VANESSA
I woke up to an alarm that I didn't remember putting.
When I looked up at my phone, it wasn't an alarm but a phone call.
I yawned, picking it up,"Who is this?"
"Morning Nessa!", came a cheerful reply from the other end and I realised that Adrian was no longer beside me.
"Morninggg!", my voice dragged.
"Get dressed and come down quickly. You don't want to be late on your first day, do you?"
"First...oh shit! Right!", I smacked my head remembering that today was the day I had been waiting for forever.
"Looks like someone slept well, huh?", I heard him smirk and could very well imagine the cheeky grin plastered on his face.
I rolled my eyes, heat rushing up to my cheeks. Though I couldn't deny, in the past three days, this was the most peacefully that I had slept.
"I'll be there in fifteen minutes.", I said ignoring his question, which only made him smirk again but before he could say anything further, I cut the call.
I took a shower and got dressed in a pair of checked grey trousers, a plain white shirt. I put on an open, prussian blue blazer and rolled up its sleeves. I blow dryed my hair, which had grown past my shoulders by now and then brushing them in place, I picked up a pair of dark blue wedges. I finally put on some lipstick and eyeliner.
Satisfied with how I looked, I made my way downstairs to the dining hall but to my surprise there was no one there.
I looked at my watch and it was eight. I couldn't be late, right?
"Where is everyone?", I asked a maid.
"Oh sorry madam, I forgot to inform you. The weather is bright today so the breakfast is being served at the rooftop."
Well, looks like even the weather decided to be nice to me on my special day.
I nodded and went upstairs but when I opened the door, I stopped in my tracks.
"CONGRATULATIONS VANESSA!!", everyone cried.
Thank heavens I decided not to put mascara. It would be down my face by now, otherwise.
There was a huge banner saying 'congratulations' hung up on the wall and there were balloons everywhere. On the table was a cake, a delicious looking red velvet cake.
However, it wasn't the arrangements that made me gasp and my eyes well up. It was the people.
The entire Greys family was there, including Matthew who was sitting on a wheelchair but the most unexpected guest was Kate.
"Thank you so much, guys.", I said, tears brimming in my eyes.
For a change, these were happy tears.
I rushed upto Kate and hugged her,"You came!"
"You called me mom, didn't you? It was not just my duty to be here but also my right. My daughter is going to fulfill her dream today.",she wrapped her arms around me.
"So you are not mad at me? That Nate didn't get to fulfill his dream?", I widened my eyes.
"Don't be silly! It's not your fault. Who ever deserved it would get, we all knew that from the start. You deserved it more so you got it. I am proud of you."
"Thank you so much, mom."
"Oh! Don't thank me. You called me mom and I have to live up to that.",she smiled.
"You don't. You are perfect the way you are."
She stiffened and looked at me half-heartedly," Thank you for saying that."
I knew why.
"I'm not just saying it, I mean it, mom. As for what you did to my mother, I think that you have made up for it by being a mother to me. She must have forgiven you by now."
"You think so?", She looked up at me with hopeful eyes.
I held her by the shoulders,"I know so."
She hugged me once more and smiled the brightest that I had ever seen her smile. It was like a weight was lifted off her shoulders today.
I then went to the Greys, my constant support this month and the family I had grown to love.
They all congratulated me one by one and then Matthew gave me some words of advice,"I said this to Adrian on his first day and I am saying it to you now. Promise yourself that even in the face of hardship, you won't ever give up and trust yourself. Your trust in yourself has brought you this far, it will definitely take you further."
I nodded, a permanent smile plastered on my face. I was so ecstatic that even the pain in my cheeks from smiling too much couldn't bother me.
It was all so overwhelming! So surreal!
"Now, let's have breakfast, shall we? I am famished.", Charlotte groaned," And the cake looks so tempting."
I cut the cake and fed a piece of it to Kate. We all then took a slice of cake for ourselves and began having breakfast.
I quickly finished my piece of cake, trying not to lose track of time. I couldn't be late on my first day. I wiped my mouth clean and then hurriedly got up.
"Thanks a lot everyone! I will see you at all at the promotion party."
"Except for me.",Charlotte said,"I am bringing you your dress after lunch break."
"Oh God! You made me another dress?"
"It is my first piece from my new line of clothes.", she proudly stated.
"How can I ever thank you enough? I don't even know how I deserve you guys."
