WINNING HER HEART

MY HEART SKIPPED A BEAT

Sara’s P.O.V.

I rubbed my temple which was aching badly right now. I was COO of my father’s company and I was glad that I was still working here. I was afraid that he would throw me out of the company once I got married but I was glad to know he did nothing like this. I had worked hard to get success for my company and I really didn’t want to leave my company. My cousin brother, Mathew, who was working as the CFO in our company, had recently resigned as he got a good offer overseas and now I was also handling his work too.

There was tons of work for me and I was trying my best to keep the work at its steady pace. Mathew left the company when we required him the most. I knew why he had resigned because he didn’t want to work under my father who was the present CEO and he was also not happy with my marriage. Though my marriage was just a business deal nothing else still everyone assumed that after my father’s retirement, the company would be taken over by Warner’s and it was exactly the plan.

I heard a knock on the door and asked the person to come in. “Here is your fourth coffee, ma’am”, I heard my Secretary Emily’s voice and looked up. I removed my reading glasses and leaned back on the backrest of the chair. “Thanks, Emily… do you have any painkillers too…. My head… it’s killing now”, I asked her while rubbing my forehead and temple.

“You should take rest and something to eat now, Ma’am. You are continuously working since early in the morning today and now it’s almost 9 in the evening”, she told me and I lifted my head in surprise. I immediately looked at the watch and I sighed. “I lost the track of time… why are you here then… you should have left”, I asked her again while taking a tablet from her that she, I assumed, carried with her already for me.

“Can I leave you alone here?” she asked me with a smile on her face and I smiled. She was also my best friend also. “No.. you can’t”, I grinned and she laughed with me. “I am sure that I will remain single till the next birth if you keep on working like this”, she pouted and I laughed again. “Talking about marriage… how is Mr Casanova?” she sat down on the chair across the table and I scoffed.

“How he can be? Busy with his parties, one night stands”, I sighed and she pursed her lips. “Why can’t you enjoy your life a little when your so-called husband doesn’t give a f**k about you?” she asked me the same question that she always asked me and I glared at her. She had a foul mouth still I love her because she always took care of me when none of my relatives or my parents even looked at me.

“I don’t have any interest in parties, clubbing or in men… they all are the same”, I said bitterly and she rolled her eyes. “There is no use of talking with you in this matter. Anyways… finish your work quickly then we will go to have a big dinner”, she emphasized the word big and I laughed. “Okay… just give me half an hour more”, I said and she immediately retorted back, “No… you don’t have half an hour… you have an early morning meeting with Warner’s on our new project and you have to take your beauty sleep too… wrap up your work for today and we are leaving”, she demanded and I sighed. I knew that I already had lost this argument with her.

“Okay”, I held my hands in the air in surrender and she held her chin high in a winning gesture. I laughed at her childish behaviour but that was what I loved in her. She went out of the room and I finished my coffee. I looked at the presentation on my laptop that I was preparing for tomorrow’s meeting. After my marriage a month ago, it would be the first official meeting with my in-law's company. According to what Emily told me, my father-in-law along with Patrick would attend this meeting.

I finished my presentation and then wrapped up my work for today. I was so exhausted and yes, Emily was right that I should have a good sleep if I wanted to perform better in the meeting. At the same time, my phone rang and I looked at the caller ID. A small smile appeared on my lips. I picked up the call and greeted my mother-in-law, “Hi, mom”. “Where are you, Sara? It’s so late”, she complained in a worried tone and I smiled. At least now I had a mother who was concerned for me. “I am still in the company but leaving with Emily, mom. I know it’s late but I have a meeting in the morning”, I told her truthfully and heard her sigh.

“Are you going out of the dinner?” she asked me again and I pursed my lips. “Actually… yes, mom…. Emily is still here with me. So, I am taking her out for the dinner and then I will drop her to her home… Will that be okay?” I asked her permission and heard a giggle from the other side. “Sara… this is really okay. I am glad that you are concerned for your employees and know how to take care of them. Come home soon, honey”, she said and I felt a tear in my eyes. “I will come soon, mom”, I told her and then we both hung up.

