Chapter 13 - The Rise
1203 Words
LAYLA
With shaky knees, I got up from my seat and sauntered toward the stage. The screams hadn’t reduced. Instead, they were followed by yelps.
When I got to the stage, the host bowed while smiling widely. Then he turned to the guest.
“Umm… just as it has always been done, the previous winner of the award shall be called to the stage to present the award to the winner,” he said.
At that moment, the whole turn of events clicked in my head. If the previous winner were presenting the award, did that mean I would be meeting…
“A round of applause as we welcome the CEO of BOA Companies, Mr. Nicole Douglas, to the stage.”
Everyone stood up, and the hall was filled with the sound of clapping. My breath hitched. What do we call this? Grace? Luck?
For months, I’d been struggling to meet him. Who would have thought there would be such easy access today?
The popular CEO came to the stage, and my breath hitched for a few seconds. I couldn’t believe my eyes. He was young and f*****g handsome. Yeah, rumors said he was a young man, but I didn’t expect him to be this young and perfect. His smile was so cute and contagious that I didn’t realize when I started flashing an even bigger smile.
When he got close to me, his cologne—sharp and heavenly—gave me a stern slap in my nose, and I was almost blown off my feet. If it hadn’t been for the self-restraint I had, I would have pulled him into a hug the moment he came closer to shake hands with me. I didn’t want to let that hand go. Even as he stood beside me to take pictures, I clutched the hem of my dress tightly so I could concentrate instead of reveling in his beauty and aura.
The flashes of the cameras and the sounds of shutter clicks mixed with the laughter and claps in the hall.
For the first time since I climbed the stage, I raised my head, and tears filled my eyes. People stood and yelled their lungs out. After five years of being in charge of the family’s company, I claimed the Best Industry Award back.
“Thank you for the honor, Mr. Douglas,” I mumbled after the pictures, exchanging handshakes with him.
“Your company earns my respect every f*****g time. I didn’t expect you to take back the crown so soon,” he responded, removing his hand from mine.
I chuckled. “The competition is fierce, but the main thing is that we are all doing the right job.” There was a pause. “I’m Layla Flynn, by the way—the new president of Starlight Group of Companies,” I introduced.
I noticed a change in his gesture after my introduction. His brows creased, and he darted an admiring gaze over me.
“I heard there’s a new president, but I didn’t expect the one who reclaimed the award to be a woman,” he said, stretching a hand forward for another shake. “Now I need to be as humble as I can be so that I can learn from you, Ms. Flynn.”
“That’s the mistake you made, Mr. Douglas. You underestimated the power of a woman. You forgot that being a woman isn’t a disease but a special privilege.” I shook his hand back.
He nodded. “Hmmm… you are interesting, Ms. Flynn. It will be nice to work with you.” He removed his business card from his pocket and handed it over to me. “Where’s yours?” He stretched his empty palm forward.
“Oh!” I mumbled, then removed my card from my clutch. “This is it, Mr. Douglas. Let’s meet up this week to discuss business. You will be surprised to know the plans I have for both companies.”
He grinned and nodded. “I have high expectations of you, Ms. Flynn.”
Afterward, we both left the stage and went our separate ways.
Even as different people came forward to congratulate me, my eyes were fixed on the card in my hand. My lips curled into a smile. I didn’t just get an award but also a fixed meeting with the CEO of BOA. Grandfather will definitely be proud of me.
After appreciating everyone, I went back to my seat. And as soon as I settled into it, the man I had totally forgotten about cleared his throat behind me.
I rolled my eyes, shook my head, and huffed loudly. Did he come to beg after realizing I was some hotshot? He would be a joker to think I would grant him some—
“Did you really need to go this far to prove a point to me?”
My thought was interrupted by his sudden question. And trust me, I didn’t understand a thing.
“What?” My brows furrowed.
“The remaining respect I have for you has been thrown away today, Layla. You really slept with that old president of the Starlight Group of Companies so that you could prove to me that you are living a good life without me, huh?” he spurted out, disappointment written all over his face, and there was a hint of sadness in his voice… or maybe I was hearing things wrongly at that moment. I mean, who wouldn’t be? Not after hearing such an accusation.
“I beg your pardon, Mr. Bastian.”
I understood his confusion. Only a few people knew the president of Starlight Group had been changed, and even when I was called to the stage, the term “representative” was used. Still, that didn’t give him the right to speak to me like I was some worthless thing.
“Trust me, Layla. You can still live a good life without me in your life. It’s been six years, Layla. Six f*****g years. You should move on and live a good life. Stop trying to prove a point to me. It still wouldn’t make me pick you,” he said.
I threw my head backward and scoffed sharply. What was I expecting from a scumbag like him?
“You are crazy, Bastian. If there’s anyone who is still holding on to the past, it’s you.” My voice was getting high. “You think the world revolves around you, right? Trust me, Bastian. That’s going to be your biggest regret.”
He snorted, darting a belittling gaze over me. “Your world revolves around me, Layla. And being an old man’s slut is evidence that you are nothing without me.” A sinister glint sparked in his eyes, and he closed the gap between us. Pushing his face to my ear, he whispered, “If you can swallow your pride and kneel in front of me, I might give you a proper job in my company… like a messenger.” He pulled back and burst into laughter.
Anger coursed through my veins like fire on dried leaves. I would be a bastard if I didn’t make him pay for what he did.
- Writer
