INTERLOCKED: A JOURNEY.

1. Decision (Part1)

8th November, 2016
Conference room,
The Garner Enlightment.

       THE CONFIDENT AND SUCCESSFUL woman, Snow Billy Anderson, sat frozen in her seat. She couldn't move. Her blue eyes went still. She couldn't comprehend what she just heard. She took her time letting everything sink in.

       The only thing that brought her out of her trance was when she heard the owner of THE GARNER ENLIGHTMENT calling out for her. "Miss. Anderson?"

       "I'm sorry Mr. Garner. I guess I didn't hear you right. Could you come again?" Her heart was racing furiously in her chest, as she said these words.

        "Miss. Anderson, you heard me right. I said that I want you to marry my son, Willow. This would be my only clause for merging with 'The Flakes'." Mr. Garner stated with finality.

       How could he ask this for a business merger? How could he be this head strong for just a merger? Something's not fitting right. Garner Enlightment was the most advanced software company almost throughout the U.S. The Flakes stood nowhere next to it. Yet, here is Mr. Martin Garner offering a marriage proposal for a 'mere merger'? Emotions, thoughts, questions created a hurricane in her mind.

        Snow finally found her voice back as she said, "Mr. Garner, are you sure this is the only clause you would put forth for a business merger?" She put as much emphasis on the words 'business merger' as she could muster.

       "Yes Miss. Anderson, it shall be the only clause." He said it with a small smile.

       The world spun around her as she tried to digest the proposal. All her dreams of marrying her true love fell apart. Her world was crushed between being selfish or selfless.

       All this while, Mr. Garner patiently waited for Snow's answer. Snow noticed something like fear/panic cross Mr. Garner's eyes.

       Bewilderment engulfed her. If anyone had to be feared it was her. There was no loss of THE GARNER ENLIGHTMENT if this merger didn't happen. She ignored it as illusion as she focused on other things that were to be taken under consideration.

       The Flakes has come a long way in the past three years. It was only possible for Snow, along with all her co - worker's determination, that she is one of the business women who earned success this early in life.

        She thought about her team-mates (she preferred to call her colleagues as 'mates'), all the hard work they've put in building The Flakes. If this merger took place it would be a profit to her company as well as her mates. All the time that was spent, delay in salary that had occured, everything would fall in good conditions.

        So the decision was made. She had to do it for them.

       Finally gaining the Snow Billy Anderson confidence, she held her head high, meeting the gaze of Mr. Garner she said "Mr. Garner I would be privileged to marry your son." As she spoke the words she noticed a sigh of relief left by Mr. Garner.

What? Why?...Maybe I'm just being paranoid.

"Thank you so much Snow!" Mr. Garner exclaimed.

       From when did we go to Miss. Anderson to just Snow? Maybe from the time I agreed to marry his son. She wondered to herself as she exhaled a long breath

"So Mr. Garner-"

       "Uh huh Snow. I thought you were smart enough to understand my hint of no more formalities. You can call me Martin." he said with a smile

       "Yes right. Mr. Ga- I mean Martin, does your son know about the proposal?"

"Not yet. But I'm sure he'll be fine."

       "That's good." she said as her lips pursed in a hard line. "What about the contract papers?"

       "My son, Willow will be there at your office by 4 pm this Saturday. The paper work will take some time. I'm sure you'll need some time to yourself too." He had a smug look on his face. "I mean to prepare your side of the legal bindings." he added.

"Okay Martin! I may take your leave now."

"Sure. Be safe."

They both stood up and did a formal handsake.

       She couldn't wait to get out of the conference hall of The Garner Enlightment. Her head was spinning. She felt as if someone was choking her inside the conference room. As she got in her car, the entire confident demeanor faded and was replaced by a feather-hearted Snow. She let her tears freely fall from her eyes.

       "Snow? Honey, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" The worried tone of her driver, Drake, snapped her eyes to meet his.

       Drake was more like a grandfather she never had to Snow. She met him in her favorite park three years ago. He was sitting on a bench, his head in his hand when Snow noticed him. She approached him and consoled him after his very betrayal by his own brother. Snow being the kind hearted girl immediately offered him financial assistance but he declined it. So she offered him a job of being her driver.

        "Drake" Snow was exhausted "T-t-the Ga-garner..." She couldn't complete her sentence as she burst out in sobs.

         "Hush little star." He said offering the bottle of water to her. "Have some water, calm your nerves and tell me if I have to break someone's bones in there." Drake voiced his anger nodding towards the great building of The Garner Enlightment.

Snow just shook her head. "Just take me home Drake."

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