Million Dollar Mistake

Colliding again

Willa

The amount of paparazzi that followed me from my apartment to the car was enough to blind an average human. Christopher was right when he suggested that getting bodyguards would be helpful. If not, how would I have scathed past those reporters?

“Ma’am, would you like jazz or blues?”

Roland, my driver inquired. He knew my usual music. I wonder why he was asking.

“My usual…”

“Ma’am today is a special day… I thought…”

The smile on his face betrayed his excitement. He seemed even more joyous than I was.

“Special or not, you know my jam.” He nodded affirmative, quietly tying the car stereo to my usual opera. It was always a sweet mode of transportation to help my mind travel to my place of peace. Two years of business prowess and strife, to conquer the business field, yet every day still appears more bleak. Giving my dad’s company the expected next level of treatment, I still couldn’t feel the gap he caused, not even agreeing with Christopher. The loud beep from my phone pulled my attention to it.

‘On this special day, I wish the strongest woman I know congratulations. Yours, Chris.’

His cliché text was enough to spur a smile on my face, but not enough to keep it. Roland swerved past the preying paparazzi, parking in the vIP car park.

Roland opened the door with John and Jack by his side. Lydia was definitely not joking when she said they were the dream of any girl, but to me, I liked their toughness. I know they smiled at each other but definitely not in front of me. They marched by my side, leading me into the event hall where the award was being held. I couldn’t tell if I was fashionably late or just late, but then what’s an event without some drama?

I let my head rest on a higher pedestal even as a car walked into the hall wearing a plastic smile. The muttering and gasping of the people I walked past only massaged my ego. The sight of Christopher in the hall deflated my puffed shoulders. I begged him not to show up, but the bastard would never ignore a chance to steal the show. Seated on my table, he obviously lied to the organizers that he was my plus one.

“You look beautiful.” He whispered in my ears, his hands wrapped around my waist and pulling the chair. His tuxedo looked just as stunning as the wearer.

“You…look stunning.”

“As always.” He smiled.

If there’s anything I’ve learned from being the girlfriend of a celebrity, it is, everything is for the damn camera.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the time we have all been waiting for. For the most successful construction firm…topping the list for two years in a row…with the most architecturally impossible structures…a woman that has doubled the strength of ten men….”

“My woman!” Christopher yelled, interrupting the speaker and turning everyone’s attention to our table. I pinched him to keep shut, but the crowd were already making mushy sounds to comment on what they deemed ‘adorable’.

“For the construction firm of the year… Gray and Son’s Construction company!”

It never got old. From the first time I won the first award, it had already grown addictive. Striving after every construction contract in my life. Christopher held his hands out for me to let him lead me up the stage to receive the award. Bastard won’t miss a camera moment.

“No, thanks.” Pushing my chair myself, my legs fastened to the floor, patting myself on the shoulder as I cat-walked to the stage. Smiling from ear to ear, I received the award. From the elevated stage, I could spot the despair on Christopher’s face. As crazy as it sounded, I loved it.

“Thank you all for always honoring me this way… again if you’re thinking about quality construction, think Gray!” Emphasizing the company’s watchword with a smile, I posed for pictures with the stage photographers.

Damian

Smith never missed any chance to showcase Willa’s success to me. First it was when she made it to the New York Times, then to every TV show she was featured in. She had a warm smile on every single person. Despite how selfish it seemed, I was never happy for her, I longed only to be by her side.

“Damn! She got more curvy!” He yelped, hitting the table in excitement.

“Hey, watch it!”

“Watch what, man? She ain’t your girl no more… as rumor has it, she’s with one of Hollywood’s biggest celebs.”

“Sometimes I can’t help but wonder if we’re friends…” I scoff, reaching for the remote control to turn off the TV. I’ve had enough already.

“Come on, man!”

“If you’re my friend, smith, why would you always rub her constant success in my face? Are you happy that she’s all that?” Every single time I try to get Willa out of my head, Smith always returns with one of her success news or the other.

“Yes I am! I am, Damian. Willa is out there, being all that she wants to be…and every damn time, I have to think of you and how much you’ve been a shadow of yourself for years!”

He stumped, rising from the chair and advancing in my direction.

“You need to stop being sorry and live, Damian.”

He patted my shoulders lightly before walking out. A part of me wished to say ‘I’m trying, but it couldn’t.

“Sir!” My secretary called out.

“What?!”

“Your dad is here…”

Her words hadn’t touched the ground when dad pushed the door open. Could my day get any worse?

“Good morning, dad.”

His face wore what appeared like a combination of a sad and smiling face. His hands held on to Daniel’s little palms. I had totally forgotten about him.

“Daddy!” Daniel loosed himself from my dad, spreading his hands towards me. Quickly, I lifted him up, turning him in a twirl and planting kisses wherever I could.

“Am I now a babysitter, Damian?!” He roared.

“I’m sorry, dad…. I forgot.” My fingers racked my hair in confusion. Vivian had gotten drunk and left him alone, throwing us in a fight and causing me to drop Daniel at his place. Our toxicity had spiraled into an unhealthy environment for Daniel.

“You forgot your son? I was a bad father, but I never forgot any other person’s custody…. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with you, but it’s affecting my company!” He stumped, his eyes burning red.

“Betty!” I called my secretary right away to take Daniel from the office.

“Dad, I’m sorry about Daniel, but what has this got to do with your company?”

Typical Seth White to find every situation to pull me into an emotional roller coaster.

“Your nonchalant attitude has cost me one of my biggest clients but…. He’s giving me a second chance if only you agree to help him with his contract signing.”

“Dad please…. I’m not in the right state of mind for that right now…take care of your business or, better still…reach out to Aria…”

“Oh, please don’t refer me to her! I did not do you a favor…is it too much to ask my acclaimed son to help me?”

This old man somehow has a way of forcing my hand open every damn time. The last thing I want to do is help dad’s company, but then, with Vivian’s recklessness, he has more babysitting roles to take on.

“Dad…”

“I still have cleared your drug addict of a wife’s case under the carpet in the persecution office…a little help won’t hurt.”

“Fine! Daniel would have to be with you.”

“Your mum is addicted to her grandson, so that’s a walkover, thank you. I’ll send you the client's details…. I must warn you, he’s a little too much to handle, but you can do it.”

He affirmed, stretching the flight tickets to me.

No, he can’t be serious.

“Hawaii?”

“Love you too, son.” He yelled halfway past the door.

The next week, I packed my bags, taking the next flight to Hawaii. From mild conversations with the client, I can literally tell that he is an absurd and arrogant one, but even the hottest hell is better than spending another night with Vivian.

“So nice to meet you, Mr. Matthew.”

Feigning a smile is my job. Hence, holding a fake smile at a client was a workover. His bodyguards pulled my bags gently from me.

“When your dad…said…he could get at you… I doubted him.”

Mr. Matthew looked like everything but a civil business executive. I could have sworn he was a gangster, but I was too tired from the flight, needed to take a shower and probably sleep. The fragrance of the familiar cologne swept past my nose, I could recognize it even in a state of coma. It was the welcoming fragrance I got every day after work.

“Oh! If it wasn’t my favorite business rival!” Mr. Matthew announced as the entourage walked in. The built, unfriendly bodyguards in front, slowly patting and revealing those enchanting blue eyes.

“Willa Adamson meet my establishment lawyer, Damian White.”