Love and Fear

"It's good to have you back home sweetie," Maeve's father, Bryan Casalengo said, looking at his twenty five year old daughter over the rims of his glasses.

Maeve gave him a small smile. "And it feels good to be back," she answered, raising her cup of coffee to her mouth. They were both seated at the table having their breakfast of toast, bacon and eggs. On the table, beside Maeve's plate, a magazine was spread out. She dropped her cup on the saucer and flipped the magazine open.

Still watching his daughter, Bryan noticed her face change to a frown, her lips twisting with distaste. "Something in the news?" He asked.

She glanced up at him. "More like someone." She turned the magazine towards her father. "Dominic Fitz," she said, putting all the disgust she felt in her tone.

Bryan glanced at the picture in the paper and made a slight hmm sound. "What for?" He asked, although he could clearly see the headline that Dominic Fitz had once again successfully closed a deal with another company.

Maeve rolled her eyes at her father. "You can clearly see what for," she answered, pulling the magazine back towards herself. "If there was a way I could just cut his face out of the picture – and his name."

Bryan raised a brow at his daughter. "You'd do that?"

"No of course not," she hastily replied. "I'm just saying it'll be highly satisfying to do that." Of course, she would never admit to him that she had tons of newspapers and magazines where she had cut out his face and name from the article, and yes, that gave her immense satisfaction. She took another glance at the picture and scowled again. "Ugh, look at his ugly, disgusting face," she groaned. 

Her father let out a slight cough.

"Fine, not that ugly." Not ugly at all. "But still very disgusting. I bet people don't know what a bastard he can be." She shook her head from side to side.

"Okay, Maeve, that's enough trash talking," her father said, reaching out to close the magazine, pushing it away from her.

"I don't understand you. He's your biggest competitor. You should be trash talking him with me, Maeve said, exasperation in her tone.

"Business is business," Bryan answered briskly. "My personal life is separate from my business. I thought you understood that, Maeve."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah," she answered.

"Maeve, if you are going to be COO and be in charge of the company's projects, you have to be tolerant and more accommodating."

Maeve grabbed her cup and downed the last contents of the coffee. Then, she grabbed her bag and rose to her feet. "Who's more accommodating than me!" She said, leaning over to kiss her father on his cheek.

"Everyone," her father replied, exasperated. "Where are you going?"

"Shopping with Imogen," she answered as she gestured to one of the workers to take her empty dish to the kitchen. "Don't worry, I won't take long and I'll be back just in time for the meeting, I promise," she said.

"I believe you."

She smiled brightly. "Good. See ya." She blew him a kiss and walked out of the house, her six inch heel making a click-clack noise on the floor. She closed the door behind her and the moment she stepped outside, her driver - a lanky, skinny young man - approached her. She threw her car keys at him and he immediately grabbed it, opening her car door for her.

As she climbed into the backseat of the car, he ran towards driver's seat and got in as fast as he could, closing the door behind him. He started the car and drove towards the gate where the security men opened the door and he drove out.

Maeve flipped out her phone and turned it on. She scrolled through it, clicking on Twitter and as usual, the first tweet that popped up was a picture of Dominic and some girl thirsting over him. She rolled her eyes and exited the app. As the car rolled by the road, she looked up and she almost screamed in frustration when the first billboard she saw had Dominic Fitz face on it. "What the fuck is going on?!" She growled. "Ugh, I hate his face. I hate his stupid disgusting face," she growled again.

Her driver glanced at her through the rear view mirror, his brow slightly raised. He quickly looked away when he noticed her glaring at him. There was a short silence, as she still fumed over God knows what before he asked, "Will Miss Imogen be meeting us at the mall?"

"Yes," Maeve answered curtly, a sign that he should shut up and stop asking questions which he very promptly did.

They arrived at the mall a few minutes later and sure enough, Imogen was standing in front of the mall, waving at them excitedly. Before the drive could even stop the car, Maeve was already bouncing out in excitement yelling, "Imogen!"

"Maeve!" Imogen screamed back as they both jumped on each other, hugging tightly. "Oh my God, I can't believe it's really you. You are back, baby!"

"I'm back, baby!" Maeve screeched.

"Oh my God, it's being so long since have seen you. You look......the same actually," she said with a chuckle. "But just as fabulous as ever."

Maeve flipped her blonde hair backwards dramatically. "It's just what I do," she said, giggling. She tucked her arm into Imogen. "Ugh, Imogen, I've missed you so freaking much, you have no idea."

"What, you mean spending a year and a half in Spain hasn't diminished your love for me yet?" Imogen asked with an exaggerated sigh.

"Ugh, never!" Maeve said and they both laughed. Almost two years ago, Maeve had upped and decided that she wanted to travel to Spain just for the sake of it. She had spent a year and a half there and had just decided to return recently.

"Why did you decide to come back anyway?" Imogen asked as the both of them walked towards the mall, hand in hand.

"Because I missed you," Maeve said with an exaggerated pout that made Imogen laugh.

"Liar. Anyway, I booked the mall for the entire day," Imogen said, waving her hands around the mall as they walked in.

"Ugh, I love you. This is why you are my best friend and my favourite person to shop with."

"Hmm, I know. Excuse me," Imogen stopped one of the women who looked like she worked in the mall, based on the shirt she was wearing. "Hi, I booked the mall for the entire day for me and my friend. I'm Imogen....."

"Marin," the woman completed with a smile. "Imogen Marin and Maeve Casalengo. Yeah, we were told you are coming. Please, follow me," The woman said as she began to walk briskly. Maeve and Imogen exchanged glances but followed the woman anyway, until they got to a private room. "Please have your seat," the woman said, gesturing to the couch just as two women walked out. "They will be here to help you with whatever you want. In the meantime, can I get you anything? Coffee, perhaps?" She asked.

