Adrian

Two months later

Dressed in a sky blue suit and a red tie at exactly ten minutes to nine, I marched through the lobby of my New York office building. People moved out of my way to create space and wished me. I punched the 26th floor on the elevator which led me to my office. With the sound of the ding, the elevator doors slid open to reveal the reception desk and waiting area.

A deep burgundy carpet with gray edging set the tone for the company as luxurious, professional, and successful. The plush leather chairs and polished petrified wood end tables told anyone entering the space that Sunrise Industries was no petty interface but a multi-national, mega corporation with a chain of industries in its subway, just the way dad wanted.

Jennie looked up with a curt nod when I stopped in front of her desk before entering my office. I nodded to the receptionist politely as I moved past her towards my corner office. She was a temp who'd taken over when my own secretary had to leave suddenly for a family crisis, but she'd been more than competent so far. She always seemed to know when I needed something and she was a whiz at organizing large quantities of data and pulling together what I needed to see quickly. I would like to tell HR they could go ahead and hire her permanently as my receptionist if there was no room for her anywhere in the company.

My business rivals feared me and my investors respected me, at least insofar as I knew I could make hell a lot of money through them. I never felt weak or anxious when I stepped up to the negotiating table and I normally thrived on other people's stress and pressure. Now my sole motto is to crush the Witmores by hook or by crook. "Jennie, Andrew will be here in a few minutes. Show him right in when he arrives."

"Yes, Mr. Martin," Jennie said with a polite nod. Andrew Walker is the head of Sunrise Industries legal department, but I had also been friends with him because he is forever honest with me. Sincere and candid people are the ones upon whom I have respect and employ with the best pay scales. Thus, Andrew is one of the few people who knew me as the man, beyond Adrian Martin CEO of Sunrise Industries.

Through Andrew's help, I hired Jack, a tech expert. He apprised me of the ways the Witmore accounts could be hacked. The pilferage will be sophisticated, planned and a clean sweep of company accounts without even a hint of a third eye knowing about it until it is well accomplished.

Three months later.....

"Congratulations Adrian, the deal is done." Andrew tells me enriched. A proud smile enveloped my features. The circumstances made me proud. I had maneuvered and negotiated the deal in the best possible way. I moved to my mahogany desk and stared down at my reflection in a hubristic smile. I had been certain in my strategy, confident in my work for a long time and the result of my plans clicked the best way.

"Thank you Andrew. It was so kind of you to help me." I dismissed him and leaned back on the leather chair with my legs crossed on the desk in front of me. A satisfied smile on my countenance, I crushed the Witmores but this will be a realization they would assimilate too late. It is a slow poison administered in their system. They will never know from where the flame started, their shares will drop down gradually and the investments would mangle. Steadily they will turn from barons to beggars.

Wow

Lighting a cigarette I pulled out my phone from my pants pocket. "Hey beautiful, let's rock today in celebration of my biggest victory." I wasn't like this at all. I was the studious, mild and silent guy next door but Amaira Witmore and her father changed me from a sage to a beast.

Half an hour later Clara walked inside swaying her lips. I met Clara in one of my dad's parties. She is a gorgeous brunette with perfect hourglass shape and creamy long legs. I bedded her the same night. She had the best ways in attracting men with her figure and moves, a stunning slut in ravishing curves. She settled in my lap, her hands wafted around my neck as she moves her upper body sliding over mine and rubbed her breasts to my chest. I kissed her hungry and deep.

"Bye, Jennie, I will be back to the office by tomorrow. Hold my calls till then unless there is an emergency." I directed her. "Yes sir." Jennie closed the door behind her, leaving the two of us in the privacy of the elevator. I ran my hands desirous on Clara's perfect physique and squeezed her breasts. She giggled like a Cheshire cat, her hands reaching my member, fondling me there. "Oh no baby, wait till we reach my bed."

The next day was a weekend, Sherlock called me and my face became like a glowing sun. "Hey man it's been more than six months and no see?" He taunts me. "Are you ready to join me for lunch today at the Radiance?"

"Of course sweetheart...." I could imagine him scowling at me as I landed on a guffaw. "Don't call me that." He growls. "Store those cheesy lines for your girlfriend." Instantly Christina's face flashes in my mind bringing goose bumps in me. I avoid the subject and tell him. "I will be there by twelve."

