Down On Your Knees

HER HAPPINESS

CHAPTER 8 

A few hours later, Samira reached her office. 

When she arrived, Samira paced back and forth in her room, feeling perturbed. She couldn’t get over that Mabel heard her talk to herself about kissing Andi. Just like Mabel, she was also shocked and didn’t know what to say to her, so she dismissed her. Until she left home feeling embarrassed, Samira didn't talk to Mabel.

However, as she mulled over what happened, it wasn’t bad at all. If the servants would start talking about what she said, then there would be a possibility that her grandfather would know about it. It might work to her advantage after all.

Samira laughed and murmured, “Awesome!"

Her plan involving Andi was working perfectly in the direction she would like it to be. Once the information reached her grandfather, she wouldn’t have a hard time explaining everything to him. She would tell him "Grandpa, I think it's Andi. I have fallen in love with him. Please cancel the engagement!" Her laughter became louder, laughing like a crazy woman.

Feeling lighter, Samira pressed her intercom, "Noel dear, please come to my office. Bring me a cup of joy, black!" she badly needed a second cup of strong coffee.

The alcohol she drunk last night was still in her system. Her head felt detached from her body, "Freaking s**t that alcohol. When will I learn to drink and not get drunk?" She has friends who drink a lot, much more than she did, yet, they could handle the alcohol. How come she couldn't be the same? Every time she drinks more than a glass, she became tipsy and...horny? "Damn it!" she hissed, mad at herself. 

Noel entered the room with her coffee, he updated her on her itinerary for the day. Meetings in the morning with some department leaders and in the afternoon, continuing her orientation with Andi.

"Okay Noel, give me thirty minutes and then start sending department heads here. I want to talk first to the one handling the concessionaires. Both local and foreign brands," she ordered. 

Samira would listen to them and share also what she learned in fashion design abroad. She wanted a new collection for the next season offering.

"Yes, miss!" Noel replied politely.

Samira decided to forget about what happened last night, meantime her focus was on work. She was glad that she didn’t need to see Andi in the morning, but there was no way their paths would not cross in the afternoon. 

"Anyway, I just touched and kissed him, no big deal," she whispered.

They were living in the twenty-first century, fvcking someone they fancy was trivial. If done with consent, no one would raise an eyebrow over a night of mutual interest. A modern woman wouldn’t bat an eyelid, but…unfortunately…she didn’t belong to the league. For some reason, after her night with a total stranger, she had shied away from relationships. She focused on her studies and work. 

Not anymore, especially if it's Andi. She wouldn't mind spending a night with him.

The men she dated while abroad, some she even kissed, but she dispatched immediately if there was no spark. She has yet to meet a man that was able to melt her core…except for that man, seven years ago.

And—Andi, Samira was sure the spark was there last night, although she vaguely remembered he didn’t kiss her back, but, his body reacted to her touch, that was enough. She wasn’t too drunk last night. Her alcohol tolerance was just too low, so she fell asleep, but she could remember everything before oz sucked her consciousness.

“Tsk! There was a good chance I could seduce him. I hope it can happen within the next 17 days. Freaking ticking bomb! I need to do this.”  - DAY 3

When Andi arrived mid-afternoon, there was no trace of awkwardness on his face. He didn’t even bring up what happened the night before. 

"Such a gentleman! Would you be gentle in bed as well?" Samira suppressed her laughter by looking at the screen of her laptop. She was well aware that beginning today, her thoughts, whenever Andi was around, would saunter towards the direction of the bedroom. 

Andi resumed their scheduled orientation. He talked about the financial standing of the company. Financial documents backed his words.

Samira was grateful she took up business in college. She understood and could follow the flow of Andi's presentation. They were alone in the room. Andi was standing while he pointed on the screen the data he was explaining.

Andi informed her about the financial standing of the company. 

Samira was astonished by the massive operation of their company. She wasn't expecting it. It wasn't a simple mall operation at all. They have branches locally and abroad. She was to head a full-blown mall business with assets in the multi-billion dollars. 

Samira was lost for words, unable to put together everything that Andi had stated. 

How did his grandfather’s business grow that big?

