Summer, 2020
Five years later
Twenty three years old Rachel Reeves moved slowly around the tiny kitchen in the small house where she and her mother had lived since her father was jailed. She could tell just by looking at the bright sky, that it was afternoon already. She had to hurry up if she wanted to see her father today, before the jail wardens stopped people from coming in. Rachel carefully packed two plates of delicious food, what she could make with the little money she had.
She sighed in exhaustion, replaying the day in her mind. It was just early afternoon, yet she had shuffled two jobs early this morning – rushed to the market to do some shopping for her father's food – now, she had to go spend some time with him and come back for a night shift at a local restaurant. She wasn't complaining about going over to see her father, she would never complain about that. She really missed him.
Bringing her hands to wipe away the tears that ran down her face, she couldn't help but think if this was how she would continue to live. This had been her life for the last five years, too many part-time jobs and very little rest. To make things worse, the stress from completing her degree had knocked the remaining life out of her. She felt like a different person and not in a good way.
The miserable part of everything was the fact that she had not been able to make any progress at all in her father's case. Not even a little progress in the last five years.
She felt like a useless daughter – one that couldn't give her beloved father the one thing he wanted – freedom. He always had a smile for her whenever she got a chance to see him in prison but she knew his heart was breaking. He felt defeated. She could see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice whenever he spoke. Her cheerful father was gone, he was just a shadow of himself now.
Her father's friend – Morris Scott and his wife, Patricia had tried reaching out to her mother the first year after her father was put in jail. They wanted to get them a house, so they wouldn't be homeless, but her mother – Amanda Reeves had turned them down. She was still terrified and paranoid from everything that had happened, and didn't want to have anything to do with Imperial Hub Limited.
Even though her mother's decision had caused more hardship for them, she couldn't blame her really. Amanda shared the same train of thought with her – that the person behind her father's downfall had to be someone from Imperial Hub Limited. She believed it was best if they stayed away from everyone there.
After a while, Morris and his wife stopped reaching out. Rachel recalled hearing a rumor that some board members of Imperial Hub Limited had warned both of them to stay away from her family, because all eyes were on Morris and his family as suspects – due to the drug trafficking case. That was probably why they never reached out again, she wasn't really sure.
Rachel thought about how Mr Anderson was doing. He was the only board member from the company that reached out to them. Believing that Arthur Reeves was innocent, he was ready to help him get justice – but had to stop when he started getting death threats from an unknown number. He finally had to stay away from them in order to protect himself, but Rachel was still grateful for his help.
Her phone alarm beeped, reminding Rachel that it was time to visit her father. She hurriedly tidied the kitchen then picked the small bag containing her father's food and strolled out of the house. As Rachel made her way to board a cab, she made a decision.
She wouldn't continue her life this way and neither would she leave her father to rot in prison for another five years. She was going to find a way to get access to Imperial Hub Limited, no matter what – and she would find the monster behind all this and make them pay for their crime.
~~~~~•~~~~~
George stood in front of a huge mirror, his eyes studying his reflection. He focused on the burn marks that scarred his face and neck – the collar of his black shirt hiding them away from plain sight. The rest of the scars were scattered around his body from his shoulders to his toes.
As he fixed his tie, his mind drifted to how hard it had been for him these last five years – from the look of disdain on the faces of the maids to the endless whispers among most of the board members, clearly stating he was no longer fit enough to be the CEO of Imperial Hub Limited. At first, he had been so depressed by their words, by the way they treated him. But now, he didn't care at all. Maybe it was the effect of staying on his own and growing a 'tough skin' these last five years, but it was working for him. He was no longer that soft, smiling boy who would do anything his mother wanted, just to make his father happy. As time went by, he decided he was going to live his life for himself first – before anyone else.
The door to his bedroom opened and Tony Williams – his personal assistant turned friend, walked in with a worried expression on his face and a phone in his right hand. Just one look at Tony and George knew what the problem was.
"Did my picture go viral again?" George enquired, a nonchalant expression settling on his face.
"Yes, and the comments are worse than the last time" Tony muttered quietly. Turning on the phone, he read some of the comments from different people loud enough for George to hear.
"He used to be handsome but now he's so ugly, why would a billionaire CEO even look like that?"
"Does their scar removal cream really work? Why does he look like that even after five years? I won't be buying their products anymore. They're all fake."
"He looks so pitiful, like he needs a warm hug and some love. I hope he gets through this"
"If I was a woman, I wouldn't marry him either. I can understand why those elite ladies don't want him"
"Gosh, he's so unlucky. Two months after his golden era and his life turns to this. He has to win an award for the most unlucky billionaire to ever —"
"That's enough" George interrupted him coldly, his face void of expression. He turned to look at Tony "Are you having fun reading this?"
