White lies

Rehan bent herself a bit so that he could see eye to eye to Valerie. "So Miss Edmonds tell me how much do you know about my hotel...?"

Looking at him too close to be around her comfortability zone, she tried to create some distance but when she moved a little at back, he came forward. At last she took a deep breath and let the matter be. After all, other important things were waiting right now. "En, your hotel is going into losses at a subtle rate although right now the problem doesn't sound big but soon, It would be a bigger problem and if a solution is not found, it may even turn you bankrupt."

"Good, at least you know the basics. So you would also be aware why the hotel is going into losses and why I don't want to sell it?" He asked with a devious smile while still too close to her.

"Ummmm, because of your wife, Who died in an accident." She said fidgeting. His face, looks and smile was making her uncomfortable.

r"Wife to be. We were going to be married the day she died in an accident while reaching the venue. " He replied with a tinge of quiver in his voice, he did his best to sound normal but failed, if looked intently the moistness in his eyes also increased. Yet he gave a more natural and subtle smile like remembering the face of his lover "I built this place as her memorial. And given many schemes to people like free dinner and free stay to lovers, and much more." He proudly continued with a bit of satisfaction that he was able to do something for his lover "But the problem doesn't lie here. The problem is people like you who come lying that they are a couple to get benefits from these schemes. Which increased the number of free customers and so as their ridiculous demands which ultimately let the hotel go in losses." He spat with ridicule in his voice, his fists were clenched and his jaw was held tightly.

'Oh, this man surely holds grudges so he let me enter and talk first so that he could ridicule me! Hmph. Let's see, who will ridicule who!' " Mr Oberoi, these are white lies. They never cause losses but dual benefits like you got the satisfaction that you did something for your lover and they got free stay and food." She replied, shrugging her shoulders.

"And to tell you the fact it's your mistake because you are too love struck. Loving is good but being a fool in it is far from my understanding. Now look at me, I am engaged but I hardly talk with my fiance. Yet I am good, enjoying my life. You know what I mean."

"You mean to say I should close all the schemes, then what's the sense of having this hotel?" He asked through gritted teeth. He can't believe she just said he is a fool.

"Then sell it to us. Simple.." she said shrugging her shoulders and opening the files. "We have many different offers for you, from a good price to investment and division of shares" she forwarded the files to him with sparkling eyes.

"I would rather burn it." He replied, throwing the files away.

"God this is not going anywhere" she bumped her head on the table with a thud, Which stunned Rehan.

"If I didn't know any better, I would have thought, you are my friend or family looking at your informal behaviour." He asked amused "Look, your time is about to end. Do you want to say anything else?"

"Yes, I can help you in fulfilling your wish and saving your hotel without selling it. But I have one condition, You wouldn't accept the proposal of that other secretary also and you would let us set a bit of facilities through our name with it." She said with final conviction

"Deal." he said. "but what's the deal?" For the first time he smiled genuinely, a smile which reached his eyes. For a moment Valerie was awestruck. There was no doubt the girl was very lucky to have someone like him as a lover who still remembers her even when she died.

"Would you never move on?" She asked unconsciously but when she realized and closed her mouth through her hands, it was already late the words were out and here goes his smile! His expression turned into anger, sadness and a tinge of pain.

"I don't know." He said through a voice which is soaked with his tears. There was a lump formed in his throat. She held his hand to console him sympathetically.

That's the scene Ellie noticed when she entered. 'I knew it, she is just like others using herself to win favours from Leo and this man too.'

When Valerie saw Ellie entering, she gracefully stood up and picked her files. "I will take an appointment to discuss the whole plan with you" she replied with a wink and went out, while Ellie's face turned ugly. 'Did they already strike a deal?'

"Mr. Oberoi I..." But before she could say further he had already stopped her.

"Sorry, Miss Miller, our deal is already finalized with your Company. You should be happy that your time is saved." He replied with a professional smile. And before she could say something he already called his p.a. and instructed him to show her out.

" VALERIE!" she shouted at the top of her lungs after reaching the parking lot. She called her father that instant. "Dad, we have a problem"