The Wedding Night

“What is life to you?”

Melody POV

The morning of the presentation came as fast as I expected. I woke up early to prepare for the office and by six am, I was on my way to the office. Before I left for the office, Lorena wished me luck and hope that by the end of the day, I got to stay at the end.

I arrived at the office at exactly 6:30 am. When I got to the security checkpoint, they gave me a suspicious look as I came to the office to steal something. After making them understood that I came early for business, I took the elevator to the 35th floor. No one was on the floor yet and it gave me the space and time I needed to prepare for the presentation.

For an hour and thirty-minute, I didn’t seat and was walking around while reading out the lines for the presentation. “Letting everyone knows that with memories, all the bad memories go away.” I ended the practice with that and stretched my body. I was tired because I awoke all through the night.

It was exhausting.

I decided to get a coffee from the cafe that was two blocks away from the office. The office had a coffee maker but I wanted to get one from the cafe because of how good it tastes. On getting there, I was met with a long queue. I had to wait in line until it got to my turn. After waiting for few minutes, it got to my turn and I ordered an espresso. While waiting for my order, I realized I had spent thirty minutes in the cafe. After getting my coffee, I ran back to the company. When I got to the company, I stopped running and took a deep breath before entering the company. Some of the staff had arrived and were running around the company while some were just arriving and heading towards the elevator. I followed them into the elevator and manage to squeeze myself among the ten people in the elevator.

Once the elevator got to the 35th floor, I rushed out and walked fast to my desk but then I heard a noise coming from Giovanni’s office. It was more like an argument between two people. I pretend to be seating behind my desk but my eyes were fixed on the transparent glass. Giovanni was arguing with Cassandra and from the way, Cassandra threw her hands up, I could tell it was a heated argument. Giovanni soon caught me staring and shut the transparent glass.

“Rude much,” I commented and turn to face my laptop. I realized that I didn’t shut my laptop while rushing to get a coffee but I didn’t care since I met it the same way I left it but something was missing and it was the files. All the files on memories were gone. My laptop was blank and even when I checked the recycle bin to see if I made the mistake of deleting them, it wasn’t there either. Someone had tampered with my laptop and all the files were gone. I wanted to scream but I couldn’t because I didn’t have proof that someone had touched my computer but I knew someone did it to punish me but who could it be?

I stood up from my chair and paced around. I walked towards Giovanni’s door to knock and informed him about the missing files but he was never going to believe me because he wanted me gone. My first suspect was Lindsey because she hated me but she could not have done something so extreme then I thought about Lorenzo who also hated me but he couldn’t have stooped so low just to send me away. Few minutes I thought about who could have actually done it and my mind went over to Cassandra. She was the only one capable of committing such because not only did she hate my guts, she also hated me for stealing her spotlight. I didn’t know what to do but just paced around the office and thinking of what to say at the meeting.

“It’s over,” I thought aloud.

The door to Giovanni’s office opened and Cassandra stepped out of the office with a sly smirk on her face. I wanted to confront her but I kept my cool because I have no proof, yet.

“Good morning, ” she greeted with a sly smirk on her face.  It was as if she was mocking me. I gave her no reply and stared at her with total disgust.

How could she have done that to me?

“cat got your tongue?” She sneered and walked closer to me. “Anyways, the meeting is starting in few minutes. I hope you are prepared.” She chuckled and flipped her hair making sure it touched my face.

“Bitch,” I wanted to say that but I kept my cool and smiled at her. “Of course, I am prepared.”

Cassandra scoffed and walked away. I wanted to run after her and scratched her face with my nails but I had other plans for her. All I could focus on at that moment was how I was going to present without the files. I walked closer to Giovanni’s door and raised my hand to knock but I quickly bought it down. I didn’t know what to say to him. The guy already hated me and he will be happy if I am gone.

“What are you doing right now? I heard him asked at the entrance of his door. I opened my eyes that I didn’t realize that I had closed. ” I won’t ask again melody.”

“I–i,” I couldn’t believe I stuttered at that moment. “I was practicing.” That was all I could come up with.

“Practising?” He asked and I nodded. “You were practicing with your eyes closed?” He sounded like he didn’t believe me.

“Yes, I was,” I answered back not giving him the thought to doubt Me.

“Very well then. Inform the executives that the meeting starts in twenty.” He said and turned back to his office.

“But sir,” he shut the door on my face. I gave up and walked back to my desk to do as he told me.

*****

The meeting started at 10:00 am with all the executives already seated. Giovanni addressed everyone and apologized for the impromptu meeting. While he was addressing everyone, Lorenzo arrived into the boardroom and sat on the space beside Cassandra and opposite me. Our eyes met and he smiled at me. A freaking smile. A devilish smile.

“Could he be the one that had deleted my files?” I thought. “Was I barking the wrong tree?”

“Miss melody,” Giovanni called my attention back to the meeting. “Let us hear your presentation.” He requested.

“Yes sir,” I replied and stood up from my seat. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as I walked to the front of the boardroom with my laptop held firmly in my hand.

This was it.

“You can do it,” Anita mouthed to me and I smiled back at her. I looked towards Cassandra and saw her shifting on her chair. Lindsey sneered at me but I didn’t care because all I could think of at that moment was how I was going to present again.

