FALSE AWAKENING

Chapter 3: Agreement

Cullen POV

Today I'm going to meet Bobby, my future brother-in-law if ever. I blushed with my silly thoughts. Am I that excited to marry Drake? Gosh, it feels like I'm acting like a teenager again.

What a shameless me. This one-sided love of mine is driving me crazy to the fullest. I feel happy yet incomplete.

I wear my simple yet formal and presentable attire. I'm a CEO after all and not a simple campus guy here so I don't wear my specs that I'm only using for disguise.

I and Bobby are comfortable already. We met many times after my parents passed away. But he never brings along his brother because of his busy schedule in school and events. I am aware of that so Drake never had a chance to meet me in person.

According to Bobby, Drake keeps on rejecting him every time he is inviting his brother to visit me. As long as he mentions Artois's only child, he will make an alibi to avoid seeing me. I give up already but Bobby is persistent. I can't deny that I feel disappointed but I understand him.

It's against Drake's will to marry a person he doesn't like or not even meet once and I can't blame him. When will he be interested to meet me? What did I do in my past life?

Sander Corporation is one of the elegant and luxurious buildings in New York. This is the main building and main office of the Sander Group of companies.

Though there is no proper announcement of merging, it was understood long ago and officially decided by me and Bobby to name the buildings SANDER AND ARTOIS EMPIRE.

We have factories in some Asian countries, Europe and Africa. My parents extend the business in the third world and developing countries to create more job opportunities.

Just looking at the structure and design, young people and the next generation will pursue working in one of the branches of our companies. Aside from beautiful structures and facilities, the salary and benefits of the employees are fair and the treatment of the management is really good.

This reputation and respect are the secrets that some of the rival companies don't have.

"Good Morning Mr. Artois!" Mr. Sander's secretary bows her head and leads me to Bobby's office which covers half of the 50th floor.

"Good morning Mianmian, it's been a while," I smile cheerfully.

I like Mianmian. She is two years younger than Bobby. She has a positive aura of a happy person. She can cheer someone's bad day into a good mood.

I remember when the first time I met Bobby, I was still mourning and she was one of the people who comforted me. I was a teenager back then so I cried in front of her and she gave me a shoulder to cry on. She is like a sister to me. I thought before that she and hobbies husband and wife. I learned that she has an angel and a loving husband who is the current manager in one of the branches of Sander's Company.

"Mr. Sander, Mr. Artois is already here," she said after knocking on the door.

"Let him in please and bring us a cup of coffee." I heard before I entered, Mianmian smiled and left us.

"Good morning Mr. Sander." I extended my hand for formality.

"Mr. Cullen, stop calling me like that. Come on. Just call me Bobby. It's just the two of us here." he grabs my hand and pats my shoulder.

"Ahaha. Ok, Bobby." I brushed my nose and feel embarrassed.

We proceed to the small meeting room inside his office and discuss the matters he wanted to present to me.

"Here, take these files. all of that is the original copy. The records of sales and list of properties of the Sander-Artois Empire." I accepted and flipped over the pages and checked them.

I just nod after a few minutes of scanning the graphs and lists but actually, I don't read it all. No doubt, Bobby is indeed a great businessman.

"When do you want to announce the engagement or to get married after your 23rd birthday?" asked Bobby while hands were clasped.

"Is the engagement necessary? What if he doesn't like me after we meet? Don't force him. It's ok for me if he doesn't like marriage. Maybe he likes someone already." I feel my face is getting red.

"Cullen, I know you love my brother. And I know he will love you back after he met you. He is my brother and I know him. He is just busy these days. And I can feel you are not doing this because of the agreement but because you love my brother right." he said.

"Bobby, I am not taking back our share or anything from what is written in my parents' will. After all, it's just our parents' decision. They are not here anymore and the merging was already official long ago. That was their dream. I can provide another statement to make it clear to the board members and the concerned person. I already signed the papers and Drake can sign them without marrying me. And he is free to marry the person he likes." I felt pain while saying it and I wanted to cry but I held on to it.

"Cullen, I know you love my brother. And I don't want to break the promises I made to my parents. I don't know how or where we are now and I just can't forget how your parents gave our life back. Drake has no idea how our life was during those days. It just happens that you don't have siblings that you are obligated to know this directly and he is lucky enough not to know this because I am here and this is my responsibility. Forgive me, Cullen, I'm not forcing you, but asking you to help me fulfill my parent's will for the last time. Please, Cullen, don't give up on him and give him a chance. I am not insisting on this matter too just because of our parents. I love my brother Cullen, I want the best for him and become happy. Ok, how about on your birthday, I will bring him. This time I know he will not refuse, I'll make sure it's ok." I just nod and smile bitterly. Bobby is determined for his brother but his brother doesn't care.

I hear Mianmian knock and bring our coffee. I thanked her. We continue to talk, our plans and business matters, the progress, and so on. After an hour, I bid farewell. I feel tired of just sitting and talking about our parents' will. I know this is wrong for not involving Drake, but how? He doesn't care, he never tried and is not even interested to see his fiance.