My Not So Sweet CEO

The Thompson Industries executive office's floor-to-ceiling windows offered a skyline view, but Calvin Thompson wasn't admiring the scenery. His fingers drummed against his desk as he listened to the video conference.

"The Singapore team needs an answer today, Mr. Thompson," his Asia Pacific director insisted. 

"They're threatening us to take the deal to Kim Technologies."

Calvin's remained composed. "Let them threaten." He pulled up the project analytics on his screen. "Their stock dropped twelve percent last quarter. They need this partnership more than we do."

"But sir.,"

"Double the monitoring unit in Shanghai," Calvin cut in, his voice carrying the quiet authority that has built his empire. "When Singapore realizes Kim can't deliver, they will be back, and our terms will be non-negotiable."

The directors murmured their agreement. Calvin ended the call and leaned back to his chair, allowing himself a brief respite.

His intercom buzzed. "Mr. Thompson? The R&D team is ready for you."

"Send them in."

The next few hours were a blur of meetings, decisions, and strategic moves that kept Thompson Industries at the forefront of global technology. Calvin moved through it all with practiced precision.

Back at home, Mily was waiting in her private study.

"The Singapore play was smart," she said, not looking up from her tablet, "But risky."

"Like getting involved in Anderson project?" Calvin's tone was sharp.

Now, Mily did look up. "Jealous, husband ?"

"Concerned. There's too much at stake."

"Speaking of stakes," Mily set down her tablet. "Your brother James seems quite interested in NovaTech Research Laboratories lately."

Calvin's jaw tightened. "Keep James out of this."

Meanwhile, back at my house, I stood in front of my closet, pushing hangers aside with frustration.

"NO..no..definitely not.." I muttered, discarding option after option onto my bed. Most of my wardrobe consisted of practical work clothes, not exactly Royal Garden Material. 

Finally, I found a navy blue cocktail dress I had worn to last year's Environmental Science gala in the back. Simple, elegant, and professional. A perfect dress for a dinner that was probably more about business than pleasure.

As I got ready, my mind drifted to the strange events of the past twenty-four hours. The mysterious car ride, last night's blank spaces, the text about page 47...

My phone buzzed with a text from Daniel: "A car will pick you up at 7:30."

I glanced at the clock. I had one hour to go.

In my work bag, page 47 of the Anderson proposal sat innocently among my other papers. Something told me that I should go along with it tonight.

Calvin turned to look at Mily. "When was the last time you checked on your boutique? Y our mother called yesterday, worried about you."

Mily's confident look faded. "The boutique is fine. Jenny is managing things."

"It's your dream, Mily. Getting involved in Thompson Industries affairs wasn't part of the plan." his voice softened. "Your designs were starting to gain attention. That feature in Vogue was just the beginning."

Mily stood up abruptly as she walked to the window. "I can handle myself."

"Can you? Or are you letting your parent's expectations drive you again?" Calvin saw the tension on her shoulders. "They gave you the boutique to explore your passion, not to abandon it because you are now married."

"Since when did you start to care about my lifestyle?" Mily asked, raising her eyebrow

"I am just advising you as your friend," Calvin responded 

"As a friend and not as my husband?" Mily asked with her voice cold

"We've talked about this before, Mily." Calvin said with his voice narrowing slightly.

Before she could reply, his phone buzzed. Another crisis demanding the CEO's attention. "We'll finish this later," he said, heading to the door. "But think about what I said."

I put the finishing touches on my makeup, trying to steady my shaking hands. The navy dress fit me perfectly, though I wished I had the time to get it pressed. My practical black heels would have to do; they were comfortable enough for work presentations, and they should be fine for dinner. 

My phone buzzed again; the car was here. I grabbed my bad, double-checking that the blue file was inside my bag. I wanted to inform Letty that I was going already, but she was fast asleep. As I hurried down to the street, my mind raced with questions I wanted to ask Daniel. 

The car waiting wasn't the car from yesterday. Instead, a sleek silver Bentley idled at the curb, its driver holding the door open with practiced elegance.

"Dr. Martinez," he nodded. "Mr. Park is waiting."

As we pulled away from my apartment, I couldn't shake the feeling that somewhere, someone was watching. I was right, but not about who.

