Second Chances

16. Elton

Elton was later than usual today as he hurriedly got ready and rushed through his breakfast. He had slept pretty late but he wasn't complaining. After behaving like an absolute douche, it was a given that Esther would feel bad. They had a heart to heart last night, the call ending around three in the morning. Unfortunately, Esther had left the very next day after her birthday without informing him. Not that he blamed her, really. How small she would have felt that night, and all because of his stupid behaviour. If only he wouldn't have let Adrianna's arrival affect his mood, things would have gone so smoothly.

Adrianna. Her name was enough to make his blood boil. Today was the day when her threat of three days was supposed to end. Where was the spoilt princess anyway? Busy being the sleeping beauty? Elton was used to seeing her presence around, in some form or other, whenever he would leave for office. But there had been nothing for the past three days. For all he knew, she might have gone to her father's place finally. After all, who would like it if the 'other woman' stepped foot in their house? Elton smiled at this thought. Had he known this would prove so effective, he would have got Esther here a long time back.

Once done with his breakfast, he was about to dash out of the door when he thought of dropping by her room since he was curious to know what exactly Adrianna was planning to do. However, he decided against it, not wanting to come across as scared and walked towards his car. Yes, he could have asked one of the staff members too, but he didn't want the news to travel or look as if he was missing that woman.

***

What the heck was going on? Elton wondered as he entered the lobby. There was a lot more hustle and bustle than usual and almost every employee seemed either too engrossed in what they were doing, or walking around to find something or the other. This only meant one thing, his father was in the office. But he hadn't given him any heads up, which was unlike him. So maybe something else was going on? Eyebrows furrowed, he entered the elevator and punched in his floor. There were two more employees, who wished him a good afternoon. The elevator rode up, and the two employees got off on the floor that housed the finance department. He was about to close the elevator doors when he thought he saw a glimpse of his father. He immediately exited the elevator and walked towards the direction where he saw his father.

So his assumption was right. The atmosphere here was different because his father had come visiting, without informing him. Now what was he playing at?

"Ah! Elton, you are here. Surprised to see you on this floor. Anyway, I am done talking to Mr. Austen here. Come, let's go to my office, need to discuss a few things with you," Marvin warmly said.

Elton wasn't the one to be fooled by his act. They, of course, had to behave amicably in front of their employees. He replied with a simple sure as he tried to follow his father's conversations with others as they soon made their way to Marvin's office on the top floor.

***

"What is this? What are you trying to prove?" Elton barked out the moment they entered Marvin's office.

"I can ask you the same thing. So this is the reality. You don't even care about our family's legacy! Look at the time. Is this when you come to office? I expected better from you!" Marvin responded with an equally angry tone.

"So you sneak behind my back?" Elton's voice rose an octave higher.

"You left me with no choice! No wonder our business is failing! Do you have any idea of the repercussions your reckless decisions have? You have no right to destroy your grandfather's legacy and your father's hard work. But why the hell am I even blaming you? It was my fault for handing over the reigns to you without ensuring that you are trained enough to look after the business! And look at what that has cost me! But I am now going to right every wrong that I have made, starting from today. I know for sure you must have not even checked the new terms so let me do the honours of personally conveying them. You aren't the sole acting CEO anymo..."

"WHAT?! You blackmailed me to get married so that I could get the position and this? If these were your thoughts all along, why the f**k would you make me marry that ugly oaf?"

"Watch your tongue, Elton. And that person is your wife, and also the co-CEO. And it might surprise you that on her first day here, she is working harder and more dedicatedly than you have ever worked since this position was literally handed down to you!" Marvin spat.

That was enough to make Elton fume with anger as he dashed out of his office. This was insulting, and to be partnered with that i***t who had absolutely zero business sense? The nerve of that woman!

***

Elton reached his floor when he took in the new office that sprung right opposite his. When the f**k did this happ... Oh! He hadn't been to the office in the past four days. Damn it! So this is what this shrewd woman did, swooping in when she found an opportunity and emotionally manipulated his father? Just who the f**k did she think she was?

He was striding over to her office when he saw Travis get up from his chair. "S...Sir..."

His stuttering only made him angrier as he cast an annoyed glance at him, making him understand that he wasn't supposed to block his way as Elton made his way towards Adrianna's office. Without any preamble, he barged in through the door, the unexpected intrusion making Adrianna tremble a bit as she turned around with her eyes wide.

"Who the f**k do you think you are?" Elton yelled. He was super pissed off, not minding that he was still at the threshold of her office, that the door was still wide open and that Travis could witness everything that was happening.

"W... What's wrong?" Came her timid response.

"Of course, play the pretend game, as if you don't know what you have done. Just what do you think of yourself? You think you are a better businessman than me? That you can make better decisions just because your father is successful at what he does?"

"You are..."

"Of course, you will tell me I am wrong and delusional and all that bullshit. Why the f**k are you hellbent on spoiling each and every f*****g aspect of my life?" Elton yelled in frustration. "I have worked hard to get this position and I will not have you jeopardise it! I want you to go and talk to dad, refuse this position. Your place is to be at home and be as useless as the furniture there," he yelled again.

Tears brimmed in Adrianna's eyes as she felt hurt by his words. More than that, she felt humiliated once again as Travis was trying his best to not overhear anything but he still could, his expressions giving way.

She looked down for a bit, counted till five, took a few deep breaths and straightened her posture, looking at Elton in the eye. "No. I am not going to do anything of that sort. I am more deserving of this position than you, and you know it. And considering the decisions that you have taken till date, it only goes to show that handing over this business to you was a poor judgement call on Marvin uncle's end. And I will make sure that the company enjoys its former glory." She wasn't loud, but the determined manner in which she said it was enough to make Elton's blood boil.

"Just what do you plan to achieve by doing this? This isn't your family. It is never going to be your family! Why the f**k would you care if this company is making any loss or reaping profits? Oh wait, I get it. Maybe this is your way of showing that you are better off than my love, smarter than me, just above everyone else, right? Does it make you feel better, huh?" Elton taunted. And he could see that he had hit a nerve somewhere as her expression changed just slightly, before she masked it.

"Tell me, this is the reason right? You feel if you prove yourself, I will pay some attention to you, maybe notice that you aren't that bad and give our marriage a chance. Isn't it? Aww, poor you! Look at you, just look at you. You are ugly, dull and drab, and boring. You have nothing going for you except your father's money. Heck, even that couldn't help you buy a nice personality and a good face. And about your body? The less talked about it, the better. Why, no man in their right senses would ever be attracted to you. So, daddy's little princess, stop living in a bubble where everyone will miraculously start loving you. Because you aren't worth any s**t!" Elton mocked her.

Adrianna simply stood there, maybe shocked beyond belief, before she corrected her posture and started walking towards him, eyes not looking at him.

"Have you got no retort? No comeback? So what I said is true. All this drama and your threat of three days was simply to get my attention, get my validation. How pathetic," Elton spat out as she whizzed past him, passing by an awkward Travis and getting into the elevator. The moment she was out of sight, he directed his wrath towards Travis. "You! You better not entertain her if you want to keep your job," and walked past him towards his own office.