“What is it?” I looked up and saw Emily looking at me with concern. “O… that… it’s my mother-in-law…. She is … she is actually worried about me because I am not at home”, I told her in a trembling voice and she looked at me with pity in her eyes. I was not vulnerable in front of anyone but Emily. We have both were working together for the last 3 years since when I joined the company. She had seen all my highs and lows and always stood behind me to support me emotionally whenever I needed a shoulder to cry. For the world, I was The Ice Queen… but in front of her, I was a lost child.

We went to a not so expensive restaurant near Emily’s house. I was here before and I liked the food here. Emily’s house was within the walking distance from here. We both took a spot near the window and placed our orders. Our server was a girl that I assumed was in the school and was doing a part-time job here. It was normal here. She was sweet and talked in a very pleasant voice. Emily told me about his boyfriend who was an executive in another company. They were dating for the last 5 months and now Emily was thinking about moving in with him. I was happy for her though. Everyone deserves love in their lives and I was happy that she had someone except me who loves her so much.

“If I am not wrong you have a wife, right?” I heard someone behind us but didn’t bother to eavesdrop because I was not interested in anyone’s life. “Yeah… I do… but she is not as hot as you are”, I felt a pang of pain in my chest when I heard a familiar male voice behind me. I chewed my inner cheeks. “You liar… I have heard about her…. She is hot”, the girl said in a teasing tone that I didn’t like at all.

“Ha… hot???? She is known as The Ice Queen you know and she is as cold as ice”, the person spat the venom and I dropped my fork. “What is it? Are you alright?” Emily asked me while looking with concern and I smiled back but didn’t answer. I didn’t want the couple behind me noticed my presence here. I picked my fork again and started eating though I had lost my appetite. “So… it’s your place or mine?” the girl asked in a seductive voice and I scoffed internally. It was nothing for me still I felt hurt.

“Ms White… what a pleasant surprise to see you here?” I snapped my head towards the voice that announced my presence here in a very surprised tone. As soon as I looked at the person standing near me, my breathing hitched in my throat. I stood up with wide-open eyes and mouth.

“Mr Taylor…. How are you?” I greeted him as professionally as I could this time. Mr Nick Taylor… a fine specimen of a man that I had ever seen. He was almost 6 in height with an athletic figure and had the perfect amount of muscles at the finest places of his body. His electrical blue eyes were the most mesmerizing feature in his body with that killer smile at his pink plump lips and his silky brown hair that was perfectly set at their place… he was like a Greek God.

“Stop drooling, Sara”, I came out of my stance when Emily nudged into my stomach and I immediately regained my composure. “My apology for not noticing that you are here, Mr Taylor… Uhh… you can join us if you want”, I said in nervousness and he smiled while flashing his perfect set of white teeth. “Of course… if you don’t mind”, he said and I felt that my heart skipped a beat. My company’s executives were trying to reach him for the last three months for an advertisement photoshoot and he was not available. I guessed I had my luck with me today.

“Please”, I gestured him to take a seat and he sat down at the other chair beside me. “Honestly… I never thought that you will be here in … this … kind of … small place”, he said and I blushed. “Actually… I like this place and love the food here. It’s your first time here?” I asked while trying to calm my racing heart. “Yeah… actually I was just passing by from here when I saw you from there. I was trying to talk with you for quite a time but haven’t had the luck. I saw you and thought to take my chance”, he spoke fluently and I was at cloud nine. He was the top male model of the state and with no doubt… the heartbeats of millions of girls out there. I was also a girl, right?

“Actually… I don’t want to spoil our mood tonight by speaking about the business here. If you are free any time this week… Can we have a chat?” he asked me and I blinked while smiling widely. “I looked at Emily and she gave me a curt nod. “Yeah.. of course… umm… let me have your number… I … I will inform you?” I looked at him with hope in my eyes and he again flashed his killing smile. “O My God… I can’t believe that your wife is a flirt”, suddenly a shrilled scream behind me gained our attention and we all looked behind. I groaned in frustration when my gaze met with the furious gaze of my loving (note the sarcasm here) husband.