Chapter 54

I looked up at the board standing next to Harper James- my only rival at this very moment- and sighed.

The last task for the promotion was out just a couple of seconds ago and a frown took over my face as i read the paper on the board.

"Congratulations to the two managers who have made it this far. The final task is as followed.

The two managers will have to submit a business proposal made with the investors they brought in for the second task. The business proposal should be submitted by the end of this week and if the deadline is missed, then the business proposal will not be accepted.

Good luck."

"By the end of this week?" I asked because today is Wednesday and so...

"Wow" Harper James murmured from beside me "it looks like we don't have much time to work on this. Well .." she turned to face me "good luck."

Harper gave me her best smile before she walked away. I looked back at the board one last one last time before going to my office.

I walked in to see Oliver with his head in his hands and his elbows leaned against the edge of his desk.

"Hey Olly, you okay?" I asked as i made my way to my desk.

Oliver looked up and stared at me with eyes filled with worry. He looked exhausted and frustrated at the same time.

"Do... Do you think i should move out?"

His question startled me and i looked up at him. "What?" I asked and he sighed.

"I don't think i can hold on any longer. It's getting harder by the day, Princi. I... I can't live with the fact that some other guy is coming over to our apartment to tale the woman I'm in love with. I don want to sit back and watch her walk out of the door again..."

He sighed before running his hands down on his face and he continued.

"Seeing you working hard to move on, to forget this place and get on your way...it made me think that maybe i should do the same..."

"Olive, have you thought to talk to her first. Maybe there is more to it on her side than you're seeing."

Oliver looked back at me as if he wanted to cut me off but instead sighed and let me continue.

"That apartment is yours just as kuch as it is mine and MCs'. You should move out because you two can't communicate. What you should do is sit down and have a little chat with her. Then...then you can decided what to do. But please, olly, don't be rash and make sure to think about it well before you decide anything."

Oliver stared into space for a few seconds before nodding his head. He went back to work while i picked my phone up from my desk to start working on my promotion.

I dialed my Grandpa's number and waited for him to answer. He picked up the phone on the second ring and his rough yet warm voice filled my ears.

"Kid..." He laughed as if he was a santa that was 'Ho Ho Ho-ing' "how are you doing child?" He asked.

"I'm great grandpa. How are you?" 

"Good. Good. Your father was here a couple of minutes ago. He kept me company since breakfast."

My heart melted by how excited and happy he sounded. My father has been trying to visit grandpa as often as he can. My grandpa also calls me everyday to ask me about my day or about work.

"That's is great grandpa. I wanted to tell you that the next task for the promotion is out and i need your help..."

"Say no more. Anything for you, Princess."

***

I looked around my Grandpa's large office as i waited for him to come back from the phone call he was taking.

There are a lot of book on the shelf and most of them are hard core romance. I grinned as i realized that my grandpa is a bigger softy than he looks.

The door of the office opened and grandpa walked in with a grim look.

"Is everything okay?" I asked as i followed him to sit infront of his chair.

"The board is pressuring me into announcing who would be my heir and successors. They think I'm too old and i might die without passing down my company to the right person." His worried expression saddened me.

"What about my father?" I asked grandpa and he chuckled.

"I did think about that but your father hasn't worked in business and the board wouldn't accept him as the next CEO." 

Grandpa looked at me as if he wanted to say something but soon shook his head and shone me a smile.

"So tell me. What is this last task?"

I cleared my throat before giving him an answer.

"The last task is to work with he investor we brought in and made a good business proposal. Since DC exports pretty much anything legal and your company is a flower exporting business, i though a partnership between the two companies would bring more profit and might help business grow rapidly."

Grandpa hummed as he leaned back on his chair and thought about my plan. A couple of minutes later, he nodded his head.

"That does sound reasonable. It will expand our export network too." 

Grandpa smiled at me. "You do make a good worker. I would have loved to have you as my heir."

Did he just offer me his company.

"But... I already have a job." I commented and grandpa nodded his head.

"That is true. But if you ever want to give my company a chance, the offer stands for as long as you want it."

I gave my grandpa a soft smile before nodding my head. "I'll think about it " i whispered in a sad tone, knowing well enough that he needs me but i want to keep working for DC.

***

I waked up to my apartment while i reached for my phone as it started to ring. I looked t the name and a cold sweat covered my entire body. Iven.

Damn it. I totally forgot about him and the fact that i ditched him at the coffee shop. 

I did want to call him but i was too lost for the past couple of days that i couldn't get myself to pico the damn phone up.

I hesitantly answered the phone and pressed it against my left ear.

"Hello?"

"Princi. Hey...i though you loved to Mexico or something." He chuckled.

"Or something." I whispered.

"So...what happened at the coffee shop? You ran out and you wouldn't stop even when i was calling after you. Did something happen?"

I found it really hard to answer his question so i ended up being silent.

"Princi?" I heard Iven voice call put from the other side of the phone and i sighed.

"I had somethings to do...and i'v also been very bust with work and the promotion...family. sorry about the coffee house but i had things to do."

Iven just hummed at my hesitant answer as if he already knew that i was lying to him.

"Okay." Was all he said before he hung up the phone and i was left to feel like the worse person to ever live. O sighed in defeat before opening the front door.

I walked in and found MC in the kitchen once again. She's been cooking a lot and from what i know about my best friend, she like to cook a lot when she gets stressed.

"You okay?" I asked the two words that seem to go on repeat in my life lately. 

MC didn't even look at me when she nodded her head. Already knowing that she was stressed put of her mind, i decided to leave her alone. But i turned back to face her back.

"Oliver is thinking about moving out." MCs' head snapped over to my direction but i waked away before she could get in a word.

That ought to push her to talk to Oliver.

***

I was shaking with excitement when i walked into work the business proposal i worked on with my grandpa. Harper and I were told to submit the business proposal to the executive director AKA Shawn who will then go through the proposal and decided with senior management who should get the promotion.

Since Shawn was in yet, Lucy Chaw collected the papers from Harper and I before telling us that the result will come out Monday morning.

I was pretty much on cloud nine as i walked back to my office and Oliver and I were already celebrating because we were sure that i had secured the bag.

Oliver did help me with the paper and grandpa was more than happy to make sure that the proposal would be clear of any errors. And so, soon i will start the process of fully moving on.

When Monday morning came, Oliver and I rushed over to the board to see the one manager that passed all three tasks and won the promotion.

I read the name of the winner and my world came crashing down with just a simple name written on the paper.

"Congratulations to Harper James for winning the promotion."

Dear God...