Fated to the Ruthless CEO

5 years later…

Amber has just landed from her three day business trip. She attended several business meetings and conferences overseas. She could have gone to her condo unit to rest. But she was still all too fired up to keep working. She doesn’t even mind having jet lag.

She is on her way to her office. She checks her wristwatch and it is 3 pm local time. She still has time to check things in the company.

“Good afternoon ma’am. How was your trip?” Asked Abby the moment she saw Amber getting out of the elevator. She only nodded instead of answering her. She immediately went straight to her office. Abby trailed behind her.

“Abby, why don’t you fill me in with what happened these past three days?” Abby’s face turns from cheerfulness to being serious. She has been Amber’s secretary since she started her company. She knows too well how Amber works.

“We had a meeting with Ms. Sherman last Wednesday. She finalized and signed her orders. Then, the production department made deliveries of our finished products for our new orders. The items are now in the warehouse. I already scheduled your ocular inspection which is subject to your approval of course.” Abby said continuously. Amber did not interrupt her. She was trying to mentally take note of what’s going on with the company while she was away for a few days. Amber is very hands-on with everything.

“Then, Mr. Jacobs had a meeting with us yesterday. He wanted to try our latest products. I already arranged your meeting with him.” Abby said while closing her notes.

“Is that all?” Amber is now busy signing some papers on her table while listening to her secretary.

“Yes ma’am.” Abby said, waiting for what her boss is about to say.

“Alright, I want you to forward to the production department all of Ms. Sherman’s orders. Please take good care of her. She is one of our loyal customers.” Amber said with a commanding voice.

“For the ocular inspection, what day did you set it?” Abby told Amber the date and she approved immediately. It is better to check their products as soon as possible than delay it. Amber wants to give the best quality products to their customers.

“Also, I would like you to arrange a general meeting with our staff. I would like to know their work progress. Also, set me a schedule to visit our manufacturing site.” Abby only nodded at her.

“Yes ma’am. I will do that. I already sent through your email all your upcoming meetings. I also included the minutes of the meeting with our two clients.” Amber only nodded at Abby. She is very efficient with her job. Amber is grateful to have her.

“Thank you so much, Abby.” She finally smiled at her.

“By the way, this is for you.” Amber handed her a paper bag. She got it for Abby from her business trip in Paris. She gave her secretary a purse from a famous brand. She saw Abby smiling brightly when she saw what was inside the paper bag.

“Thank you so much, ma’am. I would never be able to buy this kind of purse.” She said gratefully. Amber only smiled at her. Well, she deserves it. Abby made her job easier for her. Besides, she is the only person she could fully trust with her company.

She left a few minutes later and Amber was left all alone in her huge office. She stood up to look from her walled glass. She saw all the skyscrapers around her. Who would have thought she would reach this success? Five years ago, she was a nobody who just graduated from college. Who met the man whom she thought would be the love of her life.

Five years ago… She would never forget that day when Devlin came to their farm. He wanted to apologize and explain.

“Baby…” Devlin saw her flinching when he touched her hand.

“Baby, I am so sorry. I know words are not enough to apologize for what I did that night. I never meant to say her name for any special reason.” Amber was quiet, not even looking at him. She just made a fist, trying her best not to break down.

“Before I left the party, I had a talk with Raven. It was a very casual talk between friends. We were able to openly talk about each other’s relationships. I was truly happy for her. I was certain at that time what I truly felt towards you.” He said, pausing to make sure Amber was listening to every word he said.

“You see, I have never been more certain about anything in life than my feelings towards you. Baby, forgive me. You are the one that I love. I have moved on from her. I truly do.” He explained further, hoping he made sense to Amber.

“Please baby, come back home to me. When you left, I felt so empty. That’s why I am here to fix what I did.” He said with his pleading voice.

It took Amber a while to finally say what she wanted to tell him. She wanted to believe his words but she already made up her mind. And she can’t easily forget what happened.

“Devlin, I am sorry but I could not do what you want. If I come with you right now, I don’t think it would fix our problem. I am still hurt. And I don’t trust you anymore. I forgave you for all the insults that you said before. For using me to get Raven. For thinking that I was after your grandma’s money. For simply thinking the worst of me.” She paused since her tears were threatening to fall. She had to close her eyes tightly.

“I don’t just take your words, Devlin. And whatever we had, it was only short lived. We didn’t have a good start. During the entire time we were together, it was filled with issues. I want to go far away from you. I want to build something for myself. Call me dramatic but what you said that night really hurt me as a woman. And I hope you will respect my decision. Please don’t bother me anymore.” She said with finality. She did not want to beat around the bush and gave him some mixed signals.

Her decision is not easy. In her heart, she wanted to take him back. To accept his apologies and start fresh. However, her mind contradicts her heart. She needs to build what she lost. She needs to heal far away from him. She can’t face him every single day without the thought of doubting him. If she follows what he wants, then for sure they still won’t make it.

“And I want a divorce.” Devlin was devastated when he finally heard from her what she wanted.

“Why? I can give you space for as long as you want but I don’t want any divorce. I let you do what you want but one day, I am going to take you back with me. And when that time comes, you are never going to be out of my sight again.” His intense look unnerved her. It brought chills to her spine.

That day Devlin let her go because that was what she wanted. Or is it? She never heard from him after that, at least not in person. She only knew about him from the news. And it has been five years. She had already become very successful with her company.

A few weeks after Devlin left, Amber was contacted by a cosmetic company. The job they offer for her is in the sales marketing of their main branch which is in New York. She accepted the job offer two months later. Her grandmother was sad when she decided to go to New York but eventually let her go to work there. According to her marmee, she is not going to stop her from what she wants to do in life. But made her promise to come visit her whenever she can. She never failed that promise.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

She worked in the company for a year until an idea came to her mind. She learned that some of their customers inquire about manufacturing some cosmetic products for them and they will just put a label with their company.

She resigned from her job. With the amount of money she got from her father, she was able to start her own make-up products made from organic materials. She studied and did extensive research. She started her business right from her small rented apartment. She contacted those customers from before and gave them some sample products. Less than a year later, it was a huge success for her. From there, she started hiring some staff. Then, Abby came as her personal assistant. She hired expert chemists to expand her product lines. In four years time, she has expanded her business from make-up to skin care and hair care.

Everything is going well for her and she is grateful for that. However, sadness and regret would overtake her mind and heart when she still remembers that past that she tried hard to forget. It left a scar on her that she would bring for the rest of her life.