Paid To Love

Episode 35

Paid To Love EPISODE 35

Henry’s POV

It was a long day at the office and I had been buried in two months worth if work that I had neglected and some contracts that needed signing and approval. On top that I had a proposal I needed to make all in the same week. I was so caught up with the whole fooling my dad thing that I had totally forgotten about work. My head started to ache and I could feel it pounding at this point. I decided to lay my head on the desk and just take a two minute power nap.

“Mr. Davies, umm. I need you to wake up please your father requires your presence immediately.” He said loudly.

I could hear him but I just didn’t want to get up. I probably didn’t want to see my dad either.

I lifted my head up from my desk with a file hanging on my jaw humorously, which I then remove from my face and stared at Gerald, who was standing in front of my desk, trying to hold down a laugh he was choking on. My father is here? Suddenly more alert, straightened up and cleared my throat and I frantically try to arrange my files.

“No, he isn’t but he’s on Zoom.”

“Why didn’t he Zoom me directly?”

“I think he knows you’re avoiding him. He says he has something to tell you urgently.”

He turns his tablet around and I could see my fathers face on hold.

I hesitated. Had he already found out I’d changed the locks? Or maybe the security cameras were finally shut off and he’d found out about it? Begrudgingly, I took the phone from Gerald and continued it. “Yes, dad?”

“Were you sleeping?”

“No,” I lied.

“Did you finish your work you piled up for Gerald all these weeks?”

I glanced at the pile of paperwork on my desk. How did he know I hadn’t done any work all month. I then glanced back up to Gerald with an accusing look which he replies with a denying look. Dad shakes his head with a disappointed look.

“Have you sorted out the Hawaiian resort?”

“Yes I fired the former contractor and talked to them directly and they should be signing soon.” I answered feeling a confident.

“Hmm. That’s good, at least you’ve not been totally useless of late.”

I felt that one and I looked away from my dad almost tempted to hang up on him. This was why I didn’t answer my father’s phone calls.

“Anyway I will be taking over from here and I would like all the files relating to Hawaii in my mail today.”

As if I didn’t have enough work on my hands already. “Fine. Please go right ahead and do it all yourself. Is that all? I have work to do.”

“That’s not the reason I called you. We have some very Important clients coming in from Europe tomorrow and they would like to have dinner with us so I need you to pick a place.” Why was I the one picking a place for her meeting.

“I don’t know maybe the Del Mante restaurant.”

“Hmm, ok that might be suitable. Be there at eight o’clock sharp tomorrow. Dress nicely.”

“Wait what? Why?” I asked confused.

“The daughter of Marta De Lorenzo would like to meet you, so I’ve set up a date with you for her. This is a good chance to get on her family’s good side. Don’t mess it up.”

“A date?” I said. “I have a girlfriend—”

“No, you don’t. You have a girl whom you are dating, who I haven’t even approved of.”

“But I don't..”

“I’m sure you have no problems with meeting Marta's daughter. You will be there at eight o’clock. You will not cancel on her. You will treat her properly and ask for a second date at the end of the night.”

I again thought about hitting the end call button but I had to resist. He wanted to set me up on a date? “This wasn’t part of our deal.”

“You said you wanted time to date more on your own. You didn’t say I couldn’t suggest people.”

“What’s wrong with Victoria?” I demanded.

“Well let see, I could start with her attitude.”

“Attitude dad really? You met her once and as usual you probably said a couple of rude things to her first...”

“I’m not asking you to marry this girl. Yet. I’m simply asking you to go on a date with her, who knows what might come out of it? ” I could barely draw up the words to reply him. “You can keep dating your other girl, but ultimately I will see which of them is suitable for this family.”

I was dumbfounded. My dad never asked anything. It was either do it or face the consequences. Usually he gave me no options at all and this felt like it.

I knew this was an order, not a request. It didn’t matter to him that I was already dating someone. Maybe our whole deal didn’t even matter to him. Maybe I was wasting my time.

“Dad..” I continued.

“If you ever want to become the CEO of our company or you have to realise that sacrifices have to be made. Your mother understood that so why can’t you?”

