Changing the CEO

Change the View

Monday

It has been two days since the night Luke and I became "friends". Nathan has been calling me nonstop and texting how worried he is about me. I don't understand him. I thought Luke said I was just easy play for him. Why is does he seem so invested in me?
I am walking around the grocery store doing my monthly shopping. I go to the pet aisle and fetch Louie some snacks.
"Hey,"
Whoa. I turn and see Luke leaning against a shopping cart.
"Hi?" I say.
"What are you doing here?" he asks. But I think he realized how weird his question was and shakes his head.
"I'm doing my grocery shopping and how about you Mr. Newman? I thought someone wealthy like you had a maid to do this for you," I say.
He gives me a chuckle. "I do but I just de-decided to-um,"
I interrupt him. "Okay Mr. Newman just joking." I begin to walk towards the soda aisle. I hear him follow me. "So how are you?" I ask.
He catches up and walks next to me. "I'm well." I notice he has a light black sweater and jeans. It is weird to see him again in casual clothing rather than expensive office suits.
"That's good to hear," I say as I grab a pack of sodas.
Mr. Newman also gets a pack and puts it in his cart.
"Well I need to go," I say. I wave goodbye to him and walk towards the cash register lanes.
"Wait!"
I stop and turn around. "Yeah?"
"Do you wanna hang out later?" Mr. Newman asks. He sounds nervous for a second.
"Like friends?"
He nods. "Yeah I guess we are now friends so yeah."
I can't help but to smile. "Sure. Pick me up in a hour."

Luke's Point of View

I sounded like a total idiot. Why did I get nervous when I asked Rosalie if we can hang out later?

