Changing the CEO

Forward

Luke's Point of View

I fucked up.
"Sir?"
I look up at a maid in my dad's house. "What?"
"Mr. Newman said you can come in,"
I nod and go inside his office. It has been a week I have seen Rose at the bar. She looked nice.
"Please tell me you know what your problem is," dad says. He looks worried. Surprise, he never is.
"I fucked up I know it," I answer.
He frowns. "That wasn't the answer."
I roll my eyes. "You always say I am wrong. So why dont you tell me the problem?"
"Luke, you are an alcoholic," he says.
"I'm not,"
"You are,"
He is clearly wrong. I sometimes get more drinks than I need to but I am no addict.
"Dad, that was the first time I got kicked out of a bar," I say, "I'm no addict."
"Then why the hell do you act like one?"
"Okay, you are being ridiculous, now you are my father?"
He quickly gets in front if me. "I have always taken care of you! What the hell do you mean by that?"
His eyes are angry. "You never cared about me dad especially after mom died. Daniel has always been your son."
He steps back. He looks surprised. "Daniel is my adopted son."
"No, I am, he has always been the son you wanted, now excuse me, I need to go out," I leave the office. I told him the truth and he knows it.
....
Nathan is eating cookies and staring at me. We are at the park.
"What?"I finally ask.
"Rose is in your mind right?"
I sigh. "No."
"Then?"
"My dad says I'm an alcoholic,"
Nathan stops eating and frowns. "You are."
Whoa. What the hell? Him too?
"I am not. I don't need alcohol to function,"
"Luke, ever since Madison, you hit the bottle. But now with all of this shit, you over pass more than a bottle,"
I stand. "Fuck you and everyone. I am not. I can stop drinking anytime."
"Don't get upset-"
"How the hell don't I get upset? You are my friend and know me,"
He stands too. "I am and that's why I want you to be well."
I scoff. "Alright. Bye."
"Luke come on!"
****
Two days later
End of July

I enter the new club. I got invited by a friend.
"Hey!" Harold yells from across the bar. He went to college with me.
"Nice place," I exclaim.
"Thanks, a round of drinks on me okay? Have fun," he winks and points to a group of ladies. He walks towards them. I sit on the bar next to a woman.
I order a good wine.
"Mr. Newman, I thought the doctor said no more alcohol," the woman says. I turn around and it is Dr. Holmes. She smiles wide.
"Oh wow," I say, "hi."
She looks just like a normal woman. Her hair is in curls and she looks nice with a red blouse.
"Here you go sir," the bartender leaves my drink. Nayda looks at it. "Luke as much as wine is benefitful it can be bad," she looks at me with those color eyes.
"Just this one," I take a sip.
She raises her drink. "Me too." I smile. "What are you doing here?"
"I am a single woman and I have the weekend off," she chuckles, "doctors also like to party."
I nod. "Yep. Okay, well how about we dance?"
She grins. "Okay, but you need to take me home."
Nayda is an amazing dancer. She is funny too. We are walking to the parking lot. Turns out, her date bailed on her and has no ride.
"So you used me?" I ask. She blushes. "Sorry. But it was fun."
I nod. It was fun. It felt good.
"I'm happy you are better Luke,"
I stop at my car. "Thank you."
I open the passenger door and she goes in. As soon as I start the car, she kisses me. "Sorry," she giggles.
"Umm, it is okay," I chuckle.
"You're handsome, well, you look like a hobo, but I'll bet you look great once you shave this off," she touches my facial hair.
I chuckle. "And you're beautiful. But I am not a serious guy,"
She frowns. "Why?"
I shrug. "Don't like to be tied down."
"Or afraid to get heartbroken,"
I look at her. "No,"
She nods. "I was just like you. I had a perfect boyfriend and future husband. Ironically it was an arrange marriage thing, but I felt in love with him. He loved me too. But, I thought that things were too perfect and I panic and ran away to medical school. I told mt parents that I couldn't marry someone in a high class if I wasn't one too. So I convinced them to pay for my college so I could become wealthy woman,"
I stop her. "Wait-you tricked your parents so you won't hurt him?"
She nods. "I did hurt him. He didn't believe me. He knew I was scared but since he loved me, he let me go. I was foolish. I was so afraid of him not being the prince that I just didnt take the chance. I regret it. He has two kids now and his wife is so happy."
I sigh. "Sorry but I am not like you."
"Yes, you let that poor girl go, she loved you,"
"What girl?"
"The one who took you to the ER. She had love in her eyes,"
She met Rose?
I shrug. "I guess. I don't know."
Nayda touches my hand. "I know I am going fast and telling all of this, but I am hoping it helps."
I look at her. "It is fine. Let me take you home now."
****
August

Rosalie's Point of View

Louie is purring on my lap. It has been almost two months since all my crap happened. It is my fault. I didnt pay attention to him. Louie is now dying.
"Ms. Dixon, whenever you are ready," the nurse says.
The tears get more quicker. I can't. I can't let him go.
"Give us a minute," Daniel sits next to me. He gently gets Louie. "Hey man, you are loved by this woman. You need to tell her you will be okay," he pets him.
I look at Daniel. "I-I just can't,"
He nods. "We can just take him home. He will go when he is ready."
But he is in pain. I'm afraid I'm hurting him more this way.
Daniel wraps his arm around me and we are huddling with Louie. I place my hand on his back. Louie meows and looks at me. He meows again.
I sniff. "Okay."
The nurse steps forward and I turn away as he injects Louie. "Done miss. I give you privacy."
"Meow,"
I look at Louie. He slowly closes his eyes and I feel him purr. But then it stops. His chest lays flat.
"He is okay now," Daniel whispers.
I cry. My dad has officially left me. Louie was his last gift to me.
....
Daniel is holding me. I have Louie's favorite toy in my hand.
"You were a good owner to him,"
I sigh. "Thank you."
I stabd. "You should go. I swear I didnt want to spend your time like this but I didnt know who to call." My mom and Charlie left a week ago. Speaking of them, I need to tell them.
"It is okay. We are friends remember?"
I nod. He stands and hugs me. "Will you be okay?"
"Yes,"
He pulls away. "Okay. Night."
"Night."
He kisses my cheek. I involuntarily hold his arm and hug him. I guess I don't want to be alone.
"I can stay,"
"Okay."
We finally kiss. He is stroking my cheek as we lay in my bed. "That was good," he says.
"It was just a pop kiss,"
"So,"
I chuckle. "It was a thank you kiss."
"And that's good."
"So we are still friends?"
"No,"
Daniel kisses me. "I want to date you."
"I'm not really in the mood for that right now,"
"Okay," he puts me on his chest and strokes my hair. I fall asleep.