The Marriage Of No Love

Friya POV....

I finally left my parents' home today. I feel devastated and upset. I am sure my father will miss me. However, I am tired of living with my toxic sisters, mother and brother in law. Their hate speeches for me and the mental harasment they cause me at home just because I am the kind of lady who likes to lead is beyond my control now.

I am proud of my achievements because I have struggled to land on the best advertising company. I never liked to pressurize my father financially and hence, I worked as a freelancer writer for an advertising company to pay my college fees. The pay was not that great but I was at least able to meet my requirements. The experience from the company fetched me a job in Cleveward Group of Companies. This is the dream of almost every graduate in Z city.

The pay is so satisfying and I was happy to be here. I look so sassy and stylish that nobody could guess that I have a shitty family. My only aim now is to get rich and be powerful. I want to be a leading entrepreneur after a few years. This domineering nature of mine was not liked by my so called family and I had to leave.

I found a small house with a single room near office. This is a new beginning. I have heard about the CEO of the company. I definitely don't want to come to notice of the big shots in the company. I just want to earn peacefully and save some money to open my own advertising company. I need lots of money. Although I don't mean to sound money minded but loving money is safer than loving someone.

I loved my sisters once and I used to help them a lot. All I got in return was abuse and murder threats especially after teaming up with my brother in law. I had a cute boyfriend but he didn't like my independent nature too. He always demanded me to follow what he says but I just couldn't be that person. I am intelligent and smart. I would use my traits wisely. I loved him so much and he just left after he found a girl finally who would live as a pet for him. I wish both of them goodluck.

I know I am heartbroken but a broken heart has made me stronger. I think I have become emotionless and even cold. The CEO, Mr. Junes Cleveward is also the same. He must be having a broken heart too that everyone calls him ruthless and mean. I guess it is my destiny to work under a boss like him.

I am heading to office. Oops my mind, stop talking to myself!!

Junes Cleveward POV...

I hate colleagues getting late. I tell my security guard already to close the gates right after 9AM. I like discipline and I already see my assistant informing me about employees outside. Frowning at her, she understood that I am not letting them enter the office. However, I have clients coming up today and if these zombie employees of mine stand outside the gate like this, it will be a crowded chaos. I ordered my assistant to let them in but with a percentage deduction from their salary. The assistant looked at me and a drop of sweat was evident on her forehead.

As I looked up to her, she immediately walked out without a single word. I looked outside through his office window and I could see a few girls busy doing makeup. I am not paying them for their make up at the office gate. I turned to sit back on my chair and here it is, my grandfather already called me. He wants me to get married as quickly as possible. He is insisting me on getting married and I can continue being the CEO and stay a billionaire. I feel the pressure coming to me already but I am not sure where will I find a bride who would not fall in love with me. I know I am rich and I can get any girl. However, I want to marry just to get the property but I need to find a girl like that who will not expect any commitment. I only need a woman for a few months and she can leave.

All girls want to stay married to me forever and I cannot. My brother is still on the hunt including a few spies to search a girl for me. I can pay her millions in return and she did not need to earn money for the rest of her life. But, I don't want any woman coming back to me with a child in the belly. I will be screwed. Phew! I missed his call lost in thoughts. I am going to call him back after work.

Friya and the rest of the colleagues who had a record of being late in office were called to the conference room. All the employees were seated and in front of them stood the assistant of the CEO with closed arms. The employees looked already worried since they have not yet logged in to their systems but still sat in the room for almost an hour. All of them surely know that they cannot leave office until they finish their nine hours.

Friya sat there in the front seat frowning at the assistant. She looks around just to see everyone siting silently and waiting for the boss to enter the conference hall and scole them all. She pretended to yawn when the assistant looked at her conveying the message of not being interested to sit in the hall anymore.

Soon, a male voice was heard through the speakers in the room and everyone followed their attention to the voice. Everyone listened keenly including Friya. She was surprised by the attractive voice over the speaker and started imagining how would that guy will look like.

She thought immediately 'usually guys with a good voice does not look really that handsome. He must be someone looking like a monkey with a sexy voice.'

