Dating Mr. CEO - Chapter 7: Chapter 7

ELROY
My eyes perused through the design sketches Infront of me, flipping from page to page with my infamous indifferent look. I later closed the sketch book, looking over at Judy Devon, the owner of the Devon Brand.
"Hm... They look good." I said. Pushing the sketch book to her direction. The middle aged woman gave a small Curt smile. "But they don't match up to my company's standards." Her Curt smile dropped immediately, at my remark.
"What?" She asked.
I raised my brow at her. "But we can make do with a few, if you'll allow me to show your designs to my best designers, they'd know what went wrong... Your designs are good but, they're just not that good." I stated, ignoring her question.
"Um... I'd love that Mr. Chesterfield. My sketchers may have given off the wrong vibe, I am really sorry about that. But all the same, It'd be an honor to work with you and the other industries for this project."
I replied with a nod.
Judy stood up and so did I. She extended her hand for a hand shake.
"Oh, we don't need to shake on the deal, Judy." I informed her.
In embarrassment, she dropped her hand back in her side. "It's a pleasure finally getting to meet you Mr. Chesterfield. Sparks was and still is the company that built my inspiration for designing."
Argh! Why can't she just leave!
"I'm glad to hear that." I said with a stern look.
The woman smiled as she finally walked out of my office. Shortly after, my assistant, Carter, came in.
"How is the bikini shoot going?" I asked, lifting my head to stare at him.
"They're still on it. Lexi wasn't able to model for it though."
"What? What happened to her?" I asked with creased brows.
"Family crisis." Carter said.
I sat up. "Family crisis? What is our business with that? She shouldn't have auditioned for the shoot If she wasn't capable of doing it." I frowned. "Some people are just incompetent. Give her a call and tell her not to bother coming back."
"Okay."
I hated shit like this.
This was my work and I couldn't have anyone toying with it.
Carter was still standing there.
"Anything else?" I asked him.
"Um... Actually, yes... Your brother's outside, he wants to see you."
My jaw clenched. "Why are you telling me this? I remember asking you to cancel any visitation that wasn't work related. Tell him to leave, I'm busy."
"Um ... He is rather... Reluctant." Carter said.
I sighed, knowing how stubborn Damien could get.
I knew it was Damien anyway, who else had it in his schedule to bother his brother on Tuesdays?
Cade, on the other hand, wasn't one to associate with anyone.
He liked his privacy and hates talking too much... Wouldn't blame the poor sap. He was hit pretty hard with his past.
"Send him in." I muttered angrily.
Carter scrambled his way out of my office and within no time, Damien came in with his infamous reassuring smile.
"Elroy, I was beginning to think about busting in." Damien smiled, making himself comfortable by sitting on the chair opposite me.
"What do you want Damien?" I asked with no expression on my face.
"I saw Fay's Instagram post this morning."
I squinted my eyes as the look of disbelief blessed my face. "So, you came all the way from your company just to tell me that you've finally learnt how to handle Instagram?" I asked.
Damien scoffed. "No. I came to discuss something with you."
"Let me guess, it's about Fay." I stated.
"Yes. Look, I know the both of you are staying together and you have this- blooming relationship, at least- that's what the public think."
"Oh, you don't think that we're happy?" I asked him.
Damien rolled his eyes. "I know you Elroy, more than you think you know yourself. Listen, you can fool grandma but you can't fool me."
"That so?" I asked.
"Yes. Fay deserves better than you're giving her."
I raised my brows in realization. "Oh, I see what is going on here Damien. She told you didn't she? About Yvonne Deere's industry."
"Yes Elroy, she sounded lost. You of all people should know how much Fay respects and fears her mother, and now you're planning on ruining the brunch by bringing it up."
I sat up. "This is none of your business Damien. How I treat Fay, is none of your business. She's my girlfriend, let me be the one to worry about her."
"You're not doing that... You're not worrying about her, If anything, you're creating more worries for her." He said.
"How does that concern you, Damien?"
"She doesn't deserve this Elroy, she really likes you and all you're doing is hurting her over and over again. It's not fair."
I only Shrugged. "I don't love her... She's like a pain in my neck, like a bone I can't swallow-"
"So why don't you end things with her-"
"You're asking like you don't know why? Grandma loves Fay, I can't end things with Fay because of Grandma."
Damien raised his brows. "You sure that's the only reason?"
"Of course, what- what else?" I asked.
Damien only smiled. "Listen Elroy, I don't want you doing anything to ruin this brunch, it's like the only time we're going to be together as a family... The three of us are acting like old men, we're not even up to twenty five yet and look at us!"
"Are you blaming me? It wasn't our choice was it? we got doomed into this life when we turned fourteen... Mom and Dad decided that it was a good time to just leave us with their shit."
"So you're blaming Mom and Dad? They didn't choose to die either."
"Well I don't bloody care!" I yelled a little. "Can we stop talking about this now? It's getting me angry."
Damien sighed. "Look Elroy, all I'm asking is for your cooperation, don't bring up the matter at the brunch. Please."
I raised a brow. "Okay, I won't."
Damien gave a sigh of relief. "Thank you."
______
Two hours after Damien left, all I could do was think. My head was roaming with different thoughts.
Fay Handerson.
I wasn't treating her bad, was I?
All I want to do is help her. Yvonne Deere's industry would not be able to do anything for her. And to top it all, they were competing with me.
What would the public think?
They'd think that my brand wasn't good enough for her. They'd want to see what Yvonne Deere had to offer, and you know why? That is because Elroy Chesterfield famous model girlfriend, Fay Handerson, is modeling for a competing industry. Why?
It'll bring up another scandal and I hated scandals. It was bad for business.
Fay was beautiful, no doubt about that. Before my grandma set us up, I knew about her, I'd seen her pictures online and on bill boards, even magazines.
But we both got off on the wrong foot and it was till affecting us till date. The only reason I agreed to date her was because of my grandma.
Although our collaboration helped me too... Fans went crazy when we made an official announcement that we were together, so many people wished us the best and all that crap.
But little do they know.
"Elroy," Carter came into my office. "The bikini shoot is over."
"Damnation," I muttered. "What time is it?"
"Sixteen minutes after five." He informed.
"Christ... Okay um... Wait a minute, Lexi wasn't available for the shoot right?"
"Yes."
"Who modelled?"
"Fay."
"What?" My voice rose.
"She was the only one available, Elroy, we had to." He said. "She was perfect."
"Of course she was... It's Fay." I muttered. "I'll go check on her now."
"Okay, do you need me for anything else? I've got a date with my boyfriend." He said.
"No... You can go."
"Kay." He smiled, walking to the door before stopping. "Be easy with Fay." He added before rushing out.
What is it with these people and Fay?
_____
I headed through the direction of the changing room, wondering why in hell I was headed there in the first place.
Fay had a contract with Sparks, it was only natural for her to come in if there was an issue.
Finally getting there, I Halted in my steps when I saw Lucas, my photographer, in there with her.
My jaw clenched.
Was she really this stupid?
Anger surged through my veins. She should have shut the door, anybody could see her in there with him and take a picture! One post of this, thousand scandals!
Didn't she think of Grandma?
I knew she and Lucas had something going on before we started dating, but I didn't think she'd still be going out with him.
I cleared my throat dramatically.
They both looked over at my direction and immediately, Lucas hand dropped from her arm.
"Think about what I said." He whispered to her as he left her side to the entrance where I stood.
He gave a small nod to me in recognition before leaving.
My eyes moved to focus on Fay again.
"Well... Well... Well."