My Husband's Boss

11 Years

Do read the full chapter to the end. I am sure you going to like it.

11 years later,

“He is here…you better be ready.” Adam smiled listening to one of his assistants who was trying to catch up with him in her high heels. He walked into the presentation with four people after him and was quick to share a nod with one of his business associates, Kamal. The annual conference of his enterprise started the moment he came to own his place as chairperson.

And, just for today, he wanted to control the urge of working more and sit here to listen to what he had achieved so far. Gone were the times when he surpassed his father. He now owned the businesses that led the world’s best sectors in life. Hotels, IT, and banking with life insurances. And, more than anything he was always quoted as a person of the year by many papers since he turned twenty-five. And, that was only because his net worth would jump several folds each year. He couldn’t help his smirk whenever his success was quoted because that makes him recall all those people who told him it is not going to be worth it.

They say you need someone to love you unconditionally. They say you need friends to survive. They lie. Because you only need you!...in your life. And, he had proved it, right. It was only because of his money and fame that he was a known face everywhere. It was because of everything that he had achieved that brought him the love his of life too. The after-party followed where only the top executives of his company were invited along with other business tycoons.

His eyes shifted to the clock for the third time before he nodded for his assistant, Nelson. “Where’s Andrea?” He asked and though he tried his best his voice was a little impatient.

“I have been trying for her…but as of now…even the driver hasn’t left from your apartment…I…”

“What’s going on?...” He hissed lowly before he took a step towards Nelson. “…I want answers? Do you get me?”

“Mr Cross…” Adam looked at his left and offered a cocky smile to his old friend, George.

“I am glad you made it,” Adam said and stopped to smile for a picture with him when a media person passed.

“I couldn’t miss it. I got the wind of you proposing to someone tonight. Couldn’t miss it.”

“Who is the lucky girl?” George’s beautiful wife asked Adam making Adam raise his brows.

“You heard wrong…” Adam said making George narrow his eyes. George didn’t intervene and after George’s wife shared a hug with Adam they parted ways. He looked for his assistant again but seeing his petrified look informed him that something went wrong.

“When was the last time anyone found her?” Adam got out leaving his party and took the car back to his place. He was passing the lounge with the light speed but halted registering a movement at his left. c*****g his head in the direction he found his sister Karen.

“What are you doing here? You weren’t at the party?”

“And, guess what? You didn’t even know. So, it doesn’t matter, right?” Her reply didn’t sit with him and the veins on his head were already popping.

“I really don’t remember wanting your support anyway,” Adam replied and was about to go to his room when he found Karen saying.

“She is gone,” Adam looked at his sister. Of course, he was shocked. He didn’t like when things were not in his control but a smirk adorned his face.

“Isn’t it good? It shows how she wasn’t enough to stand beside me.”

“Don’t lie to me, Adam…I can literally read it on your face. You were going to propose her.”

“I had only known her for five months. No, I would never propose to someone who would…" But then Adam froze and took a few steps down. "...was it you who told everyone…”

“I read the bill…extra arrangements for the moment she would say yes…don’t lie to me, Adam…and,…it hurts me seeing you. I am your family…maybe the only family you will ever have!" Karen shouted at the end and Adam visibly heaved. “Leave…”

“I won’t…” Karen refused.

“...And, if you don’t know…any girl would prefer a millionaire than a billionaire with whom she doesn’t have a secure future. When was the last time you had a relationship more than six months? Lisa, Beth? And, not to forget Sarah or Ana…”

“Sarah…that idiot.” He laughed,

“And, you always react on Sarah? Don't you? Yes, Adam...the idiot...the i***t who loved you enough to buy you a gift that you would use? Adam, really?...and, now I won’t mention her again because she is married now…and, guess what…now you can’t have that kind of love no matter how MUCH you got to offer to her.”

“Who can marry her…yea a fool…and, not to forget this world is full of fools.” He shook his head in disbelief while walking to the bar.

“Anyone would love to marry a person who can love so hard.”

“I would still pass on Sarah. An i***t partner will only get me down.” Adam poured another glass making Karen walk to him.

“It seems a girl has to be a fool to marry you now, Adam. Because girls like Andrea would pass on you any day.”

“Karen…” He said looking dead serious into her eyes.

“…if you think that after you will leave I will commit suicide or something…leave…I am far stronger than that. I don’t give in to temptation. I know what I am doing. You…” He stopped to take a gulp on the hard liquor. “…I know what I am doing. And, you have your family…I…am not your only family, Karen.”

Karen walked ahead to hold his fist and look at him. She wanted to ask him if he is taking his pills for his anger issues but then passed on it. “I will stay. I have to…Andrea…was really not the one...” Adam laughed a little shaking his head.

“…if Sarah wasn’t married I would have asked you but…Lisa…for Lisa it’s not late…she isn’t as crazy as Sarah for you…but she really tried to make it work with you, Adam.” Adam shook his head,

“Why it’s always Sarah? Why can’t anyone surpass her? It’s all you think about.” Adam replied,

“She literally managed six months with you without you two having any differences. She knew everything about you, Adam. And, you! You couldn’t let one thing go. And, not to forget that one thing was the reason that you get to have a perfect last evening with your mother.”