"I had coffee this morning," Maeve said. "Juice will do just fine."

"Water," Imogen said and turned to Maeve. "Still a coffee addict I see."

Maeve gave a shrug. "What can I say?"

The two women dragged in various racks of clothes which immediately attracted Maeve's attention. She rose to her feet and grabbed a hanger with a gown on it. She raised it up for Imogen. "What do you think?"

"Ugly," Imogen answered instantly.

Maeve made a face at her but she returned the dress. "Oh, Imogen, look at this coat!" She exclaimed, grabbing a long, thick fur coat from the rack. "It's so beautiful. It will look very good for my meeting this evening."

"Yeah, it's really pretty," Imogen said as the door opened and another woman walked in holding two glasses which she placed on the table. "Wait, what do you mean by 'meeting this evening'?" She asked.

"Oh, a meeting is holding at my dad's company. He's going to be introducing me as the new COO," Maeve answered, her gaze still fixed on the coat.

"What?! That's amazing news!" She exclaimed.

"Yeah, very amazing," Maeve answered offhandedly. There's an awkward silence and she looked up to see Imogen staring intently at her. "It's really, really amazing," she said. "It's why I came back anyway. I'm just scared," she said slowly while she pushed the coat into the hand of one of the women. "Pack this for me, will you?" 

The woman nodded frantically, a dazed look on her face, obviously feeling privileged to be helping the Maeve Casalengo shop. "Of....of course, Miss Maeve."

Maeve gave her a wide smile but immediately she scurried away, the smile disappeared and she rolled her eyes, walking back to sit on the couch beside Imogen. "It's just.....it's a lot of work and I'm scared I might not be able to perform as well as my father thinks."

"Scared? Maeve, why are you scared? You can do this. You are one of the smartest people I know."

"Actually, I'm the smartest person you know."

"Don't kill the mood."

"Sorry," Maeve answered with a sheepish grin to which Imogen rolled her eyes.

"Anyway, what I'm saying is, your father is a smart businessman and for him to give you this job, that means he knows you can handle it. You are qualified for it and you are smart enough to handle it. So, there's no need to be scared."

"Yeah," Maeve sighed. "Yeah, I guess you are right." She switched on her phone and her brows furrowed. She glanced up at Imogen. "Well they'll be expecting me at the office in a few hours," she said. "Let's quickly round up on this shall, we?"

They spent the next few hours trying on clothes and shoes and after a while they bought what they wanted and left. Maeve hugged Imogen goodbye in front of the mall, promising to give her a call after the meeting, then, she got into the car and asked the driver to drive to the office.

She arrived at the office few minutes later and climbed out of the car. As she walked into the company's building, everyone stared. These people knew her and they knew she was back from Spain and well, they were whispering. But she ignored them all, raising her head high and walking like she owned the place - which, technically, she did.

"Miss Casalengo, good evening," a woman said, rushing towards her. "We've being expecting you."

Maeve thrust her bag into the woman's hand. "Well, I'm here now, aren't I?" She asked, walking into the elevator and the woman hastily followed.

"I'm.....I'm supposed to lead you to the conference room where the meeting is being held," the woman said.

"Being held? Has the meeting started already?" Maeve asked.

"Yes. Yes, it has."

Maeve bit her lower lip. Fuck, her dad was going to be so angry. It wasn't even her first day and she was already fucking up. 

The elevator opened and Maeve rushed out. She stopped in her tracks and whirled around. "Aren't you supposed to lead me to the conference room?" she snapped. "What are you waiting for?"

"Sorry," the woman mumbled under breath, rushing forward and leading Maeve to the conference room.

They stopped in front of a door and without knocking, Maeve pressed down the knob and pushed the door open. She walked inside and the whole room went silent. About fifteen pairs of eyes were staring at her and she felt her skin prickling.

"Maeve, here you are," her father called out in a suspiciously jovial voice that made Maeve narrow her eyes at him. He was supposed to be mad that she was late. He gestured to the two women. "Come closer," he said and they both walked towards him cautiously. "We were just talking about you. Members of the board, this is my daughter Maeve Serena Casalengo and she is going to be the new COO of the Casalengo Enterpises."

There were a few scattered applauses and low murmurs. The fifteen of them stared at her - some stared at her like she was an experiment, while some stared - more like glared - like they wanted to jump on her and wring her neck.

But she didn't let that bother her.

"Hello everyone," she said in a calm, confident voice. "I'm Maeve Casalengo and I am very excited to be here. I just want to appreciate you all for showing me your support and giving me the chance to be the new COO." There were a few murmurs at the last sentence but she ignored it and powered on. "I can assure you all that I'm capable and qualified to take on this new responsibility and I'll not disappoint you. To show my appreciation to you all, I'll be throwing a party this weekend just to celebrate my new position and you are all invited. I'll have my personal assistant mail the invitation to you." She paused and turned to her father to whisper, "wait, I have a personal assistant right?"

Her father cleared his throat. "Yes, yes you do. She came in with you."

Maeve glanced back at the woman who was holding her bag and who had been following her. She properly took a good look at her now - at her glasses, her long black hair and the shirt and trousers she was wearing. 

"Hi.....hi," the woman stammered. "I'm....I'm your personal assistant, Noelle Gentry?"

"Hmm." Maeve pursed her lips, then turned back to the people she was talking to. "My personal assistant, Noelle, will email your invitation to you. This party will not just be a welcome party or an appreciation party but it will also be an avenue to show what Casalengo Enterprises can offer. I'll be inviting other companies and investors to the party so that we can make a connection." She sucked in a deep breath and smiled. "I cannot wait to see y'all's lovely faces at the party."

She almost cringed at that last one.