by Kailin Gow
Then she got up and I followed suit, giving her a warm embrace. “Thanks, Mom. You always know what to say.”
“That’s sweet of you to say, but I don’t know if my words will help. It’s how you act and the choices you make that will really determine the outcome of this story.”
Chapter 22
Charisma
And then my life moved on. Although I was done at Beast Companies, I continued to see Mason. He was good, kind and a philanthropist who treated me like a queen.
I hadn’t even had the chance to talk to Callum or see him. Since leaving our house and work, I haven’t heard from him for weeks. He didn’t return my calls or emails either so I thought he didn’t want to see me again, especially the way we parted.
Perhaps he was avoiding me, but in his absence, there left an uncluttered room for my heart and mind to embrace a possible future with Mason. He’d hint at things, but at first I was hesitant to accept them, believing that they may be the result of some type of competition with Callum. However, that suspicion diminished rapidly whenever Mason would look at me. There was no denying his love for me when I saw the true look of love in his eyes.
With each passing day spent with Mason, the more our relationship grew. But I still couldn’t stop caring about Callum and how he was doing.
One day I asked Mason, “Is everything going well with Callum back home?” I asked. I’d wanted to sound casual, but wasn’t entirely certain I had.
I felt Mason’s body stiffen up. “Why would you ask that?” he asked. He turned to me and his eyes looked hard and calculating—his defenses were up.
“I was just curious. I haven’t heard from him.”
“Does that bother you?” he asked, staring at me even more closely.
“No, but I just want him to be okay. Hopefully you do, too.”
“I have to tell you, I really don’t know. He decided to get a place downtown and not move back home,” Mason said. Then he added, “Mother helped him pay for it.”
“Oh,” I said. Then I dropped it, because it was clearly a controversial topic with Mason. Plus, I realized the insensitivity of my timing. Wrapped up in each other’s arms, after a romantic evening that ended in passionate sex, and Mason knowing full well that his brother had taken my virginity—something I was certain Mason would have cherished, I should’ve asked about Callum another time. But in the back of my mind, I was impressed with Callum’s actions, as it took courage and tenacity, two qualities I greatly admired to start life all over again…to go from rock bottom and try to climb back to the top.
And although he told me he loved me and would fight for me, Mason was always around me, taking care of my every needs, and becoming closer and closer to me.
Nights of making love until midnight were common for Mason and I. It was both beautiful and intense sometimes animalistic helping us to release the wild side of us and letting us feel unrestrained, uninhibited yet free. We both needed each other for it, getting the release we crave from the stresses of life.
I’d awake every morning with a sweet text message from Mason, which made me smile, and then I’d respond, trying to tap into the beautiful words of wisdom my mother so often said, but put a business twist on them. It was something that was utterly Mason and I in most every way, but likely not someone else’s idea of romance. We had an exciting fusion that was filled with intense passion, an insatiable appetite for business, endless innovative ideas, and a natural determination that would not be hindered.
And I still haven’t heard from Callum so it was time to move on. Or so I thought.
Chapter 23
Callum
It had been heartbreaking not getting in contact with Charisma all these months. But I needed to step away from her so I could focus on winning the trust and confidence of the Board for the Beast Company.
It was also a condition Mason and I agreed on so that I could come onboard and back into the Beast Company. Mason didn’t trust me with Charisma, thinking I was still that shallow idiot I was long ago. I didn’t want to agree to his terms at first, but then I realized it was because he was trying to protect Charisma from me. He had a point after all since I was the one who hurled insults towards her mother and her long ago.
Plus, Mason wanted to see how serious I was in rebuilding the Beast’s family name as well as the Beast Company’s reputation. Any mention of my name with Helen Chu and even Charisma Chu in the media or social media would bring up the awful accident again. So I agreed to that term along with the Board’s votes in order for me to get reinstated onto the Board itself.
Then as the months went by, and I realized that Mason was taking full advantage of my inability to get in touch with Charisma, by getting closer and closer to her; I was heartbroken, first and foremost, but then something inside of me turned that into inspiration. I wasn’t the type of man she needed, and I could accept that, but she was just the type of woman I desired. That meant that I had to find a way to tap into the business side of me that Mason so naturally possessed, and show that I had it in me, too.
It was the biggest sacrifice I could make, but I knew deep down inside Charisma and Helen would be proud of me for doing it. My father would be proud of me for it.
“Mason,” I walked into his office.
Mason turned around from facing the window in his office. “What is it?”
“It’s been 6 months. Do you think I am capable of running Beast’s Stores now?”
“We’ll let the Board determine that,” Mason said. “But from my record, they would probably want to keep things status quo and have me remain CEO.”
“We’ll see,” I said. “And I’ll break my terms with you on keeping away from Charisma.”
