Chapter Three - Another Step

I paced around my room with the business card in my hands. The bold letters saying 'Alec Sinclair' increased my anxiety as I kept glancing at them.

My eyes went to the night stand watch. 7 p.m.

I should have made my mind up. Needing some break, I went downstairs to find James sitting infront of the television eating chips with Mrs. Byrne.

They looked up at me.

"Do you want something Scarlet?" Mrs. Byrne almost got up but I motioned with my hand to make her sit down.

"Nah relax. Just needed water," I said and went into the kitchen to pour myself a glass of water. After drinking it heartily, I came back into the living room.

"Where's dad?"

"In his room," James said without taking his eyes off the screen.

"Did he have his lunch?"

"No," Mrs. Byrne shook her head. "I took food to his room in the evening but he said he wanted to be left alone,"

Oh dad! I nodded and decided to go talk to dad. Walking across the hall, I knocked on his door, hearing a come in a second later which could easily be mistaken as a groan.

I opened the door and entered the dark room. For a moment, I couldn't spot him but saw his shadow in the corner, by the bay window. He was seated quietly and staring out at the street.

I walked over to him, his forehead creased with frown lines, a photo frame hugged to his chest. Recognizing it as mom's picture, I stood silently, not knowing what to say. I had never seen him this broken.

"Dad," I called out in a whisper. "Everything will be fine,"

At this, a small smile formed on his face but it was gone sooner than it came replacing itself with a frown again. "That's what I've been telling myself since a long time Scar,"

He sighed. "Well, until now," His tired gaze met mine and seeing him so exhausted and broken, broke something inside my chest.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be a good father," He spoke.

"No!" I took a seat beside him and buried my face in his chest. He embraced me in his arms. "Don't say that. You're the best father and I could never ask for anything more than I already have,"

After a few silent moments, he spoke again. "I wish your mom was here,"

I didn't know I had been crying until I heard him mentioning mom. Soon, I broke into little sobs and he soothed my hair. "Me too," I muttered.

I pulled back, shocked to see tears filling up his eyes. This was the second time I had ever seen him cry. The first time was when mom died and that was it. I never saw him cry after that. He was there for me and Jimmy whenever we needed him. He worked himself off for us. Just to give us a good life.

And now? He was crying over a deal? Over the company? And he thinks he's not a good father? It's just not fair.

"I owe everything to you dad,"

And this might be the time to pay you back.

"I still think there's hope that Sinclair will invest his money in the company," I said out of nowhere and a soft look came across dad's face as he gave me a little nod but I could tell he didn't have any hope left.

I gave him a tight smile and got up. "I need to go,"

Dad nodded and looked out of the window again.

I left his room and ran up to mine.

"Careful on the stairs Scar," Jimmy shouted after me and I rolled my eyes. That kid just won't stop copying me.

I picked up the business card from the study table and without thinking twice, dialled the number before I could change my mind.

The bell rang and for a second, I was almost scared that he had changed his mind and wasn't going to pick up now.

But my levels of anxiety rose up higher, when he did pick up and a deep voice said. "Hello,"

"Uh.....Mr. Sinclair? This is Scarlet Price,"

There was a pause on the line and I thought he had disconnected but he spoke. "Yes Ms. Price?"

"I called to talk about that deal,"

"There's no talking. It's either a yes or a no and you better not have wasted my time in talking just to hear a no,"

I gulped. "Ofcourse not Mr. Sinclair. I just wanted to say that I can't just say yes right away unless we negotiate,"

"Negotiate?" He said slowly like he was testing the word and I pictured him with a sexy scowl right then. "I don't think you are in a position to negotiate,"

"I know but can we atleast-"

"Erica," He called someone, his mouth probably at some distance from the phone's speaker. "How long before the jet takes off?"

"Just five more minutes Sir. Your pilot is ready," Another voice said and I assumed she was his personal secretary I had seen in his office.

The line went silent and I figured he was on the phone again.

"So I think this conversation is over now. I'm gonna have to switch my phone off now Ms. Price,"

My eyes grew wide. "No no. Wait. Okay I agree. I agree to the deal. Yes yes. Hello? Are you still there Mr. Sinclair?"

Silence.

"Ofcourse," He spoke after a second before which he almost gave me a heart attack. I could sense the victory in his voice, which caused me to clench my jaw.

"I'll see you tomorrow Scarlet Price," He put emphasis on my name, which caused a shiver to run down my spine as I opened my mouth to speak something but the line went dead.

Keeping the phone held to my ear, I blinked. Finally, I took in a deep breath and threw my phone on the bed.

That man!

Lying on my bed, I stared up at the ceiling, thinking. I agreed to the deal but did I really have intentions of marrying him? Hell no!

This was just for some momentary relief but once he invests the money in our company, he would want the marriage to take place, and that's something I would never do. Isn't that cheating?