She could understand why her grandfather wanted her to come back and assume the CEO position while her grandfather held the Chairmanship. It wasn’t a listed corporation, but they have stockholders. They owned 51 % of the company, and the other stockholders owned 49% split between 3 families. They could snatch the leadership from their hands with any wrong move on their part.

Samira recalled that their company started as a small clothing company.  She could almost hear the voice of her father as he told her stories of the humble beginnings of their company. 

It started with the father of her grandfather (Samira's great grandfather) a merchant from China who brought clothes and fabrics to the country and sell the goods on the side streets and local markets. Then with little capital he had, he established a small clothing store and even produced what they sell locally, he hired dressmakers, through the help of her great-grandmother a Filipina. They had only one son, her great grandfather who took over the operation after he completed his studies. Don German grew the business through the help of her grandmother a Spaniard. Her father had yet to assume full leadership in the company when he encountered a car accident that took his life as well as her mother's.

A hundred years later her great grandfather established the business, it has transformed into a luxury mall, its patrons mainly from the elite class. Their merchandisers were top brands locally and abroad. 

Samira was frozen on her spot while looking at Andi, but her mind was far from him. 

All her clan’s hardships for the past 100 years would be in vain if she would decide not to marry the man her grandfather wanted her to marry. Everything would go to the charity upon Don German's death if she wouldn't marry the man he had chosen for her, the lawyer explicitly incited this provision to her. 

Would she allow that to happen?

Happiness versus inheritance. Would her lifetime happiness be sacrificed to claim what was rightfully hers? 

How could her grandfather do this to her? How could he make her choose between her freedom to marry by her own choosing instead of the man he had chosen for her? That was really unfair.

She didn’t notice that mists formed in her eyes, and it had started to trace paths in her cheeks. 

Andi noticed her silence, and he saw her tears. He stopped his presentation right away and moved to sit on the chair near her.

“Samira, are you alright?” Andi asked while looking straight into her eyes, he sounded really concerned.

Samira remained speechless but she gazed at Andi. It was her first time to show weakness in front of anyone since the day she was back. 

“Samira!” Andi prompted.

She blinked and breathed deeply, “Andi, did you know of my grandfather’s condition before this company and everything my family owned could be mine?” She asked with a serious expression on her face.

Andi nodded his head slowly, “I was informed.” He didn't deny his knowledge on the matter.

“Isn't it unfair?” Samira asked absentmindedly.

“He has reasons,” Andi responded almost inaudibly.

“How dare he gamble on my happiness?” Silent tears thread on her tears. 

“It wasn’t like that. Samira, talk to your grandfather. I’m sure he has a good explanation regarding his decision." He paused, looked at her intently, and murmured,  "If I may ask why are you trying to go against his will? Don’t you want to meet with…your fiancé first?” Andi asked, watching Samira’s reaction.

There was a long silence between them. 

Samira breathed, “I would like to be alone, please.”

Samira’s response what not what Andi was expecting. 

“Samira—“ he tried to ask what was in her mind. He remained in his seat, looking intently at her.

“Please, Andi.” She cut him off and avoided his gaze.

Andi nodded. He was well aware that she was stubborn and wouldn’t talk even if he pressed her.

“I will leave you for a while.” He stood up and buttoned his coat and walked towards the door. Before Andi exited the room, he saw her gazing at the window with a crestfallen expression on her face. He pulled a heavy breath from his chest. 

When Andi left, Samira shed more tears. She couldn’t fathom her grandfather’s intrusion on her private life. Not that she was in love with someone, but the idea of marrying someone she didn’t even know existed, was too much for her to understand and accept.

What about the family’s wealth? How dare he use it to make her surrender her freedom in exchange for something she was entitled to since birth? 

Samira was even more saddened. Her grandfather knew very well that when she learned about their vast fortune, she would have second thoughts of turning her back on his will. She was trapped. She hated it. 

Feeling walked over, like when she learned of her arranged marriage, she still hated that idea very much. How could she spend a lifetime with someone she didn’t care about?

Samira wiped her tears and released a heavy sigh. Whatever she learned today wouldn't change her decision in choosing her freedom, over anything, over wealth, over her family's hardship to get to where they were.

"I must proceed with my plan. I cannot gamble on my happiness." Samira murmured, determination clearly visible in her eyes.