"Dear lord! Don't you dare cry again. Now go before you get late.", Charlotte said," And as for thanking me, you are doing it by wearing it to your party. You will be the centre of attention today so when everyone knows you're wearing my dress, it will be ah-mazing for the launch of my line."
"Wow! Impressed.",I raised my eyebrows.
I waved at everyone and then walked downstairs, wiping my face with a tissue and reapplying my lipstick.
"Pick a car.", I heard Adrian say from behind me.
I spun around and locked him in an embrace. Adrian took a step back, stabilising himself and then wrapped his arms around me.
Out of all the hugs today, this had to be my favourite one...well, second to Kate's.
"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.", I squealed.
"For what?", he laughed.
"Oh! Come on! I didn't tell Charlotte about my becoming the CEO so it had to be you and the pleased look on your face tells me, you called Kate too."
" It was just a way to apologise to you. I knew you'd like this."
"When did you plan all of this?"
"Last night, while we were at the hospital and I was waiting for you to wake up, I called your parents."
"Parentsss?", I frowned.
Adrian scrunched his face and swore under his breath.
He called dad too...but he didn't show up.
"We can't win them all, right?", I gave him a bittersweet smile.
"I'm sorry.",he sighed.
"I'm not! I would rather be happy about the people who showed up than cry over the one that didn't."
Adrian nodded," Now, pick a car."
"I am not driving.", I said, remembering what I had done to his car last night," And I am paying you whatever the cost for the repair will be."
"No, you aren't and as for the driving part, I'm driving. We both have to go to the same place after all."
"Imagine you saying that when we first went to my office together.", I laughed.
"Well things were way different back then. I mean I felt so guilty when you cried the night before."
"So that is why you left?"
"Why else?"
"I didn't have the best impression of you back then. I thought you left because you were satisfied that you made me cry."
"Dear God! I guess we both have grown on each other, haven't we?", he smiled.
"We certainly have.",I said, finally selecting the car I wanted to go to office in.
Adrian's eyes widened as I handed him the keys,"After yesterday, you really want to go in a Porsche?"
"Can't be afraid forever.", I confidently replied.
We went to my office and reached well on time. We were in fact the first ones to enter the board room. Adrian wished me luck and then went to sit opposite me.
Soon enough, the board members started coming in. I greeted them cheerfully and they all smiled. Dad and Nate were the last to arrive.
Nate had dark circles under his eyes. He hadn't slept last night. For the first time, I felt bad for him. Well, life had never given me the chance to do so before. His life had always been so perfect. I was always the who had to play the hand that I was dealt with.
I shook my head. I had got what I wanted. I was going to stop harbouring ill feelings for him. It would be for the best.
"Good morning, everyone.", Dad stood up," Well, this meeting has been organised to choose the next CEO of Hudson Enterprises since I am retiring today. Considering Vanessa's achievement in securing the company twelve percent of Walters Pacific's shares, I see it beneficial for the company to choose her as its next CEO. However, if anyone disagrees with the decision, please raise your hand."
Most people just smiled at me and nodded but one board member raised his hand.
Dad sat down, motioning him to get up and speak.
The man, with greying hairs, stood up and looked sharply at me," Well, as proud as I am of Vanessa's achievement, I wish to know how she managed to secure this share percentage."
I drew in a deep breath.
Should I tell them I dated a psychopath, almost got Adrian's dad killed and while trying to make Blake admit he did it, almost died myself.
That would make for a fun story but it would sound highly irresponsible of me.
It took a minute for me to think what to say and then I decided it would be best to be tell the truth but in a tactful way.
I stood up," Well, I think everyone is aware that Blake was is in prison, as of now. Walters Pacific couldn't have itself being represented by such a person. I saw it as an opportunity and brought Dorris into the picture, seeing that she had the required skillset. In exchange for setting up a meeting with the board and helping her to get the position, I struck a deal. Twelve percent of the shares of Walters Pacific."
The board member nodded thoughtfully and then sat down, saying, "I agree with your decision, Mr. Hudson."
I smiled politely, trying my best to suppress my urge to jump up and down, screaming with joy.
Dad stood up once again,"Well then, please welcome the new CEO of Hudson Enterprises. Miss Vanessa Hudson."
He intentionally left out my mother's name. I clenched my fists but decided to remain silent. He had let go off her a long time back anyway.