Tony's eyes widened in shock "No, not at all. I'm trying to show you how bad it has gotten. There are about a thousand comments claiming you're an ugly billionaire and no woman wants you"
"I'm just joking about that,'' George replied calmly, acting like he didn't hear the nasty comments Tony just read out. At least, there were still kind people in this world even though they were getting extinct, he concluded – his mind drifting over to that one comment that perfectly described him.
"Aren't you going to say anything else?" Tony asked, staring at him in confusion. "Are you not worried about how this is going to turn out? We still don't know the unknown person who keeps circulating these private pictures"
"I don't have anything to say" George was getting irritated by the minute with the whole thing. This was the third time someone had leaked the private pictures of him covered in his scars and burn marks – but this time around, the internet had really gone crazy over it which reduced the sales in the company. Some believed their products weren't that great if the CEO looked like he did.
Soon his father and the board members would have to tell him to either step down for a while in order to save the face of the company or try to force him to get married. If he gets married, they probably believed the rumors will go down and he would no longer be the ugly billionaire that no woman wants'.
"Is there anything else?"
"Yes, your father wants you to meet him in his office right now" Tony affirmed the thoughts on George's mind.
"Okay. I'll head there now" George replied calmly.
As George walked into the massive office and came face to face with his father, he noticed his tense jaw and he was sure of one thing – his father was ready to do anything to save his 'precious company'. He would definitely tell him to get married.
"You sent for me," George said as he relaxed on a chair in front of his father.
"I believe you have heard the rumors and seen the news, so I don't have to talk about that" Morris paused and looked at George straight in the eye "You have to get married in order to save your reputation and this company. The investors are getting impatient with the declining sales, getting married is going to put you in a positive light and sales will skyrocket once again. That is the only way"
"You are obviously worried about your company's reputation, not my reputation. There's no need to pretend" George chuckled at the look of shock that crossed his father's face. "I have already thought about it, I will get married."
"Really?" His father's face brightened for a moment.
"Yes, but on one condition"
"What condition?" Morris Scott was ready to do anything.
"You have to promise you'll grant my wish to marry who I choose, regardless of who it is," George replied, a playful smile tugging at the sides of lips. He was probably going to lose his position as the CEO of this company as time went by, so he was going to make sure he got this one thing he wanted. His father was desperate and he was going to take advantage of that.
"I promise you and I will keep my word. I'll find a way to get the woman you want" Morris replied hastily.
George knew his father would turn red in the face out of anger and his mother would scream until her voice went out – but that didn't stop him from saying the only name that had lingered on his mind for the last five years.
"Rachel Reeves, daughter of Arthur Reeves" George whispered firmly, his eyes daring his father to break the promise he just made "She's the one I want. You must keep your promise."
Morris Scott fumed in anger, his eyes glazing "What do you mean by that!... Out of all the options you have, you choose her?" Still sitting on his chair, He trembled in rage as he realized George had played him and taken advantage of his desperation. "Why would you want the daughter of a drug trafficker? Have you forgotten we were warned to stay away from them?" "She is not…!!" George yelled, his jaws clenching so hard from his growing irritation "I repeat, she is not the daughter of a drug trafficker!! That was five years ago. Besides, we all know Arthur was innocent." Morris stared in shock, George had never raised his voice at him – not even once. "Did you just yell at me?" "Yes I did, and I will do it again if I have to" "How dare you!!" Morris jumped to his feet, still refusing to believe that George was talking back at him "How dare you open your petty mouth to –" "Oh please…" George interrupted him, a look of disgust settling on his face. "...just stop it already! This is n
"What did I just hear from your father?" Patricia whispered, pacing around the hallway where she stood with her son, George. "Tell me I'm dreaming, I probably didn't hear correctly. Yo…you want to marry who?""It's true, I want to marry Arthur Reeves' daughter, Rachel" George answered firmly, his face showing no sign of remorse. His mind was made up.He had spent the last Twenty-six years listening to everything his parents wanted him to do. They made most of the choices for him, all he had to do was obey. His father especially, knowing that George was ever ready to please his mother would send her to him, so she could change his mind with her soft words and tearful eyes.And for years he had listened, he had obeyed. He had played along to their beat. He had laid down his interests to do what they wanted. But not anymore. Not today. From now on, he was going to do what he wanted for himself and not feel sorry for it."Are you hearing yourself?" Patricia quaked, the pitch of her voice