Would I be cheating?

Groaning, I shut my eyes as I thought over it. It wouldn't exactly be cheating if I promise to return his money later. But where the hell am I going to get so much money from?

Shaking my head, I laid back on the bed and shut my eyes for a while. Well, atleast the company will be saved.

Picking up my phone, I went through my tasks and my eyes grew wide when I saw the assignment that was due tomorrow. Dammit!

I grabbed my backpack from the study chair and fished the books out of it, scattering them on the bed but couldn't find the one I was looking for. Suddenly, I remembered giving it to my best friend Lily in the class.

Picking my phone up, I dialled her number.

"Did your family run out of ointment Scar?" Lilly spoke the moment she picked up.

I rolled my eyes. "Lily. You know what else starts from L? Lame,"

"And love," She muttered dramatically. "Lust," She moaned and I pulled the phone away from my ear, giving it a weird look.

"Ew shut up," I said.

She burst out laughing. "So what did you call me for?"

"Do you have my economics book?"

I heard some shuffling in the background. "Yes. It's with me,"

"Oh come on," I groaned. "How am I supposed to do my assignment now? Have you done yours?"

"Yep,"

"Send me pictures. I'll just copy yours,"

"Nope,"

I narrowed my eyes. "Excuse me?"

"Yeah you heard it. The only way you can copy it is if you come over,"

"What? No Lily. I'm tired. I don't wanna come over,"

"I came over to your place last weekend. Now, either you come to my place or get an F in this assignment,"

"Weekend's over Lily. It's Sunday night already,"

"No problem. We can go to college tomorrow from my place. My parents won't be home before midnight anyway. I don't wanna get bored,"

I sighed.

"So you're coming, right?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"Nope," She said and burst out laughing.

I rolled my eyes.

"Oh! And could you grab some chips on your way here?"

"Sure," I said and hung up. Sometimes, I just hate her!

I shut all the books and shoved them into my backpack, pulling a pair of denims and a random tshirt from my wardrobe and packing it in another bag. I packed all my other stuff and was ready to leave, before taking permission from dad ofcourse.

I went downstairs and found Jimmy sleeping at the couch. The TV was turned off and Mrs. Byrne was nowhere to be seen. Just then, heavy footsteps were heard and I turned around to find dad walking towards me, his eyes wide.

"Scarlet. I was just coming to see you,"

"What happened dad? Is everything okay?"

A smile stretched across his lips. "You were right about the deal Scar. There's still hope. I just got a call from Sinclair Enterprises,"

Just how much I wish I was surprised to hear that.

"Really? What did they say?"

"The CEO wants to meet me again. But I don't wanna get my hopes up too high. For all I know, it could just be a final answer with him saying no,"

I let out a laugh and assured him. "Trust me dad. He will close the deal,"

A warm smile reached his lips as he patted my shoulder. "Thank you Scarlet,"

"For what?"

"For believing in me,"

Taking in a deep breath, I nodded and forced a smile on my face. "Wouldn't you do the same?"

"Ofcourse I would," He nodded and his gaze fell on Jimmy. Walking over to him, he stroked his hair and bended to plant a kiss on his cheek.

"Everything will be fine once again," He looked back at me. "Hopefully,"

"Totally," I nodded.

He got up and almost went back to his room. "Uh dad? Can I stay over at Lily's place tonight? I gotta do an assignment with her,"

"Sure," He nodded. "So we'll see you at home tomorrow after college, right?"

"Right,"

"Okay," He nodded. "Drive safely. Call me when you reach there and take care,"

"You too dad," I said and ran up to my room to get my stuff.

I left for Lily's house, which was probably a fifteen minute drive from my house. The night was a bit chilly as I rolled the window down to let the fresh breeze in. As I passed by a grocery store, I remembered Lily asking for chips and pulled the car over.

I entered the store and walked around the aisles, looking for chips. Cornitos, lay's and pringles. After buying two flavours of each, I set out for Lily's house.

Upon arriving at Lily's mansion, she opened the door for me, grinning. Her beautiful brunette hair were pulled up into a bun, her toffee complexion shining because of the tan she got recently and her brown eyes lit up.

"Aw I missed you so much Scar," She engulfed me in a hug.

I rolled my eyes at her usual ecstatic behaviour. "We just met two days ago Lily,"

Pulling back, she narrowed her eyes. "Can't I show some love?"

I raised up my hands in surrender. "I'm not Mark,"

Her face blushed crimson as she hit my shoulder and I burst out laughing, entering the house and shutting the door after me.

She guided me up the spiral staircase but I already knew the way to her room, which was practically my room as we called it. Me and Lily have been best friends since grade 1, sharing each and everything with each other and right then, I wondered if I should tell her about Alec Sinclair's proposal but I knew she would freak out and probably force her parents to help my Dad's company to save me from Alec but then, I couldn't let that happen. Friendship has its own boundaries. And it should never be mixed with business.

