Merrick

Babe, had so much fun today. Is there any chance we can...

That first sentence was merely enough to make my blood boil as I grasped the words written. I don't know if it's an unfortunate thing that I am able to read just that much of it. Because to read the rest of the text, I needed to unlock Monica's phone. And I am more than eager to do that. However, I have no idea how the hell I would react if I found something that would be really awful beyond my fucking imagination. I stare at it in an absolute shock once, twice, and thrice before the screen blacks out.

My eyes turn blur with the copious anger that runs through my veins, and before I get some time to process anything, I hear the clicking of the bathroom door. The phone almost slips from my hand as I reach to place it back on the nightstand before Monica catches me. My heart is beating fast when she steps out of the bathroom as if I was minutes away from being caught for committing a crime when I am not even the guilty one in the room.

I glance at her, recovering from the bafflement I just endured. I take her in and notice that she has changed into an orange spaghetti top and some pajama shorts. Her eyes scan my face as she dries her hair with a towel.

And I avert my gaze quickly before she catches the change in my countenance and then I walk towards the balcony, keeping my cool. Sliding the large glass door, I step out into the open. My fingers grip onto the railing tightly, unable to understand what I just witnessed. The cool breeze grazes against my skin and I try to suppress my anxiety, focusing on the night sky above my head. It seems like even the stars are laughing, looking down at my misery.

Fuck! Just when I thought I could make things better by taking our relationship to next level, I had to find that my fiancée is cheating on me. I shut my eyes and clench my jaws at the thought of seeing the woman I love in some other man's arms. How could she do this to me? I loosen the tie around my neck, suddenly feeling suffocated. Oh, come on, Merrick! Don't be ridiculous. It wasn't like you caught her sexting or something. That message literally meant nothing. What if it was from one of her girlfriends?

Maybe I am just overthinking for no reason. I know babe can be used regardless of any gender, but I can't shake the sick feeling that I got when I read that nickname in the text. I know I haven't heard anyone say it, but the way it was written, I am sure it wasn't sent with an intention of showing just friendly affection.

I sigh and look through the corner of my eyes and watch Monica checking her phone. She looks horrified as she shifts her head quickly in my direction to see whether I have noticed her or not. But I keep my vision fixated in front of me, not letting her know that I am aware of her each move. And my heart literally wrenches when she lets out a sigh of relief. I look away quickly, but for sure I don't miss the smile that crept on her lips looking at the text before that shocked expression had taken up her face.

And it makes me question every fucking thing all over again. What if it really is what it looks like? What if Monica is really cheating on me? Her weird behavior all along might as well justify it. Fuck! I need to know the truth about that text. I fucking need to know it right now or else I'll fucking drive myself crazy.

I turn around and then storm back into the room. Monica is already on the bed, pulling her sheets up and yawning when I walk in.

"Monica, I need to talk," I say straightly, trying not to reflect the anger in my tone.

She frowns. "Right now?"

"Yeah."

"Merrick, can't we do that tomorrow. I am just feeling very sleepy, please..." She pouts, her dark brown eyes gazing at me. And I feel a tug at my heart knowing how much that innocence in them isn't real.

She asks me when I don't seem to respond. "Is it something that can't wait until tomorrow?"

I look into her eyes and struggle, thinking about whether I should confront her right away or not. I observe that she really looks tired. So I let out a sigh in defeat and say. "No. It's fine, you can go to sleep. We'll talk tomorrow."

She nods and I walk to my side of the bed. Taking off my suit jacket, I let my eyes close, feeling emotionally exhausted. I haven't even had the talk with Monica and I am already losing my mind. I don't remember how long I stay like that until Monica's voice rings again in my ears.

"Merrick, could you just switch off the lamp?" I look back at her and nod silently. She smiles and goes back to sleep, leaving behind my nerves on a wreck.

I spend the entire night tossing and turning on the bed, thinking about that single text tormenting my mind.

I don't know when I fall asleep between my horrible overthinking and stressing ordeal but when I wake up, it's already half past 9 in the morning. Fuck! This might be the first time when I am getting late for work. I groan and turn my head just to find the bed empty. I immediately glance at the bathroom and realize that it isn't occupied. What the hell? Monica left? I fucking needed to talk with her and she left?

