Don't Hide...My Vanilla

"What the hell is going on here?" Valerie asked her friend, Tyler wood who is also the CEO of the company she is working for.

Tyler, sitting on the sofa, had his head buried in his hands, saw Valerie standing at his office door with a MacBook in her hand and sighed heavily.

"I repeat what the hell is going on here Ty?” asked Valerie with raised tone, walking into the office while closing the door.

"Well! As you can see, I threw my stuff on the floor." replied Tyler with a sarcastic smile on his face.

"I can see that Ty but why did you do it? Is it related to our new project?" asked Valerie with a concerned tone placing the MacBook on the table near sofa.

Tyler sighed again and said "Yeah! The project manager said he can’t make it to the A city because his pregnant wife had some complications.”

"That's it? And you made your office a dump yard because of this reason? Ridiculous Ty. You can appoint another one right? we don't lack managers." said Valerie folding her hands.

"You think that didn't strike my mind? The people we are going to work are number one band in the world and this is the first time we are collaborating with pop stars. This project can give us many opportunities in the future. That stupid interacted with our clients before this event. They accepted him but now he is backing off and they refused to proceed with new one because of some security issues. What should I do now? No one has the courage to take over his position as they are afraid to face the consequences if they make any mistake in this project" said Tyler in one go.

"It's just a month tour to A city why don't you be the project manager" suggested Valerie sitting beside Ty on sofa.

"But my dad is not in good health he needs me Val" replied Ty sighing.

"Come on buddy! Uncle Dale will be fine don't worry about him. Let me convince our clients to accept this change." assured Val.

"I tried kitty but they are adamant about that. They want a person who is capable enough to take care of the project for a whole month and someone who is in respectable position and trustworthy to lead our staff and to be confidential." said Ty pulling his hair out of frustration.

"What can we do to convince them?” mumbled Val resting her head on the sofa and Tyler suddenly got a wonderful idea.

"I think I know someone who can fit perfectly for this job." said Ty looking at Val with bright eyes and goofy smile.

"Who is it?” asked Val confused about his sudden mood change.

"Valerie Norris” said Ty holding Val's shoulders.

"Who is Val..." and then it hit her that Ty is talking about her. "What!!!!No way” said Val standing and trying to reach her MacBook.

He stopped Val and made her sit again "Val just do me this favour. You are the only one I can rely on now because I know you can do it. They know how much power you have in this company and couldn’t reject you. Please!!kitty...say yes and I will grant you anything." pleaded Ty like a desperate kid.

Val just stared at him without uttering a word. She knows what he said is true. She can do this kind of job as she did it before. Moreover, she is happy to help her friend but right now she is not interested in any other jobs except finance. She has no idea how to refuse him, her best friend for more than a decade already.

When Ty saw her hesitation, he knows she will say yes with a little persuasion, so he pleaded her again to which Val said yes reluctantly. He is so happy when Val said yes and moved forward to kiss her on the cheek in excitement but stopped with one glare from Val. He backed off awkwardly and made some phone calls relating project.

Val saw him busily talking on phone and decided to complete her work in her MacBook. She still remembers how he reacted when she said yes to his proposal of working as the partner in his company years ago. She met Tyler at the age of twelve in a school playground, trying hard to talk to her. Since then, they became friends and went through a lot together.

Tyler is the only son to his parents. They love him a lot. His father owns a company in which Val is working now. But at that time when Ty’s father got into an accident, he is only eighteen and all shareholders started rebelling as to who should lead the company now. Then he is forced to take up the company and the responsibilities that comes up with it.

That's when Ty asked Val's help in leading the company as they are business students. Both worked very hard for four years to gain strong foothold in the company. Gradually shareholders stopped rebelling as they saw Ty's ability in leading the company and Val's talent in dealing finance. They brought the company into one of the top ten design and management companies.

Val came back from her thoughts when Ty called her.