Since the last couple of months I had been dying to see my beauty but meetings lined up, work commitments and taking care of the Witmores blew my mind. As a result the cravings of my heart had to be locked, forced to wait.

I was having lunch with Sherlock. "How is your business going on James?" He settled the fork on his plate and gave me his undivided attention. "Amazing, I just completed taking care of the Witmores, my long cherished plan finally starts its execution." I wink displaying a conceited smile. "You did?" He asks me to be surprised. I nod cocksure. "I'm now excited to see the bitch's face." He tells me in real happiness forking the noodles on his plate.

Both of us cackle to a belly laugh. After we calm down he invites me to his home. "Next weekend I and Darcy are celebrating our first wedding anniversary. I hope you will join us in the celebration." I raise both my brows at him. "Is it already a year after you got married?" He bites his lip like a teenage girl. "And I am going to be a dad in another six months."

I faced him astonished. "I can't believe this man. You are too fast." He scorns baleful and I have fun enjoying his puppy face. "Well congratulations to you and Darcy." I speak between my laughter.

"So when would we have the privilege of seeing you with a girlfriend?" He changes the subject diplomatically. All my jokes die down with the question and I reply to him damn seriously "very soon". He looks at me taken aback. "Did I hear it right?" He murmured, peering at me like a halfwit idiot. "Yes you heard it right." I confirm in smiles and look around for the server to order another bottle of wine when my eyes locate someone familiar.

I walk to the table in excitement excusing myself from Sherlock. "I am sorry to interrupt but do you know each other?" I ask Edith, going completely thrilled. "Hi, what a pleasant surprise...." Her eyes went wide, elated. She directs her hand to Christina and introduces her to me. "She is Christ..."

"I know" I reply to Edith before she completes her sentence. "We met in my art gallery.” I tell her swilling thoroughly in Christina's arresting features. "Oh wow!" Edith studies me in her scrutinizing gaze about to pull my leg but I was smart to avert the danger. "I'm here with my friend Sherlock." I wave to Sherry to join me as I take a seat. Sherlock introduced himself to both the ladies and invited them to his anniversary celebration.

All of us finish our lunch and Sherlock leaves for his office. Ten minutes later Allen Rodriguez walks inside the restaurant in his everlasting charismatic persona, a white coat hanging on his right arm and a stethoscope around his neck. We exchange greetings and I opt to drop Christina home. He helps Edith from her seat to take her home. She will be staying with her parents for a few days.

"How are you?" I ask Christina once we are alone in the car. My hands were itching to touch her, hug her but I was to control my feelings until she was comfortable with me. I noticed her fiddling with her fingers and my concerns about her grew interminable in a fraction. Whatever her agitation was, I wanted to rip it out of its flesh.

She puts her first two fingers forward of both the hands and waves them. Since the day I met this beautiful young girl I couldn't leap an eye but to think about her. I did my preliminary study of sign language so that I could communicate to her without any hurdles. "Name?" I ask her, surprised in smiles relieved from the disquiet I was suffering till then. "I told you but I think you couldn't make out. I'm Adrian, Adrian James Martin." I turn to her side giving her my complete attention and spell out my name slowly, clearly facilitating her to read my words.

"Adrian" she enunciated to herself enthralled by the name but with no voice from her lips. "Do you like it?" I ask her tenderly, lifting her chin and getting captured in the sudden brightness of her eyes. She nodded and smiled and I felt my name was more beautiful than ever.

She places the tips of her fingers to her chin and brings them out forward. "Thank you, for what?" I ask her to divert my vision back to the road. She types something on her phone and shows it to me. "It was a huge amount and I'm not a professional. You shouldn't have paid me so much for the painting."

I peep into her capturing browns. "We can adjust the amount with a deal. Teach me to paint and I would think I had a fair bargain."

Adrian

We passed through New York's high rise buildings and busy roads to reach the suburban areas which had fresh green pastures and tall trees. In The midst of nature we come across beautiful medium sized cottages. After driving further a few of such chalets Christina asks me to stop in front of a brick structure.

It was a cottage, typically a small house that could carry the connotation of an old-fashioned construction at the same time a modest and cozy dwelling abode. The croft was surrounded by green pastures, different colors and varieties of flowers. Behind us was a beautiful lake.

