Merrick

The tension in the room thickens as I look at the people sitting in front of me. Last few days we've been busy with the new product coming out on the market, so with that, I didn't really have the time to look out for the unexpected snare that caught us at the launch. Now that we have managed to pull out things decently with Cameron's assistance, we are finding time to dig into it.

It's exactly a week after the launch conference and we all are in my cabin to discuss the dirty surprise that Theodore gave us.

"Why would Theodore think of doing that to us?" Anthony speaks breaking the silence and we all look at him. "It's well known to everyone what a prominent position we hold in this business."

"Right, we won't know that until we find the truth. But the thing is he couldn't have done it all without any help. I am pretty sure someone among us is involved." I say looking at them as they nod.

"Well, it's a good thing that we were able to cover up at the right time," Dean says. "Otherwise it could have ended up like a disaster."

I nod, knowing that he is right. I can't even imagine how bad things could have gone if Cameron didn't come up with a plan B. I turn to look at Cameron and say. "You are right. I appreciate the efforts that Cameron put up at the last minute to get it done."

Cameron shakes his head and smiles, trying to lighten the mood. "No need to thank me, boss. That's what I get paid for."

I look at him and try to pull a smile back but I am too tense. Leaning against the chair, I pinch the bridge of my nose in frustration. "I just can't believe I let that happen. Dad would be so disappointed with me." I sigh and close my eyes, feeling suddenly the burden of everything that went wrong on my shoulders.

"It wasn't in your hands Merrick so stop feeling bad about it." Anthony shakes his head and says. "We will do our best to find out the person that betrayed us. The culprit wouldn't get unpunished, trust me."

"Anthony is right. I am also going to double-check the security of the data room. I don't know how the hell someone could breach it." Cameron says looking at Dean, Anthony, and me. "Anyway, I'll make sure to interrogate the team members and also the workers. Just in case, they heard or saw anything."

Dean nods and then he looks at me. "Don't worry, Merrick. We will get to the bottom of it."

I take in the look of assurance on all their faces and just nod, hoping that at least we can manage to do this.

After everyone leaves, I sit in my cabin and stare at my parents' picture frame on the table feeling the knot tighten in my chest. I haven't been able to sleep since then knowing that I've let down my father. How can I be so careless? I shouldn't have let this happen.

I let out a sigh realizing that I can do nothing about it unless we find that fucking bastard who had the audacity to backstab us. With that thing on my mind, I begin to open my laptop that's when my phone begins to ring. I clench my jaw, looking at Zelina's name that pops up on the screen. I don't know what the hell is her problem?

I am pissed at her after what she did on Friday. It heightens my frustration realizing that I am not angry at her because she kissed me but I am angry because I know she proved me wrong. As much I try to convince myself that I kissed her at the launch to make Monica jealous, I know it's not true. Maybe, not completely.

It's really hard for me to finally come to terms with the thought that I am attracted to Zelina. I realized it the time I kissed her back in my office. Maybe I could have admitted it to her but then I know it would do nothing but feed her ego more and I don't want to do it.

It still is shocking for me to realize that I can like her. If you would have asked me on the day I met Zelina I would have laughed it on your face but now I can clearly make out the reason why I am into her. There is no doubt that she is beautiful and charming and it hasn't gone unnoticed the way men look at her.

As much as it angers me to think of other men being close to her, I can tell I am not just attracted to her outer appearance. There is something more about her that intrigues me. It seems like there is something she is keeping closed inside her that she doesn't want anyone to know. As if she is scared it will make her vulnerable.

At the same time, I can't shake off what she told me about Ashton that day. The way he talked to me at the launch gave me a shocking preview of what he is capable of. So it can be very much true that Ashton is doing all this but we can't get to a conclusion unless we find some substantial evidence against him.

I clench my jaw, thinking about what happened last time when Zelina and I were together in this office. I don't like the farse that she puts on. I feel angry that she is trying to be someone that I know she isn't. Why can't she be her real self? Every time I think she is trying to open up, she refrains herself and goes back to being the bitch everyone calls her.

