"You are kidding, right?", Adrian asked in disbelief.

"No. I meant it. Dad would never choose me over Nate.", I tastelessly stated.

"Please don't tell me that you have made up your mind. Have you?"

"Adrian, I really th...", I began but he snapped, "Is this about that bloody phone call with your dad? Is that where this is coming from. I should have never even asked him to do it."

"Being the CEO has been my dream since a very long time but I am still something right now, Adrian but the moment I lose to Nate, all that goes away. After having completed against Nate and losing, people back in London wouldn't believe in my authority, I'd have to quit and if I join another company, I'd have to work my way up ah-gain but I still won't get a prime position because people wouldn't be able to trust me not to leak their secrets to my father, their competitor...I can't lose...it puts me in a tough spot, wrapped in uncertainty...and uncertainty...it scares me."I sighed, shifting from one feet to the other uncomfortably.

"Vanessa, I have been putting in more effort in helping you get this position than I would ever do for my own self. I am out rightly telling you, your dad is not going to choose you. He only has eyes for Nate but he isn't the only one who gets to decide. The other board members have a say in this too and I have told you more than a hundred times that they are the ones whom we are trying to convince. And I know that you will be a great CEO.", He frowned.

I cruelly shunned away his praises, saying, "You are just saying that because you can't let Nate win. His fraudulent dealings will greatly affect your business."

"To hell with my business and to hellwith my money. You really think, that's what this is about?", He demanded. "I am supporting you because I...", He sighed,"I am doing this, Vanessa because I believe in you. I know you have it in you, what it takes to be a CEO and you are made for this. And if you stop believing that you are good enough then no matter how much effort anybody puts in, you are not going to win. So don't you dare act stupid and overthink one call. Ok?"

I nodded, still weighing his words carefully. It was a big decision and if I had to choose, I better chose right. I made it a mental note to go over this again, later.

"I'll see you tomorrow. If you remember, the fun part of this trip will begin now.", He smiled, lightening up or atleast trying to do so.

"I know. We are going for the sightseeing trip and I can barely wait.", I said, with a 400 watt smile, trying to convince him that I was fine.

"Good. Sleep well and again, don't you dare overthink this.", He warned me.

I nodded, a grin still plastered on my face and then I turned around to go as he unlocked the car but then I looked back, calling him," Wait! Didn't you say you were going to see if I chose a decent room for myself?"

"You must have chosen a good room. I trust you.", He nodded and then got inside his new car and left. I too went to the hotel with a wide smile on my face. He had no idea how much that one sentence ment to me.

■■■

I wore a pair of black jeans, an olive green top and my canvas shoes. I tied my hair into a loose fishtail braid, which to be honest took me quite a while. I even called up Sarah, not caring about the timezones. I knew, she wouldn't mind it. When I was finally done, I put on a bright red lipstick and my favourite eyeliner. Finally, picking up my bag and my sunglasses I left for Najmat hotel.

When I arrived, a lot of people were already sitting in the tourbuses. I decided to go in the one marked V, for the sake of my initial, and prayed to find a familiar face inside.

To my relief, some of the girls I had met before were there so I went to sit with them. Just when the buses were about to leave, a head popped into our bus and I instantly recognised those hazel eyes.

The moment Blake spotted me, he came over and asked if he could sit beside me. Me, already flattered by his charm, grinned and motioned him to do so.

"So? What's up?", He asked.

"Just really excited for this trip."

"This trip? I am just waiting for nightfall actually.", He grinned, as I caught on to what he was saying.

We were to hit a club tonight and you know what follows...drinks, dancing and moreover, there was not going to be any paparazzi since Erik Sokolov had booked the entire club. So, I could do what the hell ever I wanted as long as I was a good sport because everyone would be sufficiently drunk to forget everything by morning.

We went to The Great Pyramids of Giza, the citadel and an Egyptian museums with mummy. Blake was really fun and I couldn't believe how easy it was to talk to him. We joked a bit, flirted a little more and I even ended up landing a date with him but I was not so sure that I was going to go.

When I finally returned back to my hotel at 7:30 pm, I was really tired. The clubbing programme was definately planned on a wrong day. I carried my tired self to my room and decided to take a quick nap which converted into an extended nap with several snoozed alarms. So, when I finally woke up, it was already 9pm and I was to be at this club by 9:30.

I began panicking, frantically running around my room, picking up makeup items to use. I looked for the short navy blue dress I had bought online for this event but I couldn't find it. Instead there was this other dress...Charlotte had switched my clothes!!!

I shouldn't have ever let her help me pack my stuff. I didn't have time to be mad at her or to buy a new dress so I wore it, curled my hair and quickly did my makeup. Then I looked at myself in the mirror.

