4. Leave the CEO to me!

15 YEARS AGO - SANDWELL HIGHSCHOOL

A boy sat alone on the stairs short stairs leading out of the school building where the classes and some halls were. He was looking outside to the other kids who were playing around and those who were simply chatting and passing by.

The boy seemed a bit introverted and timid. He had glasses on and in his hands was a sack of snacks. The lonely-looking boy who was dressed in a blue shirt and Jean trousers didn't seem to have any friends. Which was understandable for an introverted nerd like him.

He dug his hands in the snack bag and got out a few chips which he tucked carefully into his mouth. He still observed the scene as he heard someone approach from behind.

"What are you doing?"

The feminine voice asked from behind as he slowly turned to look up at the girl who was standing next to her and looking down at him.

she was dressed in a red hoodie and black leggings as she glared at him. Her expression didn't seem friendly at all.

The poor guy seemed frightened as he slowly raised his chips to her. "You....you want some?"He asked timidly. He just didn't seem to want any trouble. Pleasing her would be okay.

The blonde-haired girl looked down at him, disgusted. She simply snatched the snack bag from her and tossed it away to the floor. It spilled. She diverted her slightly blue eyes back to him. "How shameless. How can you just sit here and eat.... don't you know this is break period?" She yelled grabbing certain attention.

The boy was humiliated as he slowly looked down. No person with his personality would look happy about this.

The bell for the end of the school had gone as the nerdy boy in glasses sat to put on his seat. He was there for a while as some students drifted out of the class. As he got up to leave, two clingy girls approached him. 

"Well...Dane...we were wondering if you're free this weekend. I'll be holding a party at my place. We wanted to invite you especially" The first girl said, flirty.

Dane looked at the girls as he nervously scratched his hair "Well... sorry but I don't think I can..."

"Please don't refuse us, we want you to come" The other girl interrupted him, clinging to his hands.

He quickly wiggled his hand away "No...I'm sorry but I can't" He said running away from them and leaving through the glass door. They watched him leave, disappointed.

Dane might have been an introverted nerd but that didn't mean that he wasn't one of the guys girls want In the school. He was popular and many wanted to approach him, befriend him or even date him!. it was not like no one wanted to be his friend, It was that this guy didn't want any friends!  

But he knew why he didn't. He had already known that all those who approached him didn't sincerely want Friendship or liked him too much. But being the only son of the owner of one of the country's best fashion designers, Who didn't want him for his status. it would be great dating or being a close friend to such a person?

But Dane shoved them off. it was better to be alone if this was what everyone wanted from. but there seemed to be someone who cared less about his position...

Dane passed through the not-so-crowded hallway. He was on his way out of the school building. His driver was probably waiting.

Just then he heard the teacher scolding someone again. Looking to his right towards the teacher's office, he saw the maths teacher scolding her. His bully.

The blonde girl in a red hoodie stood before the teacher who seemed to have too much to say. He scolded her for failing the maths test, skipping classes, and other bad behavior. But She didn't care less. 

After the teacher was done with all he had to voice out. He cast a murderous glare at her. "Get out of my sight!"

As she turned to leave, the teacher went back into his office. She looked ahead as her eyes met with Dane who was looking towards that direction. Before she could say a word to him, he quickly turned and ran off.

Dane was buried in his homework that night. With the help of books on his study table and the lamplight on before in his darkroom, he was indeed a nerd.

He had studied for a long and now took a while to think about the hoodie girl, his bully. He recalled the scene of her being scolded. it wasn't a new scene. At least it happens once every week and the poor teacher never gets tired of talking about the rebellious and stubborn girl.

She was as mysterious as ever, always giving off the bad girl vibe. Skipping classes and entering offense was what she did best. But still, she never failed her exams even though she was terrible at maths, Dane observed.

She was his nemesis. His fear in school. The only person who didn't approach him nicely for friendship but rather she bullied and made him miserable in school. He didn't know why she picked on him and he didn't quite like it.

But there was this feeling he had when he sees her. Apart from him wanted to get into her good side. Make her nice to him and be friends or more. Even after all her coldness towards him, and as much as he hated her for it, he couldn't help himself but fall for his bully. It might not be his best choice but he was certain of his feelings.

Maybe it'd have been best if he kept the feeling to himself but he didn't. It took a long time of thinking and plotting before he finally made up his mind and planned to confess.

How to confess? he wasn't experienced in this area but he had gotten some information from Bryan who had Said that girls like being confessed to in public, it's hard for them to refuse this.

Was this information accurate? did all girls like This? Dane didn't care to know. He had to muster up his courage to confess to his bully. But it didn't go down well.

He had approached her at the cafeteria on that faithful day and sat down beside her. She was sitting alone as always and irritated by him sitting next to her and to top it all up. He offered her a box of chocolate.

Annoyed, she got up and left with her tray of food, but he followed her. 

"Wait' He had stopped her and she turned to look at him. Attention from people eating in the cafeteria was grabbed to the fascinating scene.

"What?" She asked, her voice not pleasant.

He had already made up his mind and finally confessed his feeling with a simple ' I like you' which was equal to saying an I love you. And this might have been his worse mistake.

With the cafeteria filled with murmurs, the girl was even more furious as a grin escaped her lips. She looked up at Dane who he considered pathetic and without hesitation poured her tray of the meal all over his cloth. 

The scene was heavy and disappointing for Dane as the girl added " I don't like weaklings and jerks" she said turning snd taking her majestic leave. Dane was left, humiliated.

After that day, Dane never attended school for the fear of humiliation. The thought of it triggered his fear. He didn't dare go ....and he had to drop out and leave.

From that day, he had hated the girl for rejecting and humiliating her. His love for her had perhaps become hate. And topping the humiliation of being bullied publicly by her. All these got into his head. He hated her more and never wished to see him but get along with his life forgetting his past...

                            ***********

But now she was standing right Infront of him He had immediately remembered her. How could he forget such a person? That terrible feeling from 15 years ago returned as he slowly Clenched his fist hoping to keep calm.

Kate was still holding up the ID with a smile. she wondered why he wasn't replying but staring at her. Maybe she had to do all the talking.

"So from now...I'll be your honorable vice CEO and we'll have a nice cooperation together...."

"No" He interrupted her with a single word. His voice was powerful.

She looked up at him "What do you mean ' No ' ?" she raised a brow.

"No....is no," He said plainly. He seemed to hold in his anger so he didn't have to say much. He looked at Bryan "Call Lizzy for me and tell her to come over to my office now" He instructed.

"I don't think she'll answer your call," Kate said looking at him. He too looked down at her, his sea-blue eyes deep enough to get lost in, but not for Kate. She smiled and continued" Actually she had an accident and is in the hospital so I'm going to take over for her...."

"No need" He interrupted her again. she was annoyed by his may of interrupting her. How rude! "Not fashionable. You lack the basics of working in a fashion company, so get lost and never return" He said casually walking past her. Bryan followed.

Kate valentine froze in shock slowly turning to see the men already in the company. what the hell was that?? she wondered.

He had the same temper as that annoying Lizzy and they said the same thing to her! they're a perfect match made in heaven! she thought.

And this scumbag had the guts to look down on her and turn her down? No, she wasn't gonna tolerate it. 

No matter what it takes, she must be his honorable vice CEO