The Wedding Night

“To write about life first you must live it.” Ernest HemingwayText property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

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Melody POV

When I entered his office, I stood at the entrance with my head bow. I couldn’t look at His face because if I did, I would be forced to ask him about his head.

“You called for me sir,” I announced my presence.

“Setup a board meeting right now,” he ordered without looking up. ” I hope you are prepared because you will be presenting your new proposal for the project.”

“What?”

“Did I stutter melody?” He question.

“I am not fully prepared for this sir,” I disagreed. “It’s too soon.”

“You don’t have a say in this. This is my company and you work there.” He reminded me.

“I believe I have a say, sir,” I replied and began to demonstrate with my hands. “This is not a little project sir and since my first proposal was rejected, I am still trying to draft a new proposal.”

“Then I believe you are incompetent.” He commented.

“Excuse me,” I hate when people look down on me.

“If you believe you are competent enough then prove to me by presenting .”

“But sir,” I tried to argue but Lorenzo’s throat clearing made me look in the direction. He stood up from the leather couch he was sitting on and walked closer to me with his hands in his pocket.

“I believe you do not have to question your boss. If he says he wants you to present then you have to. You have no option in this melody.” He said and clicked his tongue.

I glared at him and at that point, I regret all the decisions I have made in my life. I couldn’t do anything against the meeting even if I wanted to. “You are right sir,” I answered back with a smile. “I should prove myself and make sure no one doubts me,” I said through gritted teeth. “I will set up the meeting right away sir.” I bow and gave Lorenzo a murderous look before walking out of the office.

When I got out, I threw a punch to the air and muttered some cursed words. “Fuck you Lorenzo and you too Giovanni.”

I walked back to my desk and pondered on what to do. I needed to prove myself. I needed them to see that I was good even better. While thinking about what to present, I forgot about the bandage on Giovanni’s head.

It’s none of my business anyway.

I set up the meeting with the board members and concentrate on my finalizing my proposal.

Thank goodness I worked on it earlier.

About an hour later, the board room was filled with the board members including the CEO’s department. Giovanni stood up to address them all and when he was done, he announced the reason for the meeting. “I call this meeting to see what miss melody had been up to.” As soon as he said that, the board members began to murmur amongst themselves but my boss shut them up by slamming his hands on the table. ” miss melody here was given a second chance to prove herself, and now is the time to prove that. “He said and pointed at me. ” miss melody please step forward and show us what you’ve got.” He beckoned for me to come forward and I did. I adjust my clothes and walked to the front of the room with every built-in boldness.

“Good afternoon everyone, thank you all for gracing us with your presence and…..”

“Can you please cut the chit-chat and get on with it ?” Cassandra interrupted.

I inhale and exhale then I looked at her. “Miss Cassandra, please refrain from interrupting me,” I warned her and when she tries to reply, Giovanni shut her up with his right hand.

“Permit me to continue Sir,” I requested from Giovanni.

“You may continue,” he permitted.

The projector above my head on the board displayed my proposal and I began the presentation. “This project is called Memories,” I said and I could hear the shifting of legs and chairs.

It was as if they were ready for me to fail.

“This is a little draft of what memories entail.” I pointed to the screen. “People tend to forget that change is constant. Sometimes it might be when we never expected and most times, it what we’ve been through.” I paused and looked at Giovanni’s face. His hand was placed on his chin and he was listening and staring at me with rapt attention.

“I choose memories for the project because no matter how hard we try to forget that awful past, it always stays here.” I touched my head indicating where my brain was. “In our memories.”

“Girls have these insecurities about their skin and the shape of their bodies but with memories, bad memories are replaced with good ones.  The radiant smile after a beautiful makeover creates happy memories.” I told them and looked at their faces.

“They seem to be drawn by this,” I thought as I reqd their expression. Some of them were nodding to what I have said while the others shook their heads including Cassandra and Lindsey.

“You don’t have to be worried about your skin color because memories got the perfect skincare product to make all those insecurities go away. With memories, every makeover, skincare will be filled with the best memories.” I concluded the presentation and looked at their faces.

I was expecting cheers and claps but they all looked at me as if they were expecting more from me.

I bite my lips as the thought of failing again crossed my mind. Few seconds past and it was still the same thing until I heard someone clapped.

“Wait, did Giovanni just clapped for me.” I thought as I looked at his face.

