Cruel love

Chapter 47 Barbara

Today I got up, got Lily and Liam ready for their school and got ready for the office. Same old morning routine.

Arkadi and I left together. Today he had to be at the office too. He usually doesn't come to the office, he also had other parts of his conglomerate business that requires his attention more. He would come once a month to check stats, reports and sign some documents. Today is the day.

We talked about some stats in the car. The company is doing well, better than the year before, he somehow was bland about it. He has been running so many profitable businesses for years now, I get it if these couple of millions profit doesn't excite him.

We headed to our respective floors in the building. His office at the top. Mine at one floor below his. I prepared for the presentation which would be happening in thirty minutes. Everybody is busy today preparing their parts and setting up documents. It's pretty chaotic in the office today.

We headed for the meeting in the meeting room. Everybody settles in their chairs. Leaving the head chair for Arkadi. He hadn't arrived yet.

When he entered everybody went quiet. He took his chair and sat in a dominant and confident way. Showing everybody who is the boss, even if he came only once a month in the office. His assistant followed him and stood at a distance from him.

The meeting started, he listened to everybody attentively. He takes a look at the numbers and congratulates everybody for their hardwork. After announcing a big fat bonus for everyone he dismissed the meeting.
Everybody was happy about the bonus.

"Barbara met me at my office in ten minutes", he told me and I nodded and left the room.

I left the files on my desk and headed to his office. After passing a smile to his receptionist. I knocked at the door.
"Come in".

I entered his office. He had the largest office room in the entire building giving a prime view of the New York skyline. The interior of the room is modern and minimalistic unlike his home office which is old-school, and screams money. This office also screams money but in a more hush tone.

He smiled at me and gestured at me to take a chair in front of his desk.
I took it.

"I am so proud of you Barbara, your business acumen is commendable".

"Thank you" I said softly to his compliment.

"You know I had my informer in the company who told me about your work ethic. They only praised you.
And the company's numbers are better and growth is way more than expected. You are definitely a good business woman.
I am so proud to have you as my daughter".

A genuine smile pulled up on my lips.
"Thank you father".
I have never called him father before. I thought it would be weird.
But it didn't felt weird. It came out so normal, with so much ease that it felt anything but weird.

His eyes sparkle at me calling him father and a smile curled up on his lips too.
It was different than what he gave to the staff in the meeting.
It is more emotional rather than professional.

He continued speaking "I am planning to promote you CEO of the company."

What! My eyes widen in shock.

I stayed silent and stared at him for a couple of minutes, I opened my mouth to speak something but only ended up closing it. Didn't know how to talk.

I gather the courage finally managing speaking up.
"What?"

He raised his eyebrows and speak again "I want you to be CEO, of the company."

This time I spoke.
"But why me. Your people might like me and might liked my skills but I have been working only for four months. It's not even been a year. Promoting from the bottom straight to the top doesn't make sense even if I had an impressive business acumen".

"You are my daughter, I guess it helps".

"But... That's not fair".

"You are born to lead Barbara and you have shown your abilities to me with time. I am not making this decision only because you are my daughter".

"But I am just learning. What if I messed up. What if everything headed to the south after me taking over".

"I have faith in you. In life you should constantly be learning, this is a trait of successful people.
Also if the company goes bankrupt I would not be poor. I have way too much money that one failed business could shatter my empire.
You should have faith in you. You are a strong woman with knowledge and skills".

"I need time to think". I said overwhelmed.

"Afcourse, I don't expect you to accept or reject just now. Take a week to think everything and answer me afterwards".

With that bomb dropped on my head. I spent rest of the day lost in thought of it. Enlisting pros and cons of it. Thinking if I was worthy enough. I even called Susie talked to her, wanting to tell her the whole situation but refrain from it midway. Realising that it could reveal her secret life in front of her, which I had worked years in hiding it.

I hate it so much that I can't tell her about this whole CEO situation and Enzo's situation. I really want to tell her about my problems like she tells me about her. Even if she couldn't not solve it but I couldt atleast share it. It gets so exhausting sometimes living two lives. I want to tell her everything.

I couldn't tell it to Enzo also. He and Arkadi are biggest rivals. Although Enzo might not taken out his rivalry in a small business from his conglomerate, he is not petty like that. But still I prefer to refrain from sharing important details of his business.

Everybody in the office was happy discussing their plans for using their bonus. I, on the other hand was like I have seen a ghost in the daylight.

But little did I know another bomb was waiting to be dropped over my head. This time explosion will be so powerful that it would shatter my world and people around be completely.