CHAPTER 1

It is already a known fact that rich people like to party. The music, the party decor, and most especially the food are always top-notch, even if it's just for a kid's birthday party; they always go all out. The scent of grilled steak filled the atmosphere as the children ran around the compound, and the adults vibed to music. Ethan could remember sitting close to his mom, wishing the party would just come to a close; it was his half-sister's tenth birthday celebration. The entire scene looked real, just like it had been many years ago, only now it is a dream that he badly wants to wake up from because he already knew how it played out.

"Ethan, see Maxwell, your friend has arrived, now you have someone to play with," his mother pointed towards the huge gate as the already-known Lexus pulled into the compound. Maxwell and Ethan have been friends since they both learned how to walk, this is partly because their mothers are friends, and their fathers are business partners.

"Come along now,let's welcome them," she beckoned to Ethan.

"Emily darling!" Maxwell's mother exclaimed with arms wide open to envelop her friend in a hug.

"How was London?" Ethan's mother asked as she warmly received the hug.

"It was nice, I just wished the holiday did not end, but I do not have any other choice, these children need to go back to school."

"But at least you enjoyed yourself."

"Oh sweetie, it was a blast!" Maxwell's mother darted her eyes across, taking in the entire scene.

"How much did she request for this party?" Ethan's mother sighed.

"I don't know; you know I don't ask. If I ask, they quickly shun me, so I have learned to mind my business. After all, all I have to do is make sure Ethan and I dress and show up."

"Speaking of Ethan, where is he?" Maxwell's mother asked.

"He has gone inside with Maxwell; they have missed each other," Ethan's mother replied, laughing.

Ethan could enjoy the party now that his friend had shown up. He no longer went back to sit with his mom. He climbed the swing, jumped on the bouncing castle with Maxwell, and even changed his clothes to swim in the pool area of the party, experiencing all the joys of a seven-year-old.

"Miss Laura, where's my mom? I can't find her in her room, and we need to start going back home before it gets late," Ethan asked the chief housekeeper, having searched around the building since the party ended.

"I haven't seen her, love. Have you checked her room? Maybe she decided to spend the night here."

"Yes, she's not there, did she tell you she was going to get something?"

Before Laura could reply, they heard a familiar voice.

"She's gone," Lucas Brown, Ethan's father answered.

And just like it has been all these years, Ethan woke up from his dream, drenched in sweat.

Ethan didn't like being in New York. Whenever he was in the U.S., he preferred Arizona because of its calm and serene nature. While everybody thought New York had nightlife, Arizona was the best, with beautiful ladies who knew how to keep a secret. He had a joint partnership with most of the major clubs in Arizona. Whenever he was around and wanted to unwind, he paid a visit to them. A single phone call could get him any girl for the night, but an attractive man always pulls a crowd, and Ethan was one hell of an attractive man, a sexy demon with an average height. God blessed him with high cheekbones, a broad nose, small brown eyes, ladylike lashes, full lips, and to crown it, he had two ear piercings, giving him a corporate bad boy look. Even though he is attractive, Ethan doesn't get down with just any woman, he likes his privacy, so he moves with only the women who can keep a secret after an exotic night together. This was why he liked Arizona. New York girls were unnecessarily loud, got into bed with anyone, and ended up on entertainment blogs the next day, all for fame and clout. But now he is in New York,hopefully, he won't stay for long.

He had a business meeting to get to that morning, and a meeting with his dad after. The Brown Palace, a hotel that is a subsidiary of the Brown Group, was experiencing bankruptcy, and as the acting head of the Brown Group, he had to call an emergency meeting with the shareholders and the head of the hotel, his half-brother Paul. The Brown Group is a family company built by Lucas' great-grandfather, and for years, they ran the affairs of the business in New York and the U.S as a whole, from hotel chains to seaports, airplanes, car productions, and construction. They were the leading king of the business world. They also had a leg in politics, sponsoring electoral candidates who would, in turn, allocate them projects and put in laws favorable to their ventures. With a strong reputation for years, they have been unchallenged, and they intend to keep it that way.

"Good morning, sir," the head of operations at the hotel greeted Ethan as he stepped out of his car.

"Good morning, Mr. Martin. Are they all seated?"

"Yes, sir."

"And Paul?"

"He's not here yet," Ethan stopped in his tracks.

"Put a call to him now!"

The boardroom was quiet and cold, it could have been because of the air conditioner, but everybody knew the cold aura was emanating from someone else, Ethan. He had been seated for 2 hours, and Paul was still not in sight, and he had no intentions of starting the meeting without him.

"Hey, brother!" Paul walked in gleefully.

"Have a seat, Paul," Ethan cut him short. He adjusted the table mic in front of him, staring intensely at everyone seated in the room, and began calmly.

"I can decide to start this meeting by pointing out your lackadaisical behavior of coming late to a meeting that was scheduled to begin 2 hours ago, but I will not waste my time. I have gone over the hotel's report for the last 3 years, and there are so many funds that cannot be accounted for. When I asked the account manager, he said all funds were signed off for use by you, Paul. What was the money used for?"

Paul shifted in his seat. "I think you have forgotten who you are speaking to, Ethan. I am in charge of Brown Group's hotel chains. What gave you the effrontery to go through our yearly reports, and what right do you have to question how I run the hotels?"

Ethan let out a laugh. "I think you are the one who has forgotten who he is talking to. Need I remind you that I am the head of Brown Group, so you answer to me, dear Paul. I won't sit and watch you crumble a very important aspect of the company."

"You must be out of your senses, Ethan! Because Father made you the head, you think you are the head. You are just filling a spot for every one of us, and when whatever you have used to blind our Father comes out of his eyes, he will dismiss you, just like he dismissed your mother."

Upon hearing his mother's name, Ethan's face twisted with a mix of pain and anger, his gaze turning into a storm of emotion. His knuckles whitened as his fist clenched. The room felt electric with tension, and those present could almost feel the heat radiating from his body as if he were an approaching tempest. In that moment, it was clear that he was struggling to control the emotions welling up inside him, and his voice, though seemingly calm, held an underlying intensity as he addressed Paul.

"I give you one week to send me a detailed report of how you spent the hotel's money, or you will be fired." Not looking at him, he walked out of the room.