Chapter Five

"Hi Dad, Hi Mom," my face was flushed where I stood. I still held unto Jake's hands and was wondering why. Maybe it was because I was determined not to let anything come in between us, not even my Dad.

"Hello dear," My Mom said. With the look of things, I could see that my Mom was starting to understand the reason why I couldn't be forced to marry Lincoln.

"I can't wait for two weeks, till you dump your other playboys as you always do," My Dad said as he went into the floor of the hall where the event was being held...

"Two weeks, that's all I get and then you dump me right?" Jake said angrily. I understood how he felt and tried to explain.

"Jake, I can explain, it's not what you think," I said, but he walked out to the main part with annoyance.

When I went into the main hall, I saw that the workers cheered my Dad with the words "OUR CHAIRMAN!" Even though I despised my Dad for the moment, I felt happy for him that he was reaping the fruits of his hard labour. I remembered how he had struggled in the past when he began his company and now he is going to be Sixty Nine this year.

"Hello Madam Veronica," Henry said smiling with his gap teeth. "Hello Henry," I said excitedly. With the way he looked, I could tell that he was in his late sixties just wasn't sure of his exact age.

"It's so glad to see you," I said. "It's anything going wrong between you and Jake? He seemed off when I brought up your name in our recent discussion," Henry said.

"Ooh no, it's probably nothing, he was probably not in a good mood," I said pretending...

After I had greeted Henry, my gaze met Jake's own and I could see that he was hurt as he looked away instantly when I looked at him.

Then my gaze met Lincoln. "Gosh, of course, he would use this as an opportunity to visit," I said to myself. I was annoyed and disgusted when I saw that he smiled when we both gazed at each other.

I finally saw Thomas Xavier in a black suit. "Hello Mr Thomas," I said. I knew I had a good relationship with Lincoln's father because he was a nice and good man.

"Hello, Veronica, I hope you are having a nice time. Happy anniversary to your company," He said smiling.

"Yes sir, I am having a nice time, thank you so much," I said as I gave him a peck on his cheek.

Thomas was amongst those in the past who had ensured the success of my Dad's company during his time as a Ceo and like my Dad, he had to retire to allow his son to take over the company as the current Ceo.

The party continued further and it was time for my Dad to give his very big speech.

"I would like to say a very big thank you to those who made it here to this year's anniversary. And I will like to give a big shout-out to those who had made this company very successful, especially my very good friend who is with me, Thomas Xavier," My Dad began, trying to form a complete state of euphoria which wasn't vivid to me.

There was loud clapping and cheers, and I wondered why my Dad never mentioned my name when he was talking about those who had helped the company develop into what it is today.

"It's not really as if I would want such praise," I muttered to myself as I continued the rest of the event.

"Hi Sis," Diana said smiling with her husband Robert Johnson. "Hello, Veronica," Robert added with his masculine voice.

"Oh Hi, it's so great to see you two here," I said hugging my sister.

"Please do well to enjoy the party, I will be back," I said as I rushed to explain things better to Jake.

After the event, I looked around in search of Jake but didn't see him.

"What's going on between you two?" Viola inquired when she came towards me. "He discovered about my lifestyle from my Dad and he hates me for it," I said.

"Well, if that happened, it means he has fallen in love with you, so you can pursue him if you have finally fallen in love," Viola said.

Viola was always there to give me good advice to me since we both started our friendship way back when she became the Ceo taking after her Dad.

"Alright then, "I said. I had no other choice but to go home, after searching for Jake proved to be a failure.

I then thought about visiting him at his house but reconsidered it to give him time to cool off a bit...

Jake entered his house annoyed and emotionally stressed, "So am just a puppet to be used for two weeks and dumped!" Jake said to himself.

Henry had returned from the party earlier than he came from the room. "What's the matter between you and Veronica? What's the matter with you?" Henry said.

"It's nothing Dad," Jake lied. Jake's face was pale and he didn't eat at all at the party.

"Don't tell me that you didn't eat anything at the party?" Henry inquired.

"I didn't dad, I lost my appetite," Jake said. "So won't you tell me what's wrong?" Henry inquired.

"No Dad, I need to go to my room and sleep, I need some time for myself," Jake said as he went straight to his room.

Jake knew anytime he felt this way, he always didn't eat at all and he knew he wasn't going to eat throughout that day.

He lay in his room, thinking about everything that happened. He thought about the fact that I would have chosen someone else, and yet I chose him and he wasn't grateful and didn't behave well with me.

He then thought about the fact that Lincoln was trying to force his way to marry me and finally decided to see me the next day.

Jake had returned to apologize for his action towards me the next morning and read the letter on my table upon my absence regarding Lincoln's plan for a forceful marriage.

"Jake, am so so sorry about everything," I said when I got to my office and saw him.

I took the letter from him, and when I read it, I was expecting him to say that he was already tired of me and wanted to even quit working, but I was shocked by his reply.

"Despite the contents of the letter my reason for coming to meet you today hasn't changed, which is to let you know how madly am so much in love with you and how I will fight to get you, no matter the opposition I have from either Lincoln or your Dad," Jake said looking at me with determined eyes.