NOT READY

'What!!!! I shouted. 'Why did you react like that, it's true. He's getting married, and father has even arranged a woman for him to marry.' She went on to explain. At the time, I felt frail. It was as if all of my strength had been taken from me. Storm is getting married, and he didn't inform me. When and how did this occur? Father has already found someone for him. 'That's what I've been meaning to tell you for the past few weeks, but I haven't had the chance, and you've been so busy?' Lily stated. 'Umm...' I'll call you later, Eva,' I said as I hung up the phone and sat down on the floor. Storm is getting married, which still surprises me, but there's no way he'll want to marry right now. Storm will not want to marry because he is gay, and I know he enjoys doing what he wants. I don't know what I'm talking about anymore; I can't read him, and it's often difficult to tell what's on Storm's mind or what he's actually thinking. After Eva departed that day, I urged Lily to go home since I was going to visit her and I had a lot of work to do with Storm. We both went home after she departed. We both had sex all day, and he never mentioned marriage to me. Why did he withhold that information from me? To be honest, there are times when I just want to abandon Storm and move on. But I can't; it's not working for me, and even having a girlfriend isn't helping. All I can think about is Storm, and I keep telling myself that. Will I have gotten over him if I hadn't started having sex with Storm? Look for another guy that adores and desires to be with me. Someone who will crave me and wait at home for me every day, telling me how much he misses me and how he can't live without me. I want to know that I am loved and needed by someone. Storm, on the other hand, would not be that type of guy in my opinion. He's not going to do it. 'Why are you so depressed? You should be happy that he's getting married,' she said as she sat down beside me. 'Besides, what I wanted to talk to you about a couple of weeks ago was your father saying it's time we got married and we've been dating for too long?' She uttered those with a smile on her face. 'I'm not ready to get married,' I said flatly. 'Is there anything wrong?' She inquired, concerned. 'There's nothing wrong with me; I'm simply not ready to marry yet.' I continued to say. When I glanced at her, she grimaced and said, 'Just not ready.' Because we've been together for three or four years. I'm not sure, but we've known each other for a long time and it's past time for us to get married. I'd like to have children from you, be the father of my children, and we raised our children happily together...' I had to interrupt her. 'As well as growing old together. That's exactly what you intended to say. Lily, I'm not ready to marry, and that's the end of it?' I rose from the floor and began walking into my house, but she followed. 'Leo,' she yelled my name, like she always does when she wants to talk to me seriously. 'What's the matter?' What's going on, Leo? Why are you always avoiding me or fleeing whenever I bring up the subject of marriage? You don't love me at all. Is it not worth it for me to be your wife?' She yelled, and when I looked back, I saw tears streaming down her cheeks. That surprised me; I didn't expect that from her. 'Or is there...someone ...else I don't... know... about?' Is there something you're keeping from me?' She asked, staring at me. Yes, I wanted to say. I'm gay, Lily, and the person I'm in love with is a man. But I couldn't say that to her because I didn't know what else to say. It felt as if the words I wanted to say had been struck on my tongue. I'm hurting her; think if she discovers that the guy she's been with for years, whom she refers to as her partner, is gay. 'We'll talk about it later,' I murmured as I opened the door and went out, leaving Lily standing there with tears streaming down her face.

****

This is ridiculous, so fucking stupid," Storm thought as he sat down with the company's shareholders. How could he just sit there and fold his arms all day, listening to this old men babbling? "As I have stated, this company is fantastic, but it requires a strong leader to keep it afloat. And the reason we've all convened here today is because of one person and it concerns the company as well. So let's just talk about it and figure out what we're going to do. 'Am I correct, everyone?' Mr Kim, one of the stockholders, stated. 'Yes,' they all answered at the same time. 'OK, let's talk about it.' This is why we came here,' Storm's father explained. Mr Kim said, clearing his throat. 'Could you please remove Henry as the CEO of the third branch?' When they heard what he said, everyone turned to look at Henry. Storm knew what was going to happen, but he didn't say anything and just reclined on the chair, his legs crossed across each other and his cheek resting on his fisted hand. Storm was hoping for a good laugh; he knew it was going to happen and couldn't wait to see how it would turn out. Henry was furious; how could this stupid old man have the audacity to suggest that he be removed? 'How come, Mr Kim?' Why do you want to get rid of me from the firm I worked so hard to develop...' Mr Kim laughed. 'To develop what, exactly?' Was it the clients we lost, or the way you treat them?' Mr. Kim said. 'What does that mean, the way I treated them?' Henry shook his head and looked at Mr Kim. 'There have been many allegations that you've been wasting money, mistreating people, and speaking harshly to your clients, especially those who wish to collaborate with you,' Mr Kim continued as he picked up and flung a file at Henry. 'That's the proof, with you?' Mr Kim said as he began tapping his shoe on the floor. 'You're an adult, a married man, and you still act like a child. I assumed you'd be able to do better than this.' Mr Andrew, another shareholder in the company said. Henry was displeased with what was going on. He opened the files and closely examined them; there were even images in them, proving that anything Mr Kim was claiming was correct. That also implies that he was being watched and observed, and that the person who took these images was fully aware of what he was doing. He was determined to track down and kill that individual, no matter how long it took. He will never, ever allow this to happen again. He will never forget that, and he must assassinate the perpetrator. 'Have you said everything you want to say, Henry?' Mr Kim took a serious look at Henry and stated. 'I didn't...' 'There's no need to dispute it. Has everyone seen the evidence?' Mr. Andrew stated. 'Yes,' they all answered at the same time. 'It's time for him to leave the firm.' 'I've had enough of his idiotic behavior.' Mr Eric also spoke up. He got screwed because he wasn't careful, and now they've caught him and want him removed from his seat. This is horrible; what will he tell his wife, his friends, and how they perceive him now that he has boasted that he will never relinquish power and will always be at the top? He made the decision to seek help from his father. Maybe, just maybe, he'll assist him persuade the company's foolish shareholders to let him stay. 'You can't take me out of there; all my hard work and sweat is invested in that enterprise.' In a fit of rage, Henry hurled the files on the floor, scattering them. 'You're not saying anything, Father. Did you tell me to come to Germany to be fired or to come up with ideas on how to make the company much better in the future?' Henry yelled. He was humiliated; how could they do this to him? he wondered. This was a travesty.