The voices in his head just wouldn't stay quiet. George sighed heavily as he paced around the open space in his large bedroom, just a few steps away from the gigantic mirror that rested on the wall. Every few minutes, he would sneak a peek at the mirror, staring at himself. He was clearly losing it, his mind wouldn't stop creating negative scenarios of when he and Rachel would meet.Tomorrow….He couldn't believe they were to meet tomorrow. What had he been thinking to pick her in the first place? No woman in her right mind would want to be married to a man that looked like him.He was even more confused, why did she agree to the proposal? Why would Rachel agree to marry into a family she was told to stay away from? It didn't make any sense. She didn't even know him — it had been over five years. Why would she easily agree to marry a stranger? Was that normal?George was frustrated. He thought 'walking around' would help his mind stay focused, but the confusing thoughts flying around
She had heard about his accident five years ago. It had been all over the news, her mother had told her about it too. Rachel could remember that it happened the same day her father got arrested. The day her world came crashing down was the day his life flipped upside down. But even though she knew he would have some scars due to his accident, Rachel didn't expect it would be this bad.She stood there with her mouth open from shock, studying him, taking in his appearance. The scars covered his once beautiful face all the way down to his neck. It looked like it extended all the way down his muscular body that was hidden behind his black fitted suit. Rachel gulped. She couldn't help but wonder, How did he go through all of that….in a place like this?She had witnessed her fair share of ridicule from other elite people within the company, when her father was arrested for drug trafficking. She had suddenly become an outcast, no longer up to their taste and level. She remembered being calle
The days moved by quickly, faster than she wanted it to. Rachel observed as she stood in front of a huge mirror that graced the wall of her personal bedroom. This was going to be the last moment she spent in this room, she was to move over to another room this night.His room…Ah, he must be anticipating it — What a weirdo he was. Rachel laughed out loud in the empty room, as she got ready for her wedding ceremony that was to start in two hours time. George had hired a professional hairstylist and makeup artist to transform her face and hair, and honestly, she couldn't recognise herself as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Not in the bad way actually…She never knew she could look so ethereal, so elegant, so beautiful…It had been a long time since she had rested so well, eaten so well and actually felt like a princess. The hardship she had faced these last five years had thrown her off balance and she had forgotten how to take care of herself. In the last two weeks, George d
The wedding came to an end after an hour and everyone moved along. Patricia walked up to George and Rachel who sat at a table talking to each other. As she approached the table, Rachel quickly stood up and greeted her. Rachel didn't need anyone to tell her who the woman was, the resemblance between the woman and George was strong."Mom…" George muttered before he turned to face Rachel "...this is my mom, Mrs Patricia Anne Scott"Rachel greeted her again. She was so nervous, plus the fact that George had mentioned his mother wasn't in support of her being here or getting married to her son, only made her feel more uncomfortable — especially with the way his mother narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing her from head to toe."It's nice to see you, Rachel," Patricia answered warmly. If there was one thing she didn't want, that'd be making George angry by treating his 'new wife' poorly. She could tell her son was in love with this lady, and she wouldn't want to be one to take his happiness away.
The first streak of the morning sunrise filled the bedroom and everywhere brightened up. Rachel stirred to consciousness as her eyes fluttered open. Her mind still felt foggy from sleep and something about her surroundings looked a bit strange. Where was she?After a few minutes, Rachel's mind started clearing up and she realized where she was and what happened yesterday. She had gotten married and now, she was lying down in his room, on his bed. His room was different from where she had stayed the last two weeks…She tried turning around and in that moment, realized there was something resting on her waist and her back was leaning on something hard. What could that be? Moving her eyes to gaze downward, Rachel saw that George had wrapped his hand around her waist and cuddled close to her — her back touching his rock hard chest. Her eyes widened in realization and her mind was suddenly alert, the fogginess completely gone. Did he forget so fast that she said she didn't want to cuddle w
Twenty years old James Scott settled on a chair in his bedroom flipping through a magazine about 'Traveling around the world'. He felt so content just sitting there, immersing himself in what he really had an interest in. His twenty-first birthday was in four months' time and he knew his mother would come nagging once again. James sighed, he was tired from all the ways his mother stressed him.He must have seen a vision because his mother barged right into his room with a frown on her face. Judith halted her steps and peered at him, her eyes narrowing when they landed on the book he was holding. James could already see the imaginary steam seeping out of her ears as he stood up to greet her."You're reading these irrelevant travel books again?" She hissed, wrinkling her nose in disapproval "Is this what you should be focusing on? You're supposed to be studying business books and resources. Not this nonsense""Why should I read business books?""How many times must I repeat myself befor