Chapter Four
"River, he loved your work, when we showed him the presentations that you prepared for promoting The Imperial," said Russell while Rowland agreed.
"He liked my work? But you went to get an investment for our hotel. Is he not interested in partnering anymore?" Asked River in confusion.
"He is. He loved our hotel and would bear the entire cost of renovation," said Rowland and River sat down to digest the news.
"What? He won't partner with us? He will only help us renovate? What's his interest?" She asked hesitantly.
"In return, he wants you," said Russell, looking at her for her reaction.
River stared at him dumbfounded. "Excuse me?" She choked on her own spit. The owner of Staywell Group wanted her in return for the huge renovation costs?
"Yeah. He wants you to work for Staywell group as his PA," said Rowland with a sigh.
River stared at her brothers. Were they kidding her? "For how long?" She asked in disbelief.
"For as long as he needs you," said Russell, looking at her expectantly. River rolled her eyes. This was utterly unacceptable.
"Did you commit?" She asked hopefully.
"Yes, we signed the contract papers. It's just PA's work, I'm sure you can manage that. Imagine the benefits. It's a winning situation, Riv," coaxed Russell.
"I don't believe this. You didn't even consult me?" She accused them, her disappointment showing clearly on her face.
"He didn't give us a chance. It was a take or leave situation. We had to act fast," said Rowland, trying to make her see sense.
"Why do I always fall into such situations? When do I need to join?" Asked River, in a bored tone.
"Tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock you need to report to his office," informed Russell and River glared at him and stomped away to her room, angrily.
"You should have at least asked her, honey," said Janette, Russell's wife.
"I would have if he gave us the opportunity to," said Russell and both brothers went to the bar to have a drink and discuss the issue at hand.
River fumed and cursed the owner of the Staywell group before going to sleep. Tomorrow she would have to face the weird man!
The next morning she got ready and drove to the address Rowland sent her through an SMS. It was a colossal glass panelled building with two towers, connected together by a podium platform at the base of the two towers floating over a huge reception area.
As she walked into the reception desk, she realised that she had forgotten to ask her brothers the name of the CEO.
"Yes ma'am, what can I do for you, " said a smiling young man around her age, from behind the reception desk.
"I'm River Ann Wilson. I'm scheduled to report to your CEO at 8," she informed with a smile.
"I'll just confirm ma'am, " he said as he dialled a number and spoke in hushed tones. Disconnecting the call, he looked at her. "thirty-eighth floor ma'am. Elevators are that way," he said pointing towards the elevators.
She thanked him and went towards the elevators. After twenty long minutes of waiting and rushing into and out of the crowded elevator, she reached the thirty eighth floor.
The entire floor seemed to only occupy the CEO's office. A receptionist sat behind a desk and typed busily. Her spectacles sat at the bridge of her nose, slipping down as she constantly pushed it upwards. She was pretty, maybe around twenty-seven or twenty-eight. She looked up towards River.
"River Ann Wilson?" She asked and River nodded.
"Yes," she said.
"Just go in. You're twenty minutes late, " she said and River's eyes widened as she knocked on the door she pointed at.
The damn elevator. She was late, what if he would pull out of the deal? Her brothers would skin her alive.
Hearing a "come in" from the other end, she opened the door and went inside. For the first time in her life a shiver ran down her spine. What if he were a creep?
She walked towards a huge desk, but there was no one there. She looked around and saw a man wearing a dark charcoal grey suit standing in front of the huge floor to ceiling glass window. He looked very familiar from where she stood but she couldn't make out much.
"River, how have you been?" He asked as he approached her.
River stood like a statue as he came closer. The same husky voice which she couldn't forget even for a second in the last nine years. Tyler Jed Parker.
"You didn't answer me, River," he said as he came closer. Too close in fact.
"I I, what are you doing here?" She stammered nervously.
"I own this company. You came to see me, didn't you?" He asked in amusement.
"I didn't know you own Staywell group. I just came to see the CEO, " she said. Did she sound foolish and naive?
"Now you know that I'm the CEO," he said,"So, how have you been?" He repeated.
"I'm good," she said, looking down.
"I can see that, " he smirked and she looked away. He's married, River, don't drown in his eyes, she reminded herself again and again.
"Why are you helping us?" She asked suspiciously.
"I'm not helping. It's a business deal. Shall we get down to business? Sit," he said indicating a chair in front of his desk. He went behind his desk and sat down.
He handed her some papers. "Go through them and sign. We can start from today, " he said. She took the papers and started reading through them. It was a contract that she would be working as a PA to the CEO of Staywell group till he terminated her employment himself else all renovation work for The Imperial would be stopped. If she left after the renovation work was complete, fifty percent of the total cost would have to be repaid to Staywell group. She would get paid as per company standards for working as a PA.
"Why are you doing this? Why me? You could hire a better qualified PA for yourself," she asked in confusion.
"I want only you, " he said and she looked up into his eyes which looked at her in the same way as he used to, nine years ago. Did she imagine it or did she detect a double meaning in his words.
She didn't prod him further and sighed heavily and signed the contract. She had to sign away her professional freedom for her family.
"Come, let me show you your office," he said, leading the way towards a cute little office just beside his own. She loved the room and sat down at her desk, starting the computer.
"Go through the emails I sent you and come to me if you have any queries," he said and she nodded. He picked up her mobile and punched in his number and saved it. Then gave himself a missed call with it.
"I have your number. I'm sending you your mail id and password right now," he said, turning away and going back to his office. After a minute, her phone buzzed with the details.
She started working as instructed without any knowledge of what Tyler was up to.
Tyler came back to his desk and started his laptop and loaded the camera where he could clearly watch his River.