She frowned again but diverted her attention to the announcement made.

"My dear poor time management colleagues, this is not the first time that employees have been late to office. The working policy clear defines that employees need to be disciplined and hereby, abide by the office timings strictly. I will be deducting five percent of your salary and I believe I am still being kind not deducting a fifty or hundred percent of your salary for this month. Hope this is a lesson to learn for the future. Thank you all. Remember to finish your nine working hours for the day. Thank You all and have a good day.' The male voice of the CEO was complimented by all though they didn't see him but his voice made their day especially for the female employees.

Friya looked at everyone and annoyed by the compliments for the CEO who just passed the order of deducting their salaries. She turned to the assistant as she was about to leave, "How can one have a good day when there is a salary deduction?" The assistant didn't bother to reply to her but gave a wicked smile and left.

Friya just stood up lazily, ignoring everyone in the hall, she left the hall. It was already half past ten in the morning by the time she logged in. She would be logging out really late today and would be too tired to cook. With the rent deposit she paid already, she doesn't have much to even order a take away. She decides to eat instant noodles at night as the emergency option.

She rubs her forehead one last time and sees all the CVs in front of her. She opens her email and a ton of emails are already awaiting to be read. She took a deep breath and started working. Her mood was already bad and to make it worst, the assistant came back to her. She came back to answer her question that she asked previously. She spoke in an irritating tone, "You should be glad that he just deducted a portion of the salary and not fired you. Now better get back to work and send me the list of candidates names for the associate director position. I need to plan for his meeting schedule and then gives the dates when he can actually take their interview."

Friya just felt that she threatened her about losing her job and she realised that she needs to be a good girl at the moment to keep up with the job. She politely replied, "I will send them to you via email."

"I need their CVs too but not through email. Come up to my cabin and hand them over to me. I will give it to Mr. Cleveland."

"As you say Mona. I will bring them to you once I shortlist them with my team."

Satisfied with her obedience, Mona nodded and walked out of the HR department. Friya already felt like she has an enemy in the company because of her uncontrollable mouth in less than a month. The thought made her feel worst but she needs this job because of the pay. She has left her parents home because of the toxicity that her sisters and their husbands spread in the house. They are afraid that Friya being smart and witty, she would take her father's property and business after his retirement leaving the rest of them penniless.

Frustrated by their invasion of her privacy and abuse, she finally decided to leave home last month. She has been living alone since then. At the time when she decided to leave, she called her boyfriend Ruth but he did not receive the call. Only a voice message was sent through his phone. She hurried to his home with tears in her eyes just to hug him until she feels better. To her surprise, she saw Ruth kissing a girl in the girl outside his house. She walked closer to the car and she could confirm it was him.

"Darling, what you just saw now is not real. Please believe me." Ruth stammered as he was shocked to see her in front of him. He knew he got busted.

The girl in the car said to Ruth, "Excuse me? You have been living in my apartment since a month and doing everything that a married couple does. What is not real?"

Friya could not tolerate the cheater in front of her. She left the place without saying anything. Ruth tried to run after her but was stopped by the girl inside the car. She quickly typed a text to his number, 'We are over. I don't know you from this minute onwards.' She deleted his number and decided to find her own place to stay.

A snap of the fingers from Dora brought Friya back to the present from the events in the past. Dora is her colleague who has been working in the company since three years. Although she is a senior, they became good friends to each other. She smiled at her and reminded her to finish the job that Mona gave. She was right beside them when the conversation happened. Nodding in agreement, Friya got busy getting the CVs ready.

Friya took the CVs to Mona and she was busy talking on the phone. She didn't care about her presence and although she saw her at the door, she didn't care to call her in. She knocked at the door harder and spoke loudly, "Mona, I am here to give you the CVs. The best candidates in town." Saying this, she walked ahead towards her table without permission.

Mona hung up the phone after bidding the person on the call goodbye with a kiss. Friya could be least bothered. "Don't you have manners? I didn't tell you to come inside."

"I have no time to wait for you to end the call. Didn't you tell me earlier that these CVs are urgent?"

