anything else. I had already met with the personal assistant of A&A Enterprise, ready to meet the CEO of the firm to sign our partnership deal. Tonight was the formal dinner party to make our partnership official. 

I felt a little skeptical of course, with the thought that I would be meeting with the CEO, one of Mr. Aniston's sons, since I heard he had passed down the business to his children. 

"Say hello for me to Nina when she comes back from mother's place." I said to Melissa before turning to leave. I kept the beautiful name of our daughter in my mind to cheer me up for whatever the evening had to offer. 

Once at the venue, I frowned at the way paparazzi had filled the entire hall. It seemed funny to me that I had to hake my head. Firstly, this so called CEO was late, and yet, people still anticipated his return. Then, everything seemed a little extra that it made my insides cringe. I just couldn't wait to sign the deal and be off on my way home. 

"When will he be here?" I turned to Ronaldo and said. He only shrugged, which got me more angry. 

Then out of the blue, a man ran forward screaming; "the CEO is here! She's here!"

She? I gathered my attention towards the entrance wondering what that man had many by a 'she'. Maybe it had been a mistake? Probably English wasn't his first language?

Then I saw her walk in. It was in such an elegance manner that my mouth fell open as I glared in shock. Her long brown hair was now a short blondish color that accentuated her fair skin, and her curves seemed to have become fuller, adding beauty to her body in all the right ways. 

She smiled, waving to the public so confidently that he wondered if she was the same woman who was always so afraid of roaches. He wondered if she still was. 

"Uh, boss, are we seeing the same thing?" I heard Ronaldo voice said, and I nodded like a fool. For seven years I had been searching for her, and here she was looking so stunning like a goddamn celebrity!

"Tara." The words came out of my lips. "That's Tara, Ronaldo."