Meanwhile, Calvin sat down with his phone in his office, staring at the security feed showing my departure. His expression was unreadable as he watched the Bently disappear into traffic.

Behind him, James Thompson, Calvin's younger brother, stepped out of the shadows, smirking. "Shall we begin?"

Calvin turned to face his brother. "What are you playing at, James?"

"Me?" James feigned innocence, settling into one of the leather chairs. "I'm just making sure that our family's interests are protected. Daniel Park isn't exactly who he claims to be."

"And you are?" Calvin's voice held a warning.

Before James could respond, Calvin's secretary buzzed in. "Mr. Thompson, your 8 PM conference call with Tokyo is ready."

"We'll discuss this later," Calvin said firmly. James was already heading for the door, but that infuriating smirk remained.

"Enjoy your call, big brother. I have a dinner to observe."

The Bently moved through the city's evening traffic. I tried not to fidget with my dress, instead focusing on mentally reviewing everything I knew about quantum filtration. If Daniel Park was interested in the technical aspect of my research...

The car turned into a street I didn't recognize. "Excuse me," I called to the driver, "Isn't the Royal Garden in the opposite direction?"

"Change of plans, Dr. Martinez," The driver replied smoothly. "Mr. Park thought you might prefer somewhere more... private."

My heart rate increased. "I prefer sticking to the original plan."

The driver's eyes met mine in the rearview mirror. "Mr.Park insists."

I reached for my phone, but before I could grab it, the car made another turn and pulled up to a stunning glass building I recognized from architecture magazines. The Phoenix is the city's most exclusive restaurant.

The driver opened my door. Mr. Park is waiting on the rooftop."

As I stepped out, my phone buzzed one last time: "Trust me." -D

The elevator ride to the top felt endless. When the doors finally opened, I entered what looked like a private garden in the sky. And there, at a table set for two, stood Daniel Park.

Dr. Martinez," he smiled, pulling out my chair. "I hope you don't mind changing the venue. The Royal Garden can be so..public."

I sat down, noticing a folder sitting next to his place setting. A folder that looked exactly like mine.

"Now then," he said, clapping his hand, and the waiter brought our dinner, "Shall we eat first?"

After eating, he brought out a blue file identical to mine.

"Now then," he said, opening the file to reveal his research copy, "shall we discuss what you discovered?"

"What do you mean what I discovered?" I stared at the familiar diagrams on Daniel's version of the file."

He smiled, taking a sip of wine. "Your quantum filtration theory isn't just about clean water, is it, Dr. Martinez? The molecular restructuring you've proposed. It has other applications."

Before I could reply, my phone buzzed, but I ignored it.

Meanwhile, in Calvin Thompsin's office:

"Not now, Mother." Calvin paced in his office, his phone pressed to his ear."I have the Tokyo merger to handle."

"Calvin Alexander Thompson," Elizabeth Thompson's voice was coming over the phone. "This is not a request. The whole family will be here tomorrow night. Including the Martinez."

Calvin stopped pacing. "The Martinez?"

"Yes, Robert and Helen are back from Europe. And they are coming with Lily, too."

"And Calvin?" Elizabeth continued before he could hang up. "Make sure you bring your wife."

Later that evening, in the Thompson Mansion:

Calvin found Mily in her home studio sketching designs that would likely never make it to her boutique.

"Mother insists you come tomorrow night," He said from the doorway.

Mily didn't look up. "Will my sister attend?"

"Yes."

Now she did look up, her eyes unreadable. "All of them?"

"Yes."

A slow smile spread across her face. "Well then, how could I miss it?" She turned back to her sketches. "Tell mum I'll wear the red Valentino dress she gave me."

Calvin went upstairs to take a shower before going to his study room. He opened his security feed. The rooftop restaurant showed Lily leaning forward, her face lit up as she discussed something with Daniel.

Calvin closed the feed, but not before he saw Daniel Park reach across the table to touch Lily's hand.

"Your molecular theory," Daniel said, his hand warm on mine. It could revolutionize more than just water filtration. Have you considered it?"

My phone chimed twice. 

'

Two messages:

From Mom: "Dinner tomorrow at the Thompsons mansion. No excuses."

