The Comeback

Chapter 2

The three directors nod their heads in unison to agree. " What better time to celebrate the new head of the Zuritech and B.p coin merger division.. ". Zuriel once again grabs Emily by the waist. ".my beautiful and hardworking wife ... Mrs Emily Robinson".

The entire room gave a standing ovation to Emily, whose face was flushed for a minute while she was accepting congratulations from the directors. Almost immediately, her smile faded as the claps died down and all the directors started leaving after exchanging pleasantries.

" When we agree to a merger, you can't just wake up one morning and decide to merge your company with any startup just because their name sounds catchy or because they have a good three-month track record. Have you seen the rates where we've lost money, lots of it?

Zuriel held Emily by the chin, raising her face to look at him. " No, we didn't lose money...we invested, and don't worry, I triple-checked their stats. These guys have a promise. They have the brains but no capital. If we didn't fund them, another company would, and we would have lost what they were offering. In a few years, their idea will be a money-maker.

" Why'd you do it? Why did you put me in charge? Is this another way to bribe me, you just got out of the blue and put me in charge of something as big as this. Did you cheat again?

" Em relax "Zuriel words now a whisper. " No one cheated. This is purely a business meeting, how can I cheat ? ".

" Well, it hasn't stopped you before."

" Well I'm sorry for what I've done but it's in the past alright? Emily didn't answer as her gaze met with a petite but curvy lady dressed in a navy blue fitted suit and a white spaghetti handle bra top. Winnie her best friend was still sitting crosslegged on one of the chairs not intending to move.

Zuriel walks out of the room leaving both Emily and Winnie staring at each other.

You know...

"No ...no no, don't start,

" You don't even know what I'm gonna say" Winnie shrugs

"It's a Tuesday morning and I have to organize a whole division apart from my usual everyday work.". Emily slumped on a nearby chair.

" I figured, How are you doing..." Winnie asked feeling sympathetic. " I don't know. I'm holding up."

" We're best friends and I want to see you happy but you being married to that thing is way worse than being in a divorce for the last 7 years. Trust me girl I know ". Winnie leaned in.

" Don't start, please. " Emily stood up and walking outside when Winnie followed her calling her name.

" Look if a man cheats once, then there's something he's looking for.. something his partner didn't give him...but someone like Zuriel who's cheated multiple times, sister it's already a habit, he's gonna do it again, just a matter of when ". Winnie looks at Emily with pity.

" Okay I ..." Before she completed her statement, Emily froze in place, shocked at what she saw. Winnie, trailing behind Emily followed her eyes to behold the shocking sight down the busy hall Zuriel talking to a female staff who happened to be giggling. Emily turned around walking away in anger as she was followed by Winnie. " Emily hey ...wait up ".

Emily looks out the window of the speeding black hybrid of a car gliding through the city side. She views houses trees structures and humans in their different variations moving in opposite directions at the same speed as the car which slowed to a stop when Emily could see the vast sea of green trees beyond the gate and in the center of this sea is a majestic manor plastered with the color of brown and milk that somehow soothed to visitors taste but not hers atas she would always dread what lies inside even though she lived there. The car came to a stop around a fountain some twenty feet to the main door, Emily walked the rest of the journey from the car, opening the rich expensive wooden door to a massive chasm of a ground floor with doors at the far ends of the room leading to some other corner of the impossible labyrinth of a house, stairs from the floor overhead coming down to the middle of the room like two huge curved c's backing each other.

She was about to leave for her room when she noticed Zuriel at one of the tables by the wall, documents of different types laying on it a glass of tequila on one side and his phone on the other. Zuriel was so engrossed in his work, that he was oblivious that Emily was beside him.

Zuriel, we need to talk"

Zuriel took his phone and faced it upside down before standing up to face Emily." Hey Em, what's wrong? You don't look so happy. "

"Happy, would you be happy if I cheated on you, would you be happy if I constantly cheated on you?"

" No, no I won't, you should know you're the only one who brings me happiness..." Emily cuts him off. with a question.

"Then why are you always doing this to me? "

"I don't know what you're talking about " looking scared as he breaks a tiny sweat.

Emily brings out her phone from her black bag, showing it to Zuriel as a bold and clear news headline with a picture of Zuriel kissing a lady and reads, Billionaire Playboy at it again.

" You don't know what this is about... billionaire playboy, at it again. Do you want me to read the story under it too"? Emily prodded.

"No no, I can explain..it was .... merely a business meeting. She's a supermodel who would be an ambassador for a part of the company that's all.

Okay, so that's why both of you are dressed for a dinner or that will explain why you couldn't send one of the company's boys, that a CEO would want to recruit someone so little like a model. Oh no, this one is better you could explain to me why you frolicked with one of the staff in a busy hallway...yes, I saw ". " Have some dignity ". Emily walked slowly toward Zuriel.

A voice from up the stairs came as a sharp response. " He has more dignity in his lowest state than you'll ever have in your highest."

Zuriel's mother, Mrs Robinson dressed in a purple turtle neck and black long flowing skirt with footwear adorned with precious stones came down the stairs with majesty in her walks taking one step at a time as her footwear made an echoing 'clak' as she made her way down. She kissed Zuriel on the cheek before progressing.

"I'm so sorry, son all that ruckus woke me up from my peaceful beauty sleep. Something you'd never have". Emily apologizes instantly as she looks up at the fifty-year-old woman coming down the stairs. " I'm sorry I didn't know you were asleep.".

Mrs Robinson is given a cup of tea by one of the maids who immediately vanishes as she comes." so what is the problem this time".

" It's Zuriel, he's constantly seen messing around with girls Even ones that are my colleagues. It's not fair, ethical, or healthy and it ruins the name of the company and the family at large." Emily laid her complaint.

Mrs. Robinson sits cross-legged in one of the numerous milk-colored one-seater chairs. "The first thing you should know about business is that there's nothing like bad publicity. The fact that you're in the eyes of the media is a good thing and seeing that Zuriel here is the CEO of his father's company, means more engagement for him...us in general since we're the Robinsons. Don't even get me started on your morals... fairness,...ethics. your church girl attitude would be the downfall of us." Mrs Robinson takes a sip of her steamy tea.

A voice coming from a door to the left clapped back in confirmation. " Yeah, I agree with you a hundred percent," an average-height blonde wearing an almost transparent off-shoulder loose top and biker shorts walked into the mix. "...even if they notice about a flaw ...it makes you more human to them....more like people would love you more because you're the role model and since they see you coming out with that flaw, they'd be free and confident to do it themselves. They'd even stick it to your very existence like ahem.. Zuriel Robinson...the rich married playboy. Psychology is a bitch."

Hello Mom." The blonde girl goes to hug her mother who reciprocates using a hand to hold her close. " ... besides Zuriel is married to you... you're the main woman. He should be free to get his hands dirty since he's still yours at the end of the day, right?" The blonde girl smiles at Emily while Zuriel spreads his hands at his sister. " Exactly...."

Emily responded come on Dalia you can't possibly mean that ."

" She does, every last word ." Mrs Robinson stands up while stirring her tea with a teaspoon." I'd advise you to stop bringing this up because it wouldn't look ..fair to your husband's family if you're trying to drag their name about some mere rumors of your husband cheating on you."

" But.."

" Enough said.." Mrs Robinson motioned to Dalia with her free hand. " Let's go get those fine Italian cookies ". Zuriel hesitates but follows his mother and sister after telling Emily that he has to go.