Chasing his

Nelly stood in front of the imposing buildings of Vintage Companies and a soft sigh escaped her lips. She made her way to the reception.

"How may I help you, miss?" the receptionist asked.

"I'm here to see Ivan."

The receptionist was taken aback. She didn't add the usual 'president' to his name.

"She must be his girlfriend," she thought.

She decided to be extra nice and polite to be in her good books. She offered her a seat which she declined. She called the president's office and soon, Nelly was ushered in.

Standing side by side with Ivan, she thought of how best to state her mission.

"I promise to give an interest of one million dollars as soon as we are able to get out of this crisis."

"A million dollars? Do you think I'm lacking money?"

"Fine then. What do you want please?"

Ivan smiled and said,

"Marry me."

"Marry you? Are you crazy?"

Ivan looked on. He didn't utter a word and he didn't seem offended at her outburst. He knew she would eventually come back if everything worked out according to plan. Nelly realized she was the one who needed help and quickly became calm.

"Ivan, I know I haven't been the best person to you. But please, this isn't time for revenge. My father is dying and I can't let that happen."

"Revenge? Did I mention anything like revenge?"

"That's obviously the only reason you want to marry me. Ivan, please."

Ivan smiled in his heart. He was happy to finally have Nelly beg him. It had always been the other way round. He had a fair share of trouble when he worked at her father's company. She didn't spare any chance she got to humiliate him.

Once, she had slapped him in the public and called him a good for nothing fool. A lot of people were there and he swore he could see the mockery in their eyes.

Why wouldn't they mock him? His clothes were old and tattered, contrasting sharply with the designer clothes which the rich in the premises wore. Her friends even joined in to make mockery of him. That day, he wished for nothing but the ground to open and swallow him.

Not once, not twice did she threaten to fire him, nothing he ever did was pleasing to her. Her father, Nathan Stratford, doted over his daughter and believed in her judgement. She made him see no good in him and together, they made work difficult for him.

Another time, she had spilled drinks on him at a party simply because he showed up a minute later than was expected. She turned him into her driver and he had to comply because he needed the money.

He looked at Nelly who was standing before him. She has been ripped of her pride, she was now begging him. He was no longer the ordinary Ivan whom she humiliated. He was now the most powerful CEO in the country.

"Marry me and I will foot the hospital bills and help to save your company from bankruptcy."