I remembered that I had to call my dad and before starting our little assignment party, I gave him a call to let him know I reached, not missing Jimmy's complaints in the background about how I left without meeting him.

I let out a laugh and hung up. That's how James is and I'm not even complaining. He loves his sister.

Getting back to the assignment, though Lily can be a huge pain in the ass sometimes, she wrote some pages for me but only after I promised to get her nuggets after college tomorrow. Finally, we were done by 2 a.m. Her parents were back and had gone to bed already when we decided to watch a movie, which ended at 4 a.m.

The fact that we looked like zombies in the college the next day was undeniable. But we were glad that the assignment was submitted before the deadline and then, ofcourse, there's no mood a few chicken nuggets cannot lift up. And by few, I mean the large size bucket.

I looked down at my watch. 3 p.m.

After waving goodbye to Lily from the campus, I started driving on my way to home, which was half an hour drive.

I finally heaved a long sigh when I reached home and parked the car up. Wanting to get into my bed, I began walking up to the front door but before I could ring the doorbell, I was pulled to the side by a hand wrapping around my wrist. I almost screamed for an intruder when my back met the garden wall of the house but instead, I gaped at the person standing infront of me, his blue eyes staring back at me.

"Mr. Sinclair? What the hell are you doing?"

He was dressed up in his business attire, his hair styled back like the last time I had seen him. His hand rested on one side of my face, his body almost touching mine and I bit my lip to calm myself.

"I came here to see your dad but there is something I have to discuss with you before I meet him,"

"What?" I asked in confusion.

"Move in with me,"

..............?

I gaped at him like a lost person. "What?"

"You heard it," He muttered nonchalantly.

"I can't jus-"

"Now before you answer me. I want you to know that me saying yes to the deal in this meeting with your father depends on your answer, fiancèe,"

My heart started beating rapidly when he called me that and I cleared my throat to speak. "I'm not your fiancèe,"

He raised a brow at me.

"So maybe I should just go back and tell my assistant to give your father another call," He warned me calmy. "Telling him that I changed my mind,"

My eyes grew wide. "Ofcourse not fiancè," I let out a laugh.

He smirked.

"What I meant was that we are not engaged yet," I lifted my left hand up to show him my empty ring finger.

His hands searched his suit for a second and then his pant's pocket, as he took out a beautiful shiny 24 carat diamond ring.

I gazed at it in astonishment as he lifted it to my left hand and before I could protest, he slipped the ring across my finger while I just stood there dumbstruck.

No velvet box. No bending down on a knee.

Ofcourse, who am I kidding? But were those fairy tale dreams too much to ask for?

I looked up at him.

"There," He said and I resisted the urge to lash out at him. What the fuck is wrong with him? Does he have no emotions at all?

He just got engaged to me. Damn! What kind of person does that?

He snapped his fingers at me and I blinked.

"You done daydreaming? Because now you have to go inside and tell your father you're moving out tonight,"

"Tonight!?" My eyes grew wide.

"Yes. Tonight,"

Did he run out of his whores or what?

I wanted to say it out loud but controlled myself.

"But tonight is too soon. What if dad asks why I suddenly wanna move out?"

"Then you tell him you're engaged and want to move in with your fiancè," He shrugged casually like it was no big deal.

I licked my lips and thought over it.

"I don't understand why you're even wasting my time thinking about it. I don't remember leaving you any choice,"

I glared at him. "Okay. But can I atleast get until tomorrow?"

"No,"

"Please,"

He crossed his arms over his chest and shrugged. "Fine. I'll just leave,"

He turned around to leave but at this point, I knew better. If he left, dad would be getting another call from Sinclair Enterprises within the next ten minutes, with them cancelling the deal on us.

"Okay wait," I called and he paused at his spot.

Turning around, he raised a brow at me. "I haven't got all day Ms. Price. Choose what you wanna do,"

I heaved a sigh and nodded. "Okay. I'll tell him and move in with you,"

"Today," He stated.

"Yes. Today," I said through gritted teeth.

With a smirk, he walked over to me and nodded. Going up to the front door, he rang the doorbell.

Mrs. Byrne opened the door, asking politely who he was unless she saw me standing behind him.

"Oh. I didn't know he was your guest Scarlet. Please," She stepped aside to let us in.

Dad was in the living room, watching TV in his comfortable pajamas when he looked up, his eyes growing wide.

"Mr. Sinclair," He spoke, surprised and walked up to us.

They shook hands. "I hope this isn't the wrong time-"

"No not at all. Please have a seat," He motioned to the comfortable couch and switched the TV off.