"Vanessa Catherine Hudson.", I heard someone correct him.
I smiled, looking at the one who had passed that statement and he discreetly winked at me.
Everytime I think I couldn't love him more than I do now, Adrian did something that made me fall for him all over again.
Dad nodded awkwardly," Yes, yes. Vanessa Catherine Hudson."
He then stepped aside from his chair, pulling it back.
I took it as my cue and went over to the head of the table and sat down on his seat.
I felt adrenaline course through my veins as I sat there. This was me, the new me. CEO of Hudson Enterprises. The view from this seat, presiding over the meeting, it was more exhilarating than I had ever imagined it to be.
I talked about what ideas I had for the future of the company and how as the CEO, I was going to help the company excel. Discussions on several other issues related to the company also took place. After that, I thanked everyone for coming and adjourned the meeting.
The board members left one by one but Dad, Nate and Adrian stayed behind with me.
Once the board members had left, I walked over to Adrian and smiled at him. I was so happy and I really wanted to hug him but I decided against it. It would be unprofessional and I so did not want to rub it in, Nate looked miserable enough.
My attention turned to Nate as he got up.
"Dad, stop!", he said, calling out to my father who was standing at the door.
He turned around and looked at Nate questioningly.
"I have something to tell you and Vanessa.", Nate said slowly.
I looked up at Adrian. When his latched onto mine, I knew we both had the same thing in mind.
Was Nate confessing his fraud?
"Uhm...Adrian, if you could excuse us.", Nate asked in a shaky voice.
Adrian hesitated at first but obliged. However, before he left, I grabbed hold of his hand.
I couldn't bear to stand alone in a room with the two people who hated my promotion the most...it frightened me.
"He stays.",I stated.
"Vanessa, this is...um...an internal issue. I...",Nate began but I cut him off.
"That's fine. I trust him and I will tell him what you tell me later anyway so you might as well talk in front of him."
"Vanessa, please I...", Nate started but I interrupted him again," I am CEO now, Nate. I do respect your wishes but I should have the right to choose who I want to stay...or go."
"As you wish.", Nate said, sitting down, anger visible in his eyes.
Dad sat down beside Nate and the two of us followed, taking seats facing them.
Nate began," Since Vanessa is CEO now, I thought she'd figure out by herself once she looked at the balance sheets...but before she misinterprets it as something else and makes matters worse...I have something to confess."
He was doing it.
He was confessing but what does he mean by misinterpretation?
My eyes were glued to Dad's face as Nate began speaking.
"Dad, I have committed a terrible mistake. I didn't tell you before because I thought you'd hate me and I have lost a father before, I couldn't lose you. I am ashamed of myself and I will beg you for forgiveness forever and wait till you forgive me."
Dad's face was marred by a frown as he waited in anticipation for the terrible news that Nate was about to give him.
"The sudden losses in the company...its performance issues. It was all my fault. I know I shouldn't have but I was desperate to fortify my position as CEO, especially when I heard that Vanessa would be flying back to New York for a project meeting. I took out cash from the company's account. A lot of cash. I pretended that it was for a major project that later collapsed but it wasn't. I took the money for my own investments, trying to get hold of shares from companies just like what Vanessa did. I always meant to return back the money once it grew, I swear I did but I made the wrong investments...and I lost all of it! I am guilty and I am sorry and I...am...I am really sorry, dad.", Nate said, choking on his words. I had never seen him cry before and I could actually feel that his guilt was genuine.
Dad sank back in his chair, looking away from Nate, a look of pure shock and disappointment on his face as Nate continued sobbing.
I wanted to laugh and I wanted to cry.
Most of my adult life, my father had pit us against each other, made us the villains of the other's lives.
Every hasty career decision that I took was because of the looming threat of Nate, the golden child.
And here, the golden child had messed up everything because he was too afraid of me.
Was he really the villain in all of this or was it my father, who had been toying with us like chess pieces, moving us on a board as it pleased him?
"You intended to give it back. It wasn't fraud. It was just a mistake. People make mistakes. The fact that you apologized to dad and realised your folly is more important. It's fine, Nate.", I said, not recognizing my own voice.
Empathy and rage.
In a twisted way, he was just under as much pressure as I was and I could only see one person to blame.
