Chapter 325 - The Painting

The person who was already nervous trembled a little but she maintained her pose and sat down. Rachel began with simple questions just to check the loyalty of the person towards the company. She did that with every candidate and there was no one who was not at the verge of tears after coming out and they knew if they got this job, there was no way they could screw things up. She had asked everyone to wait in the waiting room and after she was done she wrote the results on a paper. 

She then went to wake Jessica up and handed her the results and asked her to tell the selected people to start with their work right away. 

Jessica rolled her eyes "Do you really not want to give them a break after giving them a hard time."

Rachel smiled and said "They are lucky to receive this treatment from me."

Jessica shook her head and laughed "I will do that but just a reminder you are too mean."

She chuckled "I know and I have to be because I have a huge company to run being a female."

Jessica went to the waiting room, told the results to everyone and asked them to start working. No one could afford losing this prestigious job so they began right away without any argument. She then went to take care of other things that Rachel had asked her while Rachel started working on strengthening the company. 

Both of them were done by 6 in the evening and when Jessica entered her office, Rachel looked at her with a smile "Good that you are here, you have to arrange a meeting for tomorrow with all the departmental heads in the office. I have some work for them that will help us strengthen our company and tell them that I won't tolerate anyone being late."

Jessica came to stand in front of her and said "So you have decided to spread your fear in everyone."

Rachel smiled "I have to get this company to the top again and to do that I need everyone to work with full dedication. I am a human and I take into consideration their rest and I will give them the work accordingly but when they have deadlines they will finish their work efficiently. If they fear me the results of their work will be pleasing because when I am harsh they will try to please me."

Jessica gave her a salute "I really like the way you think so now your behavior is the part of your plan to get the company to the top in less time."

"Kinda"

"Got it, I will arrange that for you."

Saying that she went out and scheduled a meeting for Rachel and then came back to ask "Do you have anything else for me to do?"

Rachel looked up from her laptop and said "No, that's it now just wait here and I will be done very soon then we can leave together."

Jessica nodded and sat down on the sofa and began scrolling through her phone while Rachel continued with her work.

After they were done they headed back home and it was around 8 when they reached. Rachel went to her room when she received a call from Oliver "I will pick you up in half an hour, be ready."

"Yeah, I'll wait for you."

As she cut the call Jessica entered the room with a little hesitation so Rachel asked "What's wrong?"

Jessica was not feeling good about Rachel going to this thing alone so she said "I don't have a nice feeling about this, do you mind if I join you."

Rachel smiled and placed a hand on her arm "It's probably because you don't like Oliver but trust me he is a nice person and I will be fine, you must be tired from running around all day so just take some rest and I will get ready."

Jessica wanted to insist but she had nothing more she could say. The worst part was she trusted Oliver too but her heart was not at ease, she felt that something was definitely going to be wrong. As she didn't know what it was exactly, she could do nothing but listen to Rachel and stay where she was. 

Rachel got dressed and told her parents that she was going to an exhibition with Oliver and as promised Oliver arrived on time to pick her up. She sat in the car and as Oliver started driving he complimented "You can come up with a perfect outfit for any occasion and it is amazing."

"Thanks, it's just that I have good fashion sense."

He smiled "You look good in everything." 

She smiled back at him "So tell me about your friend."

"He does this every year and along with his own paintings, he has paintings of many other artists that can be sold."

"That's amazing"

"Yeah it is and he told me that this time he has a painting by an artist of a really beautiful girl. He didn't even know how he got that painting but he says it's the most beautiful woman he had ever seen."

Rachel smiled "Really then I am looking forward to seeing this painting."

Oliver laughed "Me too, I want to see this woman who is even more beautiful than you."

Rachel laughed "Aren't your compliments getting cheeky as the time passes."

"Hmm, they are but the person is worth it."

Rachel rolled her eyes "Shut up, you are frustrating me now."

"Alright, I was just messing with you, I will stop now."

"Better and put on some music on, I want to listen to something good."

"Alright"

He then put on some music and both of them enjoyed it until they reached the place. Oliver took her inside and both of them started appreciating the paintings when Rachel said "I want to see this beauty."

Oliver laughed "He has kept that painting for himself and it is not for sale so it is not on display so I will take you to him and ask him to show you that painting and maybe he will change his view of the most beautiful girl ever."

Rachel rolled her eyes "Stop it or I will abandon you and leave."

He laughed "Wait let me make a call."

He then called a number and after the call was picked he said "Hey dude I am here, where are you?"

The man on the other side said "Where are you, I will be right there."

Oliver told him the place and within 5 minutes he was there. Rachel was observing other paintings and Oliver was left alone to greet his friend. He hugged his friend and said "It's been a long time Liam, how have you been."

Liam smiled "Great, it's so good to see you here."

Oliver nodded "You too and now you have to show us the beauty that you were talking about."

Liam raised his eyebrows "Us, what do you mean by us."

Oliver smacked his head "Oh I am sorry, I forgot to introduce you to..."

He looked around to see that Rachel was not by his side and said in a panicked voice "Oh my God! Where is she?"

Liam laughed "Nice try, if you are trying to scare me, you almost got me there for a second."

Oliver ignored him and looked around shouting "Rachel"

Rachel heard him and came to stand in front of him "What is it?"

Oliver placed a hand over his chest "You have to tell me before you leave my side, you scared me to death."

Rachel smiled "I am sorry" and that was enough to melt anyone's heart but Oliver who had fallen for her had his heart racing but he tried to maintain his cool as he said "Come let me introduce you to Liam."

Rachel had a shine in her eyes and with an excited voice she said "Your friend, sure let's go."

Oliver held her hand and took her to meet Liam and then he said "Liam, meet my friend Rachel."

Liam was in a daze for a long while until Rachel waved her hand in front of him "Is everything alright?"

He snapped back and said "It's you, you look even more beautiful in real life."

Rachel looked at him confused "What do you mean by that?"

Liam said excitedly "Come with me, let me show you."

Rachel and Oliver followed him into a room with only few people in there and then he took her in front of a huge painting in the middle of the room. Rachel looked at the painting and gasped "Oh my God! That's me and it's so beautiful."

Liam nodded "That's not it, take a closer look and you will be able to read the words."

Rachel's heart raced as she stepped closer to the painting and when she read the words, she felt like her heart stop and unconsciously tears flowed through her eyes. She touched the painting as if she was touching the person and then she went through the words on it "To the love of my life."

She cried without knowing the reason and then the images flashed in her mind this time clearer but she didn't know when this picture was drawn.

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