After spending almost three decades in the city of busy speed up, whoosh and whizz I felt the cabin as a welcome to paradise in the billets of nature. An obscure feeling of heavenliness inhabited its way in my heart. I park my Buggati at a distance, take Chistina's hand and walk to the cabana. The door was opened by a red haired woman in her late forties who had the same chocolate browns like Christina.

Chris shared something to the lady in sign language and the woman's eyes twinkled in glee as though she had known me for ages. "Please come inside and take a seat." She directed me to a small sitting room that felt cozy and comfortable. "I am Adrian James Martin, Christina's friend." I introduced myself to her.

"We know, our daughter had so much to say about you." She gushed enthusiastically. "I am Jade Casablanca, Christina's mother and he is my husband, Christina's dad Caleb." A blond haired man with thick rimmed glasses comes forward and holds out his hand. "It is nice to meet you." Now I know where Christina got her beautiful blonde hair.

There were some hand signals that went between Christina and her mother. Though I couldn't understand much about reading their hand gestures, I could decipher Christina was speaking about me. Instantaneously I decide - I am soon going to learn sign language and be proficient in it very soon. There is no way I could fail myself in reading my girlfriend.

"Christina says you are a very generous and caring person. One of your employees, Tina, from the purchasing department, is her friend." Jade enthused. "I'm just a normal man who takes care of his employees and pays them well when they work hard." I speak balanced and pragmatic, accepting the steaming cup of coffee from her tray.

Christina lost her speech and hearing due to a tragic accident which happened ten years ago when she was only twelve. Since then Caleb and Jade had tried several remedies but with no effectual result. She thus lives under the protection and care of her parents along with her younger sister Jasmine.

Jasmine is a sixteen year old bold and brazen, fun loving girl doing her final year in school. She is the complete opposite in nature of her sister Christina. "Hi Adrian" she cheers and sits beside me. "I heard you are a business magnate and a big shot. I love designing dresses and want to do my graduation in fashion technology. Do you think you could help me with employment in your area of interest?"

Christina quickly comes, sits beside Jasmine with a scowl and directs her to her room pointing to the door with her hand. I chuckle at the sisters. "Sure, study well and I will help you with the best job." I assure Jasmine and pick the coffee cup to my lips that Jade gave me a while ago.

Caleb Casablanca and his wife Jade were exceptionally convivial people basically of Spanish origin but born and brought up in Hudson. They fell in love and got married at a young age, blessed with two daughters. Caleb is a professor in a local college and Jade is a professional dancer. Art is digested in Casablanca's blood since their birth. Probably that's how Christina is extremely talented in painting though she is too innocent to take the credit.

"So tell me about your business Mr Martin." Caleb asks while sharing a drink with me in the evening. "Please call me Adrian." I say politely and tell him about our businesses, Sunrise industries future projects. With the look on his face I believe he was awed by my description. I planned to drop Christina and reach back to my office in relation to the seminar my staff was supposed to organize but stayed at Casablanca's house till dinner as they were too warm and loving to reject their reception.

By the evening the dining table was decorated with scented candles and mouth watering Spanish dishes which I couldn't taste in the best of the restaurants.

The dinner started with Gazpacho - a tomato based Andalusian soup served during very cold times. As the temperature in New York is freezing right now I relished the soup much. Followed by the soup were starters Patata Bravas (potatoes cubed and shallow fried) and in the main course were Tortillas, Albondigas, Migas and Jamon. "You haven't had a second serving. Don't you like the preparations, Adrian?"

"The food is very tasty." I complement Jade. She smiles and refills my plate with the affection a mother holds to her child. The dinner culminated with Spanish sweet dish Leche Frita and homemade Churos. By the time I finished the dinner my stomach was about to burst. Because I loved the Churros, Jade had packed some more for me to snack at home.

I felt relaxed with the Casablancas and never thought I would have such a warm welcome at my first meeting itself. I felt like I was already a part of the family. I wish they were known to me earlier but no regrets. It was now not only for Christina but her family too that I wanted to make mine.

Christina came out to wish me goodnight and the family left us with the privacy I desiderated. The portico was dimly lit with just a forty watt bulb at the center. I walked towards my car taking the hand of Christina and looked around making sure we were encapsulated in the darkness.