Nate looked up at me and then turned to Adrian, wiping his tears and trying his best to compose himself,"Adrian, Vanessa trusts you and she let you stay here...but you cannot reveal this to anyone."
Adrian drew in a sharp breath. He had no compassion for cheats and frauds, he had been clear about it from the start.
However, I held his hand firmly, under the table, before he said anything to Nate that would make him feel worse.
"You won't say anything, will you?",I looked at Adrian hopefully.
"I won't.", he stated, trying his best to swallow his anger.
"Do you expect me to just forgive you?", dad asked weakly.
"I don't but I will keep apologising till you do."
"You stole money from my company, from OUR company? You could have just asked me for help. I would have told you how and where to invest what, you stupid child!", Dad said, his pitch slowly rising.
"I wanted to do something myself...I'm sorry.", Nate hung his head in shame.
"Haven't you made me proud! It is all my fault. Even after all these years of trying so hard, I couldn't raise you well. Guess it was because you aren't my real s..."
"DAD!", I screamed, jumping up from my chair, before he completed that horrible statement.
I was furious.
I wish I lost your custody battle to your uncle!
That sentence from him still horrified me, I wasn't going to let him do that to Nate.
All the suppressed anger after how he behaved yesterday returned and got channelled into fuelling me now.
I walked from my side of the table to his, standing between him and Nate.
"Just because you are not a good father doesn't mean that you can put the blame onto Nate's parentage!",I seethed.
"When did I deny, I was a bad father? I am a bad father! None of my three kids turned out to be fine. One hates me, the other slept with her sister's boyfriend and the third, the one that I felt I had raised well, he cheated me.", he narrowed his eyes at Nate.
I never imagined myself defending Nate but he was crying too hard to be able to reply himself and I wasn't going to leave him defenceless.
"He didn't cheat. He told you. If he wanted to hide it, he could have."
"He only told me because he didn't want you to tell me first."
Well, that was true but if I put myself in Nate's shoes, knowing dad, I wouldn't have told him either.
"He took a risk. Business is all about risks. He didn't evaluate the risk factor well and he caused the company to suffer a huge loss, I know. He didn't get the CEO position, did he? Isn't that punishment enough?", I asked.
My dad frowned at me in confusion," Why are you defending him? You hated him because I loved him more then why are you trying to protect him now?"
Loved.
"Because unlike you, I know what family is and I will stand by mine, when it needs me irrespective of whether they do the same. My mother, both my mothers raised me to think that way.", I asserted.
There was complete silence.
Dad continued to look at me, saying nothing and Nate's sobs had become quieter. Then a chair moved and Adrian got up.
He moved towards where I was standing and looked at Dad," William, I have always respected you as a CEO but sometimes you have to be more than just that."
"Now a bunch of kids in their twenties will tell me how to live my life?",Dad retorted," As if you, Adrian Greys are anything more than just a CEO. You yourself are a disappointment to your father."
Okay!
I thought I couldn't hate him more but he just made me.
"That is...",I began but I was cut off by Adrian,"Disappointment? My father just told me yesterday how proud he was of me, he even apologized to me for the entire giving-away-the-award-to your-enemy-fiasco. You want to know what disappointment is? That's what you are to your kids."
I had to try hard not to smirk after he made that comment. That was quite a comeback.
I thought this was over now and that dad would leave, storm out to be exact but before he could, Adrian began speaking again.
He was far from being done speaking!
"You think I am just saying that to get back at you? No. I am stating a fact. Nessa and I knew about this, Nate's frau...mistake since the day after the partnership party. I wanted to tell you right away, infact tell the world but she stopped me, not once but multiple times. It was an easy way out for her. Get Nate out of the picture and get what she wants but she chose the high road. Atleast that is what I thought but she didn't do it to be good, she did it because she knew Nate had a kid on the way and she didn't want to send her brother in prison and most importantly, she didn't want to hurt you because she knew how dear Nate was to you."
Dad and Nate both looked at me as if they were seeing me for the first time, the real me but I had always been like this, they just never noticed.
"I never meant to hurt Jennifer either.",I quietly stated,"I lashed out because I was angry. Not even in my most horrific nightmare could I ever have imagined how she took my words."
We all stayed there quietly, just processing everything we just heard.
After thinking for a while longer, I asked Nate,"Who is the COO of the company?"
"The COO left the company after it's shares began falling.We didn't hire a new one after.",Nate sighed,"I am sorry, Vanessa. That was my fault too."
