Business Rivals

Chapter - 2

Ashton’s POV

“Good morning sir. Here is your coffee.” My secretary Barbara Brown spoke over-sweetly as she lingered on my desk for a little too long smiling at me flirtatiously trying to grab my attention while I was watching the view outside the glass window of my office.

“Good morning Barbara.” I gave her back a smile in return and sat back on my chair.

“Now if you are done trying to seduce me, which if sadly not very efficient, then go and bring me the file of this month’s finances of Garett Diamonds and also get me some aspirins.” I ordered and smirked as I saw her face going red in anger at my insult. She flipped her blonde hair and rushed out of my office creating annoying sound from her heels. I would have fired her right away but I will admit that she was very good at her work and that is why she was still here.
I sighed and went to the small room just beside my office that contained many important files.

I was going through a file when my phone started ringing. I ignored as I was in no mood to talk to anyone. After ignoring twice I sighed and went to receive it on the third bell. This should be important or I will kill whoever is disturbing me when I have this massive headache due to last night's hangover. “I am never drinking so much again on a work night ever”, I reminded myself.

As soon as I picked the phone I checked the caller id. It was Mason, my brother and most arrogant person ever existed on this planet, well a bit nice too. Though he was younger than me but he was always more mature and as he grew he started giving all his time into work and business, so much so that he has become a workaholic now. I sometimes worry about him a lot, even as a teenager he never lived his life like a normal teenager should. Never partied much nor spent whole night getting drunk. He always loved being responsible and he does that really well.

He proved it as he took responsibility of half of our business. Seeing his efforts, I offered him a lot of times that he should have his share in the company by sharing the position of CEO with me but he always declined saying that he would rather prefer working behind the curtains than becoming the face of Garett Enterprises.
I received his call and before I could say anything he attacked me with so many questions and anger evident in his voice.

“Where the hell were you Ashton? I have been calling you since an eternity. What the fuck were you doing?..

“Woah woah woah…stop there bro. I was doing some important work and it’s not been an eternity, I can promise that.” He let out a frustrated sigh and I chuckled. I love annoying him.

“Now tell me what’s up? What did I do to receive so many calls from you so early in the morning?” I asked.
“Did you got any news lately?” He inquired.

“Mm…what kind of news?” I asked totally clueless as to what he was referring to.

“ Big bro…you really need to stop wasting money on those lazy ass men whom you call your private investigators. They are of no use anymore.” He said and I knew he was smirking at the time.

I gritted my teeth and said “Will you stop playing your riddle games with me and come straight to the point? What’s going on?”

“Ahh…well let’s say I just saved our company from falling from its position.” He said sounding amused which only happens when he succeeds in annoying me. I know he was trying to trigger my anger which rarely happens but when it does, I am uncontrollable and when the matter is related to my work and business I lose my cool very easily.

“This is the last time I am asking Mason that what is going on, if you didn’t replied me right now I will…”

“Calm down big bro…” he said interjecting me. “I came to know about a big deal of our biggest rival right now who are really being a pain in our ass.”