Did I look beautiful? YES! But would I accidentally end up flashing someone, if I had one too many drinks? I was sure as hell.

It was a black bodycon dress that hugged my curves perfectly and hit a little above my mid thigh. It had a sheer back but that was still doable, what worried me was the V-shaped neckline which didn't plunge too deep but it wasn't modest enough for a drunk me to pull off but I went with it anyway, as if I had a choice.

I stepped into the bar, clutching tightly onto my phone, not trying to look around at people who I could feel were staring at me from behind. The fact that other girls had even shorter dresses on than me did comfort me a little but I decided to go get a drink or two before I talked to anyone.

I headed right to the bar and took two shots of Vodka and then towards where the other people were.

I had been talking to a girl named Elysa when a waiter came to me with a drink, saying the man sitting at the bar had sent it for me. I, curious about this man who had taken an interest in me, accepted. Then I looked back, only to find myself staring into a pair of blue eyes.

When he saw me, his eyes widened in surprise and then he looked away. He had most definitely mistaken me for someone who was not me, that is, a girl he could hit on and I was so not going to leave this alone. I excused myself and went straight upto him. He tried to escape but I caught him.

"So...thanks for the drink.", I smirked.

"I thought you'd like it.", He played along.

"Oh! Did you? I can still see traces of shock on your face. Anyways go ahead."

"Go ahead? With what?"

"The compliment you were planning to give the girl in the black dress.", I toothily grinned.

He smirked, "You are not my type."

"But the girl you thought I was, is?"

"Only for a night."He stated, finishing his glass of bacardi and then he gave me a sly smile.

"Uh! OK! I don't really look that bad.", I defended myself, slightly taken aback.

"Nope. You don't but you do know I only hook up with pretty girls."

I rolled my eyes, "So, you flirted with every pretty girl in this club?"

"Why? You jealous?", He raised an eyebrow.

"Pfft. No! And you flirting with every pretty girl here is impossible because you never flirted with me.", I flipped my hair to the side.

"Well that' cause you are not pretty. You are gorgeous.", he winked.

"Uh!! Did you...did you just! Okay, wow!.", I asked as blood rushed up to my cheeks.

"Well, you asked me to do so, didn't you?"

"You are good. Really good."

"Um hum. I don't have cheesy pickup lines like how they are at a loss of words after seeing someone."

"Hey! That's what Blake said. To me.", I realised.

"Yeah! If only he knew how to flirt, he would be my rival for the position of playboy of the year too.", He chuckled.

I laughed, "God! You are insane. I...", I began but then I saw Elysa walk up to the bar and wink at Adrian. Adrian too, smirked at her.

"What was that?", I raised an eyebrow.

"You mean who?", He looked at me mischievously.

"Did you both...?"

"Yeah! Yesterday."

"Oh my god! How? I left your room yesterday night itself. How did you find yourself a girl so soon?"

"Well, didn't you say that I am good."

"I'm out", I laughed, raising my hands in mock surrender but the laugh was as fake as it could be.

Why did I feel offended? Was I expecting something else? Why?

"Don't drink too much. Ok?", He reminded me.

"If I do, get me out here in one piece."

"If I am not too busy myself, I will." He said, motioning towards Elysa.

"Have fun.", I nodded and with a tequila shot, I went straight to the dance floor.

The rest of the night passed away in a blur. I danced, I drank, I played a game of Never have I ever with some other drunk individuals who claimed to be tycoons but acted like stupid teens when they were drunk and I even vaguely remembered Blake pulling me out of there and going upto the balcony outside, to get fresh air. I think we even slow danced but I wasn't sure because after that I was just blank. Maybe I passed out, maybe I didn't, maybe I even went in for a few more drinks but whatever I did, it was by far the best party of my life.

■■■

I woke up with much difficultly. My head hurt and I felt like I had tons of bricks kept on my lids. It was a fight to even open my eyes. I sat up, yawning and stretching my arms, as my eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room.

WAIT! THIS WASN'T MY ROOM! Where the hell was I?

I looked around frantically and then down to check what I was wearing. I had my underwear on but I was in a T-shirt, a T-shirt too large to belong to me and my dress from last night was gone, I double checked.

As I put all the pieces of the puzzle together, I heard the toilet flush and I gulped a lump of air in my throat, as the bathroom door opened.

I quickly went back to my resting position and kept my eyes partially open to see who it was. A man walked out, wearing just jeans and with his hair, which I assumed were wet as it was slicked back. The moment this mysterious stranger turned around, my heart dropped.

I was in a soup, thick soup and I yelled internally, wanting to kill myself!

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