DESTINED FOR THE CEO

Marietta I flinched as some files landed on my desk, pulling me out of my thoughts. I shoot my head up to see Collins, my assistant, standing in front of me with folded arms and a flicker of disappointment etched on his face. “They rejected the proposal,” Collins said, his voice barely above a whisper. “What do you mean, ‘rejected the proposal’?” I questioned, standing from the chair I was seated in, “that was our only shot at saving the company” I added. “There's no saving this company, Marietta!” he yelled, “It's all over. We did all we could.” his voice switched to a lower tone. On hearing these words, my heart shattered into a million pieces. The only opportunity to save the company had just slipped right through the palm of my hands and there was nothing else I could do to save it. A feeling of despondency sets in and tears find its way down my cheeks as I try to make out what Collins had just said. The company has been the only source of income I had and I've used to take care of both my sister and boyfriend over the past four years and now there was nothing left of it. Collins loosened his tie before walking to the door. “It's been a pleasure working with you, Marietta” he announced, and with that, he shut the door behind him. I plopped back down on my chair as different thoughts commandered my mind. It's been four years since I started working at the RD company. I was made the managing director of the company after the previous CEO embezzled the company's fund, leaving it to go bankrupt. Though I was able to recover a few of the company's revenue, it was never enough to keep the company up and running, giving some investors no other choice but to withdraw their capital and ever since then, we've been trying to keep the company at its feet. Now I guess all our hard work was all futile. As soon as I was ready to leave, I packed my belongings and strolled down the hallway and headed for the exit of the now empty building. Every step I took past the door of an office reminded me of how I'd failed as a manager. Stepping out of the building, the cool breeze of Los Angeles hits my skin, sending a wave of uneasiness and fright down my spine. How am I supposed to explain to my sister, Olivia back at home that our only means of survival is finally gone… for good? I took a deep breath to relax my mind before stopping a cab and we hit the highway. As soon as we reached familiar grounds, I paid off the cab and walked a little more until I got to my residence where I lived with my sister. Twisting the knob of the door, I noticed it wasn't locked so I figured Olivia was at home. However, I took a step inside, filled with confidence to break the bad news to her but noticed something odd. Some clothes were littered on the ground, including a trouser of a man and some bottles of drinks on the table of the living room. Olivia doesn't have a boyfriend. Her previous one turns out to be a scoundrel, who assaults and uses her anytime he wants to satisfy his s****l desires. She claims to love him even after he treated her like trash. I made sure to involve the police and got him arrested the day Olivia came visiting with a black eye and some bruises all over her right arm. Even though she tried to deny he hadn't hit her, I never believed because her bruises appeared so severe. More like the handiwork of the b*****d. As I moved in further, a low moan drew my attention. It came from Olivia's room and the more I trailed it, the more it grew louder. “Aghh! Yess!… Please don't stop” I eavesdropped from the other side of the door and the sound of hips thrusting into each other in perfect sync with moans and groans of a man and woman filled my ears. Did Olivia bring a man to the house?… my house?. “You love that, don't you?” The man’s voice echoed as the pounding grew faster. That voice… I know that voice. “Yes!, Nico, Yess!!… Right there.” That name… I know that name. Without hesitation I pushed the door open to see two half naked familiar faces. I gasped in shock as they turned to face me. It was my sister and… Nicholas? My eyes widened as tears found its way down my cheeks, ruining the little makeup I had on. Nicholas and I have been dating for three years and we've been planning on tying the knot soon but the situation with my job made us pause with the preparation. How could he do this to me? Without altering a word, I turned and left the room. My heart feels like it's been severed by the dagger of a fierce huntsman. “Marietta, it's not what you think. Let me explain” Nicholas said, following me to the living room. “Explain what? How you've been doing two sisters?!” I yelled, my voice trembling with disappointment. “No! Marietta, just let me speak” Nicholas replied, trying to put back on his trousers that were lying on the floor of the living room. “How could you do this to me? After all I've done for you this is how you repay me, huh. By f*****g my sister?!” Olivia rushed to the living room, already dressed. “No Sissy, please just listen to hi—” “Shut your mouth! I'm your sister for christ sake. Aren’t you ashamed of yourself? How could you be so cruel?.” I yelled, my eyes turning bloodshot. I slapped my hand over my mouth as I burst out a sob and with that I dashed outside, running with no destination in mind. I just wanted to be alone. How could they do this to me after all I've done for them? “Wait sissy” Olivia tried to stop me but it was too late as I already slammed the door behind me. “Marietta stop!!” I heard them shouting behind me but neither did I stop nor looked back at them. “Just stop and listen to us” Olivia’s voice met my ear but I didn't stop as they chased after me. “Stay away from me. I don't ever want to see you two ever again!” I yell as I continue to run. My vision goes blurry as tears continue to build up and flows from my eyes. Breathless, I ran and ran down the busy street. My lungs burning, my chest pounding. I couldn't let them meet up with me. I just want to be alone— away from the two of them. “Marietta wait!” Their voices were drawing closer. I could feel them very close. I glanced over my shoulders and indeed they were close. I tried to increase my pace but my knees were failing me. My heart beating rapidly like a trapped bird fighting to break out from it’s cage. “Marietta wait!!” “Marietta stop!!” The squeaking sound of a car hitting it's brakes filled my ears. My eyes widened in horror and I gasped when I realized I was already in the middle of the road. “MARIETTA!!!”