Mason clenched his fist. “Like I said, we’ll let the Board decide. But as far as Charisma is concern, she and I are very much in love. I won’t give her up without a fight.”
“I’ll fight you then, Mason. I know she cared about me once…”
Mason walked up to me so fast and pulled me forward. I have never seen him so angry and emotional. “You touch her or kiss her, then you’re dead meat. You hear.”
I smiled. I knew I had him then. “So, Mason, remember that bet I made with you months ago. If you step down as CEO for Charisma, I promise to not interfere with you and Charisma. But if you mistreat her in any way, the bet’s off.”
Mason laughed. “I’m not threatened by you over Charisma. I know she loves me, as much as I love her. I don’t need to give up my position to have her.”
I couldn’t help holding back my feelings then. To hear Charisma in love with Mason was like a punch in the stomach. But then again, it was coming from Mason himself. Of course he would think Charisma loved him. They weren’t married yet.
“Fine, I’m going to invite her out to dinner with me tonight,” I said. “I miss her, and I’m sure she missed me. After all, she chose me to give her virginity to, didn’t she? She must’ve cared for me a lot to do that.”
At that, Mason punched me in the face, while I staggered back. Mason truly loved Charisma for him to lose control like that at the office.
“You try to seduce her again, and I will personally kill you,” Mason said.
“That’s for her to decide, isn’t it?” I said wiping my jaw. The guy can throw a punch. Who knew he was that strong. “Worried?”
Mason didn’t answer for a moment.
I pulled out my phone and began calling Charisma. To her credit, she answered right away.
“Hi Charisma,” I said. My heart was pounding so hard as I wait to hear her voice again. How was she? What was she up to? I had so many questions to ask her.
“Callum?” she asked. “Is it really you? Oh God,” she sound like she was crying. “I thought something happened to you. You never returned my emails or calls. Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” I said. “I’m working at Beast’s Stores now, and doing well. I had the best teachers in you and your mother, Charisma.” I tried to hold my longin
g for her as I talked to her. Just her voice had awakened my love and desire for her. I wanted so badly to tell her I love her, but Mason grabbed my phone.
“Hi Baby,” he said. “It’s me Mason. Yes, Callum is in the office with me. Why didn’t I tell you he was working at Beast’s Stores? Well, that was for him to tell you, right Callum, seeing that you’d rather avoid any contact with Charisma so you can get back into Beast Stores.”
Mason handed me the phone and put Charisma on speaker. “Isn’t that true, Callum?” he asked.
“Callum,” Charisma said. “Is it true you wanted to severe all ties to me and Mom just to return back to Beast’s? Why? What does that mean? Did all that time you lived with us mean nothing to you?”
My heart fell as I heard the hurt and anguish in Charisma’s voice.
“Isn’t it true, Callum,” Mason goaded.
I took a deep breath and said, “I’m sorry, Charisma, it was true.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Charisma said coldly. “I see where your values are. I wished I never…” she broke off.
I spoke into the phone, ignoring Mason, as I poured my heart out. “Charisma, believe me, you and your mother meant everything to me. Everything between us was true. I owe my becoming a more mature man, being changed to someone who can gain the trust of the Board again all to you and Helen.”
“How could you ignore my calls to you then?” Charisma asked. “You don’t turn your back to those who cared about you.”
Mason flinched when she said “cared.”
“I’m doing this for you and Helen,” I said. “I want you both to be proud of me,” I said.
“We are, Callum, but you don’t have to forget us for it.”
“If I could,” I began, looking at Mason. “I would give up the CEO position at Beast’s Company…”
Mason grabbed my phone and turned off the speaker before I could finish my sentence. “Baby,” he said. “If Callum became CEO of Beast’s, would you dump me and start dating him?”
I couldn’t hear her response since Mason was now talking quietly with Charisma on the phone. But he sounded completely like a lovelorn puppy. He was changed. Smiling as he talked on the phone with Charisma, while saying, “I love you so much, Baby. I will…anything for you.” Then he hung up the phone and handed it to me.
“So Mason, should I call Charisma to ask her to dinner with me tonight?” I asked.
“I can’t keep you from calling her,” Mason said. “But I can tell you, she just said yes to marrying me.”
My heart fell like a brick, and I felt like I needed to sit down. Mason just took the wind out of my sails.
“On the condition that I give you a chance with the Board to be voted in as CEO,” Mason said.
My heart lifted a bit, thinking Charisma really did still care for me.
“Which I agreed to,” Mason said. “And if the Board votes you in as CEO, then I’ll accept that.”
I was torn. I was happy that Mason relented to have me get a chance to become CEO, but heartbroken that I had just lost the love of my life.
