Chapter 3

Ava's POV

I was still taken aback by the encounter with my stepmother, earlier. I thought this was hell but it was actually the deepest bottom pit of hell.

Yeah, my birth did cause scandal for the family but I was still their child. Their freaking blood was running in my veins. A little bit of humanity should be in them!

I thought it was only my step-brothers and sisters. I thought it was only my stepmother that hated me with such passion. But, my dad had unlocked a higher level of hatred for me, recently.

I saw the contempt in his gaze. The regret in his looks. He didn't even try to hide it and he even dared to tell it to my face.

Should I be surprised? No. It was now clear that no one in my family wanted my success. They wanted to see my defeat. They craved to see my defeat.

And that, they won't see. I promise. I am going to give them the opposite of what they wanted to see. 

Why did I even consider Maggie’s offer? Was I crazy?

Vance Tech would never go down like they wanted. I would have to do everything thing in my power to keep it standing. Anything.

I dug out my phone from my green Vlog Clutch Bag and dialed Camilla’s line. She answered on the third ring.

“Gather all the boards of directors. We are calling a meeting.”

**************

My boot heels made noisy clinks on the tiles as I strode to the meeting room in my green mini dress.

They weren’t footsteps, they were desperation steps, they were determined steps. I was diving into my world of resolution with my heels.

The meeting room was already filled and everyone was rushing to find a seat when I got in.

I sat at the edge of the conference table, on the swivelling chair and faced the board of directors.

“I have called this meeting for something you all think it is. It is a meeting to decide the fate of this company. It is a meeting where we don't leave except we come up with a strategy to stop this company from falling.” 

Nodding of heads and approval hums was my indication to go ahead.

But, before more words could slip out of my lips, the door to the conference room jerked open and Camilla came, strutting in, a pad secured on her palm.

Oh my God, another bad news? What was it this time? More bad reviews from customers? More uninstalling of our apps? More decrease in our stock prices?

Camilla stopped before me and leaned forward to whisper into my ear.

“You have a message from Tom Lockwood.”

Tom Lockwood? A crease appeared on my forehead in confusion.

“Who is that?”

I whispered back to her.

“He is an investor. Apparently, the largest in the whole of America.”

Wait, that Tom? That rich dude? The one with the multiple estates in the states and the United Kingdom? What does he possibly want from us?

“What does he want?” 

“He would like to invest in this company, Miss Brooks.” 

Wait, what?! Seriously? Or was I hearing Camilla wrong?

I froze for a while, accessing the news Camilla had just dumped on me then, I swirled to her, ignoring the curious gaze from the board of directors.

“Come again, I didn't catch that.”

“He is going to invest, Miss Ava!”

Camilla yelled in excitement, unable to contain her happiness.

“He is going to invest 20 billion dollars!! 20 billion fucking dollars!!” 

I was still yet to phantom what she was telling me. I was not in my right senses and my whole world was currently blurry.

My ears were no longer accommodating words or any sounds. I stayed glued to my seat and the only thing that was ringing in my ears was the words “20 billion dollars”.

I instantly composed myself and cleared my throat, attracting the attention of the board of directors as they have been lost in their gossip of twos and threes after hearing the news from Camilla.

“As you have all heard, an investor has decided to turn up to save this company. I want to thank every one of you for your participation in the advancement of this company during our stock price decrease, thank you.”

I made a low bow and began to walk to my office, still composing myself. However, as I stepped into my office, a loud, high-pitched scream of excitement escaped me and I jumped on Camilla, throwing her around in excitement.

“We did it!” I screeched, wrapping Camilla in another fit of bone-shattering hug and immediately pulled her away before I suffocated her.

“He sent another message.”

Camilla announced as I approached my desk and I turned and quickly walked back to where she stood.

“What did he say?” My voice sounded curious and excited.

“He has scheduled a meeting for the agreement for today,” Camilla said, showing me the message on the tab.

“Oh my Goodness, already?” I panicked.

I should definitely be given time to create a presentation on how he should invest that huge amount into my company. How was I going to come up with a perfect presentation in just a few hours?

“Chill, Miss Ava. He is not asking for any presentation. He said it would be just a normal business dinner and then, there would be a discussion over the dinner.”

“Really?”

“Yes, Miss Brooks.”

“Then, what do I wear?”

“The dress you have on is okay, Ava.”

I gave my dress a once-over look and threw Camilla a doubting look. Should I trust her judgement?

************

Dinner was fast around the clock before I knew it and I prepared to meet our greatest investor. Twenty billion dollars! Whoop!!

Christ, God, Mary, Mother of Jesus, let this go well, ple..ase!!!

I got off work a few minutes past six and got in my car, heading to the location Tom had texted me.

