I thought of the ways in which I could apologise without being straightforward as I watched her roam about the room, picking up her clothes, sandals and other stuff and tossing it into her suitcase.

I shook my head when I couldn't come up with anything. It wasn't my fault, her loitering about the room was too distracting and so I finally asked her, "Where are you off to?"

"The Tealeaf."

"The what...now?"

"It is a hotel. 45 mins from here, I guess."

"You got a room?"

"Obviously!?"

"It is very late. You could go tomorrow.", I proposed.

"Nope. It is ok."

"I don't have a problem with you staying over another night, you know ?", I pressed further.

"Oh really? That is nice to hear.", she said, rolling her eyes.

"You don't believe me?", I frowned.

"I do. Of course I do. It is just that the fact that you locked me out of the room, didn't pick up any of my calls or reply to them later and when you did show up downstairs, you began flirting with a random girl instead of making amends. And then you want me to believe that you don't have a problem with my stay here and that you are not just sharing the room because my dad requested you to help me and you couldn't find a way out.", she narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms.

"I...err...geez...I am...uh..."

"Let it be! I am never getting an apology out of you. You are just to stuck up to say sorry.", she said, returning back to zipping her suitcase.

I had to do it now or she would be gone and the guilt won't let me be at peace. I never even felt bad after dumping girls in a week or saying I didn't remember them after a night stand but her, I do not know why she made me feel that she was my responsibility. I would rather handle a hundred projects for a day than her.

"Alright then. I am...", I took in a deep breath," ...Sorry."

Vanessa turned towards me with raised eyebrows, a look of pure shock on her face and I smiled. I hadn't apologised to a soul ever, not since I entered high school.

"Forget what I said about you being stuck up. That was...I don't even know what to say, I..."

Before she could complete, the doorbell rang.

"Food", she stated as she went to open the door and returned back with a waiter holding a tray. The guy laid down the plates and bowls on the table, in front of the sofa and left.

She sat down beside me and quickly lifted the dish cover and the aroma of the chicken sandwich filled the room.

"Wow! I didn't know you liked grilled sandwiches.", she said, picking up her sandwich from the plate.

"Not a fan.", I smiled, picking up my own sandwich and taking a bite.

"Then why did you order it?", she frowned.

"Why do you think?", I arched an eyebrow.

"Oh!", she exclaimed and then took a bite of the sandwich, staring at her plate. She tried to hide it but I noticed the colour rushing up to her cheeks and I laughed, "Vanessa Catherine Hudson, are you blushing?"

"What? No, I am not.", she widened her eyes in embarrassment.

"Oh really?"

"Just eat. It is good food and it's a sin to keep it waiting.", she smiled.

■■■

I straightened my salmon pink sheath dress as I sat down in the seminar hall. Erik Sokolov was giving a speech, which was to be followed by a product bidding. Adrian had placed one of his apps up for bidding. Hudson Enterprises too was supposed to put up a product and that was why I was checking my cell phone again and again, waiting for dad's call. I tried calling him in the morning but he didn't pick up.

When the speech was near conclusion, my cell phone began to vibrate, I turned it around and to my relief, it was dad's call. I lifted it up, saying, "Hi, Dad."

"Hello, Vanessa. I needed you to do something."

"Sure thing, is it the project bid?"

"Yes, I want you to handle that. I am informing you a little late, I hope you can manage it."

"No problem. I already have a pitch ready.", I beamed. He chose me, not that slimy little cheater, Nate.

"Great. I planned for Nate to do this originally but you know what happened. Anyways, all the best.", I heard him say from the other end and my heart sank,"Thanks dad. I love...", but before I could finish, he cut the call.

I sighed and tucked back the few strands of hair falling onto my face from my high ponytail. Well, it is what it is, I told myself.

Soon after, the speech ended. We clapped and and then went to put up our products for auction and to take our bidding paddles.

On my way back to my seat, I found Adrian. Lucky for him, he sat in the first row, being one of the most influential and rich CEOs present at the conference while I hung in the back with other newbies who were hoping for a CEO position in some company. He waved, calling me over.

"Hi! Quiet a speech, eh?", I smiled.

"Did your dad call?", He cut directly to the point.

"Yeah! I am representing Hudson Enterprises.", I faked a smile but he caught it and frowned, "Then why don't you look happy?"

"Because I am a replacement for Nate, not dad's first choice for the job."

"Hey! We talked about this. Your dad has been with Nate for three years, he has seen Nate do his job. You, not so much but we are gonna change that, right? You do your best at every opportunity which comes your way that is the only way you can outshine your brother. Ok?"

I nodded and then he wished me all the best. As did I but the moment he turned around to go back to his seat, something struck me. I grabbed unto his arm. I just hated how often I did this but I did it anyway.

Adrian raised an eyebrow, "What?"

"Um...did you...did you ask dad to call me?", I asked. I hoped his answer was no but I knew the answer in the back of my mind already.

"Uh...n...Yeah.", he cringed but then shook his head, "What did I tell you? Take every opportunity you get. You'll get there, I know you will."

And with that, we parted ways. The rest of the day passed away quickly. I recited my speech and sold off our product for a good twenty three million dollars. After that, we had another meet. People exchanged business cards followed by some small talk.

Before I was about to leave, my stomach filled upto the brink, I saw Blake. I wanted to walk over to him to talk but I restrained myself thinking that it would look too desperate. We had made fast friends and maybe something more than that too. My flirting was a bit rusty, considering that I hadn't dated for about an year with the exception of the terrible date with Eric's brother. However, Blake was on point, making it clear that he was interested. I wouldn't generally date someone who was a potential rival but in Blake's case I think I could make an exception. He was too charming for me to not do that.

I smiled to myself and returned back to my room. Most of my stuff was already packed and yes, I was finally leaving for the Tealeaf. Actually, Adrian insisted to drop me off. He said that if he didn't make sure that I was in a safe, habitable place, his parents would kill him, if not mine.

I sent down my suitcase with a staff member and then left my room to go downstairs. Adrian, meanwhile, was arranging for a car. Hopefully, he didn't go all out to buy a new one because knowing him, one could never tell.

I stood at the porch, looking at my phone, scrolling through the posts on my instagram when a beautiful sports car rolled in. I looked at in awe, admiring it and thinking about who the owner must be when a man clad in a black two piece stepped out.

Oh shit! He did go all out to buy a new car. He definitely put the extra in extravagant.

"You buy cars as if they were chips.", I complained.

He laughed, "Well, I am only taking a cab when penguins learn to fly."

I rolled my eyes and then sat in the front seat, still admiring that beauty as the smell of fresh plastic filled my airways.

"Could I turn on the radio, please.", I grinned toothily, remembering how quiet our earlier road trips had been.

"Go ahead. I am feeling generous today.", He said.

We drove to The Tealeaf in silence, except the fact that music was blaring from the speakers and I was humming along for a while until my mind went back to my conversation with dad, earlier today and how I was always his second choice.

The moment we got down from the car, I looked at Adrian and said, "I've been thinking. I think I want to drop out of this competition?"

"What competition?"

"The competition for the CEO position."

And with that one statement, I wiped of the happiness of his face, marring it with a frown, a very shocked frown.