ADRIAN
I walked up to Vanessa's room and knocked on it furiously but she didn't respond. I turned the knob and the door opened to an empty room. I went down to the office, hoping to find her there. There was not much that I could do about the project at this hour anyway so I felt that the most appropriate thing would be to vent all my anger out at Vanessa before I left since I didn't want to ruin another perfectly productive work day.
I entered the office room and was very pleased to find her, sleeping in a chair with her head rested onto the table.
Alright then!
I yelled, "VANESSA!!!"
She woke up with a start and her chair tipped over, going down with her.
"Owww! What the hell, Adrian.", she whined, getting up from the floor.
Ouch! That was not what I was going for but...whatever!
"Do you actually have a terrible memory or you purposefully decided to forget about what happened the last time you meddled with my work?"
"I don't understand why you should be bringing that up right now?", she frowned.
"You said you would wake me up by 2:30. Why didn't you?", I said clenching my fists, holding myself back from hurting her.
"Oh! Right. I'm...let me explain.", she said as realisation finally dawned upon her.
"Go on.", I said through clenched teeth.
"You were ill and you needed to rest so I decided to let you sleep and..."
"Who the hell are you to decide what I should be doing, huh? What makes you think that you have the right to take any decisions ON MY BEHALF!", I yelled.
Vanessa just started at me blankly with her jaw clenched and tears forming in her eyes.
Oh god! Not again. I feel like she cries in front of me purposefully because of how it panicks me. Before I could say anything more, she picked up my laptop and my phone and placed it before me. I took it from her, still confused about what she was trying to achieve.
She batted her eyelashes a few times, blinking away her tears and composing herself. Staring at the ground, she said, "I finished the project. It is on your desktop and next to it is a file with a brief summary so that you won't have to review the entire thing. All the best." And she left. She left me standing in the office, astonished and utterly speechless.
Shit! What had I done? I don't think that I will ever be able to understand her.
I wanted to go behind her, talk to her but I felt ashamed of my behavior. So ashamed that I left immediately for my office.
The meeting started sharp at 9:30 and throughout the presentation, I couldn't stop thinking about how stupid I had behaved in the morning. The pointers, the graphics and everything was perfect. I didn't know how I was going to make it up to her. I...Bryan, my solution for everything! I needed to find him. As soon as the meeting got over, I texted Bryan to meet me in my office.
The customers were very happy with the presentation and we signed the deal at once. I shook hands with them and then returned back to my cabin with Bryan spinning around in an office chair aimlessly.
I patiently explained him everything from last night and today morning.
After thinking for a while and probably processing the information I gave him, he said, "You are such a pro with girls but when it comes to Vanessa, how do you always manages to screw up?"
"It is not my fault. Last time she locked me in a freaking sauna. How was I to expect such a generous behavior?"
"You've got a point but how are you going to explain that to her...without her being mad at you?"
"That, Bryan is why I called you for help."
"Hmm...let me think...Call your secretary.", He said.
I called Mrs.Ludwig to my office, going along with Bryan's plan. He was definately a genius when it came to things like these. It is hard to believe that he still doesn't have a girlfriend.
"Mrs.Wig, is it?", Bryan asked her.
"Mrs. Ludwig, sir.", she replied nonchalantly.
"What is Adrian's schedule for today?"
She took out her I-pad and announced, " Sir,
The meeting with the Chinese Ambassador for the Zhong lease is at 1:00.
The press conference is at 4:30.
And the meeting with the PR staff is at 7:00."
"That is perfect. Thanks.", Bryan said and once she left, he turned is chair towards me and smiled, his eyes gleaming. He was definately upto something.
"Call Vanessa for the press conference."
"What?", I said with surprise.
"You have called the Public Relations guys at 7:00 for Vanessa's matter only, right?"
"Yeah, but..."
"But? Vanessa's relationship with the media is a major concern and what better way to address it than by a press conference."
"But that is my press conference. Bringing her would...I don't know."
"You can either remain guilty about this for life or do this because going upto her and apologising would be way tougher for you, from what I know.", He grinned.
"Yeah! All right.", I sighed. He was right. This was the best indirect apology.
