DESTINED FOR THE CEO

CHAPTER3

Aaron

I woke up the next morning, my head aching from the drama of the previous day. I yawn deeply before dragging myself out of bed and headed straight to the bathroom.

I had rescheduled to meet with Maxwell for today since we couldn't meet yesterday after the incident with Marietta. And glancing at the time I knew I would be late again.

Maxwell has been my friend since highschool. He tends to idolize my father in terms of his business expertise and had wished to work with him while we were still in high school.

Working his way and coming out top of the class, he managed to secure a position at my father's company and with his constant perseverance and commitment, my father was able to recognize his hard work which earned him a position as the assistant of my father and to be honest he's been the best assistant my father had had in years.

But now my father is dead and I'm supposed to take over as the CEO of the company. Though Maxwell had been kind with helping me prepare for my new burden, my grandfather had refused to allow the family lawyer to do his job by releasing the company and my inheritance as stated in the will.

“A philanderer isn't what the company needs as it's CEO” my grandfather would say.

I may be a bon vivant, or a ‘philander’, as he would call it, but I am no doubt more than capable to run the company. But for my grandfather, Thomas Blakeley, a mere capability is never enough.

He still wants the traditional, perfect family man that is displayed as a symbol of perfection in the social columns. I know my luck with women is on another level but what my grandfather doesn't understand is finding the perfect wife isn't as easy as it seems.

Even after I had lied about having a fiancee, he still wouldn't believe me. Rather he demanded he wants to meet with the lucky girl. And that is why Maxwell had come up with a plan to help me convince my grandfather. And I could only hope his stupid plan would do the trick.

I wore my clothes, had a quick breakfast made by Nina, my househelp, before heading outside.

“Good morning, Mr Blakeley,” Steph, my private chauffeur greeted, “Hope you had a good night’s rest?” he asked. If only he knew.

“Yes I did” I said curtly.

I made my way towards the car and Steph followed sharply, almost stumbling on his feet just to beat me to the door.

“I will be driving today. Take the day off” I said, stretching my hand out to get the keys from him.

“Is everything okay, sir?” he asked, handing over the keys.

“Yes, everything is fine.”

I got into the car, putting on my seatbelt when Steph knocked on the tinted window glass.

“Sir, I saw this in the car this morning. I think the woman who was hospitalized yesterday owns it” Steph informed, swaying a necklace in front of me when I wind down the car window.

Not again…

I glanced down at my wristwatch, then heaved a sigh.

“Give it here. I'll stop by the hospital to return it.” He handed it over to me and I zoomed off.

♠︎♠︎♠︎

I arrived at the building and made my way into the hospital, heading straight to Marietta’s room. I saw Olivia’s head on Nicholas's shoulder, and his arm wrapped around her when I walked in.

They were both seated close to Marietta’s bed, backing the entrance, and Olivia seemed to be sobbing. But why though? Did something happen to Marietta?

I cleared my throat and they both turned their heads to look back at me when they noticed my sudden intrusion.

“You again?,” Olivia said, standing up from her chair,“ What the f**k are you doing here? Haven't you done enough already?” Olivia yelled, bursting out an uncontrollable sob.

“Did something happen to her?” I asked, ignoring Olivia’s aggravating questions and tilting my head to look back at Marietta who was deep in sleep like a newborn, unprepared and ignorant of the eventful life that lay ahead.

Nicholas drew Olivia closer to himself for a comforting embrace. “The doctor had just left. He confirmed Marietta will not be able to remember the past four or more years of her life—”

“And it's all your fault!” Olivia shouted, pointing a finger at me. Her tears

falling earnestly as she wipes them off.

I took a deep breath in and then heaved a sigh out. “I am—” The buzzing of my ringing phone cuts me. I knew who it was. It's been ringing since my drive to this place.

I glanced at my watch briefly before raising a finger, excusing myself for interrupting our conversation. I walked out of the room, taking some step away from the entrance before sliding the answer button.

“Hello” I sounded off.

“Where the f**k are you!!!” The outburst of Maxwell on the other end of the phone made me flinch and withdraw the phone from my ears for a moment.

“Calm down, Max, I'll be there soon.” I answered, switching the phone to speaker.

“If you don't come this minute I don't think there will be a company left for you to run in the coming weeks, Aaron!”

“What do you mean?”

“Mr Thomas had just ended some of our ongoing business contracts. He said the company won't be able to run without a CEO and since you're not ready to do as he’d asked, he would be closing down the company for the time being”

“Wait, Grandpa did what?”

“Are you deaf, Aaron?!”

“Does he have the power to do that?” I asked, a little confused.

“You d*****s. Have you forgotten he used to own the company before handing it over to your father?” I could imagine how disappointed he must have looked when I asked such a stupid question.

“But I thought he's in Italy.”

“Yeah I thought so too. You know the old man, he has his ways” Maxwell hinted, “Look, if we're going to act we should do that now and fast, else kiss your dream of becoming the next CEO goodbye” Maxwell added.

I sighed briefly. “Alright, I'm on my way” I said and Maxwell disconnected the call from his end. Turning to walk back into the room, my heart skipped two beats when my eyes landed on Nicholas's.

“Is everything okay?” Nicholas asked with a raised brow, his arms wrapped around his chest.

“Yes, everything is fine” I lied and just then Olivia came out.

“What's the matter?” Olivia asked, glaring at me with narrowed eyes.

“Look I'm sorry for everything, Olivia, but right now, I need to leave” I told them, digging my hand into my pocket, “I only came to give this back.”I extended my hand to give them the necklace.

Olivia collected the necklace from me and I turned to leave but halted when Nicholas spoke up.

“You know you can tell us anything right”

On hearing that my mode changed speedily and my voice came out a bit cranky. “No, everything is not okay,” I replied, rubbing my forehead, “My grandfather is trying to ruin my life and if I don't do something, I'm going to lose everything” I blurted out.

I didn't know why I had told them such but I guess I was freaking out.

“Relax… How can we be of help to you?” he asked and I scoffed.

“Except you can get me a bride, I see no way you can be of help” I said with a straight face. My arms wrapped around my chest.

He sighed “Just tell us why you need one” he requested.

I told them how my grandfather had insisted I settle down with a woman and quit my philandering behavior or face the consequences of losing my inheritance and most of all, my father's company.

But as soon as I told them about Maxwell’s plan to get a woman that would play the role of a wife until I get what I wanted, the confused look they sent my way made me regret why I had told them in the first place.

“You know what?… nevermind.” I proceeded to leave the place and just then…

“Wait!” Nicholas said before snapping his fingers repeatedly as if he had just gotten the best possible solution to my problem.

He turned to look at Olivia. “Are you thinking what I'm thinking?” he asked, his lips curling into a wide smile.