I ran my hands tenderly from her shoulder to forearms and looked into her eyes in a yearning concupiscence. She rubs her forearms with the palms of her hand. "Feeling cold?" My voice was a rugged whisper as I bent my head slightly to read her eyes. I remove my jacket and lay it on her shoulders. Circling my hands around her I pull her to my chest. Her lips slightly part at the sudden contact and I place a kiss on her forehead. "You okay?" My voice goes more hoarsely.

She nods, dipping her head down in shyness. I pull the sides of the jacket closer, zipping it up. "Drink ginger tea before going to bed. It will keep you warm during the night." I wiped the sauce on her cheek with the pad of my thumb that she caught while eating churros a few minutes back. "Good night, now go inside the house. It is too cold here. I will see you soon."

I turn back and open the door of the car. She continues to wait, taps on my shoulder and holds up her phone. "Yes I will message you when I reach home." I told her with a smile but this time I couldn't hold back. I pull her face to mine and peck her lips. "Now go inside my love. Otherwise you will freeze here." I request her and wait till she reaches her entrance. After making sure she was inside the house I started the car.

Amaira

One year later

Dressed in a navy blue elegant skirt suit with white top underneath I took swift strides in my matching ballet flats along the propriety walls of Witmore industries. The staff greeted me by parting like a red sea while I walked my way to the elevator. I'm Amaira Witmore, a doctor by profession, benignant and compassionate. But they are the qualities I conceal from the world and only a few people know. Being the only child of my father Richard Witmore, I'm raised with principles, command and dominance on people to rein the legacy of Witmore industries as the CEO Amaira Witmore.

"Why do you think the shares of Witmore industries are marking stupendously low in the financial market? I need an answer right now." I punched my hands on the table glaring at our chief operations officer Jeremy Spear. "I was out of the country for just six months on a doctoral program and you brought the company to doldrums." I accused the already shivering man in a high pitched voice.

"I have tried my entire resources madam but we are yet to know from where the pilferage is taking place." He answers me meekly. "You are a mum." My voice echoed between the walls of the room and eyes glazed at him in the brightness of a flying rocket. "Stay at home and look after your children, at least your wife will have some rest." He looks down in defeat and I order him with my voice low, composed. "You need not come to work tomorrow." I handed him the resignation letter. "Sign it or else your death is in my hands."

The next second he scrawled the signature on the resignation letter and sprinted out of the room. I dial my secretary. "Order an urgent meeting with the branch heads. They need to be in the conference room by eleven that is half an hour from now." I lift my hand and check the time while I tell Rita, my secretary.

"Why is our company running in losses? Why are the prices of shares depleting? And why is there a stealing going on company's accounts?" I ask the branch heads without a greeting. "Don't we have sublime software for peerless encryption of our accounts? Or some of you are going against the back of your own company?" I direct my point eyeing the branch heads without a snag, knotting my fingers together and leaning back.

"I want your sincere replies now." I move forward and prod on the huge table with the pen in my hand. "Else I'm going to fish the reason out on my own and whoever the culprit is will not have his head above his neck." I challenge the branch heads without a hesitation. "Playing these sorts of games menacingly is my expertise and that is how I'm on this chair today. Don't give me a chance otherwise I can tear you right here like a hungry vulture." I study each of the heads in a dissecting scale using the eyes of a hawk.

"We are sorry madam. Please give us time for a couple of days more and we will reach you with a promising result by the end of this weekend." The staff’s feeble answers came out. "I need you to be louder." I hit the table with my hand and stood up. They repeat their replies much louder and stern this time. "Good" my answer was firm. "If I don't find the solution to this problem right before this weekend then all of you will submit your resignations on my table by Monday morning."

"Yes madam" The department heads brought out strong unanimous replies. The following Monday morning I had a stack of files placed on my desk with the information along with the proof on who the reason is for our company's downfall. The answer was clean and clear Sunrise Industries CEO Adrian James Martin. The name felt familiar but even after searching my memory for more than half an hour I wasn't able to come up with a good result. This man for sure has his blood boiling for us but why? I called for the documents of our company, the deals we have signed and the amalgamations that took place in the last couple of decades but no information came out on our possible rivalry against the Matins.

The misappropriation was cleanly done in an expert manner with no third eye coming to know about it until the embezzlement went beyond the control. I booked an appointment with Adrian Martin's secretary for next Monday because he is out of the country right now.

How and why, I couldn't help but have my incongruent questions that emblazon my mind, the answers I wanted to find out more than curious.