Love is Like A For*bid*den Fruit

Chapter 4

Thomas’ Point of View 

After our visit to the New York branch office, me and Edgar took the next day off, as it was almost 16 hours of travel for us that day. We both needed a break to get rid of the severe jet lag that we were feeling at that moment. Our jet landed in London at around 11pm and we made our way towards my mansion as soon as we landed.

We reached my mansion at around 12am and retired to our rooms. Before entering my room, I called Edgar, “I have taken the next day off and I’m ordering you to do the same tomorrow. Rest as much needed and remember to not wake me up before I come out of my room. You also take rest till I wake up and that is an order. If I see you outside your room before I come and call you, then remember that you will be in big trouble” I pointed my index finger towards him, in a gesture of threatening him. He gave me a small smile and nodded his head in agreement.

I went into my room and changed into my boxers and freshened up. I thought about enjoying a relaxing bath and went inside the tub. I closed my eyes and relaxed against the headrest of the bathtub, and that was when I saw those tired and puffy dark brown eyes looking at me, when in the lab. I couldn't shake the feeling of something inside me wanting me to go there and see those eyes again.

It was only for a few minutes that I actually saw her and just thought that it might be some feeling that will wear off after a few days of work. I didn't give it much thought and came out of the bathtub and wiped myself clean with a towel placed there. I changed into my boxer shorts and left towards my bed and fell on it. I was soon taken into the dreamland within no time. 

I woke up and gently looked around me. There was bright light inside my room and I could see the afternoon shade of the sun falling on my walls. Yes, I had a glass wall on one side of my room, which offered a long stretched view of the garden area maintained outside the wall. I always loved the feeling of being amidst nature, and so I got a glass wall to enjoy the view.

I blinked my eyes twice and adjusted to the surrounding light. I slowly got up to check the time, and my mobile displayed 2pm, on a Wednesday afternoon. I groaned and woke up with great difficulty and went towards my washroom and completed freshening up. I heard Edgar knocking softly on my door. 

I draped myself with a towel and came out and opened the door to peek just my head outside the room. Edgar was standing there and was waiting to tell something. I raised my eyebrows with a gesture of asking him the matter. 

“Young master, it is time to enjoy some brunch. You have some meetings lined up from 3.30pm to 8pm. Get to the dining table soon” with that he bowed and left his way. I banged my head against the door and got inside to get dressed in my grayish blue 3 piece suit. I left towards the dining area and saw Mrs Costov, arranging the dining table with a plate of oatmeal and apple juice. She served Edgar his normal French toast and apple juice and we started with our brunch. Edgar was as usual eating while standing and I urged him to sit, but in vain. 

We finished our brunch and left our way towards my office. I entered my cabin and told Edgar to take care of preparing the conference room for the meetings that were lined up in the evening. My meetings started and the first meeting was about the works related to all branches of our Pharmaceutical companies. Everyone started briefing their progress so far and I sat and heard about everything. I made some notes and thought of discussing it when the meeting is done. The briefing then came to an end at the New York branch and I felt a sense of happiness in some corner of my heart.

“Mr. Strauss, our New York branch has always offered promising results, even though some companies working on the same products couldn't do so. Our lab head, Mrs. Stiff and her assistant Ms. Lockwood, both have been working very hard till they get required results for the experiment they are working on. I have even heard that those two sometimes stay back in the waiting area overnight, when an experiment is in progress. Currently they are working on a medicine for curing the onset symptoms of Alzheimer's, and if they succeed, then we can start the clinical trials on the patients who are in the initial stages of the disorder”, Mr Edward Smith, the branch head of the New York branch working from the London office briefed his progress to me.

I became extra alert, when I heard about the lab head and her assistant, who is no doubt the girl whom I saw in the lab. I thought for a while and came up with a suggestion. 

“Mr Smith, that is really great news. I am happy that we are working on medicine for one of the disorders without any medicine today. I do hope that they do succeed in their job. Why don't we do one thing? We can invite both Mrs Stiff and Ms Lockwood to come and work with us in our London branch. We can provide everything that they need here and they can continue their work here. Do discuss with them about this and let me know what they thought about this idea. Anyways the meeting is dismissed. Anyone needs to brief anything else?” with that I looked around and saw that everyone had done their jobs. I smiled and got up and gave a final brief about the meeting and left towards my cabin.

“I hope that she does come and work with us”, I felt my heart say it to my mind and I was surprised with what my heart wanted. It was just a suggestion and I had to get an answer from both the laboratory workers. Anyways, I went inside the cabin and prepared myself for the next meeting that was scheduled later.

I had a meeting with the CEO of Cooper Pharmaceuticals, Mr Alex Cooper. He is a very good friend of mine, but when it comes to business, he can become very ruthless. He keeps barging in to spend some time with me, whenever he feels like he is feeling bored. I checked my mobile when I reached my cabin and saw that he had sent me a text asking me whether I would like to join him in going for some chill out tonight, after our meeting concluded and he left his way towards his office. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese was our normal hangout place. I needed a break from my work and so I replied to him that I will be glad to join him.

“Dude, please change into something casual and come. Please don't come in your normal business attire. I don't need business in the chill out time” he sent me the text.

“Okay fine. I won't. Don't worry. I won't take all the limelight when with you. Chill okay” I replied to his text with a smirk on my face. 

Day was really hectic as Edgar lined up meetings till 8pm. I traveled the whole day yesterday and now there are continuous meetings. Oh God. Please kill me now. I sighed and went along with the day’s meetings. Somehow I managed to finish everything and got ready to go home. I called Edgar and told him to get the car, as I was in so much need of a shower and some clubbing time.

I went towards the elevator and started my way towards the parking area. It was when I remembered something. I had told Mr. Smith to speak with the two brilliant lab technicians in New York to come and work with our branch. I thought of reminding him again and took my phone out and dialed his number. He picked after 3 rings.

“Hello Sir, is there anything you needed my service for? How may I help you?” he replied in his normal polite manner.

“Hello Mr. Smith. I just called to remind you that you need to give a call to those two testing experts working for our New York branch regarding coming down here and working directly in our company. You can send mail through the company mail portal. Also tell them that we are willing to pay more, if at all they demand for it. Just try to get them here, as we need such experts in our branch here. You do understand what I’m saying right?” I took my CEO's tone and I guess he understood what I meant.

“Yes sir. You don't have to worry as I will try my level best to fly them both here. Let me discuss the matter with them and get back to you regarding the matter. Just give me 2 to 3 days sir”, he replied with a sense of confidence in his tone.

“Okay great then. Hope I get a positive result here. Anyways, carry on with your work then. I guess you are already home now, as it is already 8.15pm” i said with a relaxed tone.

“Yes sir, I'm on my way home. I left a few minutes after you left sir. Anyways, have a safe journey home sir. I will see you at work tomorrow” he replied and I disconnected the call.

I reached the parking lot and saw Edgar waiting for me in the parking lot with my car. I went towards the car and loosened my tie and sat in the backseat. Edgar started the car and we left towards the home.

I asked Mrs. Costov, not to prepare anything for me, as I will be surely having something outside with Alex. I went towards the room and removed my clothes and threw everything here and there and went towards the washroom. I set the shower to hot and went and stood under the warm water. The warm water started caressing my sore muscles and it felt really nice.

After 30mins of relaxing shower time, I went towards my walk-in wardrobe and removed a pair of faded blue jeans and polo neck black tee shirt and draped myself in a leather jacket. I took the keys to my Red Koenigsegg and left towards the parking lot. I fired up my baby and turned her towards our old hangout place, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese.