by Andrew Davis
Chapter 1: The Meeting... Helen's POV "Miss Potter, Your sisters are wishing to video chat with you." "Put them through, Minnie"
That's me, Helen Potter, the CEO of Potter Industries. I am the one who built this multi-billion dollar empire...Sure it was hard at first but I had my family and friends that supported and encouraged me to work towards my dreams. If someone told my younger self that I would be a CEO of a very popular empire, I would have laughed in their face. I was weird and a tomboy in my youth but now I have grown into a strong and confident woman and those who dare to bring me down has another thing coming towards them...
Minnie is my most trusted employee and my personal assistant, she is in her mid-forties and I look at her as a motherly figure, she worries about me so much especially when I have a rough day, I can tell her anything but some stuff like to keep to myself... As for my sisters, they are twins Anabiah and Evelyn but we like to call them by their nicknames "Isa" and "Eli" they are turning 16 this year and have been worrying me about what party they are having since I am planning it.
"Hey big sis" they said in unison and soon as I answered the video chat.
"What do you two want?" Even though I know what they wanted.
"Can't we just call and ask how our big sister is?" they pouted.
"Not when I am at work, I am very busy." I replied angrily. "What do you two want?" I asked again irritated. "We just wanted to know if you are free for lunch."
"I don't know, I will ask Minnie to check."
"Okay!" They said happily probably knowing that I am free for lunch.
"Minnie, check my schedule and see if I am free around noon"
"Yes, Miss Potter you are free at 1pm."She replied in her business-like tone.
I thanked her and turned back to laptop, to see my sisters beaming happily at me.
"That's it then! We will meet at that café down the street from your office at 1pm, don't be late!" They said excitedly. "Okay!" I replied before ending the call, when my phone vibrated notifying me that I have a new message. I swiped the screen and clicked the message to open it and read it. It was from my father. "Sorry to bother you scamp, just checPotter if you are still coming over for dinner tonight? We have things to discuss." My father Harry, used to call me scamp from the time I was a little girl, it is so embarrassing because I am a 25 year old woman and he still calls me scamp, "Yes, dad I am still coming over and please stop calling me scamp!" I answered and he replied with an okay.
Soon it was time for lunch, almost everyone on the 33rd floor left, leaving Minnie, the people at the secretary's desk and I. Minnie was gathering her things to go to lunch when I walked out of the office, I notified her that I was leaving for lunch before walPotter to the elevator. It was 12:55 before I got into the car that was waiting outside the entrance with my driver Sam.
"Where would you like to go Miss Helen?" He asked in his friendly voice, looPotter at me through the rearview mirror.
"To the café down the street" I replied while texting Anabiah that I will be in 5 minutes and she replied okay!
I entered the café and scanned the room for my sisters until I spotted them sitting by an isolated window booth with two guys talPotter to them. I walked up to them and cleared my throat irritated to make them notice I was standing there. My sisters looked up surprised while the boys looked shocked but I could see in their eyes... a don't care attitude.
"May I ask who you are?" I asked politely with a hint of irritation while glaring at the two boys. "Um, hey sis...this is Henry and David" Evelyn pointed to the tall dark haired boy who I assumed was David and then a red haired boy who was Henry; he was a little shorter than the other boy David. "What sup" David said with a smirk.
I glared at him, creating an awkward silence at the table, I going to say something but the other boy Henry beat me to it.
"Uh, David I think we should excuse our-..."
I cut him off. "Yes I think you should also leave before I do something that...well you will know when the time comes." "Uh, okay bye!" He said nervously while getting up, but before he could I grabbed his upper arm and whispered in his ear "I don't want to see you talPotter to my sisters or communicating with them ever, or I will give you and your little friend a very unpleasant gift, do you understand?" I threatened and he nodded vigorously and I let go of his arm and he and his friend left the café running.
