Loving You Is Not An Accident: It's Destiny 254 Meddling In Without Notice

"Master Briggs, Lyr Marcent is here." Gary announced.

"Is he alone?" Clifford's brows creased.

"Ahh, let me ask first, sir…" he was about to go out when his boss spoke,

"No, let him in." he said, motioning him to open the door for the guest.

"Good day, Mister Briggs, my apologies, my boss had an emergency and could not evade it but he's on his way here, he just sent me in advance to inform you ahead." The man's phone then rings and he excused himself.

When he came back, he was already smiling widely.

"Thank you for waiting Mister Briggs, my boss is here," he opened the door widely and there emerged a man in his early thirties. Smiling, with a friendly aura surrounds him.

Instantly, Gary went to his side and ushered him to the receiving area.

"Welcome, Mister Sheldon Measley," Gary warmly greeted him.

It was then that Clifford stood up and went to the new shareholder's side,

"At last, we've met face to face. Welcome! Mister Measley," he extended his hand

"Oh, if you only know, I've waited for this and it is such a pleasure to work see you up close, Mister Briggs." He said beaming with delight. His eyes brighten as he looks at Clifford's eyes.

"Very well… oh, let's take a seat… by the way, you seem oddly familiar to me… I think I have seen you somewhere?"

The man chuckled.

"Yes, we already have met, in Vienna. I worked as a model in your company there." Clifford is surprise.

"Oh really? So you quit modelling and became a businessman?"

"Not really, but this happened, you know, father's getting old, need someone to take over the business after I roam around the world. I think it's time to take the business seriously." He sighed. "Everyone's been such a failure in taking care and over of the business so… I had to work on it… personally," he then looked around and seems looking for something.

"By the way, where's Ingrid? I've never seen her for a while?" before he could answer, a knock was heard and Lance entered. He seems in a hurry.

"Cliff, I need to tell you –" he then stopped talking when he noticed that there are guests in the room. "Oh, I am sorry, I'll just go back."

"Is that you, Lance McNaught? You are still the same, buddy. Meddling in without notice." Sheldon spoke, laughing.

"Oh, sorry, may I know you, sir?"

"Don't you remember me? It's me, Sheldon Measley…" he stood up and went to his side extending his hand. "it's been a while, huh? How are you?"

This time, Lance look shocked, alarmed, he couldn't move, and was like being pinned on the floor.

"Sh-sheldon Measley?" he almost said in a whisper.

"Come on man, you looked shocked and sweating." Lance just faintly smiled. The man hugged him as if he was a good friend to Lance. "How have you been? I hope you're living… just… fine…"

"Ye-yeah, I am.." he shifted his gaze to Clifford, "I'll just come back if you're not busy. It's n-nice to see you again, Sheldon Measley." He then left the room in a hurry.

'What's the matter with Master Lance, his expression seems odd? Is he not feeling well?' Gary murmured and seemed confused.

"Gary, let's now proceed to the conference room and let's introduce Mr. Sheldon Measley to his fellow shareholders, shall we?" demanded Clifford.

"Ahh, yes Master. This way please, Mr. Measley." Clifford walked ahead of them.

It only took an hour of the shareholders meeting to take as Sheldon excused himself because he still has a scheduled meeting as well.

"Oh, Mr. Measley, before you go, how are you related to Harry and Maribeth Measley?" one of the shareholder curiously asked. Sheldon smiled.

"They are my parents."

"Oh! So you're the son who ran away years ago? I've been friends with them but we haven't met years after you're gone. Glad you come back,"

"And I as well. I am sorry but I really have to go, see you all again,"

"Gary, please escort Mr. Measley and his a.s.sistant on their way,"

"No, no, it's not necessary, Mr. Briggs, we will do just fine, besides, I am really in a hurry." With that, he left the room.

"Mr. Morris I can see that you are familiar with their family. Do you know Mr. Measley in person?" Clifford inquired.

"I know the parents but not so with that son of theirs. As what I can remember, he has been a happy-go-lucky kind of a guy when he was in his early years but maybe he changed. Oh well, his parents are known to be too tyrannical which leads that man to ran away from home, maybe he becomes suffocated."

"Oh, is that so?"

"Yeah, that's the only thing I know." the old man answered shrugging his shoulders.

…♥…♥…♥…

Lance was in his office, pacing back and forth and caught in his deep thoughts. There are things that intensely bothering him and one of it is Vanessa Reiley. She has been a pain in his a.s.s as she always appears in front of him to ask about Clifford and to get her an appointment to him, which he greatly refused.

"Are you out of your mind, woman?" his irritation is visible that he grits his teeth while looking at her.

"Yes! I am out of my mind as long as I could not talk to him. Just this once and after that I'll be okay, I'll leave them… him…" she said as she lowered her head.

"No, I won't do that, you're a big fat liar! Why do you insist yourself to the person who openly rejected you? He is happily, no, he is beaming with joy being married to Ingrid."

"Huh! Are you happy for them?" she ask menacingly, "…are you certain that you are indeed happy for them? Look at you… you look… miserable… oh I see, you're being too good for them, for him, but look where did it get you…"

"Stop!" he went to her, hold her jaw in a tight grip. "…who do you think you are? Your very words won't affect me, because unlike you, I've accepted everything that Ingrid and I will only remain friends. And the fact that I realize that what I felt or feel for her was just a brotherly love and because of that, I will do everything to protect her from everyone, and I will do everything even if it kills me or I'll kill anyone just to keep her safe and that doesn't exclude you..."

Instead of being threatened, Vanessa laughed and tried to wriggle from his tight grip.

"I see that Ingrid is lucky to have people who dearly love her. I envy her… unlike me, there is no one who would ever do that to me…"

"A piece of advice Miss Reiley, if you want the people to wholly accept you, please do accept yourself first, your flaws and all. Acceptance is the key to move on, just in case you don't know." he sighed upon seeing Vanessa in tears, "…Clifford and Ingrid are for each other and none of us could change that…"