Changing the CEO

Change Occurs

Rosalie's Point of View

End of November

It has been weeks since I have seen Luke. Daniel hasn't worked with him so I have no reason to see Luke.
Daniel and I celebrated Thanksgiving with my family. It was as cheesy and awesome than a movie. My mom has been sober for months now. Everything has changed.
...

"So no marriage?" Shayla asks. We are having Chinese for dinner.
"No, we dont even have the year together,"
"But would you say yes?"
I sigh. I never given thought to marriage. Only once in college, and my thought was "I will always be the cat lady".
"Daniel really likes you," she smiles. I can see her eyes form hearts. She really is a romantic.
"I know," I feel warm inside knowing that. Yet, I feel a weight and pressure of loving him.
"Your bill miss," the waiter comes by. I pay the bill and we head home.
"Oh let me check the mail," I say. Shayla agrees and she steps in the apartment. I open the mailbox and see only a letter. It has my name on it.

Dear Rosalie,
I miss you. I really can't say much but that. France has been nice but busy. I know this will be worth it. Gordon's will thrive again.
Anyhow, I have gotten you many things. I really hope you will love them all.

See you soon,
Daniel.

My heart flickers. This is so nice! I never gotten a letter mailed before. I place the paper back into the envelope and go inside.
Shayla sees my smile. "Daniel?"
I nod. "He is such a smart guy."
Shayla winks at me and giggles. I go to my room and jump on bed. I feel like a teenager in a cheesy romance movie.

Next day

I have the weekend off so I decide to go for a bit of early Christmas shopping. Thankfully, I have money this year to actually buy good presents for everyone.
I go to one of the malls. I step from shop to store to shop.
"Hi can I help you?" I step into this very elegant place. I want to buy Daniel a nice suit.
"Yes, I was wondering if I can custom a suit," I say.
The lady smiles except it doesn't feel real. She scans me from head to toe. I kind of forgot I look like a hobo.
"Sears has great suits too," she smiles again.
"Excuse me? I'm not there,"
"Well these suits can cost from 1000 to 6000 dollars,"
Bitch, are you kidding me?
"Yes, I can afford that,"
She chuckles. "Oh yes well, let me call Antonio."
She leaves me at the entrance. I look around and see only two other women. They look like a million bucks compared to me. Did that lady really thought I was dead poor? And what is wrong with Sears?
"Is this the one?" I hear a man ask. I turn to the voice and see a short man. "Hello miss, you want a 5000 dollar suit?" Ugh, is this man giving me attitude too?
"You know what, I don't anymore," I sigh.
"Is everything okay here?"
Luke suddenly is standing next to me.
"Mr. Newman, how are you?" the man asks happily.
"I am puzzled why suddenly this customer doesn't want one of your lovely suits, did you treat her well?" Luke asks.
I can't believe him. He is backing me up.
"Well, yes, but-"
"Shut up, he thought I couldn't afford one," I say before leaving. I guess I buy Daniel a nice watch instead.
"Rosalie!" Luke calls me out. I freeze but I don't want to talk to him!
"You okay? Did they really offend you? My dad owns that place,"
I turn around. "What?"
He nods. "I will fire everyone if you want to."
Wow. "No that is fine."
"Was the suit for Daniel?"
I nod. "Yeah but that is fine. Bye."
"Let me help, even if he has a bad taste with other things, we both like the same suits. I can help you,"
"Luke, I don't want-"
"To be friends?" Luke stands in front of me. "I thought that's what you wanted first remember? I'm trying to change here. Help me out,"
"I tried and that is okay. Thanks for helping me there though," I lightly smile and walk back.
"Rose, I really don't think-"
"Nayda is behind you," I say.
I can hear her voice as I walk away.