My sisters were surprised but never say anything. I told them I don't want them to talk to boys without my concern and they agreed. They weren't like those teenage girls that say they don't care and they will talk to whoever they want but not them they obeyed whatever I told them because of that one incident where we went to the park and they were talPotter to these 2 boys and they were nearly kidnapped...you get what I am trying to say.
We ordered our food and then a few minutes later the waiter brought the food. There was an awkward silence until Anabiah decided to break it.
"Okay sis, we want to know more about our party and whether if we can start inviting everyone of course we will do the family first." Evelyn said in a serious tone but there was a hint of nervousness in her voice.
"Sure" I replied. "First we need to ask mom and dad about whom we should invite because there a lot of members from both sides of the family." I was not too sure because we had to arrange transportation for some of them that are abroad.
"Okay! So this Saturday we will arrange everything with mom and dad." Anabiah said a bit excited. "Don't forget our appointment on Friday for our dresses, Sis you said you will take us to see the dresses at 2pm." Evelyn reminded.
"Of course Eli, I can't forget about that and we also have a meeting with the baker about cake ideas so I will pick you to up after school." I said.
"So everything is settled then, I guess we should be getting on our way mum and dad must be worried" Anabiah said worriedly.
"Yes, ok bye sis! See you at home!" Evelyn said.
"Goodbye." I said before giving my sisters a hug and walked out of the café where Sam was waiting with the car. I told Sam to go back to the office. It was 3:00 pm; I was already late for a meeting regarding a new partnership. I reached the building and I power walked through the lobby to the elevator and pressed for the top floor, I pressed the close door button repeatedly and when it finally was about to close when a hand prevented it from closing.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!
Chapter 2: The Accident The elevator doors opened and I saw 5 men handsomely dressed in armani suits, they all had such piercing blue eyes that could make anyone who is a female tense up by just looPotter into them. Sorry but not this girl! Sure their eyes were so captivating with their perfect hair neatly swept back which gives them a powerful air.
"Excuse me" the man said he looked the same age as me.
I moved a little giving them some space I was shocked at how they all looked similar besides the blue eyes, they had the same jawline, maybe it's just a coincidience. The whole elevator was filled with this awkward silence, it made me feel claustrophobic. The silence was broken at the sound of a cellphone, my cellphone to be exact. The 5 men was staring at me, I moved a little away from and answered my phone without checPotter the caller ID. My ears was soon filled with the voice of a freaPotter out Minnie.
"Miss Potter! Where are you?! You are late for your meeting!! I was so worried about I thought something happened to you-"
"Calm down Minnie! I am fine and I am on my way to the office. I am in the elevator, I will be there any second, if this elevator will go any faster!" I said hoping to her calm down, which worked because she replied with a laugh and then saying that she will wait in my office.
I ended the call and waited patiently for the doors to open, I was so busy cursing the elevator that I did not notice that th
e guy next to me spilled his coffee that he was holding spilled onto my top, maPotter it all sticky.
"What the fuck is wrong with you!!" I probably red in the face because of my anger.
"I am so sorry!!" The guy apologised. He was a bit older than the guys probably 25 or 26 years old but I was so furious that I did not notice how gorgeous he looked with guilt in those beautiful blue eyes. "Sorry is not going to fix my shirt, you jackass!"
"I really am sorry!" he said with guilt in his voice.
I was about to say something, when the elevator came to a stop and the doors opened and I stomped out of the elevator and ran towards my office and slammed my door so hard it made Minnie jump. She turned around and all the colour ran from her face.
"My word! What happened?" she asked worried, she ran towards me and started dabbing the coffee stain on my top.
"Minnie please can you go down to the car and see in the trunk I have a change of clothes. And please hurry!" She nodded and ran down towards the garage and within 5 minutes she came back and had t my change of clothes. I took the clothes from Melani and rushed to the bathroom ajoining to my office, after 2 minutes I stepped out, Minnie and I rushed to the conference room to where the meeting was held.
