The most important decision of her life

I blinked my eyes to check if I am really seeing Mr. Foster. I mean how come he was here. Moments ago, he was there on the terrace. Maye, he came when I was delayed by my Ame.

I sighed and proceeded to enter inside.

I awkwardly smiled, nodding my head and walking a little too fast in the hope of getting from this awkwardness.

As I was walking past him, his voice stopped me.

"Will you not acknowledge me, Ms, Mason? He asked me somewhat in a tone overflowed with smugness and amazement.

I quickly turned my face to him, coughing to clear this undesirable situation that I was stuck in.

"Oh! Mr. Foster. I don't dare. You are a very good man. It's just we have met on the terrace only moments ago. So,...." I trailed not knowing how to finish my sentence.

"Don't bother, Ms. Mason. I have been waiting for you. I came here fast to discuss an important thing with you." He said with a serious expression that I for a second considered that to be some surgery. I mean, he was looking like it was a matter of life or death. Little did I know that it really was.

"You were waiting for me?" I asked dumbly not understanding why would he be waiting for me out of all people.

He simply nodded like a robot.

I cleared my throat. My heart somehow told me that this was going to be a life-turning situation.

I nodded slowly showing my hesitation and nervousness clearly to him.

"Ok! Tell me, Mr. Foster." I asked him, my palms sweating merely by thinking what it could be.

"Not here. Can we go somewhere private? It's a thing that has to be very discreet." He said looking around to find any possible source of people around here.

So, It has to be important...No! Very Important.

************************************************************************

After the small meeting with Mr. Foster, I wander around the party lifelessly. Just like a walking corpse.

I can't afford to save my image or my reputation as a confident CEO now.

That's how big the bomb, he threw at me. Into my life.

I was shaken by it. To the level of some difficulty in my breathing.

I was near, to the edge of crying. Tears threatened to pool in my eyes.

As I was walking aimlessly, somehow hoping that my legs will walk out from here without the help of my brain.

Because right now my mind was in no condition to provide a sense of direction.

A tear rolled down my cheek when I am steadied from bumping into someone with their hands on my arms.

I looked at him, raising my head slowly.

But, What I saw made me cry more.

Nick Richardson.

Emily's father,

He was my other father.

When I knew I can't control my tears anymore, I ran away without even acknowledging him. I felt adat that. But, right now, I can't put on my facade, Not yet. I am no way in that condition, now.

I ran, sobbing not caring people were staring at the infamous CEO of CA industries running like crazy.

But, I am Calla, Now. Not the CEO! Not yet!

I ran directly towards the garden without an ounce of hesitation. Because there were no people there. I observed it at the beginning of the party.

I quickly sat down in the mud below a large tree not caring about my expensive designer dress. It's just a dress anyway.

I brought my knees together and let my head rest on them.

I cried letting out all the pent-up frustration from the constant inner battle within myself.

"Calla, Dear!" A soft voice called out to me.

Its gentleness made me raise my head. It's Uncle Nick.

I haven't noticed him coming here. Anyways, I was just crying like always, Pathetic.

"What happened, dear?" He asked me, his eyes showing fatherly care for me.

No! I don't deny my pain, my hurt like always. I don't put on my fake smile like always.

Instead, I just sobbed more, my eyes beginning to ache.

He just hugged me tightly.

I let all my sorrows just like that.

When I calm down somewhat, I raised my head to look at him.

His face was morphed with an unexplainable sorrow on seeing me like that.

"I am sorry, Uncle. I am really sorry. Did I just spoil your party for Emily? What am I saying? Of course, I ruined it. Moreover, She is your only daughter. I shouldn't have made you witness my tears of sorrow when you should have been with happy tears, I really didn't intend to do it. Please forgive me! I am really....." I was bewildered at that point. I was panicking thinking of Emily.

I had spoiled his day.

I was cut off when he hugged me again.

I gulped thinking about what would he think of me.