I feel the anger rise in me, recollecting about the text that I saw on her phone last night, but I calm myself and freshen up to get ready. I can never afford to be late for work. I hurry into my closet and put on a navy blue suit. I adjust the tie, looking at the full-length mirror in there, and then rush downstairs. The sun shines brightly through the window landing as I descend.

I reach the dining table soon and grab an apple from the fruit basket. "Did Monica say anything where she was going?" I ask when Claire comes into view from the kitchen.

"No." She speaks and looks at me. "Aren't you going to have breakfast?"

I shake my head in denial. "I need to get to the office, Claire. You know how much I hate being late."

She frowns in response, and I smile, reassuring her. "Don't worry, I'll grab something to eat on the way."

I turn to leave when Claire calls. "Merrick, is everything alright?"

I look back at her and from the worried look on her face; I know what she is intending to ask. It is true that I can never lie or hide anything from her, but right now I am not in a position to answer her because I am not even aware of the whole truth. So I just look into her eyes and half-smile. "I think so."

I reach the Addington tower in a hurry after I get a grilled sandwich for me on my way. One of the things that I inherited from my father is the respect he had for punctuality. I loved him and simply adored his work ethic. He would always say that to be a successful man, you have to always be on time. Earlier, it looked just like a rule to follow, but with time, his words grew stronger to run in my veins. And that's one of the prominent reasons I've never managed to be late for my work and especially never in a pissed mood. I am usually known to share a cordial relationship with my employees and that's why people get to notice the change in my demeanor that day as I walk into the building. Everyone in the lobby pays me a surprising glance when I don't respond to their greets like I usually do and head straight to the elevator to get to my floor.

Stomping to my cabin, I halt to look at  Nancy sitting at the desk. "Tell Sarah to cancel all my meetings and appointments for today. And yeah, make sure no one bothers me." She nods immediately, grasping my angry expression, and I walk into my room, shutting the door behind me.

My heart races fast as I settle in my chair. I close my eyes and catch my breath, finding peace in the thought that I did finally reach on time. But slowly, as I get back to my senses, the message that I saw last night begins to flash in front of me. I snap my eyes open and instantly reach for my phone to call Monica. She doesn't pick up, and it brings back the rage in me that was starting to subside slowly. My patience seems to wear as I keep trying her number. And my eyes are almost red with fury by the time I notice the buzzer on my intercom ringing. I pick up and growl. "Nancy, didn't you understand what I said earlier?"

Nancy breathes shakily at the harshness of my tone. "I am sorry sir, but Mr. Hall wants to meet you."

"Fine," I sigh and I look up to see Anthony already walking in.

Anthony has been working with us for a really long time and I know he wouldn't think of bothering me unless it's something important for me to know. He has been a valuable business partner to my father for years and now holds the prestigious position of being CFO of our company, along with being the major assistance in all my projects. My father always respected him for his intelligence and advice and I knew very well that he wasn't wrong in his judgment.

Apart from that, I would always be grateful to Anthony because he truly helped me at the start of building my career and also let me learn a lot about this business through his knowledge and experience.

"I've heard you canceled all the meetings for today? Are you okay?" He asks me with a concerned look on his face.

I look at him and nod as he takes a seat in front of my desk. "Yeah. Just couldn't get proper sleep last night."

He shakes his head with a small smile playing on his lips. "It's okay. We can gladly take care of it for you today, but make sure you get yourself charged back to your businessman mood for tomorrow."

"What's tomorrow?" I frown, watching the paperweight that he is now mindlessly revolving on the table.

He stops his movement immediately, and I shift my gaze to look up at him. Straightening up himself in the chair, he looks at me in disbelief. "I can not believe it. How can you forget? You have been overwhelming yourself and all of us for this encounter for god knows how long." He shakes his head looking a bit disappointed and looks at me again. "And when it's finally happening, you tend to let it slip out of your mind? Are you sure you are really okay?"

When he witnesses the crease over my forehead, still evident, he lets out a sigh of frustration. "You are going to meet Miss Miller, the CEO of Miller enterprises for the agreement."