"What have you been thinking kitty? Okay listen! They accepted you as the project manager and you have only three days to go through the stuff regarding the project. A detailed plan about the project will be handed over to you. One more thing, I will assign my PA to do your work meanwhile. You can take your assistant Phoebe if you want. Your flight is four days away from now. So be ready kitty" said Ty in a relaxed way as the problem is now solved.

"Wait! What! Four days! Seriously!!"exclaimed Val. She felt it is not enough to prepare for the trip and project.

"Yes kitty” said Ty while smiling “once you are back with success, I will grant you ten days leave or we can go on a vacation” winked Ty playfully “What do you say kitty?” asked Ty, secretly hoping a positive reply from her.

"Vacation! Your head! just send me the details” said Val and left the office.

Ty laughed when he saw her annoyed face, slowly his smile faded staring at her back. He didn't joke when he said he would take her to a vacation. He loves her from the day he asked her to work with him in his company. It’s been five years, but he didn't have courage to confess her.

He always teases her as her boyfriend, but she always turns a deaf ear to all his teasing. He knows she is not into relationships, and he didn't know the reason but he still hopes for her to give him a chance as he is best friend. He knows almost everything about her likes and dislikes, and she is still single, so he felt that he still has a chance. With that in mind he started his work.

Val returned to her office and buried herself in work. Within ten minutes Ty's assistant Derrick handed her the project details. The project is about luxury accessory brands who will choose someone to be their brand ambassador. They will start a photo or video shoot promoting their brands.

Ty's company should design brand ambassador’s clothes, should take care of their schedule, welfare and plan the shoot with suitable locations, monitor throughout the shoot without interruptions.

Val informed her assistant about their trip and handed her a copy of project details. She didn't want anyone to work on her behalf so Val worked overtime to finish the work before going on trip. After working for God knows how many hours she realised that it's ten in the evening so she packed her bag and went to her apartment which is twenty minutes’ drive from her workplace.

After having a nice shower, she had some dinner and called her parents as she had several missed calls from them. It's her daily routine to have a talk with her parents after work. Her father answered after two rings. Before she could say anything her father, Ian showered her with questions.

"Where are you honeybee? Why didn't you pick my calls? Had your dinner? Were you having dinner with your clients?” Val held her forehead and said “Dad!!!calm down” Val felt happy that her father just asked these questions in call rather than waiting for her at the doorstep.

"Just say what happened honeybee?"

"I worked overtime dad"

"Why did you do that? Ty said he wouldn't let you work hard. I should have a talk with him” fumed Ian and her mother, Sara is trying to calm her husband.

"Dad, he didn't know about that, and I have a reason to work overtime. I am going to A city after three days for a project and I won't come back for a month, so I wanted to complete my work before leaving” said Val preparing herself to sleep after the call.

"What? but it's not your job to travel. What about project manager?” questioned Ian.

"He backed off at the last minute due to his pregnant wife's emergency delivery. So, Ty requested me to takeover this project" Ian wanted to complain again but Val continued "Ty wanted to go but uncle Dale is sick and aunt Rosie is so worried. They need him right now dad. So, he has no choice but to send me who he can trust."

Ian still wanted to say something when Sara took over the phone from Ian and said "Just be safe Valie. I know you will make this project successful. Congrats in advance."

Val smiled widely "thanks mom" her mother is always the one who is reasonable. Her dad is overprotective of her, and her mother is easy-going. She just loves them so much and is lucky to have them as her parents who always supports her every decision.

Ian took his phone back and whined "I missed you and will miss you honeybee please come home before you go to your business trip"

"Definitely! Dad and I missed you and will miss you too…. a lot!!! muah! muah!" said Val and kissed her dad over the phone while her dad returned the kisses.

Sara shouted at her husband "Enough with your naughtiness and give me the phone" and took the phone from Ian and wished Val good night.

“It’s half past 11 just sleep Valie".

"Good night mom” said Val smiling, imagining her father's pouty face and her mother's jealousy face.

"Good night honeybee” said her parents in unison.