The Bitter Choice

"Very soon, we'll witness a lavish wedding between The Wilson Group and Stuart Corp. What do you think about this-two major companies merging-will it lead to a monopoly in-" The big screen went dark.

Rose glared at John. "Why did you turn off the TV? I was watching Liana Collin talk about her fiancé's wedding."

"It's time for you to meet Mr. William." The announcement made Rose sigh heavily.

Before leaving the table, she slipped a thick folder into her bag. "I have to fix everything."

Rose got out of the car and walked straight inside, her steps both graceful and haughty; she passed several tables until she finally reached the one where Mr. William was waiting for her.

"You're late, Miss." William took a sip of wine from his glass.

John pulled out a chair for Rose to sit down.

"This place is different from the agreed-upon meeting spot." She motioned for John to leave them alone.

She felt William's condescending gaze. "I wanted to buy you a drink to celebrate your wedding."

"This drink isn't worthy of my lavish wedding." Rose pushed the wine glass away from her.

"So what's the equivalent of your marriage?" William was starting to get interested in this meeting.

Rose took one of the folders from her bag and placed it in the middle of the table.

"I want you to withdraw your report as a congratulatory gesture for my marriage."

William picked up the folder. "You want to save your husband's family."

A small smile appeared on her beautiful face. "Why would I do that?" She leaned back and folded her arms across her chest. "I'm here to take over the hydrogen core."

"You want to take over this failed project?" William gently tossed the papers he'd been reading onto the table.

"Edward has caused you great and painful losses." Rose leaned forward. "And I'm here to make up for all of that."

The man began to push his wine glass away. "What is a young lady like you going to do?"

"Edward Stuart undertook this massive project with blind greed; he rushed through everything, making things difficult for the very people who had helped him." Rose sat up straight. "But unlike him, my intelligence will save this massive project from ruin by assembling a competent team, so that success is all you'll hear about."

William nodded. "What if I turn down your offer, Miss Wilson?"

A smile returned to her face. "I won't suffer the slightest loss from your refusal, because for me, finding a more competent investor is easy." Rose leaned back in her chair. "On the other hand, if you reject me and file a lawsuit against Stuart Corp, only massive losses will come your way."

The man's fingers tapped the glass tabletop. "What kind of profit would I get?"

Her smile widened; every word she spoke was filled with certainty. "I'll return what you've given me twofold, or even more, along with the interest. And your name will grow with the success of this project."

"What will you do if this project fails again?"

Rose shrugged. "I don't know, because the word 'failure' doesn't exist in my life."

William nodded, then took a sip of wine and raised his glass. "I'll follow you."

Rose gestured for William to finish the wine in his glass as a sign of their agreement.

*****

The evening light touched Rose's sleeping skin; as the car came to a stop, her eyes slowly opened. An employee tapped on John's window to let him know a journalist was waiting for him.

The corners of his mouth turned up. "Show her to my office."

"Yes, ma'am." The employee promptly carried out her instructions.

The steam from the coffee created a warm atmosphere between Liana and Rose.

"Did you come as a journalist?" Rose blew gently on the coffee before taking a sip.

The soft clink of the mug against the glass table echoed clearly in both their ears.

"Or as the girlfriend of my fiancé."

Rose's sharp eyes picked up on the tension Liana was feeling.

The woman took a deep breath and met her gaze with confidence. "I'm here as Liana, Levin Stuart's fiancée."

She gave a small smile in response to that boldness. "What do you want to talk to me about?"

"Why do you want to marry him?" That disapproving tone pricked Rose's ears.

She crossed her legs and leaned back. "Because I love him."

A small, mocking smile was clearly visible on Liana's face. "Can someone like you even feel love?"

"Of course. Even though I look like an angel to you, I'm just an ordinary human who can fall in love with a handsome prince like Levin." That reply sparked anger in her conversation partner.

"I'll rephrase my question, because someone like you wouldn't understand what love is."

Rose raised her hand, gesturing for Liana to continue.

