Episode One:
June's POV
The ringing of the alarm at 5:00 a.m. jerked me awake. I quickly sat up in bed as hot tears streamed down my cheeks. My head couldn't help but ache. I have to act quickly to save her life. In less than an hour, I was done with my preparations. I quickly grabbed my bag and application letter.
"Hi, Mum," I said, trying to sound strong for her. Looking at her brought back painful memories. I had to hide my pain so she would stay too long for me.
"Where are you going?" Mum asked, trying to wake up.
"Mum, I can't leave you like this. I have to go find a solution to your problem. I don't want you and Dad to die now. You're all I have," I said impatiently, standing and looking at my watch, eager to leave.
"Okay, fine. But can you at least tell me where the hell you're going?" she pushed further.
"You wouldn't want to know, Mum. Can we not talk about this?"
"Not until you tell me, June."
"To one of the 'Duke's Empire Company'." I said bluntly, not wanting her to stop me.
"Mum, don't even stop me!" I exclaimed, already out of the house.
"Will be back, Mum!" I shouted from behind.
I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. I waited for a taxi to pull over, but none was coming. Feeling frustrated, I had to run, trying to meet my destination on time. Running for ten minutes, I began to breathe fast. Luckily, a taxi pulled up.
"Where to?" the driver asked.
"Oil and Gas, Duke's Empire Company," I said, still trying to catch my breath.
The driver kept looking at me like I was some sort of sight or something.
"Are you going or not?" I snarled, not minding his looks.
"Uhhm, I'm sorry. I'll take you there," he said.
I hopped in immediately. My heart started beating fast. I didn't know what I was doing, but I prayed earnestly for a miracle to happen. I tried shifting to sit at the other end of the car, behind the driver, when I mistakenly looked at myself through the front mirror. I was totally messed up. I didn't remember to even comb my hair. Sweat was oozing out of my body. Immediately, my bones froze.
"Fuck, why didn't I dress well?" I thought.
"We're here," the driver said.
My heart skipped a million times as I found myself with no feet to stand on. I dipped my hand into my pocket and gave him some money. I had to quickly force myself out. Clinging to my bag, I stood and looked at the gigantic building before me. One had to walk a few meters away before reaching the gate. The environment alone could tell you that's a rich, magnificent business environment. The cars going in and out of the building alone made me weak.
It was then that I started to look at myself, from head to toe, and knew I wouldn't even be considered for employment, even as a mad person in their company.
"Okay, I've got to do this," I murmured.
I walked with my wobbly legs. The more I walked towards the gate, which was meters away from the road, the more it occurred to me that I was walking into the zone of riches. I could see two men in uniforms approaching me. Fear gripped me.
It was then that I knew how stupid it was for me to ever think of coming here. I had to slow my pace, not knowing what to do, as I was caught in the middle. At some point, they stood looking at me. The anxiety in me now could kill. At that point, I didn't know what I was doing, but I just found myself moving towards them.
"Good morning, sir," I said, bowing down.
"How may we help you?" one of them asked in a hoarse tone.
"I...I actually want to see the owner of the company," I stammered out, making those men look at me like I was a clown.
"What the hell brought me here?" I asked foolishly to myself.
I could not bring myself to look at those souls looking at me.
"Did you at all look at yourself in the mirror before you jumped onto the road?" I heard one of them say in a rising tone.
I almost gave my last breath as I pinched myself.
The last option now was to run away. I couldn't withhold the shame. Hot tears streamed down my cheeks as I turned to leave, but I heard a strong baritone voice echo in the air.
"I am the owner of the company."
Thompson's POV
I looked at my system to check the environment. The environment seemed okay. I had to quickly log into "The Women's World." I looked dumbstruck, my head spinning. It seemed something was off, but I couldn't lay hold of it. Who the hell was tampering with my assistant office? No, I had to get out fast right now before it was too late.
Halfway through my preparations to leave, the beeping of my phone took me aback. Looking at my phone, it seemed those memories came back. It seemed there was a fresh wound.
"You guys must be kidding me!!!" I whimpered. The anger that had been subsiding erupted like a thick rock. As if that wasn't enough, it stopped ringing and started ringing again.
"What do you want?" My voice lashed out my frustration. No response came from the other end.
"I said, what do you want? I've got no time for this, this morning!!"
"When will you stop these cuties?" Mrs. Duke chose her words carefully.
"You know what, Mum? Is it not high time you and your husband left me the hell alone!! And one more thing, don't you call me any pet names again!!"
"Fine, I'm sorry. Can you at least do this one thing for me? No matter what, you are still my blood, remember?" She persisted.
"Mum, don't you get it? I don't want the two of you in my life. I'm okay the way I am!!" The frustration in me kept spilling out.
"Okay, okay. Ehm, your dad is not feeling fine, and the last thing you can do for him is to go to the company and represent him in the board meeting." Mum said hurriedly, knowing I was already losing it.
Those words cringed me. Even though there wasn't a father-son relationship, I wouldn't be the first to wish my dad death. I didn't know what to say anymore, as words weren't coming due to the mixed feelings of guilt and betrayal from Duke himself.
"Are you there?" Her voice brought me back to reality.
"The last time I checked, Duke's Empire Company is littered all over the streets of America. So, which one are you talking about?"
"Oil and Gas," Mum replied.
"I'll be there in the next one hour," I said, almost hanging up the call.
Dressed in the Italian suit I ordered 45 minutes ago, I stepped downstairs to the living room, ready to step out, when I heard that voice.
"Good morning, son. Your food is ready."
"Not ready for that," I choked out, knowing what the next line of action would be.
"Don't you dare!!" She snarled.
"Nanny, can you give me a break?"
"You know what, you need to reset this brain of yours, and I know a turning stick will do justice to that," she said, trying to head to the kitchen.
"Fine!!! What do you have for breakfast?"
"Coffee, because it seems to me that today will be good and worrying at the same time," she said, smiling.
"How did you know?" I asked, almost choking.
"I don't know?" She replied, heading back to the kitchen.
Stepping out to the compound after a forced breakfast, there was this bang in my head that wasn't clear, creating a foggy day.
"Where to, sir?" One of my men asked, waiting for an order.
"Why the convoy?" I asked, looking at no one in particular.
"I'm sorry, boss. Mrs. Duke insisted you go with a convoy."
"Drive to Oil and Gas," I said, ignoring his reply, knowing Mum had been dramatic.
I relaxed in the back seat, thinking a lot. I didn't know we had driven for minutes until my driver gave a horn, indicating we were approaching the gate. I raised my head to sit upright, but something caught my attention.
"What the fuck is that?" I wondered in my head as the car drew closer to the automatic gate. A mad woman or something? My eyes almost bulged out at the sight of a figure I saw a little bit away from me. What's she doing here?
"Stop at that figure standing with the men," I ordered, my voice coming out thick.
"Yes, boss."
Stopping, my men following me with a convoy rushed to open the car, but I was already out, leaving the men in dismay because it never happens.
Dipping my hand into my pocket, I walked silently toward their direction, hearing everything.
"I am the owner of the company."
