Chapter 4

Adrian Two months later Dressed in sky blue suit and a red tie at exactly ten minutes to nine, I marched through the lobby of my New York office building. People moved out of my way to create space and wished me. I punched the 26th floor on the elevator which led me to my office. With the sound of the ding, the elevator doors slid open to reveal the reception desk and waiting area. A deep burgundy carpet with gray edging set the tone for the company as luxurious, professional, and successful. The plush leather chairs and polished petrified wood end tables told anyone entering the space that Sunrise Industries was no petty interface but a multi-national, mega corporation with a chain of industries in its subway, just the way dad wanted. Jennie looked up with a curt nod when I stopped in front of her desk before entering my office. I nod to the receptionist politely as I moved past her towards my corner office. She was a temp who'd taken over when my own secretary had to leave suddenly for a family crisis, but she'd been more than competent so far. She always seemed to know when I needed something and she was a whiz at organizing large quantities of data and pulling together what I needed to see quickly. I would like to tell HR they could go ahead and hire her on permanently as my receptionist if there was no room for her anywhere in the company. My business rivals feared me and my investors respected me, at least in so far as I knew I could make hell a lot of money through them. I never felt weak or anxious when I stepped up to the negotiating table and I normally thrived on other people's stress and pressure. Now my sole motto is to crush the Witmores by hook or by crook. "Jennie, Andrew will be here in a few minutes. Show him right in when he arrives." "Yes, Mr. Martin," Jennie said with a polite nod. Andrew Walker is the head of Sunrise Industries legal department, but I had also been friends with him because he is forever honest with me. Sincere and candid people are the ones upon whom I have respect and employ with the best pay scales. Thus, Andrew is one of the few people who knew me as the man, beyond Adrian Martin CEO of Sunrise Industries. Through Andrew's help, I hired Jack a tech expert. He appraised me of the ways the Witmore accounts could be hacked. The pilferage will be sophisticated, planned and a clean sweep of company accounts without even a hint of a third eye knowing about it until it is well accomplished. Three months later..... "Congratulations Adrian, the deal is done." Andrew tells me enriched. A proud smile enveloped my features. The circumstances made me proud. I had manoeuvred and negotiated the deal in the best possible way. I moved to my mahogany desk and stared down at my reflection in a hubristic smile. I had been certain in my strategy, confident on my work since long and the result of my plans clicked the best way. "Thank you Andrew. It was so kind of you to help me." I dismissed him and leaned back on the leather chair with my legs crossed on the desk in front of me. A satisfied smile on my countenance, I crushed the Witmores but this will be a realization they would assimilate too late. It is a slow poison administered in their system. They will never know from where the flame started, their shares will drop down gradually and the investments would mangle. Steadily they will turn from barons to beggars. Wow Lighting a cigarette I pulled out my phone from my pant pocket. "Hey beautiful let's rock today in celebration of my biggest victory." I wasn't like this at all. I was the studious, mild and silent guy of next door but Amaira Witmore and her father changed me draconian from a sage to a beast. Half an hour later Clara walked inside swaying her lips. I met Clara in one of my dad's parties. She is s gorgeous brunette with perfect hour glass shape and creamy long legs. I bedded her the same night. She had the best ways in attracting men with her figure and moves, a stunning slut in ravishing curves. She settled in my lap, her hands wafted around my neck as she moves her upper body sliding over mine and rubbed her breasts to my chest. I kissed her hungry and deep. "Bye, Jennie, I will be back to the office by tomorrow. Hold my calls till then unless there is an emergency." I directed her. "Yes sir." Jennie closed the door behind her, leaving the two of us in the privacy of the elevator. I ran my hands desirous on Clara's perfect physique and squeezed her breasts. She giggled like a Cheshire cat her hands reaching my member fondling me there. "Oh no baby, wait till we reach my bed." The next day was a weekend, Sherlock called me and my face became like glowing sun. "Hey man it's been more than six months and no see?" He taunts me. "Are