The badass CEO

3. The Birthday Card

"You have five minutes to be here, ten maximum." I yelled on the phone, "Hartley, what is happening? Tell us it is three hours earlier than we agreed. " Elanor said, with concern, "You sound like you are panicking. Is it because of the position?" Sia asked, "Girls please, I can't talk on the phone; come over as fast as you can." I said with tears in my eyes. Ten minutes later, I was holding my head between my hands when the door flew open, "Hartley, are you okay?" "What is happening to you?" Sia and Elanor asked with worry. "That is why." I said, while showing them what I was holding, "Are you panicking because of a birthday card? That is why you dragged us over here in the early morning?" Sia asked, "She is officially losing it!" Elanor said, with sarcasm. "Can you two just shut up and hear me? I am going to explain. Just take a deep breath. Mum is right, you two are crazy. " I shouted, "Then start talking." Elanor said while both of them sat on the sofa. "This birthday card!? is from dad." Before they started talking, I cut them off, "Let me finish. Each year dad gives me a birthday card with my photo of the previous birthday, and no, not my brothers, and not even mum knows about it, so it can't be them, especially with the specific words that are written." "Can you read us the letter please? if you want" Siad asked while the shock is obvious on their faces "I am going to but this is the first time anyone knows about it and about the words, so you have to keep it secret, promise me." "We promise!" they said in unison. "Happy Birthday to the most amazing baby girl ever. I hope each year will be better than the last one. Even though you are 25 now, you will always be my baby butterfly. I love you till the last moment of my life. No one calls me 'Baby Butterfly', except for him. At first, I assumed that my mother had discovered that he had always done that for me and that she wanted my 25th birthday to be special, but when I saw the rest, I was shocked and I was sure that this was him." I stopped so they could process what I was saying. "What is the rest?" Elanor asked with tears in her eyes. I am not surprised. After all, they always considered him a father to them too, so I continued reading. "Note: Butterfly, I know you are now shocked. Don't panic. This is not a prank. I am alive, but I had to disappear for a while. I am sorry I put you in such pain and sadness. I have been watching you for the past three years and I am so proud of you. I can't say anything here, so if you want to know the rest and meet me, there is a phone in the safe in the office. The password is your birthday. Open it and get the phone. There is a number on it. Call it and I will answer. Butterfly, don't tell your mum and brothers about that. They will put themselves and me in danger and I know even if I ask you not to tell those two crazy girls anything, you won't listen, so you can tell them and, in that way, I will know that there is someone who will help. Say hi to them from me. I miss you all so much. I can't wait to see you and hug you again with love, your hunter." There was a minute of silence in the room after I finished reading the letter.

"Guys, what are you thinking?" I asked, so I broke the silence. "Hartley, actually, I am speechless." Sia said, and her eyes were full of tears. "I can't believe what he did, but you have to call him so we can find out more about it." Elanor was the only one that could think straight. She was always the only one that could concentrate in such situations. Yeah, but we can't today. The company will be full of press and people. " I declared, "Well, what is the time now?" Sia asked. "It is 8:30 a.m. What are you thinking? " "Then we have an hour and a half before the meeting. If we go now, we will be able to at least check if it is right about the phone." Sia suggested "that is a great idea." Elanor agreed. "Then let's get ready. Your outfit with you girls? " I said, "Yes, it is in the cars," Elanor said, and they both headed to the cars to get their outfits. We got ready and took an apple and a cup of coffee and we headed to the office, hoping we would arrive before everyone got there. It is 9:30 a.m. We got to the company and we still had 30 minutes to spare. We went straight to dad's office, or should I say my office from that day, and searched for the safe. 10 minutes later, we found it and I opened it. We were shocked when we saw the phone. Then the letter was for real from my dad. We were standing at the window, debating what to do, when, and how quickly, when we were interrupted by a knock at the door. We looked at each other with wonder because no one knew we were here. "Come on in!" I exclaimed, "Good morning. I didn't know you were such a hard-working girl." "G! How did you know we were here?" Sia asked. "I called to see when you were going to head out to the office. When none of you answered, I went to Hartley's place and her mom told me you had left in a hurry, so I figured it out and thought that Hartley was nervous about today, and I was right here you all are." G. Answered, the girls and I barely smiled, and I sat behind the desk. I tried not to show that I was worried, but he noticed my pale face, G. murmured in Elanor's ears, "What is wrong with her? She isn't herself and I am sure it is not because she is nervous. " "Well, ask her; see if she will talk." Elanor answered with a hushed tone. He asked me and I told him everything. After all, he is going to be my assistant and he is my friend, and the most important part is that he knows a lot of people because of his night job, so he can help. " I am speechless but am sure I will help you." He hugged me. After a few minutes, the press and all the invited people arrived. I finished my press conference, we made a toast, and I headed back to the office so I could have my team meeting when suddenly there was another knock on the door and I was shocked to see who was behind it.