"What is The Wilson Group's purpose in merging with Stuart Corp, which is currently suffering massive losses?" The woman's weary eyes turned sharp.

"Now you're asking as a journalist." Rose leaned forward to take another sip of her now-lukewarm coffee. "My answer will remain the same, Miss Collin. This merger happened because I, Rose Wilson, love Levin Stuart."

A frustrated, disbelieving sigh escaped the woman's small mouth.

"Now it's my turn to ask you, Liana Collin." She folded her arms across her chest, her face fierce. "Which choice will you make: let go of your lover, or become a mistress?"

"What?!" The anger grew more intense.

"My lavish wedding is just two days away; you need to make up your mind soon."

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see his clenched fist.

"Are you going to give me your answer now?" She raised an eyebrow, demanding a response.

The trembling lips finally parted. "It seems our conversation must end here."

The woman stood up and left, leaving the coffee untouched.

Rose let out a heavy sigh, her body slumping backward. She closed her eyes, letting exhaustion take over her body.

The sound of the door opening and approaching footsteps forced his eyes open again.

"Do you need another cup of coffee?" John already understood his condition.

"Please." He stood up. "I have to finish my work."

He staggered over to his desk and turned on his laptop to get back to work.

*****

With just one day to go before her wedding, Rose was still too busy; her fingers were still busy signing papers and checking every document on her desk.

A knock on the desk managed to catch her attention. "What is it, John?"

"Your last appointment today: dinner with Mr. Stuart."

A relieved smile immediately spread across her weary face. "Thank you for reminding me." She took off the glasses she was wearing.

"How do I look? Do I look bad?" She stood up and checked the wrap dress she was wearing.

"You look fine. You just need to fix your hair." John handed her a comb.

She immediately smoothed out her black hair. "I'm ready, let's go."

The car, which had been driving along, began to pull over. Rose took a deep breath before getting out and entering the restaurant. A small smile returned to her face when she saw the man waiting for her; her steps felt light as she approached the table.

"Did you meet Liana?" That greeting left Rose speechless for a split second.

Before answering, she motioned for John to leave them alone; the warmth she'd felt earlier now faded.

"You should have let me sit down first."

Levin gestured for her to sit down. She took a seat, her gaze cold.

"What were you talking to him about?" The question created a huge wall between them.

"Did you order food for me?"

"Answer my question!" The man was annoyed.

"I'll order the best steak and wine for us." He ignored the gaze fixed on him.

"Why don't you just ask him yourself?" Rose raised her hand to call the waiter. "He's the one who came to see me."

"Did you hurt him?" His firm voice caused a slight tightness in her chest.

He picked up the glass and swirled the wine inside. "She was the one who asked me, and I asked her what choice she would make."

"Choice? What choice did you offer her?" The man leaned forward.

"She had to choose between letting you go or becoming a mistress." Rose sipped the expensive wine.

"What?!" Levin clenched his fists to keep his anger in check.

"Why are you all so shocked?" She set down the tall glass, "Isn't the choice obvious?"

Rose folded her arms on the table. "Do I have to explain your situation now?" Her defiant gaze made the man flinch.

"Tomorrow is our wedding day, when you'll become my husband-in the eyes of God and everyone else. If you don't like the label of 'mistress,' you should end your relationship."

"I'll end my relationship with you." That statement took Rose by surprise.

She leaned back against the chair, her eyes gauging the man's resolve. Her fingers trembled beneath the table.

"I'd rather rot in prison than marry you." Those words felt like a knife piercing deep into his chest.

He hid his pain behind a smile. "You shouldn't have said that before I gave you this gift."

Rose took a thick folder from her bag and held it out to the man. "I'll still be waiting for you at the altar tomorrow."

She stood up, a suffocating feeling building inside her.

The streetlights along the road seemed so dim; Rose closed her eyes.

"John, will that happiness come tomorrow?" Her beautiful face began to glisten with tears.

To Be Continued~~~

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