Chapter - [ 6 ]

 [ Sebestian ]

Days changed into weeks and weeks into months and months into years but I didn’t hear from Charlotte like she had disappeared from the face of earth. The manor felt like a lifeless place, every corner reminded me of her but I couldn’t stay with my parents either. They weren’t tolerable for more than spending time on dining table.

“Bastian, I am calling your name for last five minutes but you’re lost in some other world. What’s the matter with you?” Victorine’s voice reached into my ears, forcing me to divert my attention on her. She looked really pissed off by my lack of response.

“I am sorry, Vic. I am just tired. Can you repeat whatever you were saying?” I rubbed my face and tried to focus on the deal we had to discuss.

She scoffed and slid a folder in my direction, “I think it’s better if you see it yourself, Bastian.” She said with distaste. Her sour mood reflected how angry she was.

I gave her a plain look and opened the folder which definitely contained some bad news and my guess was right.

“Fuck! It’s impossible. How could you lose this deal? We did the highest bidding.” I closed the file with a slam and gave her a hard look. She was my best friend but inside the office, we did pure business and she messed up really big this time.

Her eyes turned dark in fury. She clearly disliked my accusation.

“Don not blame me for something we did together, Bastian. I admit, I was the one to represent our proposal to the government. I did my job as good as I could, we almost got the contract but then another company proposed a better idea and high bidding than us. I called you multiple time to ask your permission for increasing our price but you seemed too busy to notice the world around you.” She taunted me which was enough to quiet me.

“Can you tell me the name of the company who dared to claim what is supposed to be ours?” Suddenly my pride awakened. I hated competition both in business and in private life. One of the many reasons that drifted me away from Charlotte as she wasn’t ready to end her friendship with her friend, Liam.

“Skylark Group, they’re stepping into the construction business and it was their maiden deal that they snatched from us.” She answered quietly. She looked tensed so was I.

My blood boiled on the mention of the fastest growing tech company whose name had been a subject in corporate world, especially their CEO, one of the most desirable bachlor in the country.

“Call an urgent meeting of the team who prepared this draft. I don’t want to see them in my company tomorrow. There’s no place for losers here.” I said out of my anger.

“You need to calm down, Bastian. I am as angry as you’re. It’s our collective lose but I know how to fix it.” She said with a cunning smirk.

I raised my brows at her in curiosity.

“I know who can help us but you have to keep your anger at bay for a moment.” She said.

“Just spit your idea, Victorine. I am already on the brink of putting this whole place on fire.” I gritted my teeth.

“Liam Carter, the best strategist and business analyst in the country. I also hate this idea but seeing our reputation on the stake, I have to propose this idea to you. We can seek his help.” She finished and looked nervous anticipating my reaction.

The name triggered something within me. I balled my fists and slammed them on the desk.

“How dare you to mention his name in front of me, Victorine? That bastard snatched my wife from me. he ruined my life and you’re asking me to crawl on his feet to save my empire. I’d rather live on streets than yielding to him for his help.” I said while controlling myself from smashing everything.

“Okay, okay, I won’t pressure you to meet him but as your business partner, I have all rights to take my own individual decisions. I’ll try to contract him and let’s see how he responds.” She says firmly. She seemed adamant on her decision.

“Leave me alone.” I said to her dismissively.

“Okay.” She said in the same tone and I heard the chair screeching, “It’s been five years, Bastian but I don’t think you have moved on from her. You don’t realise it now but you’re neglecting your life and your work for someone who doesn’t exist now.” She added before storming out and I finally punched the desk to unleash my anger.

She was right. Not a single day had passed when I didn’t remember Charlotte.

I tried to engross myself in the work for the next few hours but it didn’t help. The pang of being defeated by outsider was unbearable. I had to investigate more about Skylark Group and it’s CEO who outsmarted Victorine in dealing with stubborn headed government officials.

A knock on the door again disturbed my personal investigation of Jonathan Carter, the mysterious CEO of Skylark Group.

“Come in.” I said coldly, it might be either my secretory or Victorine.

I heard multiple footsteps entering inside.

“You haven’t changed much in last five years except your long hairs.” I heard the most annoying voice and it was enough to push me over the edges.

“What the hell is he doing in my office, Victorine?” I gritted my teeth on her who accompanied him.

“Calm down, Sebestian. Your anger and impulsiveness cost you a lot. Do not repeat the same mistake. I am here on the invitation of Miss Baxter.” He said very calmly and sat on one of the visitor’s chairs comfortably.

I glared him and Victorine.

“Ms. Baxter told me that you suffered an incredible loss by losing the deal to Skylark Group. It’s sad to hear that the company which had been on the pinnacle of success for last decade, has a major set back when a new company came into the picture but I have a solution to your problem if you’re interested to hear me.” He said in a mocking tone but I had to restrain myself as I had to seek many answers from him.

“Bastian, please listen to him. Maybe, he can help us to regain what we lost.” Victorine insisted.

“You can share your ideas with Ms. Baxter. Leave my office at this instance.” I said closing my eyes. I wanted to ask him about Charlotte but my ego didn’t allow me.

“Alright, I am leaving. You were my best friend’s husband that’s why I kept my resentment of you aside and accepted Ms. Baxter’s request. Otherwise, you don’t deserve to live. I loathe your existence on the earth.

I raised my hand and my fist landed on his face. A gasp escaped from Victorine’s mouth but he broke the last straw of my patience.

“You have no right to accuse me for what happened between me and Charlotte because you were the one to create a wedge between us when you decided to flirt with her.” I spat in anger but his furious expressions turned into a frown.

“What the hell are you saying?” He pushed me away.

I scoffed, he was trying to play victim card here, “We got divorced because she decided to elope with you. I gave her everything, loved her madly but she chose a bastard like you over me.” I bashed him with all the anger I had for him.

“You have gone mad, Sebestian. No doubt why she disappeared all of a sudden. A pathetic man like you, was a curse on her.” He said and wiped his busted lips.

“You must leave now before I ask my guards to through you out of here. We don’t need your help.’ I said and looked away.

He said nothing and moved towards the door but he again turned, his eyes had sympathy directed on me.

“For your kind information, I have been happily married for eight years with a beautiful woman named Carla and your ex-wife was my best friend and distant cousin. I hope now you realise what blunder you created when you believed a third person’s lies over your wife.” He said and without saying another word, he moved out slamming the door loudly.

I felt like someone had punched me in the guts. His words kept resonating in my ears. He was married and he was a cousin to Charlotte. She never mentioned this to me.

‘You can’t believe him, Bastian. We saw the pictures and they were taken by your most trusted P.I.” Victorine said.

“Leave me alone.” I said coldly.

She wanted to argue but I gave her a cold look. She sighed and left the room to give me space. I slumped down on my chair and rubbed my face. The scene from our last meeting, her tears, her pleadings and my accusations on her character flooded back vividly. Did I make a mistake by trusting a third person over Charlotte. She was a devoted wife who never spared a glance at other men yet I humiliated her because my egoistic brain forced me to believe a few pictures which could be deceptive.

“What have I done?” I cursed myself. A sharp pain coursed through my chest. I destroyed my home and all these years I was blaming her who did every possible effort to save our marriage.