He smiled at me and gave me a thumb up then he went on clapping. When the others saw what he had done, they joined him and soon the board room was filled with clapping.

“You go girl,” Anita cheered and gave me a thumb up.

I was so happy that I didn’t know that tears were starting to fall from my face. I felt like a superstar and couldn’t help but also clapped.

Yeah, I did it.

When the clapping finally died down, Giovanni stood up from his seat. He cleared his throat and then he spoke up.” That’s was short but impressive.” He commented. “At least it was better than last time.” He commented and everyone burst into laughter. “Memories is a nice brand name but,” he paused.

Why does everything have but in them?

“You need to add more to your presentation,” he advised. “Show us the reason behind memories. Your project is already approved since the executives all loved it. I want you to prepared for a better presentation before the launching date.” He said and I nodded. “That’s should be all,” he said and looked at the faces o the executives. “Unless someone has something against this,” he said. When no one said anything, he opens his mouth to speak but Lorenzo interrupted.

“What do you have to say, Lorenzo?” Giovanni questioned him.

Lorenzo didn’t give him a reply, instead, he stood up and pointed at me. “I believe we all should know why you choose this word. Is there a bad memory you are trying to forget,” he questioned.

Why was he asking me that type of question? Why was he trying so hard to make me look like a bad person? Those were the questions that went through my mind as I stared at him. I had nothing to say but I didn’t want to feel defeated so I said, “Mr. Lorenzo, there is no reason for those questions. Everyone has a bad memory and I am not a saint so yes, I do. I believe you have a memory you are keeping?” I questioned back.

I saw  Lorenzo balled his hand into fists and then he smiled at me. It was a wicked smile but I couldn’t care less. “At least my memories were good ones. I wonder what your memory is all about. Did you do something bad in the past?” He retorted.

I knew Lorenzo was trying to trap me into surrendering to him but I found his words pointless.

“If I did something bad sir then I guess yours might be worst,” I smirked at him as I said those words. “You are a man and the popular Aderemi at that while I am just a normal woman.”

All through our exchange of words, Giovanni and the board members were looking back and font. I knew Giovanni suspected that something was wrong. He was smarter than just being a CEO.

When Lorenzo tries to reply to me back, Giovanni shouted. “Enough!” He shouted. “That’s is enough!” He yelled again. “Meeting dismissed. You may all leave. Lorenzo and melody, please stay behind.” he ordered.

The board members all left the room one after the other and soon, there were only the three of us left.

Giovanni faced us and looked from Lorenzo to me. ” can you please explain what that was about?” He questioned and fold his arms.

Lorenzo and I began to speak at once but Giovanni shouted at us. “One at a time!”

Lorenzo was the first to speak and I couldn’t help but listen to what he had to say.

“You need to fire her,” Lorenzo said.

“Fire me? What did I do wrong?” I questioned him.

“Look at you interrupting me when you shouldn’t. You don’t deserve to be here.”

“Why? If you are so offended by my presence then stay the hell away from me.” I told him.

“You should stay away from us. You are nothing but toxic. You don’t deserve to be here.”

I burst into laughter and when I was done, I faced him and pointed an accusing finger at him. “Just say whatever you have to say, Lorenzo. You were always like this. You have always hated me!” I shouted.

“Enough!” Giovanni yelled. “Why are you talking like you know each other?” He asked his brother.

“If I wanted to know people, you should know I know better people,” Lorenzo replied.

“Oh really? What makes you feel important huh?”

“I said enough!” Giovanni roared. “Any other word from you two and I am gonna lose it.” He said. ” I don’t know if you know each other but I won’t accept these pointless arguments. What is wrong with you two?” He questioned angrily. “Stop acting like kids!”

“It’s not my fault that your brother is a cagna(bitch)” I said in Italian.

Giovanni glared at me while Lorenzo rushed to hit me but Giovanni holds him back.

“Okay, that’s enough,” Giovanni said calmly. He dropped Lorenzo’s hand and turned to face me. “I won’t tolerate you disrespecting my brother. He is also your boss.”

“He ain’t no boss of mine,” I told him.

“Look at what I am talking about Gio. She is a problem.” Lorenzo commented.

“I will address that later, melody you may leave.” He commanded.

I gave Lorenzo an angry look then I walked out of the board room making sure I bumped Lorenzo on the shoulder.

Is he trying to play games with me then I am going to remind him of all the bad memories I had about him.