When I opened the door, I did not expect what was waiting for me on the other side We were shown to a conference room on the 32nd floor. I still could not forget about the elevator incident and the beautiful woman who I clumsily spilled coffee on. When we arrived at the conference room, we were told that the CEO will be running a bit late and that we are welcomed to take our seats and wait for a little while. As soon as we were left alone, my brothers started talPotter about the beautiful woman in the elevator.
"Damn, is it just me or was that lady in the elevator hot!" my brother Anthony said. "Ya! She was gorgeous with her dark brown hair and her brown eyes and her perfect hourglass figure!!" said my other brother Sebastian.
There are 5 of us with me being the oldest and then Anthony the second, then Sebastian the third, then Eric and Dylan, the twins. "Don't forget about her temper!!" Eric joked, maPotter all of us laugh.
"Hey but what did happen back there?" Dylan asked while staring at me.
"I don't really know. But someone bumped into me maPotter me spill the coffee on her! Thanks alot Sebastian!" I said irritated while glaring at him.
"In my defence, there were six of us, squashed into a tiny elevator, it was getting pretty castrophobic" He said innocently but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.
Just when I was about to say something back at him the door opened and there she stood... Chapter 3: The Alexanders and Partnerships I could not believe my eyes when I opened the door to the conference room and there they all sat staring at me like I was from another planet. I took a quick glance around the room, hoping that I was in the wrong room but then Minnie assured me that they were the ones whom we were meeting. I walked into the room with a blank expression on my face but I was so sure that you could notice a bit of anger as soon as my eyes landed on him, he was the one who ruined my favorite top. I ignored him and continued walPotter towards my seat as soon as I sat down I greeted them with my most professional tone.
"Good afternoon gentlemen, I am Miss Potter, CEO of Potter Industries." I said, I noticed the shock that was present on their faces, they clearly were not expecting me to be here in front of them but I enjoyed their surprised faces.
*** There was an awkward silence that filled the room that really annoyed me, I mean why every time that I am in the place as these men, there is always this awkward silence. Thank god, Minnie broke the silence by introducing the men as the CEO's of the businesses owned but Alexander Inc. The man who spilled his coffee on me spoke first.
"Good afternoon Miss Potter. I am William Alexander, the CEO of Alexander Inc. and these are my brothers Anthony, Sebastian, Eric and Dylan and they all are CEO's of other Alexander owned businesses."
They all sat in a straight row. I assumed they were seated in order from oldest to smallest because William who seemed older was seated on the left and the man who looked about 21 who I assumed was Dylan on the right and Eric who looked identical to him so I would say that they were twins.
"We would like to propose an offer of becoming business partners." The man who I assume was Anthony spoke in a formal tone.
"And what does this partnership consist of?" I asked curiously.
"It consists of us worPotter together under close corporation and creating a business idea that will benefit all of our companies." The man seated next to Anthony, who must be Sebastian. "What exactly is the business in mind?" "Well, we are not exactly sure what type of business, we came here wishing to sign the partnership agreement and on a later date, we can meet up and discuss the business ideas." I was thinPotter of whether to reply yes or I will think about it and let them now when William interrupted my train of thoughts. "You don't have to give us answer right away, if you-" "No, I am willing to sign your partnership agreement." I replied sternly cutting him off. "Well, thank you Miss Potter!" Anthony replied a bit excitedly.
"If there is nothing more to discuss, I would like to view the papers and sign them." I replied before sending Minnie to get my lawyers.
After I have read the documents thoroughly and checPotter it with my lawyers and signing them. I left the conference room after giving them a brief handshake confirming our partnership; I entered the elevator with Minnie.
Chapter 4: The Dinner
As soon as Minnie and I stepped into the elevator, it was silent for a few seconds before Minnie broke the silence. "Well Miss Potter, I must say those boys were very handsome indeed, what do you think?" I giggled at her opinion on the Alexander brothers; yes that is what I am calling them. "Well Minnie, I must disagree with you on that!" I said with a smirk.