I shake my head in frustration. Why am I even thinking about her? But it's hard not to when she has been calling me since Friday night and as I look at my phone now, it seems like she is on a mission to get me to pick her call up.

I need to work and with my phone ringing every next second, I know I can't, so I curse under my breath and answer her.

"Thank god, you picked up. I've been calling you like crazy." I tense a little when I hear Zelina's worried voice.

When I don't reply, she says hurriedly. "Please don't hang up, Merrick."

"What do you want, Zelina?" I finally ask in a low voice.

"I want you to just listen to me." She says and I don't know if I am imagining but she sounds desperate.

"I thought we didn't have anything to talk about after how our last encounter ended."

There is silence for a minute and I wonder if she hung up but then she speaks again. "I am sorry, Merrick..." She says apologetically.

I feel the disbelief run down my body realizing that for the first time Zelina is sorry about something but then I remind myself that this can be one of her acts and I keep my guards up. I chuckle dryly and ask her. "Sorry for what? Sorry for kissing me or proving at every chance you get that you have an upper hand on me?"

I am not even sure if I am angry with her or this whole situation that I am in right now. Perhaps, it happens to be that she called me at the wrong time.

"I am sorry for everything...I know it might sound weird but trust me, I really am." She says and I can hear the remorse in her voice which is indeed surprising.

I sigh. "How can you want me to believe you after everything you have done. You almost made me go through hell whenever we were in the same room. Just for the sake of our companies, I tried so bad to put up with your shenanigans. But I am so done with you now, Zelina." I shake my head as I say. "Why can't you stay away from me?"

"Fine, I know I've been a bitch to you since we met. But before you blame me just remember that you were the one who kissed me first." Zelina says and I am suddenly taken aback by the fact that she stated.

"So it's my fault now," I say, bitterly. " What are you going to do? Pretend that you are the innocent one here?"

"I am not saying I didn't do anything. I've known what I've been doing all this time and I am not going to defend myself for that because I know that's wrong." She says and I can sense a hint of anger in her tone. She pauses for a moment and then speaks. "I am just saying that I realized my mistake, and I just need a chance to make things better between us."

"I wish I could convince myself to trust you," I reply.

"Please Merrick, I know it's hard to believe but give me a chance. Let me treat you to dinner at my place tomorrow. And if you find me misbehaving at any point then you have my word...I'll leave you alone. I won't even try to contact you after that." She says and I am surprised by the confidence in her tone. "I'll let Steve attend all the meetings on my behalf."

For a moment, I am too stunned to respond. This was the last thing I expected from Zelina and I feel it hard for my brain to process that she is ready to mend our relationship. Though, I don't think we had any kind of relationship before.

I have no idea why she thinks a dinner will make everything better but if we are going to be together in this business for the long run then I know we can't keep going back and forth like this. We need to find a way to make this work and if she is willing to change her ways around me then I am open to getting this issue settled.

"Please, Merrick..." She whispers slowly as if she is scared that I am going to reject her.

I feel the need to fight against her but I already find myself giving up. I let out a breath before saying. "Fine."

"Thank you, Merrick." She says and the excitement is evident in her voice. "Thank you so much for agreeing. I promise I won't disappoint you."

I don't say anything to her in return and it looks like that doesn't bother her. She is definitely acting strange.

After I hang up, I stare at my phone wondering if I made the right decision by accepting her offer but I know I can't back off now. I just hope things go well this time.

I don't complain when the rest of the morning seems packed for me with appointments and meetings and when it's late in the afternoon I find myself wanting to have a break. So I grab my laptop and make my way down. I give a slight nod to the receptionist when she stands up as I walk out of the building. There is a cafe on the opposite side and I cross the road to get to it. I've been here quite a few times mostly when I don't find peace working in my office. The place is small but it's cozy and I get a few glances from people around knowing the fact that they recognize me.

