Sorry it took me ssoooo llllloooooooonnnnnnnnnggggg to get this fic updated.
Standard disclaimer still applies.
7 Solutions
Madison stared at her pale reflection on the mirror of her dresser. Her mind numb from thinking too much.
A tear fell from her eyes.
She thought she could do it. She was wrong.
She did not know what was happening around her. Everything was a blur.
In a matter of hours, her future would be sealed.
Madison bowed her head as more tears flowed from her eyes. Her shoulders were shaking with her grief. Inhaling deeply, she wiped her tears with her hand. The last thing she needed at that moment was her mother hearing her cry her heart out.
She faced the window, hoping the beautiful sunny day outside would calm her nerves. But much to her dismay, her heartache doubled.
Because right there, on her bedside table just below the window, was a picture of her and…
Eli.
"Oh, my God," she muttered as tears run afresh from her eyes. She covered her mouth with one hand to muffle her sobs.
It was the picture taken not long ago on her twenty-fifth birthday. He had his arm around her and as usual, flashing his debonair smile at her.
The smile that would haunt her from the day she would say "I do" to another man.
"Oh, God, my heart's breaking," she breathed out.
She only got two hours more to secure the remaining pieces.
**
The meeting would be starting in several minutes. Madison was sitting at the head table, with the members of the rival company placed on the left side of the long conference table. Just looking at how they were sure of themselves made her sick.
Her mother was sitting by her right side, followed by the rest of the board members of their company.
The clock at the far end of the conference room struck the designated hour. The concerned individuals prepared to settle down for the appointed meeting.
Running her gaze through the people present, she was about to start when the door opened. Madison's eyes widened in disbelief as Eli entered the conference room in obvious confidence. He scanned the room before settling his eyes on her.
She gave him a questioning look but he only met it with passive stare. She could not remember asking him to be part of that meeting so his presence surprised her.
"Good afternoon, everyone," Eli said smoothly. He was standing beside Madison.
Madison's eyes thinned into slits. Who gave Eli the right to open a meeting of her company?
"I, in behalf of the board of directors of the Taylor's Toy Company, would like to thank you all for coming," he continued on, flashing them his debonair smile. "This meeting has been called for a merger as agreed upon by the directors of both companies.
However, I regret to inform you that our side will recede," Eli stated and was met with gasps from the rival company, "due to the fact that the asking price is far too high for us to meet.
We appreciate your coming here today but we would rather inform you in person rather through writing."
Madison was in a daze at Eli's announcement. She was not sure what he was doing but whatever it was, her only chance to save the company is going down to waste.
"If you have questions, you may ask them now," Eli said and looked at the competitor's side, then at the Taylor's Company's side, lingering on Mrs. Taylor, who was smiling up at him with a tell-tale of tears in her eyes.
"I guess the meeting is now adjourned. Now, if you would excuse us…" Eli said and escorted Madison outside the conference room to the waiting private elevator that would take them to the parking lot.
"What have you done?" Madison whispered as she was ushered into his car.
"Get in, I'll explain on the way," he said as he closed the door after she entered and sat on the driver's seat. He drove past what the normal speed was.
Madison turned to him. "What have you done?" she asked again, louder this time.
"I told you 'no,' didn't I? I told you 'I won't let you'," he said.
"Have you an idea what will happen to the company? Do you know how many people will lose---"
"Yes! I know!" he cried out, slamming his palm on the steering wheel of his car. "I know what will bloody happen that's why I pulled out my shares at our company so I can put everything to finance your company!"
Madison was shocked. For a moment she forgot to breathe.
"You… what?" Madison asked in disbelief.
"I gave you time to think. I stayed on the sidelines hoping you would come to me for help," Eli said, his voice dropping an octave down. "Hoping you would come to me--"
Her tears fell on their own accord. "I—I don't w-want to trouble—"
"--but you would rather marry someone you barely know instead of asking for my help," Eli stated, without hearing her.
"Eli, please," Madison said in soft voice. "I didn't mean to---"
"Hurt me?" Eli asked, rather forcefully as he parked in front of her house. "Fifteen years of knowing you but when you were in your deepest point in your life, you result to taking drastic measure rather than discuss this with me and seek for my help first. Why would you think it would hurt me?" he asked sarcastically.
Madison bowed her head, feeling drained at that moment. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I was scared and I—I really don't know what to think anymore. Knowing how many people would lose their jobs--- it just made my mind blank; as if thinking of anything else would make me lose my control."
Eli released a deep breath which calmed him somewhat. "You better rest. You have a company to run tomorrow."
Madison's tears fell. What Eli did was a relief on her part but still she felt bad for hurting him. She opened the door of his car but before she went out, she reached over and placed a kiss on his cheek. "I--- thank you," she said before going out of the car. "We'll talk tomorrow," she stated as she closed the door.
"Goodbye," Eli said and drove off.
**
Madison slept as soon as she got home. When she woke up the following morning, she turned to her bedside table and looked at the picture, staring particularly at Eli.
He stood by her side; helped her through.
He became her eyes when she could not see; her voice when she could not speak.
Gave up everything he had.
"Oh, my God," she breathed out as she sat up from her bed suddenly. Could it be that he loves me? More than a friend?
She reached for her celphone at her bedside table and dialed his number. It was his voicemail, probably his phone was turned off. So, she dialed his home number and after the third ring, Rubymoon answered the phone.
"Hello."
"Rubymoon, it's me, Madison. Is Eli still asleep?"
"Hi, Madison," greeted the guardian on the other line. "Oh, Eli left all ready for the airport. He has a 9 am flight to England."
Madison felt like a bucket of cold water was thrown to her face. "What?!"
"I said---"
"I heard you," Madison cut her off. "When did he leave?"
"Umm.. about thirty minutes ago."
"What's the flight number?"
"BR102. He will be---"
"Thanks," Madison said and ended the call.
She hurriedly change and sprinted down the stairs. If she hurried, she could get there before the plane leaves, which is about twenty minutes from now.
Her mother was at the family room reading the newspaper when she passed.
"Madison, dear, we will be—"
"Sorry, mom. I have to catch Eli. See you later."
Her chauffer drove the car in a blinding speed across the highway to the airport. Through out the trip, she was cursing Eli for leaving without telling her of his plans.
"How could he leave with this thing hanging between us?" she muttered under her breath as she ran from the car in search of the airline's terminal.
Traffic was bad that it took them forever before reaching the terminal in time.
When she reached her destination, the gate to the plane was closing all ready and her tears were falling continuously.
"Eli, damn you…" she said as she watched the plane going to the runway.
"You never gave me the chance to—"
The plane picked up speed as it took off into the sky.
"To say how I feel."
**
Yay! That's it! FRIENDS has been spelled out all ready (in case you have not noticed, look at the title of each installments). Is it the end?
I know it sucks. I'll just make the updates along the way.
R&R, minna-san. Please!