But then realizing it will only make things worse Karen inhaled sharply. “...Adam…maybe you can call Lisa. She might…” And, Adam had to cut her off. “I have got everything I ever wanted. These relationships aren’t for everyone and I had always known what I was doing or working for…Karen...” He slurred at the end and got finished with his drink. “…you should leave if you don’t have anything else to discuss.”

Karen left seeing Adam sprawled on the couch after two hours. They talked about dad and mom. Or the times, when they were growing up. Karen looked at him with full of pity. She knew Adam was excited about this evening. How one couldn’t be when they are going to propose to someone? And, it wasn’t only about the women in his life. None of his friends would stay longer too. He was indeed successful but only spend all his time with the people he had employed.

Karen went home to be welcomed by her little girl and a boy who was still a toddler. Jeff was reading a story to his girl and smiled looking at Karen. “How did the party go?” He asked and Karen only smiled looking at his boy. Jeff could notice something was amiss,

“Andrea and Adam aren’t together now,” Karen said and Jeff stared at her for her to explain more but she shook her head.

“I don’t know. Don’t ask me.” Karen said and Jeff left the details for some other time.

The next day, Adam woke up and got ready as he was used to. He told his maid to thoroughly clean his room and went outside to have a run. He had a home with a private track but getting out was always a little more refreshing. Getting into the home he stopped for a moment and looked at the table where Andrea would be sitting to have her breakfast. He did snap at her two days ago but she also knew that he was going to propose to her last night. Wasn’t it enough? What she could want?

Maybe she was not into you. And, for the first time after months, he wonders again if he was going to lead a life of failure. If anything he does care what papers would publish about him. And, if someone wrote that he was a failure in his private life he wasn’t going to like it.

If he too count all his breakups it was his eighty-fourth including the ones that only worked for a week. And, thanks to his memory he remembers each and every one of them. How it started to what time it took him to move on. And, nothing had proved a better remedy than to move on to his next relationship. But this time it was different. He was starting a new app that would make investing for people a piece of cake. Not to forget he was to benefit from each and every transaction but that was after it was going to be a success. Well, he could always choose to delay dating until the launch of this app any day.

He called for an early meeting and was to reach in half an hour to his office. From making calls to talking with market analysts he tried his best to spend every second working. And, when he really got a minute for himself at seven in the evening his assistant find it a better time to tell him.

“Your sister asked you to call her back.” He dialled for Karen only to hear.

“Happy birthday, Adam.” Of course, he chose last night for this reason too.

“Thank you,” Her sister smiled before she said, “I have mailed you a package. I hope you like it.”

“Thanks…I will tell you about it. I was busy…can we talk at weekend?” Adam asked the moment his assistant placed an accounts file on his table.

Karen who now knew how it works with Adam replied, “Yea, sure,” and found the line cut that very moment. She turned to look at her kids and then the cake for Adam she was going to cut without him. As of now, she had stopped convincing him because sometimes she fears if Adam will break up with her too for demanding too much of his time.

Adam huffed a little feeling his shoulders tense and the moment he made a call for his assistant to ask for the finance manager he was told, “Mr Cross he has left. Do you want me to call him back?” Recalling how that manager got married recently he shook his head, “No, you don’t need to call him. Ask my driver to get ready.”

He didn’t want to go home and planned to have a leisure evening at a club. For a moment he wanted to call one of his associates but then he smiled realizing all of his associates were the same as him. At one of the red lights, he stared at a huge billboard where his face appeared for a few seconds with a quote he didn’t bother to read.

That Andrea will regret seeing me here. Of course, it was bound to happen. Even his future boyfriend was going to see her as a fool. Adam smiled but then a thought boomed. And, what if he would instead never see her as a gold digger seeing she passed on you.

He was still at a distance from the club he owned a membership for but his driver pulled. “What’s wrong?” Adam asked.

“I think there is something wrong, Mr Cross. It will be better if we call a mechanic…” Adam rolled his eyes and got out before ordering an Uber. He crossed the street and had almost taken the right turn.

“Mr Cross! Watch out!” He heard someone yell before he felt being pulled. A cyclist run past him and he looked at his back. “Thank you,…” Adam said and looked at a man who seemed around his age exclaimed. "How do you know me?" Adam asked,

“I am Max. I work in your company. I am in the customer support team.” Adam raised his brows and tried to force a smile.

And, before they could talk about anything it started pouring. “Shoot!” Adam groaned getting to the wall and cussed looking at the low battery sign. “Do you have a phone?” Adam asked and Max got puzzled for a moment before he offered. “That’s my home across the street. If you want…”

“What are we waiting for…” Adam said and followed him.

Max stopped at his patio and told him. “I think there is something wrong with the power again. Let me have a look…you can get the landline at the right.” Max said before he disappeared what seems like his little garage.

And, not wanting this strong wind to ruin his dress he got in only to be welcomed with, “Happy Birthday,” A pair of arms came to snake around his neck with full force. The impact was sudden enough for him to wrap his hands on the waist of the lady wrapped to him now or else they would have lost the balance. “I love you,” He could feel her lips grazing his cheeks as she whispered.

But it didn’t last for long. Heck, not even three seconds because he gets that woman too suspected the mistake as she loses her grip a little. The lights came only for him to witness something unbelievable. He was staring at Sarah when that woman pulled away to look at him…the woman who might have loved him the most. He looked at her back but this time all of the faces were new.

Sarah’s eyes did widen with shock but the moment broke when they heard, “Sarah,” making Sarah take her hands off of him and take a step back.

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