Always Is Not Forever (Breaking Myself - Part II)

1. KIARA

"Papa," My tone shivered at the mere word. "I am scared." But my words didn't stop the investors to occupy their seats and glance at their watches. "I should call Uncle."

"Kiara," Dad scolded, grabbed my sweaty palm with a frown. "Give a rest to Rahul."

"I can't do this." When they would be looking at me, stare at the scar across my eyebrow and ask the unwanted questions. "Adi always covered for me."

"One day, you will be the President and CEO, not your brother." He turned me to his side before I could argue about the position he had in his mind. "One day, you will handle what I handle."

"I will fail like always." And the fear of the failure never chased out of my chest when I had a perfect brother who excelled in every field. "And Oberoi never had a female as a leader."

He quirked his lips in a smile. "Change is always appreciated especially if it is by my daughter." He was sweet talking to me even if he knew I could fail in that meeting, even if he was aware I could spoil this deal but he placed his trust on me. "Your brother is in Denmark with Yuvansh. Your uncle had to attend Yuvraj's violin competition. And your father is tired now and he knows his precious."

"I will fail."

He protested at the back of his throat. "I also failed. In my first year of being a CEO, I almost dropped the company but your mother saved the company." I rose my brow in surprise. Mom didn't like the concept of business. "She told me to be me and the world will adjust. If you any new plans, place it out there. I will welcome each one of them. If you want changes, throw it out there and I will see to it. Precious, your words will matter there and if you fail, I will help you again."

"But it's your company."

"That's where you are wrong." He leaned down to kiss my forehead. "This is our company. Go ahead, Kiara. Show the world what you are made of."

And I had shown the world or the people even if I had sweated but an encouraging smile from dad had made everything better. However, he forgot one thing. Ever since I was born, my future had been set down even if he didn't agree to it.

I was to handle the company-a company he loved from the bottom of his heart.

And as his elder child, the responsibility fell on me.

The meeting happened four years ago in this same room where I had faced the investors at the age of twenty-two, claimed the prominent scar across my right eyebrow. Even after years of struggle, the scar had refused to leave my face and I denied the surgery because it was the reminder of everything.

And my mom taught me scars could be your strength as well.

She forgot to mention the man who caused them and sat opposite to me with an empty expression. No trace of history reflected in those brown eyes I used to spend hours to look at, to paint the exact color but it never came. They were the magnify of light and dark.

They were my cage.

"No," I replied, my voice clipped to ice. "I am not selling it."

"Ms. Oberoi," He stated. "That land could be useful to both of us. From where I have learned, you have no interest in building anything on-"

"It's my uncle's club. I am not selling it to you."

"It's in losses." I was aware but I would never sell it. "And your uncle has successful clubs all around India and one in New York. I don't think a simple club will make a difference."

"What about the employees?" I raised my brows in question. "You have no interest in the land, Mr. Khan." His lips twitched a little at the formal way I addressed him. "You want to destroy the place and sell the land in pieces." With the nudge on the file, I passed it back to his side. "That land belongs to my company. I will see to it myself."