"You can keep apologising your whole life for this or you can atone. Which do you think is better, Nate?"
"Atoning, obviously but I can't get the money back. Trust me, I have tried to get it back, I fought even but to no avail. I don't know if I can. This is too big a sin.", he sighed and slumped back in his chair.
"Not a sin, a mistake. Since you want to make up for what you have done, I am going to give you another chance. This company has a new COO now, you.", I said, with conviction.
I heard dad and Adrian gasp as Nate looked at me with wide eyes.
"Are you out of your mind? He will do it again.", dad angrily said.
"He won't. I trust him just like you should have, when I pleaded with you that I didn't mean to hurt Jen.", I fired another shot.
"You can't! I won't let...", dad tried arguing but I had had just enough. I interrupted him," I am the CEO now, father. It's my decision and it's final."
I turned to Nate once more,"You are my brother and just for the sake of it, I am giving you another chance but this is your final chance. If you fail me this time, I won't hesitate in firing you. Okay?"
Nate nodded, getting up.
"Congratulations COO.",I smiled, lightening up and stretching my hand forward.
Nate took it and slightly smiled, relief written on his face," Congratulations CEO."
We shook hands and then I left the meeting room.
"Are you sure?",I heard Adrian from behind," I get that you were trying to make a statement to your father but COO? Bit much, don't you think?"
I turned around and looked up at him,"Do you trust me?"
" I do.", he replied, walking up to me,"But just be careful, I don't really trust Nate."
"If I didn't, he would leave. That would be a waste of potential and he knows too much about how this company functions. Tech giants would easily snatch him up, the minute he is out and I can't have secrets leaking. Plus, if he is here, I'll have someone monitor him. No funny business."
Adrian smiled," I'm surprised anyone ever had a doubt, you really are CEO material."
"Thank you.",I bowed dramatically, giggling.
"I'll see you at the party and have a speech ready."
"I'll do that.", I nodded and then we parted ways.
I went up to the top floor where my cabin was.
My cabin.
The new nameplate that I had ordered for yesterday, was placed in front of my door.
I took in a deep breath, running my fingers along the letters scrawled across the clear acrylic plate.
'Vanessa Catherine Hudson
Chief Executive Officer'
With a smile on my face, I stepped foot inside, assuming the role I had always dreamed of.
ADRIAN
I looked at my watch again. It was quarter to seven.
People were beginning to gather inside the hall. Some reporters had also arrived. However, the guests I invited were nowhere to be seen.
"Adrian!",I heard Bryan call me from behind and I turned back.
He walked up to me,"Vanessa will be arriving by seven."
"How do you know that?"
"Lettie...umm...Ch...your sister told me.", he said nervously.
I slipped my hands into my pocket and took in a deep breath,"Lettie, huh?"
"That's...um...what I call her.", he said, avoiding eye contact with me.
"So you both are officially dating?"
"Yeah."
"Do me a favour. Don't hurt her. Ever."
"I...I love her, Adrian. I know you don't know what love is but, you never hurt the one you love. Infact you protect her from any harm..."
"You always be there for her and if she loves you back, she will do the same."
"Yeah! How did you...? Wait! Are you...are you...", his eyes widened.
"I love Vanessa.", I sincerely replied.
"Wow! What? I knew you liked her but...wow. Just wow! Are you sure?"
"Now I am."
I knew it.
I was sure of what I felt.
Last night's conversation with Vanessa really helped me think this through.
Knowing that she was aware of how conflicted I was and that even if we ended up as friends, she'd be fine and that more than the label on our relationship, unlike in her previous one, what we had was what mattered, my doubts about my feelings for her dissipated.
"You have never said that before. About anyone.",Bryan went quiet.
"I know. I have never felt this way about anyone. She is so strong-willed, extemely smart and surprisingly forgiving."
"Christ! You are in love! And not once did you mention how pretty she is."
"She isn't pretty, she's beautiful. Inside and out and I love her for it.",I beamed.
"So when do you plan on telling her that?"
"Today."
The moment I said that, everything went silent. Suddenly,camera flashes started going off and my head spun to the doorway.
Atop the stairs was the most beautiful woman that I had ever seen. With slow, delicate steps, she made her way down the stairs, her midnight blue gown flowing behind her. Her eyes began searching the room for someone until they rested on me.