"You need to give me a pay raise for this. I am kind of your part time PR guy too.", He smiled and I rolled my eyes. Then he left for his cubicle to do the work he is actually paid for and I to mine once I left Vanessa a message to come up to my office for the conference.
VANESSA
I had learnt one thing today: Never give unwanted help. It always goes unappreciated. Yes, I was upset with the way he behaved and I had every right to be.
Since morning, I have written several mails and had a conference call with the management team back in London to make sure everything was running smoothly. I also shortlisted the candidates who could take over my position once I was promoted and now, I had a press conference!
I felt deprived of my beauty sleep and I wouldn't be surprised if I accidentally dozed off in front of the media. Imagine what the news headlines would be?
I dressed in a white shirt, navy blue trousers and a matching open cape blazer along with some eyeliner and my favourite red lipstick. I pulled my hair into a sleek high ponytail and as a preventive measure, I wore a painfully high pair of heels that would keep me uncomfortable enough to stay awake and then I took a cab to the Greys & Co. Office.
I decided against using Adrian's car because I was too pissed to even handle an argument with him. This was definately worse the sauna incident because this time I was innocent, at least partially. I did not wake him up when he wanted me to but now I realised it is what I should have originally done.
When I reached there, the conference set up was still going on. I could see people carrying the camera stands, adjusting the speaker volumes and plugging in the mics.
I went directly to Bryan's cabin to see what he was upto because obviously I was avoiding any interactions with Adrian.
I knocked, entered and then greeted him, "Hi!"
"Vanessa, Hi!", He smiled ackwardly.
"You okay?", I frowned.
"Yeah, perfectly.", He said getting up and placing his mobile on the table, "I just had a conversation with Charlotte and she told me about yesterday."
"Oh! That. You were inches away from your death yesterday.", I said.
"Much closer than that actually. Thanks a lot for not telling him."
"It's nothing. Just be careful."
"Um hum. Anyways, I'll take you to the conference hall. It is about time."
I nodded my head and followed him downstairs to a big hall, which looked like a auditorium but just smaller. There were rows of chairs and people, journalist from different media houses, sitting on them with notepads and pens. At the other end of the room was a raised platform, on top of which was a long table with five chairs and mics .
I stood on the podium along with the executive management of the company who would be speaking today about a new product launch.
Soon, the door flung open and in entered a blue three-piece suit clad Adrain with a U-shaped vest and a thin tie and a gold tie pin, his hair perfectly styled in place. How could someone look like a freaking Greek god, a day after almost dying from a cold. Damn! He looked hot as hell!
"VANESSA! You are supposed to be pissed at him! Focus and stop drooling!!", said my inner conscience and I blinked my eyes a few times, getting a hold of myself.
He walked up onto the platform and greeting everyone, took a seat. I took my seat too, the one on which my name was labelled, which happened to be right next to Adrian.
Oh! So much for avoiding him!
He gave me a side glance which I noticed but decided to ignore. However amazing may he look, it did not change the fact that I was pissed with him, well atleast it shouldn't.
He then began adressing the media people, talking about his new product, a software application called Lot Navigator, which helped to find available parking in a specific location. The app would make use of GPS, location, webcams, and parking data to find a free parking space around you in real-time which was quite impressive.
He described it for about five minutes and then introduced me as the representative of the partnership with Hudson Enterprises. This was a nice way to show his company's support for me as a candidate since they are now permanent 30% shareholders.
Next round was a questionnaire and the first question was directed towards me. A lady who must be in her mid thirties asked me, " Ms. Vanessa, my question is for you. There have been rumours going around about your prolonged absence for the company's forefront for the past couple of years and their reason being some troubled family relations. So what do you have to say in response to them ?"
What a hard hitting question! That is precisely why I hate press meetings. They always brought up those lost three years.
I began to answer but my voice denied to cooperate. It remained stuck in my throat. I could hear my heartbeats rising and my hands, now clenched into fists, held tightly onto my cape blazer and suddenly, I started to feel light-headed.
Three cheers for me!!! What a perfect place and time I had chosen for an anxiety attack!