"Oh! Miss Potter, how could you disagree, I would so go for one of them if I were younger!" She said with such a humorous tone.
"What about Mr. Hudson, Minnie?" "Oh! Danny, I guess he's ok, when we were younger, you could say he was handsome but now he is just so annoying and he's jokes, God!, the neighborhood children call him Mr. Grumpy of Borington, because he loves to scare them and every time they walk past our house he will tell them the same old jokes from when he was a kid!" she said laughing at her husband. I must say they have a very good relationship, I remember one time, I had to go to Minnie's house to drop off something and the way they joke around with each other and laugh together, it is such a pleasant sight because after all these years, they were still able to keep that spark going and I admire them for that.
"But Miss Potter, I heard from the other girls in the office, that they are such playboys, all 5 of them!" Minnie said in a stern tone, like she was warning me.
"Well I will not be surprised, I am sure as soon as they stepped into the lobby, they made the girls at the front desk swoon over them!" I replied to her with an uninterested tone.
Finally the elevator reached the top floor and I made my way to my office and switched my laptop on and got to work.
I finally finished planning the next meeting with the board members and head of each department regarding the current progress for the month.
I looked at the clock on the wall near the door and saw that it was time to go to dinner at my parents' mansion in Manhattan.
I waved goodbye to Minnie after telling her that she could go home, and then I walked to the elevator and pressed for the lobby. The elevator doors opened with a ding and I stepped out. The people in lobby said goodbye and I waved back. I walked to the black car parked outside the entrance and Sam opened the back door for me and I jumped in. He jumped into the driver seat and asked where to Miss Helen? And I replied to my parent's house.
It took us about 45 minutes to get there from my office.
As I walked up the stairs and rang the doorbell, I was greeted by the welcoming smile of my sister Evelyn. "Chrissy!! I thought you weren't coming!" Evelyn ran and gave me a bone crushing hug. "I texted dad and told hi
m, I was coming." I said while catching my breath after my sister's hug.
"Eli, who is at the door?" Anabiah asked while walPotter to the door to see who it was and started running towards the door when she saw who it was. "Chrissy! I thought you were not coming!" yelled my over-excited sister Anabiah. You must be wondering about the name, when my sisters were young they could not pronounce the "t" in my name and started calling me Chrissy, so you can say that's my nickname.
"I told dad, I was coming" I am pretty sure that my father forgot to tell them or maybe just wanted to surprise them, I don't know. I walked towards the living room and saw my father lying on the couch, watching fast 'n loud, on Discovery Channel, I walked over to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek before going to the kitchen to find my mother.
I entered the modern styled kitchen and saw my mother fiddling with something in the drawers; I walked over to her and gave her a hug.
"Oh Helen! It's been so long since I last saw you!" my mother exclaimed hugging me even tighter. That's my mother, over-exaggerating everything, her name is Belinda. But my dad and uncles call her Linda. "What so long mum! I saw you on Saturday remember we went to that restaurant, you said you wanted to try." I said while trying to free myself from her grip. She finally let go and said "That was Saturday! Now it is Monday! That was two days since I saw you!" I forced a smile and walked out of the kitchen before she yelled Dinner will be served in 15 minutes.
I walked to the living room, to see that my father was not there and my sisters were watching Frozen, no matter how old they are, they still acted like 8 year olds, and when it came to the part where the song do you want to build a snowman? started playing, they started to sing along. I mentally laughed at them and walked upstairs to my room. I live in my own apartment near to the office but I guess my parents decided to leave my room as it is in case I decided to stay over or move back in.
I opened my room door and walked straight to the bed and collapsed onto the bed, I can't say how good it feels to be in the same room as when I was younger that will be about 7 years back. I was interrupted by a knock on the door and got up to open the door, when I saw who it is was; a small laugh escaped my lips. "Jony?! How are you? I thought you died." I joked.