She smiled and I returned it.
The woman that had won my heart.
The moment she was amidst the crowd, people gathered around her, congratulating her. This went on for quite some while and I just waited, standing where I was, tapping my foot on the ground, impatiently.
When I think everyone had congratulated her and she was finally free, the reporters began swarming around her.
Ugh!
That is enough!
I straightened my black suit and made my way through the crowd, to her.
"Ecstatic. It is a dream come true.", she answered one reporter.
"Hey! Congratulations Miss Hudson",I said formally.
As I shook hands with a confused Vanessa, I heard a few more camera flashes go off.
"Umm...some investors want to meet you.",I stated.
She frowned again but excused herself and followed me.
Once we got away from the reporters, she caught hold of my arm,"Miss Hudson? Investors? What was that?"
"Forget that, you look beautiful.",I said.
"I know. The dress, with the lace and tulle, the halter neckline and Oh God, I love how poofy the skirt is. Charlotte really outdid herself."
"I'm not just talking about the dress."
Her face flushed,"Oh! Thanks."
"You have your speech?",I asked.
"I do. It's short but I don't want to bore people.", she laughed.
"I have a speech too."
"Really? I didn't know the shareholders also had to give speeches."
"Not for the company, silly. For you."
She eyed me curiously.
"Let's go outside. There is still time for your speech."
"I'm the host. I can't leave."
"Just for a few minutes."
"Can this wait till I greet everyone first? It would be rude not to."
"Ohkay.",I sighed but then something caught my eye, well three people to be exact.
My guests were here.
"Vanessa. Looks like some guests have just arrived. Why don't you go greet them.",I smiled.
The moment Vanessa saw them, she almost screamed in delight.
Then she looked back at me," My friends! Eric, Sarah and Steven! How are they here? I tried to book them tickets yesterday but none were available."
I smiled," You won't have to book them tickets anymore. The company jet is all yours. You can fly them here whenever you want."
"Yes! Wait...you have a privat jet. Did you?"
"Well...",I began but before I could complete, she flung her arms around me.
I laughed," This is the second time today."
"You deserve it. You are the best person in this whole world."
"Thank me later. Go meet your friends now.", I said, still laughing.
Vanessa hurriedly made her way over to them and I went over to meet a few potential investors.
It wasn't long before Vanessa was standing on the podium giving her speech,"Hello Everyone!
Thanks for being here today. I am standing here giving the speech I had been hoping to give my whole life. I still can't believe it's finally happening.
As the next CEO, I have a lot of things in mind that I want to do but first I want to thank all those people who helped me get here. I want to thank my mother, Catherine because without her I would technically never get here.
I want to thank my other mom, Kaitlyn who has raised me to be who I am today.
I want to thank dad, who has taught me many great lessons in life.
I want to thank Jennifer, who when we were younger would play office with me and would always let me be the CEO. Hell! We played office even when we were teens and though she wasn't really a fan of it, she never complained. She was my first best friend.
I want to thank Nate, who has been a very worthy competitor, pushing me to do better and who will now be the COO of Hudson Enterprises.
I want to thank the entire Greys family for having me over this month. They are some of the most amazing people that I have met.
Charlotte Greys is one of the most talented designers and one of my best friends. In fact she custom designed this dress that I am wearing right now.
I then want to thank all my friends, co-workers, the board and shareholders.
Last but not the least. Well, he is the farthest thing from the least. I want to thank this incredible person who believed in my potential when I wanted to give up and for staying with me, no matter how many times I pushed him away. He is the best person that I have ever met and I....I can't thank him enough. Thank you, Adrian Greys!
Thanks everyone. That's it for today.",she smiled and made her way to me.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed the swarm of journalists focusing their cameras on us.
This was my chance to take her outside and give my speech.
"That was a great speech."
"Thanks.", Vanessa smiled,"You wanted to go outside, right. Let's go."
I nodded but then I saw someone approaching us and I groaned,"Bloody hell!"
"What?", Vanessa asked as she followed my gaze.
Jennifer came up to us, with her hand wrapped around her fiancée's.
"Thanks for all the beautiful things you said about me, Nessa."
"I meant it.", Vanessa smiled.
"You made Nate COO. He is so happy. He almost thought that you would fire him once you became CEO, I...I did too.",Jennifer looked at her feet.