“I appreciate all of you for coming to this meeting,” I started the meeting. The looks on their faces show they weren’t interested in my greeting but what I had to say. “Memories is the brand name as I have said in our last meeting,” I paused and closed my eyes again and when I opened them, I could see Giovanni looking at me with an expression I couldn’t read.

“Go on miss melody,” Cassandra implored with a clap which I knew she was faking.

I took a deep breath like I always do whenever I feel like giving up. “I present to your memories,” I pointed to the screen projected behind me, and then I began the presentation. When the presentation ended, everyone stood up to applaud me except for Giovanni, Lorenzo who had a weird look on his face, and Cassandra who was surprised.

“That’s was amazing,” Giovanni commented and stood up to applaud me. He gave me a thumb up and I answered back with a thank you. “That was impressive. You have improved a lot,” he said and I blushed at his comments. My cheeks were deep red with his comments. “The Chinese investors were aware of this meeting and I’m sure they’ve accepted this proposal just like I have. Allow me to introduce to you all miss Melody, the new director in charge of the project memories. ” everyone clapped again and I feel honored. I had done something that made everyone amazed. I couldn’t be more than proud of myself. “Congratulations,” Giovanni said to me and left the boardroom.

“Thank you,” I replied but he was already gone. The other executives came to congratulate me and I felt like some celebrity.

“That’s was amazing!” Anita exclaimed and hugged me. “I am proud of you director.” She teased.

“Thank you.”

The rest of the CEO’s department came to congratulate me except for Lindsey who had left the boardroom in anger. I had no idea why she hated me but I didn’t care. When everyone starts leaving the Hall, I sighted Cassandra and rushed to confront her.

“I know what you did. You were the one right?”

“The one what?” She fired back.

“Don’t pretend to know what I am talking about.”

“I have no idea. If you will please leave me alone. The job is now yours so I expect you to be happy and not confronting others over something they know nothing about.” Cassandra turned to walk away but I grabbed her hand and drew her close to me.

“You deleted the files, didn’t you? I know you did. ”

“If you knew why didn’t you say something. Yes, I deleted the files and so what?” I slapped her. “You slapped me?” Her voice echoed across the room and I felt every eye in the room on us. “What is your problem?” She shouted.

“My problem is that you did something bad without feeling remorse. You could have destroyed my future but you feel good about it. All this for a position. ”

“Yes! A position you doesn’t deserve!” I slapped her again and her face was already red because I hit on the same spot.

“Stop being bitter about others and try to be nice too. ” I told her and walked out of the boardroom not bothering to hear what the others present had to say. If I hadn’t saved the files on my phone then Giovanni would have chased me out without blinking an eye. Then I wouldn’t have been accepted. I don’t care what I had to do to make sure I stayed close to Giovanni but I was going to do whatever it takes even if it means war against my enemies.

I got accepted.

*****

Giovanni POV

I didn’t know why I accepted her. I just felt I needed to do it. Maybe it was my instinct or because I felt I know her, I had no idea. After I confronted her yesterday, I felt bad all through the night. I felt bad for shouting at her and not allowing her to explain why she couldn’t tell me about the memories I knew nothing of. When I told her I wanted her gone, it was all a lie. I wanted her to stay. I wanted to see her face every day and get to know who she was to me.

I have never felt the need to hold or touch someone as I felt towards her. Believe me when I said I was attracted to her. It’s more than an attraction and I’m drowning deep than I expected to.

“So you are letting her stay?” Lorenzo asked as he walked into my office. I didn’t even hear me entering the office. After what happened between us yesterday, I choose to ignore him. “You are not going to ignore me forever are you?” Lorenzo took his seat on my couch and waited for my answer. “Do you even know who she is?” He asked but still, I didn’t say anything and continue to watch him while he reveals the secret I longed to hear. “She is somebody you need to stay away from.”

“Who is she?” I finally asked.

“All I know is that you need to send her away. She can’t be here.”

“Why?”

“For once Giovanni, listen to me!”

“Why should I? If you can tell me who she is, I’ll send her away.”

“I can’t .”

“Then don’t tell me what to do,” I told him. “If you are done, leave my office. ”

“Giovanni, I am trying to protect you.” He confessed and I could sense the truth in his voice but I don’t trust him.

“The only protection I need is from you people I called my family!” I admitted. I shouldn’t have said that but it’s how I felt. “If you want me to still call you brother, stay away from me, and don’t tell me to send melody away unless you are ready to tell me who she Is and what she did for you to hate her like this.” I told him.” Please leave,” I pointed to the door.

“Keep pushing out those who love you and you will regret it.” He said and left my office. Few minutes after he left, Melody entered after knocking for a while. I believed she entered when I didn’t reply to her.

“Sir.” I raised my head and I saw her smiling happily at me. My heartbeat at the sight of her smile but quickly changes when I looked away. “I wanted to appreciate you for accepting me and I am going to do my best.” She said. “Thank you sir for granting me this opportunity.”

I only nodded without replying. “I also wanted to ask since I will be in charge of the project if I will….” she paused and I raised my brows in anticipation while dreading the worst. “I’m I still your assistant?”

“Why? You don’t want to be?” I asked her.

“No sir, that’s not what I meant. ” I heaved a sigh and pointed to the door for her to leave.

“If you are done, you can leave.”

“Yes. Totally.” She smiled and slowly walked out of my office. When she got out, I heard her jumping up and it got me smiling.

Whatever my reason was for choosing her, I knew it had to do with my past. I hope I didn’t regret accepting her.