LET'S GET MARRIED

Chapter Two - Fractured Control

The next day, same routine. Up and heading towards the office.
As CEO of Couper's industry Industries, I, Britney, knew stress intimately. But today was different.

The Manhattan morning sunlight glinted off skyscrapers as I navigated crowded streets in my black SUV. Horns honked, pedestrians chattered, and sirens wailed.

Suddenly, a jolt shook my car. I slammed on the brakes, heart racing. A red Toyota Camry had bumped into my rear bumper.

Before my driver could intervene, I leapt out, stilettos clicking on pavement. "What is wrong with you?" I shouted at the Toyota Camry driver.

The disheveled man stumbled out. "I'm so sorry, ma'am. I didn't see you."

My anger boiled over. "You didn't see me? In New York City?"

"I said I'm sorry, okay?" he pleaded.

"Sorry? Sorry isn't enough! Look at my car!" I gestured to the scratched bumper.

The man's eyes widened. "Ma'am, please-"

"Don't 'ma'am' me! You'll pay for this!" I snapped, pulling out my phone.

As I dialed, his expression shifted from apologetic to defensive. "Forget it. I'm not dealing with this."

He stormed back to his car and sped away, leaving me fuming.

I stood there, trembling with rage, as passersby stared. My facade crumbled.

How could he have left? Who does he think he is?

My driver approached. "Ms. Britney, please, let's go inside."

But I couldn't shake off the encounter.

Upon arriving at the office, Rachel greeted me with concern. "Good morning boss, are you okay? You look...."

"I'm fine," I cut her off, striding toward my office.

But I wasn't fine.

The board meeting loomed, and my nerves were frayed. "Couper's industry future depended on this deal." I said to myself.

As I entered my office, the company logo on the wall seemed to mock me. Cracks began to form beneath my surface.

"What's the update?" I asked Rachel while I settled in the office.

"You've got a busy day ahead boss." Rachel said while she presented me with a stach of files.

I nodded, scanning the schedule. "Tell me about it."

As I dove into meetings and conference calls, my mind kept drifting back to Dad's invitation. Meanwhile I still tried to shake off the lingering thoughts of Dustin and Hawaii.

Why was dad so insistent I join him in Hawaii? Mom and dad has always been on my love life. Did he really think a vacation would magically fix my love life?

Just as I was wrapping up a particular grueling negotiation, Rachel knocked on my door.

"Your dad's on line two again," she said, raising an eyebrow.

I sighed, picking up the phone. "Hey, Dad. What's up?"

"Hey, honey. Just wanted to follow up on our earlier conversation. You're still thinking about Hawaii, right?" He said.

I hesitated, unsure how to let him down gently. "Dad, I appreciate the offer, but..."

"No buts, Britney. You need a break. You're working too hard. And I want to spend some quality time with you." His persistence tugged at my heartstrings.

Maybe this was his way of making up for lost time.

"Dad, I'll think about it but for now..." Still trying to complete my sentence ...

"That's all I can ask for... and one more thing." He cuts in.

"What's that?" I quickly asked.

"I've invited someone to join us in Hawaii. Someone I think you'll really like." He said.

My instincts screamed warning signals. "Dad, what are you up to?"

"Just trust me, sweetie. You'll see." He said

Before I could pry more information out of him, he hung up again, leaving me staring at the receiver in frustration.

I couldn't shake off the feeling that Dad was hiding something. Who was this mysterious person he'd invited? A potential suitor? A business associate? My mind raced with possibilities.

Determined to uncover the truth, I dialed Dad's number again. This time, it was unavailable.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of meetings and deadlines. As I packed up to leave, Rachel handed me a folder.

"Your dad's assistant sent over some documents for you to review."

Curiosity piqued, I opened the folder, scanning the contents. Travel itineraries, accommodation details...and a name
𝘼𝙡𝙚𝙭𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙨𝙤𝙣.

Who was Alexander Thomson?
I typed his name into Google, and a flurry of results opened. Entrepreneur. Philanthropist. Handsome.

Scrolling through the articles, I discovered Alexander Thompson was a successful businessman with a reputation for kindness and generosity. His company, Eonix Industries, was a leading force in sustainable energy like ours.

As I delved deeper, I found photos of Alexander at charity events, smiling warmly alongside celebrities and dignitaries. His piercing blue eyes and chiseled features made my heart skip a beat.

But what was he doing on my dad's travel itinerary?