It was a hotel. A five-star hotel. Of course, it would be a five-star hotel. I mean, he was dumping a whole twenty billion dollars into a Tech company so of course, he was fucking wealthy.

Wait, what if this was a scam? Twenty billion dollars? No, this was too good to be true.

I knew whatever was waiting for me in this dinner meeting, I'd have to embrace it because nothing came on a silver platter these days.

When I arrived at my destination, I parked my car in the enormous parking lot of the hotel.

The hotel was built in diamonds like real diamonds and it was tinted in a triangular shape, a large beautiful sign displayed the name gallantly atop the building; CRYSTAL HOTEL.

I walked into the hotel and approached the front desk receptionist for a direction to where the restaurant section was.

The receptionist, standing in a uniform of red suit and red pants, welcomed me with a smile immediately after she saw me approaching the front desk.

“Hi.” I greeted the brunette.

“Hello, Ma'am. Welcome to Crystal Hotel, how can I help you?”

The receptionist spoke, spreading her painted lips wider in a smile.

“Please, I need directions to the restaurant section here.”

I responded, looking around for any glimpse but, it was just the large beautiful lobby and elevators in every corner.

The receptionist frowned a bit when I mentioned a restaurant but was back with a wide smile in seconds.

“Ma’am, are you sure you came to the right address?” 

She asked and it was now my turn to frown. I cross-checked the address Camilla sent to me further confirming that I was indeed in the right address.

“I'm at the right address. The person said it's Crystal Hotel, Room Exclusive 203.”

“Oh, that's the hotel room, not a restaurant booth. Please, allow me to make a quick call to the room you mentioned to confirm your visit.”

I nodded at her with a head crease.

What does she mean it's his hotel room and not a restaurant? He scheduled our dinner in his hotel room? What's this eerie feeling? Why did he do that?

“Okay, sir. I'd direct her right away.”

The receptionist ended the call and walked out of the front desk, signaling me to follow behind her which I did.

We took a different elevator from the ones the other people were taking. This one was gold plaques and it required a card and a password to start its ride.

The ride was slow and immediately it got to the 20th floor, it halted to a stop and dinged open to reveal a hallway in gold plaques, reflecting myself.

“Have a good night, Ma'am.” 

The receptionist lady said and the elevator door closed up in her face.

I walked straight to the door at the end of the hallway and pressed the only button I could find on the door.

“Look straight up at the camera, to your left.” An automated male voice from the other side of the door spoke.

I raised my face to my left side and there was a scanning sound and the door slid open to reveal a massive living room. 

Everywhere was literally in gold and diamonds. It was like walking right into a castle, no, heaven. Everywhere was glittering yellow and gold. It was extravagantly decorated.

A tall man in a three-piece suit appeared before me and led me to a table which had already been set with salivating dishes and two bottles of Chambertin wine.

Yeah, I was rich to some extent but I could not afford that wine to save my life.

I sat at the dining table for a while and tried hard not to stare at the delicious dishes blowing their steam to my nostrils.

Then, I heard the voice of the guy that let me inside earlier, speaking to someone. It was his boss Tom.

As I heard footsteps approaching, I instantly took a sip of water to wash down my anxiety but the water didn't make it down my throat smoothly.

And as I laid my eyes on Tom Lockwood, the water spilt out of my mouth and sprinkled everywhere. 

What in the name of beauty? Would I be absolutely stupid because I had been expecting a man in his mid-fifties? Would I be an idiot because I had been expecting a man with a bald head?

Would I be completely mad if I was expecting anything but the most beautiful man I had ever seen?

I didn't realize he had come closer until the scent of his citrus cologne tortured my nose.

I quickly hid my stupid blush and wiped my mouth clean of the water I had just spat out.

Oh, Christ, I hope he didn't see that.

“Hi. My name is Tom Lockwood. It is my greatest pleasure to meet you.”

Oh, those British accents. I wished I could catch each of them in a tape and put it on repeat when I got home.

He extended his hand and I quickly took it, feeling how rough and strong they were against mine.

“Ava Brooks. Ceo of Vance Tech. Nice to meet you too, Mr Tom.”

He offered me a seat and I instantly took it, trying not to stare at the way those tattoos stretched sexily from his bicep down to his forearm. And how he rolled his sleeves up to reveal them. Or how his buzz cut made him look like a sex god.

Jeez!! Ava, what has gotten into you?

“Are you listening?” 

His voice suddenly drew me out of my trance and I snapped my head to look at me, mentally slapping myself.

“Yeah?”

“I said before I start the agreement of this investment with you, there is a condition.”

Of course, there was. I just knew it was too good to be true.

“We shall get married.” Tom blurted out.