Chapter One

20 Years Later

Yeeeeeeee!!!!! Someone screamed out as he stood up quickly from the bed like a person being chased from his dreams, he looked around his environment in shock. He saw his big wallpaper on the wall behind his bed, his closed wardrobe, his king size bed where he just stood up from, his room painted with his favorite color brown, his laptop beside his bed with his phone. He hold his chest with his right hand as he took a deep breath of relief that he's still in his room. He picked up his phone gently with a shaking hands as he check the time. Is still 2am. He left the room to his gym's room opposite his room, he did a little exercise.

He punched the bag in front of him with anger, 15 years and he still haunted by the memory of his lost friend. he wished he could see her again or even apologize for leaving her, he never met to leave her if that's how she believed it.

After the incident, he hasn't been able to sleep well. the least period of his sleep is one hour. His mother took him away from the environment in the hope that he will get better but no, he got so worse. Life hasn't been that fair to him. He left the room and go into his office to work. Work makes it easier for him to forget his nightmares, He worked day and night yet he has no peace.

He is Ryan Collins, one of the young richest billionaire in the whole of New York. His company is well known around the world, he has that look that kills and people especially ladies queue for his attention. He dislike ladies because of his guilt, he respected them but never wanted an committed relationship. The last time he tried it, he broke the girl's heart. he wasn't the best boyfriend for her because of his busyness at work, he spend almost his day in the office. People call him ruthlessness and heartless but he knew he was consume by his inability to sleep and this left him more bitter and angry at the world for being unfair to him.

He entered his room after checking the time, is 7am now, he needs to get ready for work. he hate latecomers and he is always so pleased to catch those he will set as scapegoats. He moved closer to his wardrobe, grabbed his towel and open the door to his bathroom. he needs a cold shower to calm himself.

Ryan dressed up wearing a black suit with a shinning shoes matching his dress, He open his Trolling, gently picked a black wristwatch with transparent glasses. He checked himself again in the mirror and nod gently, he brought out his perfume and spray around himself. He took his car keys, opened his door and closed it behind him. He saw an old woman standing athe edge of the stairs, waiting patiently for him with a smile. he nod calmly and climb down the stairs carefully. The woman signalled with her right hands towards the food at the table and he moved closely towards the table. He sat down and quietly eat his food.

" Good morning sir..." The old woman greeted calmly

" Morning, do you need anything nanny? .. " he asked harshly

"Yes sir, I need your help with something boss. My grand daughter is not feeling too well and I can't take care of her while I'm still working in this house... Sir pls, I feel if she could come over maybe I can take proper care of her?..." She said, her hands shaking in fear. This woman has been working for him decades even when he refused, she stayed behind. She took care of him when he was young, then employed by his parents to be his nanny.

"What of her mother, is her mother not capable of taking care of her daughter??.. why would she disturb you with her problem?" he uttered hesitantly, annoyed that his nanny loves working herself out instead of asking for help. besides she has a daughter

"She. is. my. grand. daughter s. i r..." she stressed her words as she gritted her teeth

"Fine, you can bring her. I was just trying to helpful but I'm sure is not needed." He said, pushed the plate away from himself and stood angrily that fricked her out. He looked at her, left the house to his car and drove off to his office.

He opened the front door of the company gently curiously looked around to observe every movement. A female saw him first and suddenly screamed out to get other's attention towards the boss. Everybody hurry dispatched to their different offices. Ryan walked majestically to the elevator and pressed the top floor. He met his secretary opposite his office and nod gently in response as she greeted him.

His secretary followed him inside with a file in her hands reading it loud as she close his office door behind him.

"Sir.. your first meeting start in about 30 minutes and you first client is the Lian's company from India. Your second one is around 12 with the journalists, your third meeting is with your mom, and..." she explained, reading out the file for him gently.

"Thank you Cielo, I don't think I would be available for that interview with the journalists. I don't have the strength to face any unnecessary questions from them. the last time I had an encounter with them, it didn't go well and I don't want to encounter such again" he said softly as he took his seat, he opened his laptop and switch it on.

"You can't refuse them. they've trying to have a conversation with you for the past five months and this time, I'm sure they are very prepared. Besides, they have a new set of reporters" she said hurriedly

"Okay, thank you Cielo. you can go back to your office, we have a lot to do today." He said slowly, faced his laptop and start typing. Cielo slowly left the room.

Few minutes later, Ryan left his office to his meeting room near his secretary office. he saw his client and discuss necessary things amicably. The reporters came in after few minutes of waiting for them.

"You are late... I don't like latecomers" He highlighted

"We are sorry sir, it won't happen again" A young man replied, he gently took his seat with his other two colleagues.

"Really? it won't happen again? this is your fourth time of repeating the same thing over and over again. aren't you a trained journalists? Reporters are trained to be at their interview post five to ten minutes before the interviewee. so why are you here five minutes late, keeping your interviewee waiting?" He said, he raised his voice a little louder feeling frustrated

"Sir, we promised it won't happen again" The second male said slowly.

"I am not interested anymore, I have enormous works to do rather than wasting my precious time with unserious people.. " He said harshly and he stood up. he was about opening the door when he felt someone's touch on his arms. he looked angrily, ready to punch the person when he saw a little female figure standing in front of him looking down.

"We're not worthy of your forgiveness but we promised it won't take much of your time. We can't afford to miss this opportunity even though we've failed in our first impression." She said, looked down in shame before she suddenly lift her face and Ryan stared at her with his mouth open widely in shock.