you ready to join me for lunch today at the Radiance?" "Of course sweetheart...." I could imagine him scowling at me as I land to a guffaw. "Don't call me that." He growls. "Store those cheesy lines for your girlfriend." Instantly Christina's face flashes in my mind bringing goose bumps in me. I avoid the subject and tell him. "I will be there by twelve." Since last couple of months I had been dying to see my beauty but meetings lined up, work commitments and taking care of the Witmores blew my mind. As a result the cravings of my heart had to be locked, forced to wait. I was having lunch with Sherlock. "How is your business going on James?" He settled the fork on his plate and gave me his undivided attention. "Amazing, I just completed taking care of the Witmores, my long cherished plan finally starts its execution." I wink displaying a conceited smile. "You did?" He asks me taking to a surprise. I nod cocksure. "I'm now excited to see the bitch's face." He tells me in real happiness forking the noodles in his plate. Both of us cackle to a belly laugh. After we calm down he invites me to his home. "Next weekend I and Darcy are celebrating our first wedding anniversary. I wish you join us in the celebration." I raise both my brows at him. "Is it already a year after you got married?" He bites his lip like a teenage girl. "And I am going to be a dad in another six months." I face him astonished. "I can't believe this man. You are too fast." He scorns baleful and I have my fun enjoying his puppy face. "Well congratulations to you and Darcy." I speak between my laughter. "So when would we have the privilege in seeing you with a girlfriend?" He changes the subject diplomatic. All my jokes die down with the question and I reply him damn serious "very soon". He looks at me taken aback. "Did I hear it right?" He murmured peering at me like a halfwit idiot. "Yes you heard it right." I confirm in smiles and look around for the server to order another bottle of wine when my eyes locate someone familiar. I walk to the table in excitement excusing myself from Sherlock. "I am sorry to interrupt but do you know each other?" I ask Edith going completely thrilled. "Hi, what a pleasant surprise...." Her eyes went wide going elated. She directs her hand to Christina and introduces her to me. "She is Christ..." "I know" I reply Edith before she completes her sentence. "We met in my art gallery." I tell her swilling thoroughly in Christina's arresting features. "Oh wow!" Edith studies me in her scrutinizing gaze about to pull my leg but I was smart to avert the danger. "I'm here with my friend Sherlock." I wave to Sherry to join me as I take a seat. Sherlock introduced himself to both the ladies and invited them to his anniversary celebration. All of us finish our lunch and Sherlock leaves to his office. Ten minutes later Allen Rodriguez walks inside the restaurant in his everlasting charismatic persona, a white coat hanging on his right arm and a stethoscope around his neck. We exchange greetings and I opt to drop Christina home. He helps Edith from her seat to take her home. She will be staying with her parents for a few days. "How are you?" I ask Christina once we are alone in the car. My hands were itching to touch her, hug her but I was to control my feelings until she was comfortable with me. I notice her fiddling with her fingers and my concerns about her grew interminable in a fraction. Whatever her agitation was, I wanted to rip it out of its flesh. She puts her first two fingers forward of both the hands and wave them. Since the day I met this beautiful young girl I couldn't leap an eye but to think about her. I did my preliminary study of sign language so that I could communicate to her without any hurdles. "Name?" I ask her surprised in smiles relieved from the disquiet I was suffering till then. "I told you but I think you couldn't make out. I'm Adrian, Adrian James Martin." I turn to her side giving her my complete attention and spell out my name slowly, clearly facilitating her to read my words. "Adrian" she enounced to herself enthralled by the name but with no voice from her lips. "Do you like it?" I ask her tenderly lifting her chin and go captured in the sudden brightness of her eyes. She nods smiles and I felt my name more beautiful than ever. She places the tips of her fingers to her chin and brings them out forward. "Thank you, for what?" I ask her diverting back my vision to the road. She types something on her phone and shows it to me. "It was a huge amount and I'm not a professional. You shouldn't have paid me so much for the painting." I peep into her capturing browns. "We can adjust the amount with a deal. Teach me to paint and I would think I had a fair bargain."