Always Yours

Chapter 7

"Mum...it's not what you think. I..."

"Leave Dorothy!"

A tear slips from my eyes as I look around me. More tears fall from my eyes as I take in the sight of my father. I make a move to walk towards him but my mum blocks me.

"Please" I beg "Just one last time"

"You have no right. Get out"

With the remaining strength in me, I walk out the door. I bow down my head in shame as it is now obvious that everyone is aware of what just happened.

I break into tears as soon as I enter my car. I don't know how long I cried for but I didn't care. It hurts a lot. She didn't even give me a chance to explain. I couldn't even hold my father. I break into tears again thinking that might be the last time I'll see him.

My phone rings, forcing my tears to stop. I clear my throat to clear any sign of me crying

"Hello?"

"Good morning, Miss Birlem"

"Good morning. Who is this?"

"I'm Sarah, the secretary of R&S company"

My heart immediately starts beating fast. I can't have a rest, can I?

"I'm still waiting for you to sign the papers. I need it back as soon as possible so we can go ahead with the alliance"

Papers?

"Um...sign what?"

"The papers we sent to your apartment ma'am. We sent it the day after you agreed to work with us"

My throat clenches in shock. I immediately hang up and look through my phone. Truelly, I sent an email agreeing to Ryan terms and conditions. A sharp pain goes through my head as memories of that day comes back to me.

Me getting down from Romano car. Entering the house and going to the bar for more alcohol. Sending an email to R&S when I was stupidly drunk. Walking towards Romano and seducing him. Rocking him to the music I played on my phone.

I close my eyes tight, trying to forget all the disgusting things I've done. I refuse to cry again. Today is just a really bad day.

I'll go to my apartment first and then go through the contract. I can just tell them it was a mistake. Right?

*

My house feels unfamiliar now. As if it's been a long time I didn't come home, meanwhile it's just been a day. So many things has happened within a day though and I can feel it weighing me down.

I pick up the mail by the mailbox,only glancing at it for a few minutes. I walk into the house and take a deep breath, letting the familiar scent wash over me. It's always been hard coming back to a lonely house. It doesn't feel like home. I want to come back and meet people who missed me throughout the day. I want to be welcomed by screams of my children when they know I'm back. I want to be welcomed by the warm embrace of my other half. My heart clenches as I realize I could have had all these sooner if I had just stayed with Ryan.

I walk into the house, making my way to the sitting room. I plop on the couch and close my eyes for a bit, letting my head take a rest from all the thinking. Finally feeling a bit better, I take the contract and begin to look through it.

What the hell have I gotten myself into? The contract is valid for 7 years and any party that cuts it off will have to pay a fine of 100 million dollars. The conditions were made in such a way that my company doesn't have a say until after 5 years.

I sigh and rub my eyes, wishing all of it is a dream. Being emotionally and mentally tired, I don't bother changing out of my clothes and taking a bath, instead I fall asleep in my sitting position, tired of it all

*

2 Years Later

2 years. It took them 2 years to forget all what happened. It took me 2 years before I could finally stop hiding from the media. I've been coping with everything life throws at me. One of it being the monthly meetings with Ryan and his workers. It's been hard pretending that his presence doesn't affect me. Everytime he scolds a worker, thay deep baritone voice that makes my toes curl. True to his word, he made the company developed again. We've been having more profits than we did in the last 5 years before the crisis. It's been long I've seen my family though. I tried to but mum shut me out of her life. She ordered Dani to not let me in, though I still talk to Dani sometimes, it isn't the same as being with my whole family. It's hard knowing you've been shut out from your family. The first people you met when you came to this world. Your first friends.

The office phone buzzes signaling an incoming call, which could only be from my secretary

"Yes, Aria?"

"It's time for the annual meeting, Miss Birlem"

I sigh

"Is he around?"

"Yes ma'am. He's sitted in the boardroom already"

"Alright. I'll be there in 5"

I stand up from my seat and begin walking to the boardroom, silently hoping it ends as soon as possible.