I looked at Vanessa. I expected her to be offended and then let it go but I never expected her to say those two words.
"I am sorry, Jenny.",she said, her eyes shining with determination," We all did terrible things that night and you have apologized a countless time for your half, now I am apologising for the reproaching words I said to you. I know they were hurt and I know I blamed you for more than you had done. I didn't mean it, I was just lashing out. I hope you know it."
Jennifer gasped,"I...I...Thank you. Thank you so much. I am so sorry"
Vanessa opened her arms and her sister instinctively hugged her. They stayed there for about a minute long.
"Does that mean you have forgiven us?", Jacob asked.
Vanessa gulped and then took in a deep breath," I haven't."
Jennifer's face fell.
Vanessa took Jennifer's hands in hers,"But I am willing to try to forgive you, Jenny. I want to catch up on the past three years and I hope that we can go back to how the two of us were before...what happened. I miss my best friend and my sister."
"I would love that. I would really love that.", Jennifer smiled, wiping away tears, "I miss you too, Nessa."
"Oh! I forgot to ask, is dad here?", Vanessa dead-panned.
Jennifer hesitated before replying," No. He left for his golf trip, alone."
Vanessa smirked,"Lone wolf, huh? Suits him."
Jennifer frowned but Vanessa brushed it off," Forget it. Go have dinner. I picked out a great menu."
As they both left, we went upstairs to the rooftop.
As we walked out of the lift, I asked,"You are in a forgiving mood today."
"Everything that happened with Blake, it made me realise that it's so easy to...die. I hate her for what she did but I said quite a lot that day, I felt like she deserved an apology and she has apologized so many times, it was the least I could do and I wanted to rid myself of the guilt. I did it more for me than for her and anyways, I am in a good mood. Afterall, slept well last night."she smirked.
"Oh! Did you?",I laughed.
"So why are we here, in the dark and not sitting inside and eating?", she said, pointing to the dark rooftop. Well, the only light was being given off by the buildings of the New York skyline.
I rolled my eyes,"Why is food always on your mind?"
"Why? Would you like someone else to be on it?"
Damn! She can flirt.
"I told you I had a speech prepared. Do you want to hear it?"
"Yeah. What is your speech?",she frowned.
"Julius, now.", I yelled.
The lights came on, illuminating the rooftop which was completely decorated by fairy lights.
Vanessa looked around in surprise and awe. I lent her my arm and she took it. We made our way to the centre demarcated by flowers.
"Adrian, what is going on?", she asked though I felt that she knew the answer but wasn't sure of whether to believe it or not.
"I'm giving my speech.", I smiled.
"Dear Vanessa,
The day you entered into my life, even being friends felt impossible but you, you are a woman who has made impossible possible. You mean so much to me now that I can't even imagine how I was living without you all this while. Tabloid said I was just a heartless playboy, you made me realise I was so much more. You are the bravest, smartest and the most beautiful women that I have ever met. So tell me how do you not fall in love with that?"
Vanessa cupped her face as her eyes brimmed with tears.
"I love you, Nessa and it's stupid that I ever doubted it."
Through her tears, she replied," I love you too. I really really love you."
"I have something for you.", I smiled, reaching for a black box in my coat pocket,"To define our relationship is different from what I have had with any other woman, I got you something."
I took out the platinum ring with small diamonds encrusted in it, out of the box.
"With this promise ring, I want to promise to you that I will always be there for you. Nessa, will you be my girlfriend?"
Vanessa kept looking at me speechless as she raised her left hand towards me. I slipped the ring onto her finger and held her hands firmly in mine.
"You could not have thought of this yourself. Since when are you this...umm...romantic?", she asked, blinking away her tears and looking around.
"I watched the endings of a few movies.",I admitted.
"When?"
"In the office.",I cringed as she burst into laughter," No wonder the employees like guessing what their bosses do all day. You were watching romcoms during office hours!"
Heat rose upto my face and my ears became hot from embarrassment.
"Okay! Stop." I laughed
She did but she still had a smile plastered on her face.
"You are the bestest person that I have ever met.", I smiled, gently pushing her hair behind her ear.
"Bestest?",she laughed,"That's not even a word."
"Well, I guess words aren't enough to define how much I love you."
With that, I placed my lips on hers, capturing her in a kiss that I wished would last forever.
Well even if it didn't, we had forever to do it all over again.