Both the men sat opposite to each other on separate couches, leaving the middle couch empty while I went into the kitchen with Mrs. Byrne to get some snacks, feeling his glare burning holes in my back.

I was going to buy as much time as I could.

"Who is he?" Mrs. Byrne asked me once we were in the kitchen, at a good distance from the living room.

"That's the investor. CEO of Sinclair Enterprises. Alec Sinclair,"

"Oh. No wonder Mr. Price freaked out," She let out a laugh but I just stayed quiet.

"I'm sorry," She muttered as she started pouring drinks for them.

"Oh no. It's fine. I'm just tired,"

"I'll take care of this. Why don't you go up to your room and take a nap?"

If only I could.

"I'm good," I gave her a tight smile and picked up the snacks tray while she carried the drinks tray out.

The moment I stepped back into the living room, his piercing gaze met mine and I knew that he was warning me to start speaking.

I took in a deep breath and placed the tray on the table, all the while feeling his sharp gaze on me.

"Mr. Price," His deep voice caused my anxiety to rise up another level. "I just didn't want another formal meeting regarding this deal so I just decided to come over at your house,"

"That's completely fine Mr. Sinclair," My dad nodded his head nervously.

I opened my mouth to interject their conversation but couldn't do it.

"So I have made my decision," He cut a glance at me and the deep scowl on his face told me that this was my last chance to speak. "As the CEO of my company, I do not see-"

"Dad!" I shouted suddenly which caused all three heads to shoot up in my direction.

"What is it Scarlet?" Dad muttered.

"I have to tell you something,"

Dad gave a nervous glance at Mr. Sinclair and then turned to me again. "We're in the middle of discussing something Scar. Can't it wait?" He turned to Mr. Sinclair. "I apologize,"

"Oh no don't. I'm sure it's something important. You should listen to her," Alec gave him a nod.

Dad turned to me, his eyebrows raised up. "What happened Scar?"

"I'm engaged," I lifted up my left hand for him to see and his eyes grew wide. For a moment, I thought he was going to shout at me but instead, he took a deep breath in and composed himself.

"We'll talk about it later Scarlet," He scowled at me and turned to him again.

"No," I spoke again and dad glared at me. "Dad. That's the point," I muttered and walked over to Alec.

I could see the small smirk forming on his face but he concealed it with his usual indifferent look. I sat down beside him and he moved over to give me some space to fit on the one sitter couch.

Dad raised an incredulous brow at us until he finally understood and his mouth dropped open in shock.

"You and Mr. Sinclair? You're engaged?"

I gave him a little nod.

Dad still had the surprised look on his face as he looked down at his hands and then looked up at us again.

"How? When?"

"It started five months ago Mr. Price when I met her in a club,"

Club? Seriously?

Dad still looked between us like he couldn't believe it.

"I don't know what to say,"

"Are you happy?" I asked Dad softly.

He looked into my eyes. "If you are happy Scarlet, I am too,"

I gave him a smile, knowing that he meant everything to me.

"Well," Alec spoke and we turned to him. I couldn't help but admire his jawline by sitting up this close to him. "We just got engaged today and I asked her to move in with me,"

Dad looked surprised again.

Stop dropping bombs on him dammit!

"And I said yes," I bit my lip. "Do you approve of that dad?"

"Well, I can't stop you if it makes you happy,"

"It does," I gave him a tight smile.

He nodded. "Okay. So when are you moving in with him?"

"Today,"

Dad blinked at me.

"Really?" Dad asked.

I nodded.

"Umm I guess you guys can get back to the meeting now," I said and got up.

Still in shock, Dad nodded and looked at Alec.

"So as I was saying," Alec started. "I do not see why Sinclair Enterprises shouldn't invest in a project like yours. Honestly, I did not say yes right away because I was a little skeptical about your marketting and sales idea but then I checked the employee count in your company, which is low at the moment, and I realized that you do have a lot of potential for completing something like this with such low number of people,"

Dad's face lifted up into a smile.

"So yes. I'm ready to invest in your company," Alec said and got up. Dad got up too and both the gentlemen closed the deal with a handshake.

"The official paperwork will be taken care of soon," Alec said and dad nodded at him.

"Thank you Mr. Sinclair,"

"You can call me Alec now, seeing that we're not just business partners anymore," He cut a glance at me and my cheeks heated up.

Dad let out a laugh at this.

"I'll be taking your leave now," Alec said and walked up to me.

"I'll see you tonight love," He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear as a gesture of affection and I gulped, nodding.

I walked him to the front door and he gave me a smirk before leaving. "I'll text you the address,"

"Shouldn't you come to pick me up fiancè?" I narrowed my eyes.

"I will," He shrugged and left, while I just watched his retreating figure in confusion.

Did he just agree to something I said?

I shut the door and turned around. Dad was glaring at me.

"Scarlet Price. You have a lot of explaining to do,"

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