Chapter 24
Callum
Walking into the board room a few days later was nerve wracking and exciting. I had so much to prove, much of what I had to demonstrate to them, but also a great deal more that I had to demonstrate to no one other than me.
“Gentlemen, hello, and thank you,” I said, walking into the board room upon the invitation from the receptionist.
“Callum, you’re looking well,” they all said in various forms. I looked at Mason and he was sitting there with a poker face on. What he was really thinking, I had no idea, but he wasn’t the one to decide if I could resume the role of CEO. The remainder of the board was. I was up against a big obstacle, because Mason had done very well in the position, showing business savvy and personal skills that were definitely indicators to show that he was also my father’s son.
“Thank you,” I said, acknowledging each of them with a handshake. “It was a rough few months, but I’ve never been better as a result. I’m driven, focused, and appreciative of everything it takes to be a Beast who can run Beast Companies and represent our time honored traditions in a way that my father and even grandfather would have been proud of.”
They looked to Mason to take the lead. “How has your knowledge of all the workings of the company been increased, Callum? Not just the marketing department and modeling.”
It was a fair question and I went on to explain. Over the past months, I’d taken it upon myself to also hire a personal mentor to help me tap into my potential and I was relieved and excited to realize that it had been a lack of desire that had been holding me back, a refusal to grow up. Well, I had grown up and have become smarter and wiser than I had ever been. I was ready.
Over the next hour, I laid out my plans for what I envisioned, showing I was ready to take over, including the smartest, logical choice to emulate my father, which was to keep Mason on as COO and also bring in Charisma to work for the company. Unbeknownst to her, I’d approached Helen with this idea, wanting to clear it through her. I had so much respect for that woman and all she’d done for me that I would never do something that might be misconstrued as deceitful. She’d given her blessings, though, reminding me that it was Charisma’s choice, and hers alone to make. If she did take the job it might be tough at times, because I still loved her dearly and felt she was the right one for me. However, it wasn’t our destiny, as evidenced by her and Mason’s new engagement.
“Callum, can you give us a few moments,” Mason asked.
“Certainly.”
“It won’t be long,” he added.
I walked out and took a seat just outside the boardroom. I’d done the best I could and now it was in the hands of the men and women behind those thick, heavy wooden doors. Would Mason try to sabotage me or realize that it was time and the position was still supposed to be mine? I had to hope for the best, as the new man I wanted to be would only look at his opposition as a roadblock, not a dead end.
About twenty minutes later, I was brought back into the room, and everyone was standing up to shake my hand and congratulate me, including Mason. We patted each other’s backs and I said, “Thank you for your vote of confidence and support.”
“You’re welcome, brother. I have all I need and more. That’s what I want for you, too,” he replied. I looked at him to assess the sincerity and his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, but he didn’t look angry, either. A small step in the right direction, I supposed.
A month later…
“Hi Callum, I’m not sure if you remember me. Veronica Chan, the winner of Miss Moon this past year. You took my photo, and Helen Chu Cosmetics were our sponsors.”
“Yes, how could I forget. How is everything going with you, Veronica?” I asked.
“Very well, thanks. I’m starting med school in the fall at UCI actually, but I wanted to take advantage of us meeting before and see if you had any positions available that I might be qualified for.”
“I can’t imagine that we wouldn’t have something available for an intelligent, beautiful and hard-working woman such as yourself. What did you have in mind?” She began to talk and while it was about work, it made something feel alive in me again. Maybe, just maybe, I was ready to move on and find a new opportunity for love.
Epilogue
Charisma
2 months later…
Mason and I sat across from each other in the chic restaurant Flash.
“I’ve been meaning to do this for a while, Charisma,” Mason said, staring at me across the small table, the single candle flickering light that made his green eyes reflect its flame. “It’s been so incredible, Charisma. You amaze me every day.” He lifted his glass, the red wine shimmering in the soft ambiance, and I raised mine toward it and we toasted.
A waiter dressed in formal wear came by to deliver the dessert on a silver platter. On top of the platter was a silver and gold cake shaped like a turtle. Then a crown of lotu
s flowers surrounded the turtle’s head.
“Oh, that is so lovely!” I cried. “Mason, you planned it all out, didn’t you?”
“Look what’s on top of the crown, Charisma,” Mason said.
I looked down and opened my mouth in shocked. Nestled amongst the lotus was a platinum diamond ring that captured all the angles of light. It was so brilliant and breathtaking.
Mason took the ring from the cake and went down on one knee in front of me. “I hope this is only the beginning,” Mason said directly, “because I can’t think of any more exciting merger than that of you and I for a long time to come. I love you with all my heart, Charisma, more than anyone and anything in the world. I can’t imagine life without you by my side. Will you marry me?”