I occupy a corner booth and start going through monthly reports after ordering a black coffee. My order comes soon and I sigh, taking a sip of my coffee after the waiter leaves. I feel much better now. The cool breeze coming from the window relaxes me and within a few seconds, I lose track of the time. I am too consumed in staring at my laptop that I don't see a woman walking towards my table until she sits right across from me.

I frown as I look up from the screen and say. "Excuse me."

And at the same time, my eyes widen when I see Monica sitting in front of me. I clench my jaw, wondering what the hell is she doing here.

"Merrick..." She says slowly.

"What the hell are you doing here Monica?" I interrupt her before she can go on.

She looks around for a moment before she turns back to me. "You can't do this to me...I love you, Merrick." I frown when her eyes fill up with tears. "Please...Everybody knows what kind of woman Zelina is. You can't be with her." She shakes her head and says. "I know you deserve better."

"Do you even hear yourself? You don't get to talk about Zelina when you don't know her." I tell her angrily. Who does she think she is to come here and tell me what to do?

"I am not stupid Merrick. I knew what you were doing." She says looking into my eyes. "It was on purpose, wasn't it. You were aware of what it would make me feel to see you kiss her."

How can she say that after everything she did to me? Though, she isn't completely wrong.

I know this is just an outcome of the mistake I committed but I still stare at her in disbelief. "Do you realize you broke our engagement like it meant nothing to you? You didn't fucking care about me all this time and now when you saw me kiss Zelina, you are suddenly in love with me? Are you fucking serious?"

She gulps slowly and gives me a pained look. "I've been in love with you since before. In fact, I never stopped loving you." She reaches for my hand and I pull it back. A wave of disappointment crosses over her face as she bites her lip. I have no idea what the fuck is going on.

I look at her as she brushes a tear off her cheek and looks back at me. "I did all this just to get you back. You felt so distant, Merrick. You were always busy working and when you got home...you would just refuse..." She lets it trail off and I clench my jaw, knowing exactly what she means.

"I wanted to be with you... I knew Liam was into me from the beginning so I came up with a plan to date him...just to trigger you. I thought knowing that I was being intimate with him would make you realize what you were missing on and you would come back to me. But you never came. You just forgot about me. How could you do that?" She says with angry tears spilling out of her eyes.

I stare at her in total disbelief. I just can't comprehend what she just said. I mean this is some crazy shit. "What the fuck? Is this some kind of a sick joke?"

Before she can respond a man comes storming into the cafe. Everyone looks at him as he searches around looking angry and when he notices me he makes his way towards us. He stands right at our table and Monica gets up from her seat nervously. Along with her, I stand up and when I get a closer look at the guy, I realize that it's Liam.

"How dare you get near my girlfriend?" He glares at me and says. "Don't you understand she wants nothing to do with you?"

I frown and look at him. "Sorry, dude but just a few seconds ago your girlfriend was begging me to get back with her."

"You are fucking kidding me?" He says, narrowing his eyes at me.

"Liam, don't," Monica says as she steps up and reaches for his hand. I look at her in disbelief and she begins to cry. Liam takes her face in and it seems like it is making him even angrier. I don't understand why she is letting this happen.

I shake my head and then glare at Monica. "I can't believe you are doing this." I scoff and then I turn to look at Liam. "Listen, man...you are being played by this woman..."

But before I can say anything, I hear him say. "You fucking piece of shit." And then he throws his fist across my face. It's a good thing that I am able to dodge him but he still manages to get the side of my jaw. I look at him in shock and clench my jaw before I aim for his face. My punch gets right on his nose and in no time he starts bleeding.

"Oh, my god!" Monica gasps and I can feel everyone's eyes on us. The manager rushes towards us but he stops in his place when I raise my hand.

I can feel the anger radiating through my body as I look at Liam who is now clutching his nose. He grunts in pain as he looks at me in astonishment.

"I am least interested in getting associated with your girlfriend," I turn to look at Monica before getting back at him again. "It's better if you stay the fuck away from me and tell her to do the same."

With that, I grab my laptop and storm out of the cafe.