I finish my shopping peacefully. I put aside a beautiful watch for Daniel. I know he will love it. I go back to the car, which Daniel gave me for our six months. It was unexpected and he kept telling me to keep it. As much as I feel bad for not being able to love him like he deserves, he still wants me to keep it if we break up.
Gosh, I am pathetic and stupid. I miss him. I call him.
"Ello?" a British woman answers. I quickly do the math. Shouldn't it be night over there?
"Ello? Miss? Is this the Rose?"
"Y-yes, where is Daniel?"
She says something in French and the phone sounds like it dropped. "Hey, hey Rosalie," Daniel answers.
"Hey, how are you?"
"Good good,"
"Um, you busy?"
I hear a glass fall. "No-shit! No I am fine. How are you beautiful?"
He is drunk. I hang up. That isn't Daniel. Why is he drinking like that? He never gets drunk with me. Why was that woman there?
Relax Rose, she might be part of the party. He might be having a celebration for the company.
But he hasn't told me anything about the deal, if there is one.
I can't think straight. Ouch, my stomach hurts again. I take deep breathes and try to relax. I am just being panic Rose again.

Luke's Point of View

"Maybe we can give her the suit anyways, we go and buy it and put a note that is from Rosalie," Nayda smiles.
"Okay, but Daniel can't know,"
"Of course dummy,"
I kiss her. We are cuddling on her couch.
"I am going to be in for work for the whole week Luke," she says.
"Okay, then let me know when we can see each other," I say.
"You aren't mad at me?"she asks.
I chuckle. "Why would I be?"
She sits. "Sex, I haven't given you sex." Her voice sounds sad.
"I thought I told you-"
She looks at me. "I am trying. I-I want to but," she whimpers, "I am sorry."
"Don't cry," I hug her.
"I mean, I know we been doing other things but I know you expected sex today and-"
I shut her with a kiss. "Nayda what you lived through isn't easy. I want to be with you when I know you can enjoy yourself 100 percent,"
She nods. "Okay."
I kiss her. "How about I stay over and help prepare lunch for tomorrow?"
She smiles. "Luke?"
"Yeah?"
"You can touch me if you like, I mean you know,"
"I prefer to just see you and lay next to you,"
I want to do her badly. Her little moans are so shy when I first touched her. The second time she was drunk and her moans were wild. She can't have sex with me but just being close to her or just savouring her breasts are good enough for me. She didn't have a first time. It was stolen from her but I hope I can be the times she deserves.

...
It is December. The weather is chilly and rainy.
I am having lunch with my dad at his house. He looks happy with me, for now.
"Is Nayda coming for Christmas then?" he asks.
"I don't know, she really doesn't celebrate it,"
"Is she Jewish? Hindu?"
"She is Hindu dad,"
He shrugs. "It ain't gonna work,"
"What?"
"You and her. You won't be able to marry, if you have a child how are you gonna raise it?" he bites into his steak.
"Dad, right now we are just dating, marriage is way over the end,"
"She loves you, I see it," he says, "and she is a great beautiful woman. I agree if you want to marry her, but it won't be easy,"
I eat a bit of salad. I really didn't want to talk about Nayda today. My dad is as worse as a rich lady in a Sunday breakfast.
"And Daniel," he chuckles, "he wants to marry Rose."
I almost choke. "What?"
"He told me before he left to France that he wanted to buy a ring for her, I agreed,"
"But dad, she is not-"
"Rich? I know but I really like her. She really showed me something I forgot about,"
"That is?"
"How kind people can be, just like your mother,"
I look at him straight in the eye. "I thought kindness was a weakness,"
"No, it is a strength. Your mother show me that,"
"Then?"
"Then what?"
I sigh. "You told me being kind doesn't cut it at the end,"
He nods. "If you don't have a balance. Your mother was kind but she definitely had a strong assertive side. She never let me or anyone put her down,"
"I don't remember you being kind to her,"
He smiles. "But did you ever saw her be unkind to me?"
"No, she-she loved you,"
He smiles. "Just like Rosalie did to you. I didn't loose your mother because at the end I always admitted I was wrong. You never did to Rose until it was too late."
This man is really something. I stand, "well I am always wrong to you too."
"And I admit I did you wrong,"
I walk out.