Page 87 of Corporate Escapades

“Oh, my God,” replied Paris. She turned to look at Vic. “You were so busy looking at Tom that you failed to see what Angela was doing to you. This is exactly why you aren’t relationship material. Because you’re self-absorbed and you let your penis do the thinking.” She was angry, and she felt dirty. She wanted to lock herself in Mya’s bathroom and cry, but instead, she took it out on Vic.

Getting to his feet, Vic pointed a finger at her. “Seriously?” he asked. At least I try new things and experience life. You’ve hada crush on Tom for years and never even bothered to go after him. It took a crazy event such as your job and life hanging in the balance to make him come after you, and you thought it was legit? I guess the ‘safe option’ wasn’t so safe after all. If that’s how you want to live life, fine, but count me out. This self-absorbed man doesn’t need a woman who is fearful and stuck in the past. No, thank you!”

“Whoa! Stop!” barked Chase. “That’s enough out of you both. We need to deal with this situation before it gets worse, but with the way you’re acting, I almost want to let Angela and Tom have the whole shebang. You’re ridiculous. Mya and I can both see you’re mad about one another.”

“Whatever,” Paris replied as she continued to glare at Vic. “I don’t need to be buddies with him to run the company.”

“Oh, now wait a minute,” said Mya. “You think you can run this company without him? Think again.”

“Why not? We’ve worked side by side for the past few years with no issues until now,” she stated.

“Trust me, girlfriend,” replied Chase. “You’ll need each other. Running a company is a big messy deal, and you need people who understand the business as well as you do and who can help you make decisions and back you. You’ve got to be close, or this palace will crumble.”

Mya held her hand up to tell Chase to pause. “Let’s reign things in for a minute. It’s clear work needs to be done regarding your relationship, but it’ll have to wait until we secure your family’s legacies. So, for now, please table your anger." Mya was not one to easily anger, but this situation made her want to pull her hair out.

“Okay,” replied Vic. He sat back down on the sofa and looked at Paris, waiting for an agreement.

“I’m listening,” she replied.

“Good, now let’s get to it. We need to bring this situation to the board, but before we do, is there anyone else that could be working with them?” asked Chase.

“I doubt it. Angela and Tom probably wouldn’t trust anyone with the knowledge of their plan,” said Vic.

“I agree,” replied Paris.

“Okay, then I suggest we call an emergency meeting with the board before anything else happens. Sorry Paris, you won’t be going on that date tonight,” said Mya.

Vic glared in Paris’s direction. “I knew it. I knew it was him.”

“Well, obviously!” screeched Paris. Mya reached out a hand and gently touched Paris’s shoulder to calm her shakiness. “I’m fine,” she said quietly. “I’ll be fine.”

“I know,” whispered Mya. “Don’t be so hard on him. You’re both going through the same thing.”

Whispering back, she replied, “I know, but why does it feel like everything is on me?”

“Because you blame yourself when things go wrong. It’s a learning process. Don’t be so hard on yourself either,” said Mya.

Chase got to his feet. “Alrighty, who wants to make the call?”

“I will,” replied Vic. “I think the board will appreciate the initiative.”

Chase nodded. “Sounds good.”

Picking up his phone, Vic dialed his father’s number. The phone rang twice before Dom answered.

“Good evening, son. What's up?”

He sounded cheerful. Vic hated to ruin his mood. “Dad, do you think you can get the board together for an emergency meeting this evening?” he asked.

“Why? What’s going on?” he asked.

“We have some information to share regarding a situation within the company.”

“Okay, what kind of situation?”

“Scandal,” he replied evenly. The kind that will require the entire board’s presence.” He looked at Paris, took a deep breath, then proceeded to say, “Paris and I might be involved in a lawsuit in the near future.”

“Vic—” his father paused. “What have you done? Did you do something to Paris?”

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