22

Morgan's POV:

"I'm not seeing anyone for the rest of the day." I said to Nora.

It's been a few minutes since the whole meet and greet with our new wonderful investor that I just wanted to ram my fingernails into his eyeballs.

I think an alien kidnapped my father and swapped him out. Because that man in there is not my father.

Nora nodded solemnly, questions swirled in her eyes that she didn't dare ask.

"Yes, ma'am," she nodded. "Is there anything else you'd me to do?"

I looked at her intensely. "No. Thank you."

She looked a bit uncomfortable but it was gone quickly. She turned and walked out of the office.

Somewhere in this building right now is Dante. I can't believe my father would do this to me. He of all people knew of the long nights I spent crying about Dante. He of all people knew the rollercoaster of emotions I went through especially when the kids were still very young. And yet he went behind my back and did this.

Sabrina is going to be CEO? With me? I think we'll kill each other before we do anything.

Is he going to reveal her to the public? But how will that look for our ratings? Did he even think about all of this?!

My head started to ache. I drank some water and massaged my temples.

My office suddenly felt suffocating. To think that I'd spent the next couple of days working with Dante was filling me with pure rage.

"Oh you don't have to worry about me," Sabrina had said. "I'd be too occupied with my trainings to be of any real help to you. I'd only be in your way, and you don't like that, do you? "

That snarky bitch. Training huh? She didn't need training when she fucking sighed a deal that I had thrown in the trash! Who the fuck was she kidding right now?

My phone dinged with a message that pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts . I realized I had a murderous look on my face and quickly fixed it. I fished my phone out and opened the message.

W; hey, are you free for lunch?

A smile lit up on my face as I read the text. Suddenly I stopped smiling.

"Did a man's text just make me smile?" I whispered to the empty office.

I drew in a deep breath and was about to type out; no, I'm not.

But then on second thought, why shouldn't I? It's not like I had any plans for lunch. Saying no to Winston because of fucking Dante was something I wasn't going to do.

M: yes, I'm free. Same place?

He replied some seconds later.

W: yes. Same place.

M: great. I'll drive to you.

W: I was going to pick you up.

I paused, tapping my chin. That sounds like a not bad idea.

M: don't worry. I need the drive to clear my head.

W: very well. I'll see you soon.

I put my phone back into my purse and got up to leave.

On my way out, I bumped into Dante.

"Where are you going? I was coming to you just now." He said.

"Coming to me for what?" I asked, letting my displeasure get known all over my face. "What do you want?"

"Come to lunch with me." He said.

"I have lunch plans." I said and walked past him. He grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

"With who?" He asked, his eyes narrowed.

I slapped his hand off my wrist. "None of your fucking business, Dante."

"Is it with Winston?"

I folded my arms and stared blankly at him. "The sheer arrogance you have, you think you know everyone I know huh?"

"Come on, Morgan you always eat lunch in your office. And now you're going out wearing the Dior rogue 75 which you said gives you a boost of confidence. You're meeting Winston, aren't you?"

My heart skipped a beat and I resisted the urge to touch my lips.

How did he....how did he remember my favorite lipstick? And the fact that I eat lunch alone?

My heart hardened and I glared at him. "Do you hear me nit-picking about you and Nova? If the answer is very obviously fucking no, don't meddle into my life."

"Morgan, Winston is bad news. Please, for your own good stay away from him."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Bad news? You have no fucking idea, do you. You're telling me he's bad news?"

"Yes. And I care about you, I want you to be safe."

I took a step closer to him and glared right at him. "Fuck you and your care, Dante."

"Morgan, you don't understand."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh I understand plenty." I scoffed and walked past him.

"Morgan!" He called after me. "I'm serious right now!"

I was at work. If not, I'd have flashed him a bold middle finger.

The guts on him. He's trying to tell me what to do and who not to hang out with.

I walked out of the office, the noon sun warm on my face. I spotted Sabrina and dad walking into the office with an order of take out. Sabrina was the first to spot me. She waved erratically, and I could see her smile from the distance. Dad noticed and turned. He waved, smiling too.

I hadn't seen him smile that much before. I waved back and turned away sharply.

I bet they're going to bond over lunch and talk and laugh. All of a sudden I wanted to go with them. Be part of the conversation. A deep need to know what they talked about took root inside of me.

Instead of giving in, I walked to my car and got in. They can do what they like. I don't care anymore.

*****

Lunch with Winston helped get my mind off a lot of things. We talked about a lot, experiences at work, random childhood memories, the food on the table, and my hour long lunch break didn't feel like it was an hour anymore.

"I've been meaning to ask you this for a while." Winston said, his eyes searching mine. "I'd like to take you to dinner. A proper dinner. Is that fine?"

I blinked, shocked for a few seconds. "Dinner?"

"Yes. I know a good Italian place. We can go there."

"That sounds..." Do I do this right now? Or should I run? ".... lovely" I finished off with a huge smile on my face.

He smiled even wider, happiness radiating in his eyes. "Does Friday night work, I'll pick you up by seven."

"Friday night is good. I'll drive to you."

"Morgan, you don't need to..."

"I'm sure there'll be more opportunities." I said with a smile. I had no idea where that boldness came from, but I loved it.

"Well well," A voice spoke over me. "Look who it is."

I turned, already knowing who the owner of the voice was. "What do you want?" I snapped in anger.

But her eyes were focused on Winston. She waved, a flirty smile on her face. "Hi," she said.

Winston looked disgusted. As did I.