CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

Caleb’s POV

I came to LA to follow up on the progress on the company’s branch. But right now, I was fucking exhausted, and I couldn’t let it show. My flight from NY touched down at 11am and this particular meeting was scheduled for 12pm. 

My assistant- Tom had mixed up the dates, so here I was, in a fucking meeting I wasn’t even fucking prepared for.

“Mr Bancroft?”

I raised my head up and nodded. “Continue, I’m all ears.”

I drowned his voice immediately; Tom would be writing down the minutes and important details for me that I can go through later at night.

After two painfully slow fucking hours, the meeting ended and I was so glad to be heading home.

“Mr Bancroft,” I recognized the man from meeting, but I couldn’t remember his name. “We’re so glad to have you join us for the next two weeks. Er, we promise to always do our best and uphold the company’s unflinching reputation.”

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at him. I was so goddamn tired, but I couldn’t tell him that, so I nodded firmly.

“Any other important information should be sent to my assistant,” I gestured to Tom who was on my right. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

~~

I slept for six hours and woke up around 9pm feeling fully energized. I got out of bed and my stomach churned in hunger. I had to eat something. I strolled to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator and sighed in relief. It was restocked, like I had instructed Jerry prior to my coming here. 

I took out a bowl of chocolate ice cream- my all time favorites and plucked a spoon from one of the cabinets. Compared to my home in New York, this place was smaller. I didn’t mind since I hardly lived here, anyways.

I had smaller but comfortable houses scattered around the country in case I had something urgent to do. I hated hotels, so I bought houses instead, because I can fucking afford it.

I had taken my first spoon of ice cream when I heard my door bell. I hated visitors, unless they were close familiar people and luckily, I knew who was at my door by this time.

I attacked him into a hug before he could say anything and when I pulled back, he had a grimace on his face.

“I smell chocolate all over you.” When he saw my knowing grin, he groaned. “Urgh man, you still take that shit?”

I chuckled. “Nice to see you too, Jordan.”

“Welcome to LA, man,” he held up two bottles of wine, one in each hand as he stepped into the living room. “Nice.” He nodded as he looked around.

I took out two wine glasses from the wine cabinet and placed it on the center table in the living room, while Jordan popped a bottle and began pouring red wine into each glass.

He looked good on the outside, and fucking neat as always with his matching pants and sweat shirt. But on the inside, how was my friend doing?

“How are you, man?” I had to ask. I haven’t seen him in almost three months and a lot had happened within that period. I could still see the headline clearly in my head.

JORDAN CHANG, SON TO CEO OF CHANG GAMES &CO AND MELISSA WHEELER, HEIRESS TO WHEELER ENTERTAINMENT CALLS OFF WEDDING…

Jordan shrugged, before taking off his glasses and putting it on the table. He lifted a wine glass and took a sip.

“Talk to me, man,” I grumbled, sitting up in anticipation. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m okay,” he took another sip. “At least, I no longer hear her voices in my head or hallucinate about her.”

I exhaled air from my nostrils. The breakup was messy. The media had said that it was a mutual breakup, but insiders like me, knew it was a cover up strategy. Melissa’s family needed to protect their image.

“You’ll find someone better,” I told him. “Forget about that bitch.”

He laughed, and his shoulders relaxed. “I don’t even have time to think about her. I’m so busy with work.”

I nodded with understanding. It was the best coping mechanism. You throw yourself into your fucking work until you even forget that you were heartbroken in the first place.

“Enough about me,” Jordan grinned. “I heard rumors that your grandfather wants to retire as CEO. Congratulations in advance man, you deserve it.”

Oh shit.

I rub my palm over my face in frustration. The major reason I came on this work trip was to take a break from everything, especially from grandfather.

“What’s wrong?” Jordan scowled seeing my troubled expression. “You don’t want to be CEO?”

I laughed dryly. “Grandfather keeps pressuring me to get married.”

Jordan shrugged. “You will. So what’s the big issue?”

I shook my head. “You don’t understand. He’s not going to hand over the position to me unless I find someone to marry this year.”

“Shit.”

“Exactly. Its either I get married, or Jeremy becomes CEO. And you know I would rather eat glass than to see him in that position.”

My grandfather aka Granpa Bancroft aka Chairman and CEO of Bancroft Enterprise loved getting what he wants, but sadly, he won’t be getting this one.

“Marriage is fucking out of my plan, man,” I snapped at no one in particular. I was angry at him. I was angry that after all my efforts and hard work into the progress of the company, an irrelevant thing such as marriage clouded my grandfather’s eyes. 

It was always; You’re doing great Caleb, but you need to get married. Or I’m not getting any younger son, when will I see my great grandbaby?

I was sick of everything.

“Easy man, you might break that glass if you squeeze too hard.”

I blinked back into present to see Jordan staring at me with genuine concern. “I’m not ready for marriage,” I said softly. “The whole process of getting to know someone, developing feelings, having someone in your personal space for the rest of your life-“ my body shuddered at the thought. “I can’t do it, or at least I’m not ready for that yet.”

Jordan nodded slowly and one side of his lip twitched ever so slightly. “You know, you don’t have to fall in love with anyone, you just need to marry them.”

It felt as if a balloon popped loudly in my head and something clicked.

“My parents’ marriage was an arranged one. They ended up developing feelings for each other after they got married. So, realistically speaking, if you don’t want loose the CEO title to your cousin, get married.”

I smiled, because a plan began to take shape in my head and I needed to someone to take the bait.

~~~

As soon as I saw her approaching my table, a feeling of doubt washed over me.

“Oh my gosh Caleb, I literally had to reschedule my photoshoot to meet you here.” 

Rachael Stone, influencer extraordinaire.

“Thank you for making it,” I smiled as she lowered herself on the chair opposite mine. I gestured to a waiter and then returned my attention to her. “How are you doing?”

Rachael flipped her hair and bent intentionally, showing me a glimpse of her cleavage which I most definitely wasn’t interested in at the moment.

“Oh, you know,” she waved her hand while speaking. It was a habit of hers. “Photoshoot, creating content for the gram, influencing some beauty products. The usual stuff.”

I nodded as the waiter attended to us and we placed an order.

“I was here this morning you know,” she said after the waiter left. “The fucking waitress got my order wrong and I was about to raise hell.”

I glanced at her speechless. Rachael was an attention queen. Was she really the right person for the job or would I end up regretting it?

“How are you finding LA so far?” she batted her lashes at me and snaked her palm over mine. “Do you need me to make things more interesting?” she bit her lips seductively and began to draw patters on the back of my palm.

I withdrew my palm and my expression gave her an answer. We’ve had sex several times in the past and that was it. But for some reason, she’s always tried to rope me into having something serious with her.  

It was fucking impossible. Rachael was lousy, attention seeking, manipulative and cunning. Once she latches on to this opportunity, she would never let go and I wouldn’t be able to cope. 

Some people are only good for sex, and she was one of them.

“So, why did you ask me to meet you here, anyways?” she cleared her throat, I could hear the disappointment in her voice.

I had made my decision then and there. Rachael wasn’t the right person for my plan.

I shrugged as the waiter placed our foods before us. “I just wanted to have dinner with you.”