I almost jump out of my chair when I hear him say that, remembering about the deal. "Oh, hell right!"

Anthony laughs, looking at my expression. "Thank goodness! At least, you do remember it now."

Miller enterprises run the biggest supply chain of raw materials and chemicals for the commercial production companies, especially the cosmetics brands working across the country. One of the main reasons for Ashton grey's success in the market is because of the tie-up that he had been having with Miller industries for years.

"Merrick, do you think it's worth it? I mean, they have been working with Ashton for so many years. I wouldn't wonder if they have grown as an entire business family together by now. Don't get me wrong, but it's crazy to think that you are willing to risk so much in this. What makes you think they'll do business with us? If something goes wrong..."

"Anthony, to my knowledge Millers have always been the kind of percentage gainer. That's the reason they have such a big name in the play. They look like they have always aim to expand their business, not their relations." I shrug and lean forward on the desk.

"As far as it is concerned about them not doing business with any other company over these past years, it would probably be because they might not have been getting the gain they were striving for from the others compared to Ashton's. If you remember even we couldn't manage to afford their deals over all these years. But things have changed now. We are offering them just double of what Ashton could have ever dreamt of. It's an offer no one can resist, Anthony. Not even the Millers."

He looks at me and slightly nods. "Ashton's gonna be pissed, you know. He is one of the dirtiest players that your father and I have known in this field..."

"I know Anthony. I have been bracing myself up for this for a long time because no matter what I am not going to let go of the only chance I've got to fulfill my father's dream."

Anthony gazes at me for a minute with an amused expression. "Your father would always say if a man is afraid of taking a risk, he couldn't rule in the business world. Hell, he could merely even survive." He says with a laugh and I smile. He then looks into my eyes and I see a proud smile gracing his lips. "Merrick, as I look at you now I can see him. Hope everything goes as you have planned."

"It will," I say. "You said it's going to be Miss Miller. But last time I checked the company was run by Mrs. Jamie Miller." I ask him after a moment realizing what he had referred to earlier.

"Yeah. But her daughter has taken up her position now. I think Zelina Miller..."

I frown and question him back. "How come I've never heard about this Zelina?"

"Because you were never interested in knowing women other than Monica." Anthony jokes trying to lighten the mood but my body tenses at the reference of Monica's name. I look at him and half-smile, not letting him grow suspicious about it.

He studies my face and then whispers in a playful tone. "Might warn you she's got a very bad reputation."

I lean back on my chair and sigh. "Her reputation isn't of my concern. I just need this deal to finalize."

"Yeah..." He glances at his wristwatch and then stands up. "I think it's time for me to get back to work. Good luck, champ." I nod and he walks away, closing the door behind him.

After Anthony leaves, I try to shove the sandwich I bought earlier down my throat despite not feeling even a bit hungry. Monica doesn't bother to call me back, neither does she replies to any of the text I've sent her throughout the day and it absolutely pisses my mind.

I leave early that day in a hurry to get to the studio where Monica is shooting. What the fuck is wrong with her? Why is she ignoring my calls? I need to talk to her right now. On the way, I am reminded of her agent and I immediately hit a call to her.

"Where is Monica, Lucy? Why isn't she picking up her phone?"

"Hey, Merrick. I don't know...She was here about an hour ago. But then she said she was leaving."

"Was she alone?" I don't know why the hell that question came to my mind but I ask her anyway.

"No, I saw her leaving with Liam Nelson. He is her costar of the commercial they are shooting for."

"Okay," I say, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

"Is there any problem?" Lucy asks in a worried tone.

"Not yet. Thanks for letting me know." I answer her plainly.

I end the call and then ask Sarah to fetch Liam's address and send it to me. Within seconds the location pops on my phone and I straight head to Liam's house. I stop a block away from his gate when I see two silhouettes on his balcony. It isn't clear from here but I freeze as I see two figures standing really close and from here I can faintly make out that one of them is Monica.

I clench my jaw when I realize what they are doing. And my anger raises when I picture them kiss in the dark.

A/N:

Guys, I don't know much about the business world so I am going to apologize in advance for the mistakes I am going to make with reference to the corporate terms.

Anyway, hope you guys like this.

Thank you for reading!

Janny❤