If Fate Does Exist

ROSALINE

"Heavens" I breathed out as I got into my chair and dropped my head on my table for the next few seconds and then I raised my head.

"I need to work a bit more" I mumbled to myself, trying to shove away all thoughts in my head. The thoughts of the way his eyes stared at me and the thoughts of the way he called me Caramia.

Heavens! I had always liked the way Russo called my name but now, I felt like I was liking it even more than I should.

Since it was my first day here, a lot of time had been spent on meeting with the heads of departments and other employees and also trying to get familiar with how things worked.

It wasn't too hard for me though. I had known this company since I could count so I knew my way around things quite well and didn't seem too lost.

I moved my right hand to the mouse, trying to get myself back into working a bit more efficiently but it didn't seem to be working too well and my phone ringing only a minute later didn't help things.

It was an unknown contact calling. I furrowed my brows, wondering who the caller could be. I went ahead to pick it anyways and placed it on speaker.

"Hello. Good day to you"

"Good day, Rosaline" the voice definitely belonged to a man in his late fifties or early sixties.

"Who is this and how may I help you?"

"It's Mr. McAlister"

The name sounded familiar. I had heard it being mentioned a few times before at home.

"Mr. McAlister...." I drawled and then it clicked.

He was one of the shareholders of the company.

"Oh, Mr. McAlister, how may I help you?" I put on a polite smile as if he could see it from over the phone.

"I heard you joined the company as the manager"

"Yes, I did. I didn't realise anyone would deem it fit to talk about that to you"

"It's actually a tangible thing to talk about. You do have shares in the company, right?"

"Uhm, yes I do. Russo represents my interest in the board meetings, right?" I replied.

"Yes, yes, he does but don't you think you should not have become a mere manager?"

"A manager is not mere, Mr. McAlister"

"I guess but for you, it should be mere. I mean you could as well be the chairman and CEO of the company"

"Chairman and CEO? But Russo already occupies the position"

"Yes, he does but don't you think that position befits you more? I know Russo was adopted anyways and..."

"The grounds of Russo's adoption is not something I have ever been interested in but I know it is peculiar and my family knew very well before they left the company to him. And the company is doing very well, isn't it? Stocks have been going up so you shouldn't have any complaints, should you, Mr. McAlister?" I questioned, a deep frown on my face now.

"I understand you, Rosaline. We will talk better later" he replied.

"No, I don't think we should talk at all later but if you do want to talk later, then I will have Russo know about it, is that fine with you?" I asked.

"You... Don't tell him about this" he rasped in an angry tone and the call ended.

I rolled my eyes and shoved the phone farther to the other side of the table.

That was not the first time I would be receiving a call like that. A call aimed at splitting the company into two factions. Russo's faction and my faction but I wasn't interested in that. For a fact, I was going to so obviously lose if I stood against Russo. Russo had the majority of the board on his side, he was powerful within and outside the company's business network. He was the fucking most powerful man in the entire country, how in the world could I ever win and become chairman and CEO?. And again, I had no reason to go against him.

Russo had never done anything wrong to me and I also didn't want to become Chairman or CEO. I didn't want to be involved in the dirty works that went on behind the scenes so no, I wasn't ever going to consider the proposals of the likes of McAllister.

*

"We are sorry"

"Really, really sorry" Tim added and I sighed, shaking my head gently.

"What you guys did was absolutely not funny and it is very much unappreciated"

"We took it too far, we are sorry" Melinda apologized.

"Fine, alright but don't you ever do it again."

"For sure. Rick here has scolded us more than enough, so much that I won't even think of playing any silly pranks on you my entire life" Tim said and I looked at Rick who just slightly shrugged his shoulders.

"But if you would just date someone..."

"If she would just date Rick" Tim cut Melinda off.

"Exactly, if you would just date Rick and get it over with, we wouldn't be playing silly to try getting you guys together"

"For the hundredth time, I and Rick are just best friends. Keep the nasty thoughts out of your head, Melinda"

"Yeah and don't make Rosaline uncomfortable with the dating talk. We don't have anything else to talk about except her dating life?" Rick questioned.

"I really do wonder if I am the only topic of interest here" I settled my gaze on Tim and then on Melinda.

"I mean, there's Tim, Melinda and Rick is sitting right here too so why just me?" I questioned.

"Well, not just you. We were talking about you and Rick" Tim pointed out.

"Your little matchmaking efforts are not going to work, Tim. I and Rick have always been friends and nothing more and besides, I do know well enough that Rick has a girl he likes" I shrugged my shoulders.

"A girl? What girl? As far as I know the only girl around Rick is you" Tim stated.

"He does" I nodded, picking my glass of wine and then hesitating.

"We didn't put anything in it" Melinda chuckled, noticing my hesitation.

"Well, that's relieving" I mumbled and lifted the glass to my lips.

"Rick, just don't stay quiet, what girl is Rosaline talking about?" Tim nudged Rick's shoulders.

"Just some girl" Rick shrugged and picked up his glass of wine too.

"I don't believe it" Melinda shook her head.

"I don't, too" Tim supported her.

"You both are annoying" I rolled my eyes and glanced at my watch.

"I should start going now. I need to go to work tomorrow" I got up from my chair.

"I will drive you home since you didn't come in your car" Rick got up immediately after me.

"And they claim they don't like each other enough to date" Tim mumbled softly, almost inaudibly.

I hit his shoulder with my handbag and he faked a groan.

"Keep talking trash everytime we meet and I will beat you to a pulp soon enough" I said to him with a fake stern look and then bent slightly to kiss Melinda's cheek.

She kissed me back and I straightened up, stepping away from the table with Rick. We both walked to his car in silence and the silence remained unbroken until the drive began.

"Don't bother yourself too much about Tim and Melinda" Rick started.

"I know" I laughed softly.

"But the girl you like, don't you think it's time I know her? For years, I just know you like this one unknown girl. I don't know who she is or what she is like, is this how you treat your best friend?" I asked.

"She is really pretty" Rick said almost dreamily, causing me to smile.

"Well, I have to approve of her first before you date her" I said, as a joke of course.

"And I also have to approve of your boyfriend before you date anyone" he replied.

"Not like I am going to be dating anyone anytime soon" I leaned into the seat.

"I am sure that your man, the one you are fated to be with will be willing to wait until you are ready to start dating"

"Yeah, if fate does exist"