"You are going to trick her into being your date asshole for your dad's dinner," I answer myself. I couldn't convince Jesse into talking to me again. She send me a message saying she is with another guy. I can't argue with that; I lost her.
I know dad will like Rosalie but I won't trick him into believing she is my girlfriend. She will just be a friendly date.
I go back to my place and set up the random groceries I bought. I didn't want to look like a fool in front of Rose. I saw her get out of her apartment and followed her into the store. I didn't want to look desperate so I decided to ask her in the store. Thankfully she didn't think much of anything.
.....
"I don't think she likes you," I tell Nathan.
"Hey she is the one who just bailed on me, I just want to know why," he says. I put the call on speaker as I fix my black shoes. I have a driver driving me to Rose's place.
"Just get over her. You perfectly said you weren't serious about her and come on, she isn't that pretty or interesting, why bother?"
"Please, I don't want her to be my girlfriend or wife. However I do know there is something I like  and know you also like about her. She is different,"
I roll my eyes. "You took that comment out of context. I like how she works that's it."
The driver notifies me that we are outside the apartments. I nod and hang up on Nathan. He was getting annoying anyhow.
I am knocking on her door. Then I realized Rose doesn't have a sense of fashion. Gosh, what the hell is she going to wear?
The door opens and a curvy woman answers.
"Hi?" I ask.
She chuckles. "Holly jesus! You're Luke Newman?"
I nod. Is this a friend of Rose?
"Shayla! I can't get this o-" Rose comes by with a tight red dress that reaches her knees with very high heels. As I look upward, her waist is tiny and her breasts look nice showing cleavage. Her neck is decorated with a crystal necklace and her hair is in curls. She still has her glasses but has make up on.
"Shit! Look away Luke! I look like a freaking hooker!" she yells.
The Shayla girl pulls me in the room. "She looks great right?" she asks.
Um. I look at her again and she is a different person. I don't know what to think.
"I can't reach the zipper Shayla. Please take it off," Rose frowns as she walks into her room.
Shayla rolls her eyes and excuses herself to Rose's room.
I sigh. What did I saw?
"Meow!"
I look down and Louie is siting in front of me. I lightly smile at him and sit on the couch. He follows and sits next to me waiting to be pet.
"Just go!" Shayla suddenly yells as she exits the apartment. I stand and see Rose fall to her face! Oh shit. I help her out.
"Oh stupid heels!" she stands and takes off the shoes. She is still wearing the dress. "Okay just laugh Luke. I know I look ridiculous and now I fell down. Laugh away."
I want to laugh so badly but not because of her outfit but of her falling.
I shake my head and just chuckle. "Let's just go. I am late as it is."
"But-I don't like this. I thought Shayla was going to bring me something else. I said classy," she frowns.
"It is okay. Let's go."
We are walking the dinner room. We are the first ones here. Rose is nervously walking and I hold her arm. She looks at me. I sigh and stop walking. "Just relax and have fun."
She frowns. "Why are we here? Who is this party for?" she asks.
"My dad, he is having a private dinner that's why I texted you to wear something nice," I answer.
Her eyes widen. "What? Your dad? Why?"
"Don't freak out. I just-"
"Luke,"
Oh great. Daniel is here. He comes out of the dinner room. "Oh hi miss."
Rose blushes. I look at Daniel and he is smirking. I look back at Rose and she is looking down shyly.
"Where is my dad?" I ask.
Daniel nods. "He is with Frida and a friend. We are waiting for you to start dinner."
I take Rose's hand and pull her to the other room. I ignore Daniel asking me who is my "date."
We get to the room and see my dad kissing Frida's cheek. His friend is Gregory; my godfather.
"Hello everyone,"I say.
Dad nods at me and quickly notices Rose.
"He's here," Daniel comes in.
Frida smiles wide at me as she comes towards me. She embraces me and kisses my cheek. "Oh Luke, it has been 5 years since I seen you! How are you sweetheart?"
I nod. "Good. I'm glad you are okay."
She looks at Rose. "Oh what lovely young girl, I didn't know you had a girlfriend."
"What?" Rose asks.
Daniel pats my back. "Nice job. She is cute."
Oh god no. This is not what I wanted.
Dad clicks his whiskey glass. "Alright. We can get to know the girl later. I'm starving. Let's eat."
"Totally," I say.
Rose looks at me worriedly. I just take her hand and we walk to the dinner room.
We eat great steak and chicken. We are now drinking wine in the living room of the suite. Daniel is siting next to Rose as she is between us. My dad and Frida are on the other couch while Gregory is standing by the fireplace.
"So who are you?" Gregory asks.
Rose looks at me. "I'm Rosalie Dixon sir."
"Nice name," Daniel smiles at her. Rose quickly looks down.
"And how did you meet my grandchild?"
"At work," I answer. "But she isn't-"
My dad stops me. "You work at my company?"
Rose says no.
"Well I'm glad that Luke has finally settled down. You look like a great girl sweetie," Frida smiles.
"And what do you do?" Daniel asks.
"I'm currently working in public relations,"she says.
"And you love my son?"
I almost spit out my wine. I panic inside but Rose answers. "Not currently. We are getting to know each other Mr. Newman."