"You are fifteen minutes late woman."

"I have scanned the best of the best candidates for you. I believe it's worth the delay."

"You can't talk to me this way. You have no idea who I am."

"I know you. You are Mona, the CEO's pet."

"What did you say?"

"CEO's assistant I mean. I am sure you will be happy with the CVs in front of you. Let's get to work."

"You... The CEO will fire you if you behave this way. I am very important to him among everyone in this office."

"Good for you. Have a nice day Miss Mona."

Friya turned away without waiting for her reply. She was in no mood for drama. Although she is new to the company, it doesn't mean anyone can bully her. With all the unfortunate happenings in her life, she has become stronger and smarter. She has nothing to lose in her life anymore. She lost everything in life already.

Mona looked at her back with rage until she was out of sight. She was distracted by a call through the telecom, "Yes Mr. Cleveward, how may I help you?"

"Do you have the CVs already? I don't have the whole day. You are twenty minutes late. Can we screen them through quickly?"

"Oh. It's not my fault. A new employee was in charge of the CVs. She got them just now. I will be right there."

She hung up nervously and picks the CVs with shivering hands. She breathes twice and swiftly walks out of the office.

"May I come in Mr. Cleveward?"

"I don't like people not respecting time."

"I am sorry. If you want I can compensate you with a kiss if you like." She nervously started flirting. His eyebrows twitched. He spoke, "You are getting paid for your work and not to hit on me. Speak that way one more time, your tongue will be gone forever."

"I am really sorry. I was just trying to be funny. I had no idea this new girl will be so irresponsible. She must have been fooling around and hence, turned these CVs late."

"Hmmm... Make sure she works without pay today."

"Yes Mr. Cleveward. I will intimate the payroll department about it."

"You may leave now. I will send the list to you and you can schedule the meeting. Remember, this associate director role is not ordinary. I need one really hard working individual for this."

Mona nods and leaves hurriedly. She goes back to her office and places the call to the payroll department, "The CEO has ordered to deduct one week salary of Friya Morris of HR department."

"I will confirm the details. Friya Morris, ID no 987446, HR department, one week salary deduction."

"Yes that's right."

"Thank You." She keeps the phone and an evil smile spreads over her face. She speaks to herself, "I can prove how powerful I am in whichever way I like. Friya, make sure you are a good girl next time."

Friya on the other hand was clueless about what was happening behind her. She was already worked up about her work and she definitely does not feel pleasant after meeting Mona today. She closed her eyes and decided to just concentrate on her work.

Junes was impressed by the CVs that were in front of him. The person who have shortlisted this must surely would have the wits to see through people he thought. Although he was angry for the delay, he is now smiling at the result in front of him. He immediately sent the list of two candidates over email to Mona and requested to schedule the meeting as soon as possible.

He called up Mona after sending the email, "Who is the candidate who gave these CVs to you?"

"Why do you ask Mr. Cleveward?"

"You don't get to ask me questions. Name please."

"Friya Morris."

"Thank You." He hung up without any reply. He calls up the payroll department, "I think my assistant told you to deduct the salary of Miss. Friya Morris by a day."

"It is by a week Mr. Cleveward."

"I think it has been a mistake. Please give her an advanced bonus today. Transfer to her account. A ten percent bonus and I will approve it."

"As you say Mr. Cleveland."

He walks out of his office and goes to Mona's cabin. "Do you know the difference between a day and a week?"

Mona stood up with questioning eyes, "I don't understand."

"Did you tell the HR to deduct Miss Morris's salary by a week while it should had been just a day."

"It must be a mistake. I am sorry."

"You are my grandfather's best friend's grand daughter. This does not mean you can do whatever you want. Please be careful next time."

"I am so sorry. I have been just too worried lately about you. If you don't marry a woman soon, you may lose everything here."

"Not everything but half."

"I am ready to marry you just to help you. We have known each other since years."

"I am not interested. Don't try to dance when you see a chance."

"But, I just mean to help."

"I don't need anyone's help. You can mind your own business."

He gives her one last angry look and goes back to office.