"Shhhh!" He silenced my thoughts by rubbing my back in some comfort.

"Don't ever say that again. You are my daughter too. And I really hate it to see her tears on any day. " He said softly making my heart swell with joy.

I again parted from his comforting embrace.

He let me gather my thoughts by silently accompanying me there by sitting beside me.

"What happened, dear? What made you hurt so much that you don't even care about your usual confident face?" He asked, his voice silently pleading for me to explain him.

"Uncle,.....It's that..." I stuttered. I can't tell him. I agreed on this with Mr.Foster

"You can't tell me, right? I guessed it, right? After all, it's you, Calla!" He said smiling softly while I am dumbstruck at how ell he knew me.

"But, I can give you some advice, Calla! I hate to be a good-for-nothing." He said looking straight at me still showing his fatherly smile.

I hesitated not knowing how to frame my question.

"Mm, Uncle! I need your advice on this!" I said facing him completely, nodding to myself determined to deal with this situation, wise, just like Calla.

"My problem is nowhere, It's in me. Literally. I am kind of having some inner battle with myself." I sighed before continuing.

"Between my brain and my heart." I completed looking away not able to meet his gaze.

Without missing a beat, he replied making me sigh.

"Obviously your heart, Calla! You know this, right?" He asked genuinely confused.

I still can't look at his face because of the thing I will ask next.

"Even if it is against your self-respect." I merely whispered not able to tolerate the pain of even saying about doing something against my self-respect.

He remained silent for a good two minutes. I for a second thought that he doesn't hear me.

He gently placed his hand on my mine as a source of comfort which made me look at him.

He smiled sadly looking at my face.

"Now, I know why you cried like that. It's expected from you if you have a situation like that." He voiced out his opinion, his tone somewhat proud of me.

"Again heart, Calla!" He said smiling genuinely.

"But, how can I leave my self....." I began to argue but he cut me off.

"Listen, Calla! I know your life revolves around self-respect. I am sure you will choose your self-respect over anything without hesitating even for a second at any time even if it's million times. That's how morally rich you are. But if a thing challenges your self-respect like this where you are literally fighting with yourself, then it's worth it for you, dear. It means that thing is equal to your self-respect in all aspects. Am I right?" He asked me like I am some child.

I nodded slowly not liking how it was going.

"Then, you can give it a try. Right?" He said smiling widely.

"But, it means losing my self-respect. I can't even imagine it." I said dropping my shoulders defeated by this unsolvable question.

"I know. But, It doesn't mean losing your self-respect. It means respecting yourself to give yourself a chance to be happy. Give it a chance, once. But, for a second situation like this, you have to choose your self-respect. Do you understand my point, Call?" He asked me, holding my shoulders and making me look at him.

Yeah! He does make a point. I can give myself a chance, right? It doesn't mean abandoning my respect.

Yes! Now I can see a clear draft of this situation. Now, I can deal with this.

Yes! Calla! That's it! You can do it!

"Thank you so much, Uncle." I hugged him to show my happiness.

"Oh! Uncle! I forget to ask you. How are you? It's been years, you know?" I asked smiling genuinely this time.

"Look at you! Asking me after almost two hours of meeting me!" He playfully glared making me laugh.

***************************************************************

It's been a hell of a day. I stretched my limbs in hope of relieving some stress.

Right now, I am in my bed at my house which I bought in New York for myself a few years ago.

I took my phone and dialed a number.

I placed it on my ear and gulped heavily just hearing the ring.

"Hello! Ms.Maon! Have you decided?" An older voice that was similar to my Ame asked me on the first second of the call.

Yes, It's Mr. James Foster.

I breathed heavily thinking about how my words were going to change my life from now.

"Ms.Mason?" His voice made me snap out of my hesitation.

I cleared my voice as if I was going to announce the most important decision of my life. But, Indeed, I did.

"I will marry your son for your property."