From Mily: "See you tomorrow, sister. Wear something Nice."

I frown as I read the messages.

"Is everything alright?" Daniel asked in a concerned tone.

"Yes, but I have to go home now. I still have some things to do, and it's getting late." I said while standing up, "Let's continue this conversation for another day."

Daniel grabbed my hand as I stood to leave. "I'm looking forward to seeing you again," he said, his eyes holding mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Alright, thanks for dinner," I replied with a smile, trying to ignore the warmth of his touch. As I made my way to the elevator, my mind raced, replaying every moment of our conversation.

In the back of my Uber, I stared at the city lights blurring pasts; my thoughts were a tangled mess. How did Daniel know about my research? The filtration theory was not just about cleaning after; he has seen right through its core potential. My years of study and countless nights in the lab could revolutionize molecular restructuring... or be weaponized in the wrong hands.

My phone buzzed again, probably another message about tomorrow's dinner, but I couldn't focus on family obligations right now. Daniel's words echoed in my head: "Other applications." The way he said it sent a chill down my spine. Yet there was something in his manner, a genuine enthusiasm for the science that felt..sincere?

I pressed my forehead against the glass of the car window. Tomorrow, I will have to play the dutiful daughter of the Thompson Mansion, but tonight, my mind won't rest. I needed to figure out who Daniel really was and, more importantly, what he planned to do with my research. 

The car pulled up to my apartment building, and I realized I had been absently rubbing my hand where he had touched it. Dangerous territory, Lily, I thought to myself. He had a brilliant mind, a disarming smile, and my classified research in his possession. Daniel was either going to be my greatest ally or my worst nightmare. The question was which?

I slipped into our apartment quietly, but as soon as I saw Lett's sleeping form on the couch, all pretense of being considerate vanished. My mind was full and too wired to keep everything to myself.

"Letty! Wake up!" I shook her shoulder gently with increasing urgency. "You won't believe what just happened."

"Mmph?" Letty blinked sleepily; her dark curls were a mess against the pillow. "Lily? What time is it?" She scowled at her phone. "it's nearly 10. Didn't you just leave for dinner like an hour ago?"

I leaned on the coffee table facing her, practically vibrating nervously. "Mom and Dad just landed, and apparently, I'm expected at some dinner at the Thompson Mansion tomorrow night."

"The Thompson Mansion?" Letty's eyes widened. "As in Elizabeth Thompson, your sister's mother-in-law?"

"The very same." I groaned, falling back into the armchair. "And Mily sent me this cryptic message about wearing something nice," You know what that means."

Letty sighed.

"The Thompson.." I sighed, slumping deeper into the armchair. "I haven't seen Calvin since the wedding, and I hoped to keep it that way."

"At least you won't be alone," Letty offered, now fully awake. "I still can't believe Mily married him after everything he did to you in school."

I checked my phone again, rereading Mily's message about dressing appropriately. "Sometimes I wonder if my twin sister conveniently forgot all those years he spent tormenting me. The mocking remark, the pranks, making me feel like I wasn't good enough.."

"Well," Letty said, standing up and stretching. "We are not letting you face this dinner without the perfect outfit. Shopping tomorrow morning? We need groceries anyway, and you need something to make you feel confident."

"You're the best, you know that?" I managed a small smile. "What time should we head out? I want to have enough time to get ready before this whole family ordeal begins."

The next morning arrived all too soon. Letty and I hit the stores early, weaving through the weekend crowd at the local mall. 

"So what exactly constitutes appropriate in Mily's words?" Letty asked as we browsed through racks of dresses. "Because I vote we go for something that says a successful scientist who is too busy changing the word to care about what her twin thinks."

I pulled out a white gown, holding it up against me, "Knowing Mily, she probably expects me to show up in some conservative outfit that screams 'ready to settle down.' As if that's all that matters."

"Too safe," Letty commented on the white gown, shaking her head. "Try this one." She handed me a green silk dress with lines and subtle sophistication.

"I don't know.." I hesitated, but Letty was already pushing me towards the fitting rooms.

"Trust me. it's good enough for a family dinner. Plus, green always brings out your eyes."