The FIRE in You

Chapter 16: A Business Proposition

Turns out, one of Lawrence's warehouses caught fire and Ajax and his team had to go and take care of it. Some of the warehouse workers were injured, but Ajax and his team were able to save most of them before anything severe could happen. Watching Ajax work was very troubling, even though I was watching it on TV. I was still uncomfortable with the way they approached the fire and walked into the burning building like it was nothing. I was terrified.

"Waoh! You're a stalker now?", Lydia asked scaring the shit out of me considering I didn't hear her walk into the office. "Fuck! What the hell is wrong with you!", I shouted making her laugh. "I'm not stalking, just making sure that Lawrence wasn't there. I don't want him to meet Ajax. Not again at least", I said peaking her interest. "They met at the Caddle's party", I said giving her my full attention.

"I want to talk about you and Ajax", she said giving me her phone. It was Ajax's Instagram account. He posted our photo from the theatre room. It was a cute one with a hashtag, 'ifinallyfoundher'. I memorised his name and then returned the phone to Lydia.

"Talk", I said making her seat on one of the visitor chairs. "Is he your boyfriend?", she asked. "Yap!", I replied. "Am I allowed to build content between you two or he and your personal life is still off limits?", she asked. "The latter", I replied. I decided that I didn't like her conversation so it was best to start reading my emails. "Ouk!", she replied then left.

An hour later Justin walked into my office looking all smiles as usual. "Hey there!", he said pulling me in a hug. He was away for our new client onboarding for a whole month. "Welcome back Justin. I missed you", I said pulling away as I returned to my chair while he went to the visitor's chair.

"We were given some wines for tasting. Jenkins has your box. You're gonna love them", he said excitedly. "I'm sure I will. How's Speranza and the kids?", I asked. He loved talking about his family and every time he mentioned his wife, Speranza, I envied the way he talked about her. Like she was a treasure that he wasn't sure he deserved despite being with her for twenty years.

"They're amazing, thank you for asking. I'm here because I was offered a business proposition that will increase our profits by 20% through an independent revenue stream", he said but something was missing. He was always happy when a new deal was being discussed but today, he wasn't.

"I'm not gonna like this am I?", I asked and he shrugged his shoulders. "Forever Bright wants us to partner with them in a sustainability campaign. They want you and Lawrence to act as a couple and have a tour across the five countries with your PR team handling the whole journey coverage in return they will gain new customers in other countries and we will have 40% of every revenue received for the next four years. They're on the way here as we speak", he said then relaxed on the chair waiting for me to answer him.

"No. But I want a meeting", I said then went back to replying to the remaining emails. "Why not?", he asked with a raised brow. I took out my phone and went on Instagram, I pulled Ajax's post and gave it to him.

"Who's this? I wasn't gone that long. What did I miss?", he asked curiously. "That's Ajax, my boyfriend. Lawrence met him at the Caddel's party and now you get a business proposition? I mean come on...", I said with a smile. Which he returned.

"Justin, I finally found a man who can bear with my attitude and crazy family. He makes me feel complete, inside and out", I said making him sit properly. "I'm never traveling again. I might go only to return and find out that you're an honourable CIA agent", Justin whined making me laugh.

"Look. You haven't missed much. His name is Ajax and he's the Captain of the Regional Fire Department, his job terrifies me to bits but he loves saving people's lives and I can't judge him for that", I said only to find him smiling at me weirdly. "You love him don't you", he asked and there was no point in lying to the one person who knew me all too well. "Yes. Is that normal? I haven't known him for long but he makes me happy and doesn't want to control me. It's all too confusing for me. I don't know what to think anymore", I said massaging my temples. Making Justin chuckle.

"I never thought I would see the day when you're that lost in love. Lawrence broke you and yet you came back stronger and now, with this Ajax. Things keep getting better and better. Not only are you at the peak of your career but you also found someone who knows the true meaning of love, i'm proud of you Aubrey", he said making me furrow my brows.

"You got all that from his Instagram post?", I asked making him chuckle again. "Seeing the post just cemented what I already knew. The way you talked about him gave me all the answers, only someone who has experienced true love can talk that way", he said as if trying to recall the feeling himself.

"Your 4 pm is here boss", Nico said as I finished signing the last contract for the day. "Call Justin too", I told him as he walked out.

I found Lawrence and an older version of him waiting for us in one of the executive boardrooms. "Hello Miss Kendriks, nice to finally meet you. My name is Elias Columbus", the old man said and I returned the gesture. "You have a very beautiful office Miss Kendriks", he commented while looking around.

He wasn't lying our office was amazing. "Thank you. Can we get you anything?", I asked while pretending that Lawrence wasn't sitting next to him. "Yes please herbal tea for me and black coffee for him", he said the last part in a whisper making me wish that I had met him under different circumstances.

By the time the beverages were brought Justin and Nico had already joined the meeting and we were finally ready to start.

"Can I call you Aubrey?", he asked sounding unsure. "Yes of course", I replied with a big smile. "When I discovered that you were once Lawrence's girlfriend of 4 years. I was shocked.

When I presented this proposal to the board I had no idea you two knew each other. I was just trying to see how we can improve his image and expand Forever Bright at the same time.

You're number eight and he's three so this can result in an even more impressive ranking if you team up.

All I'm proposing is for you two to exist in harmony. We want you two to pose as a couple that way your PR team can capture every moment. It will be good for your business as well as ours.

As Lawrence's lawyer, I believe we are ready to give you a reasonable percentage for every product bought. What do you say?", he asked.

"It's an amazing offer but I must decline. I have a boyfriend and cheating or choosing money over love is not my thing, am I wrong Lawrence?" I asked sarcastically.