All's Fair In Love & Business

Chapter 4

Xavier Sterling

On the car ride back to my office I think back on my life. I worked my ass off to show my father I was responsible and capable enough to run Sterling Corp. After learning about what Pasquale had done, I wanted nothing more than to cut him out of my life, and I have, for the most part, been successful. Dad might think it was brotherly competition, but it was much more than that. I hate Pasquale to this day, probably as much as he hates me.

Now that I've taken from him what he's always wanted, Sterling Corp.

I doubt things would've been different between us even if he hadn't slept with Piper. I'm not exactly the type to take orders for the rest of my life. Working for someone wasn't my plan, I was determined to win the company and make it more profitable, all while making a name for myself.

The second step, marrying Piper.

Next, having a family. The first step happened in spades. As for the rest,not so much. Now, its just me drowning myself in business and deluding myself into thinking that its fulfilling. My phone vibrates, indicating a new email. Opening the message, I saw it from my private investigator. An invoice for the time he spent on Elizabeth Wheeler. I forwarded the document to my secretary to pay.

Next, I tell him to start investigating Piper Lynn Keller, telling him I need a daily report on anything he finds.

Within minutes, I got a confirmation asking for any additional information. Sending him her last known address and birthday, knowing that he'd start the investigation right away.

Fifty minutes later, I stepped out of the car just outside of Sterling Corp. The sounds of the city no longer make me feel at home. Instead, it makes my head hurt, like a song that has been on repeat for far too long. Brushing off the heavy feeling, I make my

way to my office.

Stepping out of the elevators, I walked past reception and the line of small offices. I make a beeline as I always do to what's been my sanctum over the years.

"Mrs. Morgen. How are you today?" I asked my assistant.

Before I make it to safely behind the thick doors, I hear her respond, "Hello, Mr. Sterling. Your father called while you were out and your brother." She says, handing me two yellow slips of paper. I graciously walked them and walked into my office.

I called my father back right away and he answered on the first ring.

"What is going on with the Brog deal?" My father's question, irritating my already ruffled feathers.

" It's coming together smoothly. No complications answered." I answered.

"Then why is it taking so long? It should've been closed months ago." He complains.

Gripping the phone tightly, I calmly replied, "Yes, but its being handled with kid gloves. I don't want to rush the grieving widow of one of your longtime golfing buddies. She was reluctant to sell and not give to her conniving son. Its happening, papers are signed and everything is going through our lawyers and theirs. We expect it to be finalized by the end of next week." I assured him.

"Good. Now, I know you and your brother aren't on the best of terms, but I'm thinking of bringing him back stateside to help with the com---"

"No." I said, silencing him before he could finish. "I'm not working with him."

The silence on the other end tells me he knows not to push the issue. This is my company now. I call the shots, no matter how many times a day my father calls. I've taken over the market and made him even more money. I'm the one who has proven himself, not Pasquale.

"About next Saturday, you told your mother you couldn't make it." He states, clearly not happy.

"Thats right." I confirmed.

"Come. And before you interrupt and say, no. You need to understand this is important to her and she hasn't seen you in months. Make it happen. I don't care if you cancel a thousand meetings. Be here." He states. Before I could respond, could the line was dead.

"Well, sure, dad. I can move mountains. It's what I do." I said, returning the phone to the base.

Pushing the intercom button, I asked Mrs. Morgen to clear my Friday and Saturday next week. I'll make Eva and my mom happy this month. Usually it doesn't fall on the same week. This is going to be mentally exhausting two days. The two women I love most in the world are the bane of my existence.

The nagging is meant well, but they act like its my choice to be alone, like it's enjoyable to have my nights filled with copious amounts of work and the cooking channel. Rubbing the space between my eyes, I feel a headache starting to form. It's going to be a long day.

Piper Keller

"I can't go with him! Are you crazy!" I yelled at Liz as she put her purse in the front seat of her car.

"Lets go! Lizzy, sweetheart, get in the car. I'm not catching the baby on the side of the road."

"I'm not in labor Aaron, there'll be no catching." She calls back. Looking back at me, she continues the argument.

"I'm sorry, Pip. It's not like I wanted to go to the hospital today." I groaned. Liz tripped on a rug this morning right before I got here. Now, we're outside arguing because I'm too much of a chicken to take her client "my ex" to see the houses they had scheduled.

What is wrong with me?

"You're right. I'm sorry. Call when you know the baby is okay."

"I hit my knee, it's Aaron that's worried. I know everything is fine, he's moving even as I speak." She says, stroking her swollen belly.

"Liz!" Aaron shouts again.

Ignoring him, she tells me.

"He'll be here at 10. I have three houses on my desk with all the information. He has a driver, so I just give him the addresses in the order I have them stacked. You can do this. He hurt you, but you're stronger and smarter to never let that dictate who you are." She states, encouragingly.

"I know. I love you." I told her, hugging her tightly. I helped her get in the car and said to Aaron, "Everything is fine. Make it there alive, please." Liz starts to chuckle as I shut the door.

I watched Aaron speed down the driveway. Slightly, smiling to myself. I am worried about the baby, but I know Liz and if she says she and the baby are fine, they are.

Poor Aaron is a mess ever since he found Liz on the ground holding her knee. Turning around, I ran up the steps and into the house. I have 30 minutes until Xavier arrives. I rush to the bathroom and make sure my hair and makeup are perfect. I may not care about him anymore, but I will look good while not caring. I looked at my reflection in the mirror above the sink.

"You got this. You're a professional woman and you will act like that."

Picking up my purse from the sink, I walked calmly down the hall to Liz's desk. I picked up the three files containing the houses we're going to see. "You will never see what you did to me, Xavier Sterling." I declared loudly, leaving the office to wait by the front door.