Phew. I whisper a thank you to her but she just smiles. It is a creepy smile though.
"Oh well I guess my son is still afraid of commitment."
"I guess so, I mean it took him a while to just say we are friends. I think he is just shy," Rose pinches my cheek and smiles at me. "Right babe?"
Oh-ha ha- I see what she is doing. She is upset. She finally figured out I just used her to look good in front of my dad.
"Babe?" Daniel chuckles.
Gregory changes the conversation towards Daniel. Rose excuses herself and I follow her.
She goes outside in the patio. "What the hell did you do Luke?" she exclaims. She looks at me. "Why didn't you tell me I was just your fake date?"
I shrug. "I didn't want to look desperate okay? I talked to my dad about having a girl over and well I didn't want to bring any girl so I thought of you. Friends help each other out right?"
"Yeah but lying? Your father isn't stupid you know. He knows I'm lying,"
I roll my eyes. "Just help me out Rose."
"Why and how? I am not good in telling lies or flirting,"
"You said it; we are just knowing each other. We aren't a couple and we are not lying about that."
"Luke, seriously, why me? Is it Daniel? You guys obviously are competitive. Your dad? Why do you wan-" she shuts up. "You want to impress your dad? Is he that upset over your turn out in the company?" she frowns.
I nod. "Yes okay. I am pathetic okay. But I really need to change my dad's mind Rose. I want that company and my position back. Daniel is a piece of shit. He is just there to prove he is better than me to my dad. He wants to get into his will to get all the money I have."
"Why don't you just be open about how you feel towards him? He is your dad. He can't hate you,"
Ha. "You don't know him. He sees every detail of what I do and doesn't think I can do right."
"Why?"
I don't say anything.
Rose steps closer to me. "And here we are again. Mr. Newman being a tough macho man who doesn't need to open up. I thought we talked about this."
"Everything okay?" my dad asks. We turn to the door. He is walking to me and stops in front of me. "Son?"
"No sir. We are just discussing some issues," I answer.
"Really?" he looks at Rose. "Is he being stubborn Ms. Rose?"
"Yep," she says.
"About what?"
Rose looks at me. I try to tell her to be smart on what she might say. She looks at my dad while bitting her lower lip. "About how I think Boston will win the title."
Dad smiles. Whoa. He is smiling!
"And to think you were like the other dumb girls my son gets off the streets. You are smart dear and how about we try to convince Gregory too about Boston?" he offers his hand to her.
She smiles. "Sure but I am not that good in remembering statistics Mr. Newman."
"Call me Richard," he says.
I can't believe this man. I can't believe she made him smile.
***
Rose is unlocking her apartment door.
"I am glad you didn't blow my cover Rose," I say.
Everything went smoothly. My dad didn't continue to suspect of Rose. Even Daniel seemed impressed.
"It is fine. Just next time ask me for help Mr. Newman. Remember that being friends means opening up and asking for help," she says as she opens the door. She steps in and leans against the door looking at me.
"I guess," I say.
She rolls her eyes. "And to think you have a best friend."
I raise my left eyebrow. "You don't think I'm a good friend to Nathan?"
She nods. "You are and he returns the favor but that's because he can relate to you. Nathan may know your favorite color and food but that doesn't mean he entirely knows everything about you. Your personality doesn't allow for that," she answers.
"Shut up Rose, just take my thanks,"
She frowns. "Okay Mr. Grumpy," she says. "Night."
She closes the door. And she is upset at me once again. Why does she get angry at me?
I knock on the door. "Rose, seriously, thanks. I know I need to change my point of view of things. I just can't change in one day even if I wanted to."
The door opens and Rose has a faint smile. "You apologize by not apologizing huh?"
What?
She pulls me inside. "Lets talk about what you said Mr. Newman." she takes my hand and drags me into the kitchen. We sit in the dinning table.
"I will help you get your company back," she says.
"Good," I nod. "You mean that?"
She nods back. "But you must change your view. You need to promise me that you will try to be more open with ideas for projects and compassionate for your employees."
"I won't just let people do what they want,"
"I know but be a bit loose, no one wants to be around a man who is stressed all the time,"
"I was the CEO Rose, I needed to be fucking stress about many things,"
She cups my face. "Relax. See? Even now you are being stressed and nothing is happening."
Her hands feel warm against my cheeks. Okay, what the hell, am I fucking girl now? Why did I notice that?
"Luke?"
I pull back and stand. "Okay whatever, as long as you promise you won't leave me."
She stands and smiles. "I promise. But you need to give me insurance you will try your best."
This girl is really corny.
"Sure."
She pats my head. "Good boy."
"I'm not a fucking cat," I step back. She chuckles. "Okay. Well, what's your plan?"
I sigh. "Not sure."
"So I guess we meet for coffee next week?" she asks.
"Yes," I offer my hand. She shakes it.
"Night Rose."
"Night Luke," she lets go of my hand. "The date wasn't that bad huh?"
I chuckle. I get what she did there. "Bye."