Chapter One.

HAYLEY'S POV.

Two years earlier.

My alarm buzzed and I woke up to do my morning business.

"Hayley, time for college. Elijah is waiting for you downstairs" my mom shouted from downstairs.

Elijah was my older brother. He was usually overprotective. He's three years older than me.

College life was very stressful. I usually wonder why the government made the term 'education' because it was annoying.

By the way, my name is Hayley Marshal.

I am seventeen years old and it is my second year in college. I know, I know, I am too young but what can I do? After all, I am a brilliant student. Cocky much.

I'm also an American but we moved to London ten years ago.

I was privileged to partake in the Junior States Maths Championship. Schools in London were given the privilege to participate in the competition.

In the competition, two students are to be chosen to participate in each Junior high school. The questions were difficult but we scaled through to victory.

We won the JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STATES MATHS CHAMPIONSHIP which led to jubilation from my family, our students, and teachers

King Agrippa was also there to witness the competition. When we won, he announced on the podium that we have been given a scholarship to Havard University. We were so happy. He also offered a job in his company.

AGRIPPA AND SONS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.

The company was big and rich in business.

He said once we graduate, we should submit our resúme and he would take care of the rest. My life has changed since then.

We were disturbed by the press for a month before it all died down.

Back to my family's morning routine.

"Mom, I will be down in a sec. Tell Eli that I am on my way down." I said rushing out of the room.

I got downstairs and went for the door but Mom's voice halted my steps.

"Where do you think you are going, Missy?

Breakfast now."

"But mom" I looked at mom begging her to let me go to school. I was already late.

"Don't 'but mom' me. I want your body on that chair, your spoon digging in the food, and the food in your mouth right now before I count one." With that, I walk to the chair grumbling. Why must we eat food? Oh God, why?

"Hayley, you need to take your drug after this. You are getting lean." Elijah said.

The interrupter opened his mouth to talk.

"What brought that mouth of yours to this conversation?" I asked him. Always annoying.

"You" he answered. A big dummy of an older brother.

"If you don't take your drug and eat breakfast, I am calling Dad," he said.

Elijah loves me but he can be annoying and frustrating at times. Today is the day for him to show me how annoying he can be.

"If you don't take your drug and eat breakfast, I'm calling Dad" I mimicked him.

"Hey, your food and drug now" dad shouted. Ahhhh, why are they ganging up on me?

"Dad" I pouted

"Don't dad me Missy. Now start eating. I'm watching you." Dad demanded. He put two fingers in his eyes and pointed them to me

"Darling, I know you are a genius but reading books doesn't mean that you should starve yourself to death." Mom explained.

I know they care about me a lot. I know they loved me with all their heart and I loved them too.

"You are our baby and we care about you" Elijah mimicked mom's voice. Mom slapped his hand playfully and Dad smiled at them.

While I gave him a piece of my mind.

"I'm your younger sister, not your baby. You are a rotten potato. So, back off brother."

"That hurt little sis," my big-headed cow of a brother said feigning hurt.

My brother and I drove to college. I went straight to class. I'm having Calculus this morning and in the afternoon, Economics.

I forgot to say that I, Hayley Marshal am studying Economics and Statistics at Harvard University.

My parents are neither rich nor poor. My parent is sponsoring Elijah's education at Harvard while I am on scholarship at Harvard.

In the same vein, my brother and I are attending the same college.

"Hi, Hayley." Emma, my best friend greeted me.

Emma and I have been best friends since junior school. She was my partner at the Junior High School State Maths Competition. We were both given the scholarship to study at Harvard University.

Only two participants were allowed to participate in the states Championship and we (Emma and I) were chosen to represent our Junior high school. Oh my bad, I forgot I've mentioned that earlier.

"Hi Emma," I responded

"Wanna go for lunch?" I asked.

"Sure" she answered nodding her head.

"Let's go"

We walked to the cafeteria. I saw my brother and he waved at me. I waved back while Emma kept looking at my brother like she was going to rip his clothes off. Ok, that was it.

I waved my hands to her face and she came back to reality.

"Stop staring?" I said. I knew I was forward.

"I'm not" She replied shyly.

"Of course you are. You like him. Don't you?" I asked a rather obvious question.

"No I don't" she answered blushing furiously.

"Of course you do Emma, you like him. It is obvious"

"I know Hayley, I like him but he doesn't like me back."

"He does. If he doesn't, he would not be looking at you like he wants you." I said stating the obvious.

She looked at where my brother was standing and she blushed to know what I said was true.

She looked away and we both walked to the empty table at the corner to eat our lunch.

We ate our food and left for class after waving to eachother 'see you later

I focused in class as usual. After class, I went to the library.

On my way to the library, I unintentionally bumped into a guy who will change my concept of love forever.

I looked at his black hair, plump lips, perfect nose. My eyes met his brown one and it captivated me forever.

His face was close to mine and his breath mixing with mine.

I felt so drawn to him but why? I asked a rather impossible question to myself.

He cleared his throat snapping me back to reality.

"I'm sorry. Please I didn't mean to bump into you. Ehm, forgive me?" I stuttered. That was weird. It was as if he controlled my voice.

He just nodded.

"What's your name?" He asked me.

"Hayley" I answered

"Hayley what?" He asked again.

"Marshal. What yours?"

He looked at me with hate when I mentioned Marshal like he knew my deceased father.

"We will see each other again." It was a promise which I hope would be fulfilled.

With that, he walked away smiling at me. A perfect smile.

PRESENT YEAR. (FOUR YEARS LATER)

Since that day, I never saw him again. I went to the AGRIPPA & SONS OIL COMPANY.

I have an interview in the next three hours. I went to the company for the interview. I met a woman with brunette hair. She was well dressed as a secretary. I walked over to her.

"Good morning" I greeted her.

"Good morning my dear. How may I help you?"

"I'm here for an interview"

"Your name?"

"Hayley Marshal"

"You are the second girl given a job opportunity hereafter the States Championship by King Agrippa." I nodded.

"Well, let me call the CEO of the company."

She started talking to the CEO.

"Sir, a lady is waiting for an interview. She was one of the State Champion."

"Okay sir" she waited.

"Of course sir"

"Yes sir"

After she has finished talking to the CEO, she told me to go to office 62.

I walked to the elevator and pressed the 'number 62' on the elevator button.

When the elevator stopped, I went to the office and I slightly knocked on the door.

"Come in" a man answered and I walked in.

My head was down so I couldn't see the CEO.

"Look who we have here if it isn't Hayley Marshal," the man said. I've heard that voice before. It sounded like the stranger's voice I met in the hallway in college on my way to the library.

I looked up and gasped. It was him. It is him. The stranger that took my breath away and that makes my knees weak with just one look.

"We meet again" I swear my breath hitched.