He knew exactly what to say to get me riled up. I had to become the CEO. Even if it meant going on a date with a rich snub.

“Henry, I can see your face wondering away. Listen to me.”

“Yes, I’m listening to you. I’ll be there.”

“Very well. I’ll be back soon. I hope you enjoy your date.”

I finally hit the end button, then threw the tablet on the wall, making it crash and fall. Gerald was shocked but he picked it up and surprisingly it was still fine because the back hit the wall. He smiled awkwardly, standing and waiting for my next order “so can i go....”

“Yes. In fact you can leave right now.” I told him.

He seemed confused. “Don't tell me I'm fired?” He smiled.

“No. Of course not. I just need to leave too. Seeing as you’ve been working so hard I figured you would need the break.”

“But why exactly are you leaving? What’s the matter?”

“Are you my assistant or am I yours, what do you care?.” It was my frustrations about my father talking.

“Don’t worry, I know you’re all worked up about the date. I could schedule something else for you at that time to get you out of it?”

I was tempted but I knew better ” Na, That would just make things worse. You know how my dad can get.”

“What about Victoria?”

“She’ll be fine, I will just explain something to her.” I said, not wanting to give it away. Victoria probably wouldn’t care anyway. It was all a role to her. Maybe this date would go well and Victoria might not need to play this role anymore.

” Ok, I'll keep it under raps then. But you should still think about cancelling if you don’t feel comfortable with it.”

I nodded, feeling drained. “Yeah I’ll be tempted not to but thank you.”

I felt choked again. I could barely breathe and I thought to my self how I could possibly go on this date. Why did dad want to do this all of a sudden. He hadn’t tried this in a while and this was really surprising. I couldn’t get how Jack could handle him. They always seemed to get along and they did it so effortlessly.

I really wanted to be the CEO, I’ve been preparing for this my whole life. I guess I could handle a few dates with a young rich snub. What if i disappoint dad? He already seemed disappointed and if this date goes south then I could lose my position to Jack. I couldn’t let Jack win

“Damn it, Jack,” I muttered, shoving myself away from my desk.

My dad sent me the pics of this girl and her name. It read Alexa Del Mante. That seemed very European. I shrugged, she had really nice curves, a pointed nose and really long brown hair. She was at least five feet nine inches tall and she had this look about her. It seemed awfully familiar... Yeah the look screamed rich snub.

Another text followed from my father.

I’ve got some white roses prepared for you to give to her. Be nice. Bring a nice gift, maybe a necklace. Something expensive and shiny. She went to Cambridge. Do not wear all black. It’s not a funeral.

I put my phone aside and resisted the urge to roll my eyes. I don’t need tips for a girl like this. What was weird was the fact that he gave me tips anyway.

And then it hit me. I dialled my secretary phone. “Gerald, in here, now,” I called.

In a moment he came flying through the door. “Yes, Sir?”

“Prepare a dozen lilies for me tomorrow, by five o’clock.” .

He gave me a confused look. “Your father said I should get a bunch white roses not lilies.”

I felt the corner of my lip rise. If she rejected me then my father couldn’t pin it on me. “I think he meant lilies.”

“Alright, I will put the order in.”

A plan was brewing and I loved how it made me feel. It would bring great joy to me when this date crumbles. The look on his face would be priceless.

I smiled at the thought.

I hadn’t heard from Victoria all day. Actually we hadn't spoken properly in weeks. Maybe it’s just work or was I actually avoiding her? I think she might have noticed because she is acting a bit strange though. I think I need to treat her out or something. I hadn't seen much of her recently. Maybe it was because I’d been too busy. A nice date in the city will be nice for our plan. I went to dial Victoria's number...

My phone began ringing in my hand, speak of the devil. startled to see Victoria’s name on the screen. I swiped to answer it and placed it against my ear. “Victoria.”

“No,” a different voice answered. “This is Zoey.”

Zoey? Why was she using Victoria’s phone? “Where’s Victoria?”

“Um. We kinda got in a car accident.”