Colateral Exchange

(16)

(16)

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

<<Everly's Point Of View>>

I walked as quickly as I could down the corridor, while gripping my stomach. I looked like a mad woman, one hand on my belly and the other swaying about with a file in hand.

I saw my destination. A southern, blonde haired man, buzzing away on the Bluetooth of his work phone. I leisurely snatched it from his ear and slammed it on the desk before ending the call.

"Ms. Finley," Gerald greeted, shocked. Yes, I hadn't been at the office for a while. I mostly did everything via webcam due to the babies so my presence might of been a shock to my employees.

"What are these?" I slammed the file filled with papers on his desk. He sifted through them quickly, as his eyes grew bigger with each page.

"I didn't know--"

"What do you mean you didn't know," I seethed, my blood starting to boil. This could and would not happen. Evan will not be taking my company, no matter what kind of ties or connections his big headed father had. This was my throne, and I would keep it for my kingdom, meaning my family.

No high-roller was going to come through and sweep that away. "Are you not reading my files?" I snapped. That was part of his job description! Update himself on the cases that come through to my office.

"I am, I've never seen that file though," he whispered in shock. My eyes widened.

"I need you to call security now, and tell them to pull the tapes of the surveillance and to send them to my office, immediately." Gerald nodded, his fingers swiftly moving aross the key pad of the phone, patiently tapping away as he waited for a response.

I took a deep breath, and relaxed the slightest. This is why I didn't come back. I'm already stressed and I've been here for about thirty minutes. Most twin cases are already high risk pregnancies, and in my case I'm putting them at an even higher risk being here today.

"I am heading back to the office," I announced as Gerald nodded and continued on nervously with his phone conversation. I shook my shoulders out, and proceeded to walk back to the office, calmer than I had left it.

As I was filing in, the Lawyer was leaving. I gave him a slightly smile before my gaze met Vincenio's. "So the company ours?" He asked as he stood up. He buttoned the jacket of his suit before coming over to hug me.

I nodded and sat down on one of the sofa's located in the room. "Yes, I have assigned rights to you too. With that in mind, we need to work on your English," I said while gazing into his eyes. He looked a little hurt by what I had said so I rephrased it in the nicest way possible.

"Your English is perfect to me baby," I smiled and pecked his lips, "but," my finger wagged. "Your sentences are choppy. I know it's just your accent, but people in the business world, mainly the aristocrats, will not take you seriously. That's something we'll really need to work on, and I'm willing to help if you want me to."

He nodded his head, and took my face into his hands. "I'd love that mio amore," he responded before heading back to the chair behind the desk. I nodded then reached for the office phone ready to make a call.

"Who you calling?" Vincenio questioned, his hands tapping his lap for me to sit. I slipped off my heels and made myself comfortable.

"There seems to be a security breech," I answered him. This has Terrance written all over it. I just needed the visual proof to prove my intuition correct. He was going to far with this. He needed to understand that he needed to get over me and just move on. I know I did.

"Shall I handle?" He asked, his hands rubbing soothing circles over my protruding belly. The babies were happily moving and kicking, a feeling that made me uncomfortable, and Vincenio enjoyed.

I shook my head, and continued on with my call. I was hiring more security. The surveillance tapes should be on my desk any minute now, so there was no point in calling security. I just needed to focus on what mattered right now. My company.

After that was done, I took a deep breath, and rubbed my temples. Vincenio kissed my neck, slowly calming me down. I stood and took a place on the edge of the desk. I glanced aground the room, knowing that this man would change the office to fit his preference. An office that I accompanied for several years.

Two years ago, I would've objected to this. To just throwing my life away so to speak. I would've argued that I didn't get my degrees to do nothing. That a woman should have her own source of income. But as I sit here with my fiancé, and my kicking babies, I realize that all this sacrifice is definitely worth it.

My family means more to me than how many figures are in my bank account. The money won't always be there, but I know my husband and babies will be. Realizing that makes me want to sacrifice everything for them even more with no regrets.

I hummed in delight. After this Terrance scandal is over, I can happily live life.

"I did a lot of researching last night," I said, my eyes locking with Vincenio's. He smiled lightly, his eyebrow raising. I sighed heavily. After our 'alone time' I slipped on my glasses, and pulled out my laptop. I needed to create a list of things that I needed to do. I knew I didn't want to have this wedding anytime soon. I wanted everything to be perfect, and the only way for that to happen is if I took my time with every detail. Plus, I've barely met his family or anything.

"Firstly," I began. "I hired a wedding planner. She's supposed to be the best of the best," I finished, interlocking my small fingers with his.  "Then," I kissed his ring finger. "I made an appointment with a contractor." I wasn't finished there. I had gotten a lot achieved last night. This app called Pintrest was a huge help too. "I ordered some things for the nursery, but before that, I booked some tickets to Italy. I'd really love to meet your family. I think it would be nice to have your mother and sisters help with the nursery and wedding planning. We leave next week."

His eyes bulged widely, processing all the information thrown at him.

"Contractor?" Was all he had said. I smiled.

"I want our children to grow up in the perfect home. I mean the penthouse is nice and your house is great, but, I want to build a home. I figured we could do something together. This could be it," I replied, tears springing to my eyes. In the short amount of time I've known this man, I can honestly say that I've never felt so strongly about anyone before. He makes me complete. I can't imagine life without him.

"Don't cry," he uttered as he pulled me into his arms. I couldn't help it. He was so perfect. So perfect for me. At times I felt like he was too good. There's so many things to do and I just want things to be perfect because they involve him.

I sniffled and held onto him tighter.

A knock at the door had me abruptly drying my tears, and separating myself from him. He gave them access to the room. Gerald walked nervously, setting a set of CDs on the desk.

"These are what you've asked for," he muttered before scurrying out. I opened the first case and popped the cd into the computer. As I had suspected, Terrance and Evan we're teaming together. For what, I wasn't very sure.

Vincenio's jaw tightened as he watched the men ravage through the cubicles in my office building. I wasn't very sure what they were looking for but they were men on a mission.

"I told him," Vincenio said before he stood up and walked out of the office.