Four years later“Well, what are we looking at?” I asked as Marlo, my cousin, projected his presentation on the screen for me and the eight other board members to see.“Expansion, Ms. Garcia,” he answered. “The Garcia Group has dominated the European market since its inception. I believe it is time to expand.” He concluded with pride that I couldn’t wait to tear down.“We are the most dominant financial firm in Athens, Paris, Australia, and South Africa,” Kian Lopez, a board member, countered. He, too, seemed not to get the point Marlo wanted to make.“They aren’t the biggest market; the United States is,” Marlo argued.His research plan was half-baked at best, and he wanted us to run in and approve it just because he presented it.“The United States market isn’t the best place to expand, at least not with your presentation. We don’t just look at the country’s market size and decide on expanding our firm. We look at economic stability, security, competition, the availability of resour
Ocean was the best thing to come out of the hell I lived through four years ago. I didn’t think he would even make it after everything I went through, but he was a fighter from the beginning. The world didn’t want us, but here we were, shoving our middle finger back at themFour years ago, my life took a significant turn I never imagined: I met my father.Marcel Boris Garcia is a Russian-Spanish billionaire businessman. What were the odds that instead of drowning, as my attackers intended, I would be found by my biological father?After my recovery began, I asked Marcel about my mother, Otaria Barau, and he told me what he knew about her. She was the woman he met and fell in love with after he visited Port Harcourt.He had separated from his wife, Felicity, a year prior, and meeting my mother was a breath of fresh air. Their love story would not last because Felicity returned after seven months, wanting them to give their marriage another shot.When he told my mother, she was brokenhe
"You wish to return to the States?" Marcel asked as I told him that Garcia's Group might be going to the States after all."Not return, but rather to move the firm there, papa. I took time to review Marlo's presentation, and after considering all the odds, I saw we could make it work," I answered.In the last week, I dedicated myself to Marlo's insane proposition, trying to make it work. I had to tear it all down and rebuild it back up. I would have thrown it into the trash and left it there, but things changed."Pensaste que la idea de Marlo era el suicidio. (You thought Marlo's idea was suicide.)" He pointed out.I didn't like Marlo's proposal because it lacked depth. He probably saw the "Land of Opportunity" and thought it was for him. He lacked vision, and it showed in his rash decisions and actions. As I pointed out during the board meeting, there was more to research before considering expansion. He didn't do his homework, but I have. I also never thought I'd want to return to
Oliver’s POVThe door to my office flew open, and the angry Ivory marched towards my desk with a stack of files in her hands. She looked pissed, and I knew she was about to tell me why, even though I was not interested."Well, come in.” I ushered dramatically since she didn’t do the courtesy of knocking. “And it is nice to see you, Mom.”“What the hell is wrong with you?” She exploded, and her high-pitched voice made my head ring.“I am not a magician; I will not know unless you tell me.”“Do not play coy with me, boy. The finance team returned with their annual report, and the company has lost more this year than it ever had.” She said that and threw the documents at me, causing them to fly everywhere. “At this point, we will be lucky if anyone will offer a hundred thousand dollars to buy this company when we declare bankruptcy, and we will because we are at an all-time low."She placed her hand on her waist and took the well-known Ivory's stance. "Do you have the desire to run every
Cecil went on a girls’ trip to Puerto Rico this morning and said she would be back in five days, and that wasn’t long enough.I love Cecil, and she has been there for me through a lot, but some days, I feel suffocated by her presence, which is the last thing I want.I couldn’t tell her this because the last time I opened up to her about how I felt, she cried for three days and made me feel like a horrible person. It was best to leave her alone and only wish her away in my mind. It was best for my sanity and her happiness.“Speak of the devil,” Vivian said after pulling out his vibrating phone. “Hello, babe.” He said and shifted away.I instructed the bartender to keep it coming while I drowned in my thoughts and sang along with the music playing to distract myself from that cuteness. It must have been longer because I felt a tap on my shoulder, and it was Vivian.He had a mischievous grin, and I was not too fond of that look.“Have you ever done something crazy?" he asked, his grin lin
The door to my office opened, and Vivian walked in with a broad smile on his face. “I saw the news, man. Congratulations.” He said.I smiled, dropped my pen, and leaned against the chair. “Thank you.”He sat and crossed his legs majestically. “So tell me, were you nervous?” He asked with a curious brow.I was nervous when I asked Imela to marry me, but with Cecil, “No, I wasn’t.” I replied with a shake of my head, adding, “When it’s time to make the move, you know.”His eyes flickered, and he nodded. “I guess I will take a thing or two from your book of confidence and follow in your footsteps with Julie.”I wanted to tell him there was only misery in store if he followed my path, but I didn't want to dash his confidence to the ground.“Have you shown Julie your tattoo?” I asked, changing the topic.“I’m meant to show her in person, not over the phone,” he answered, giving me a duh look.That made sense.There was no way around it, so I was just going to ask. “Do you remember much of w
"I would like to have a meeting with you tomorrow in the conference room." Robert's annoying voice echoed in my head.I groaned and rolled my eyes, even as I knotted my tie. Four weeks ago, it was his wife, Ivory, giving orders, and now it is him.Robert and Ivory need to read the dictionary and realise what the word retired means because they are doing the opposite.Cecil came up from behind and wrapped her arms around me. "Hey," she said, pressing her face against my back, and she pressed a kiss there."Hey," I said back, leaning in to get more of her warmth. "I hope you slept well.""After the night we had, I sure did," she said heartily, and she came to stand before me to help me knot my tie, and I let her.The flowers I got, or the note that came with it, must have done the trick because, after receiving them, Cecil told me she forgave me.I assured her there was nothing to worry about and told her I would remove the tattoo as soon as it healed. Vivian took me to the clinic to ex
Wavy brown hair tied into a ponytail, big brown eyes, a striking heart-shaped face, full red lips, and ever-glowing skin.This was Ela, much different from the image I’ve had of her in the last four years. This Ela looked sophisticated in her white shirt with the first two buttons undone, tucked into her red pencil skirt, and a pair of four-inch heels that made her flawless legs look longer, but she was Ela.This couldn’t be real, could it? Ela was standing before me in the conference room. I blinked, and unlike those other times, she didn’t disappear.She was real, and she was here.She had been gone for four years, and now she was here.Why was she here? My brain felt weak as it silently sought an answer but found none.Ivory rose to her feet. “Is this a goddamn joke?” she demanded with furious eyes.“Stop being dramatic, Ivory, and sit down,” Robb instructed, but she didn’t obey. Her eyes remained on Ela, who had stood unmoved in her position since her arrival.“You knew who she wa