3. Vivian, stop coming to my mind

ALICE RILEY

"You are intelligent, beautiful, and determined. Vivian Scott isn't an easy man. I'm impressed that you got the signatures on time."

Alexis Segal, the head of Lexis Consultants, appreciated my work in front of the entire department. I was back in the office after that awkward but successful meeting with the CEO of Scott Group.

Just two months into my internship, I had gained enough goodwill from Mr. Segal that he put me to assist in managing the company's key accounts. Alexis Segal wasn't a total badass. He only acted as one when his crucial clients weren't handled well. I knew Lexis Consultants was the stepping stone to my ambitious career. One day, I wanted to run the best legal firm in the city.

I smiled at Mr. Segal and returned to my section. As I occupied my seat, Maria and Sofia, my colleagues, waved at me.

"How did it go?" Maria inquired.

"Success," I grinned at her.

"Thank god, we are saved. I wasn't ready to take the wrath of that badass, trust me," said Sofia, glancing at Mr. Segal's cabin.

"Don't worry when I'm here," I said, smirking confidently.

I started assisting with the Scott Group's account a week ago when Sussane Donovan, the account manager, went on medical leave. I was the junior in the team with the other two interns, Maria and Sofia, having assisted her for the last six months.

An infringement case of the Scott Group was up for hearing next week, and we didn't have all the documents ready. Ms. Donovan's medical leave had upset Mr. Segal. It was an opportunity for me to prove myself. At that critical moment, I offered to visit Scott Group and get the signatures of the CEO.

I might have gotten the signatures of Mr. Scott; my boss might have been impressed with my work, but I wasn't as pleased as I should have been. I was angry at myself for allowing Mr. Scott to intimidate me. I never let anyone control my mind and life in my twenty-one years. It's the way I faced life; it's the way I lived. A man trying to flirt was not a new thing. But my body reacting to it positively wasn't a good sign.

I didn't want anyone creating butterflies in my stomach. I didn't want to go through emotional hurt. I was stubborn, adamant, and self-oriented. Which man would like me with my egoistic nature? I was sure of going through heartbreak if I let any man conquer it. So, I guarded myself against developing emotions for any man, so far, successfully. Vivian Scott couldn't be an exception. Then, why did his whispering give me goosebumps? I cursed myself, recalling the meeting with Vivian Scott, and sighed.

It was a successful day at work. I shouldn't worry more about the day. It was probably that one weak moment where I let my hormones control my mind. It won't happen again. Assuring myself, I shifted my focus back to the pending works.

VIVIAN SCOTT

I drove my car toward our ancestral home outside the city, where my parents lived. My mother summoned me to meet her, and I did have an idea of what she wanted to discuss. It should be about my baby brother, and if so, I badly wanted to skip that discussion.

"Come on in, my boy. I have been waiting for you," my mother was pleased to see me.

"Yes, Mom. All well?" I asked as I greeted her with a hug.

"Oh, yeah. It's... It's about Rowan," she said hesitantly, probably knowing I wouldn't like it. I stared at her in silence, waiting for her to continue.

"Rowan wants to join the Scott Group. He has excellent marketing skills, and you should make use of his energy, I believe."

"How's that possible, Mom? He couldn't finish the project I gave him." I dismissed her immediately.

"He deserves a second chance, Vivian. He's only twenty. He might have missed the deadline, but-"

I didn't let her finish. Cutting her off abruptly, I said, "Mom, at twenty, I was running a marketing campaign for our company."

"Of course, yes. I'm proud of your achievements. You are an excellent businessman. That's why the board made you the CEO four years ago when you were only twenty-five. And you proved everyone right. Into four years as CEO, you doubled the company's profits and expanded the business to other sectors."

"Thank you, Mom. So, is it wrong if I expect Rowan to be a little more responsible and honest about the work?"

"No, but don't be judgemental. He deserves a second chance. That's all I'm saying." My mother concluded, and I didn't want to hurt her. So I told her I would speak to Rowan and left the place.

I loved my baby brother. I wasn't against his growth. But I wanted him to be a responsible person. Now, he was only a careless, overconfident boy who liked to show off and spend money on girls. Having fun wasn't wrong. But having only fun was wrong, definitely wrong.

I knew how to balance my life. I always prioritized my work and responsibilities over girls. I never indulged in anything more than a fling. I didn't even date the same woman twice. And that helped me not develop any emotional connection with anyone.

I didn't expect my brother to lead a life like mine. But I wished he prioritized his career over girls and drinks. Also, I couldn't have let my hard work go in vain by handing it to a non-responsible person, even if he was my brother. I should handle this matter carefully. Affirming myself, I decided to meet my brother over the weekend and discuss it with him.

Business and family matters eclipsed my mind so much that I forgot everything else, including the gorgeous woman I met in the office today. I was almost winding up my day at work when I got a call from Stephen, my best friend and CEO of the real estate group Vista Projects.

"Bro, would you like to catch up over drinks tonight? I have a new project in mind that we could discuss."

His offer was tempting enough to drop other plans and say yes to him. After all, he was the best man to talk to all subjects - business or personal. And sometimes, his advice works well, too.