CHAPTER ONEThe ruins stared him in the face, unblinking; unwavering. It didn't attempt to honour his wish. That wish that was in itself a fantasy dream. A dream that would struggle to see the break of dawn in the supernatural world.He stared back, eyes misting and hands trembling, at the darkened bricks. They had crumbled under the powerful fingers of moss; never to stand again but also, never to vanish. He had nothing to say; nothing more that had not been spat out ten years ago. His heart had rusted with the fire bell close to the star-shaped brick, having no need to cry out anymore.Both of them had failed the family. They had vanished when they were needed most. They had left their duty to chase trivialities.Who was to blame? The rhetoric sat sadly in his stomach, turning it and sending nauseating signs to his brain.The murderers? Or the Fire bell? Or was he to blame? Something shifted in his chest. What was that? Guilt?He shook his head and inhaled the tragic air around h

CHAPTER THREE.For the hundredth time, Tony thought people were strange. Hadn't he just rescued a lady from distress? He wondered, sniffing in the early afternoon air as he walked out of the hotel.He hailed a taxi, barely before his foot hit the balcony.“Toneo Company,” he said. And without waiting for the driver to finish nodding, he was already in the car.He was behind time. It was high time he took over the affairs of his company, his reward. The reward from the ten years of training. That training that had robbed him of everything.He pushed back the heartache. This was not the time for it. He needed to be strong enough to face the murderers but the first thing he needed to do was to take over the company.The driver, confused, kept turning warily to look at him. He didn't look like someone who worked in the Toneo Company.His tattoos and locked hair weren't as expensive enough. In fact, he looked like a thug; a murderer. The driver shrunk in his seat.“May I ask what business

CHAPTER FIVE “Technically, yes. I'm the CEO,” he said, looking tiredly at her, letting her last question slip by.He had no energy to explain himself to a woman ready to bicker at every given chance.He indeed recognized her.Who else but that lady in distress? Who else would pull such a near-stunt on him? In fact, who else in the world would begin a meeting with an insult?Who else but that brown haired pretty girl? He sighed again feeling a nagging headache's preparation as she got ready to speak again.“Then I'm asking, why are you left to wander the street like a mentally deranged sheep when you have such a wonderful company building over there?” She pursed her lips, her cheeks struggling to hide the bulging laughter.“I mean, if you're the CEO of this great company,” her hands went to the direction of the building he had taken steps away from.“You really should have a chauffeur. No, that's too grand. At least, a car,” she eyed his torn sneakers and made a face.“Yuk” she made

CHAPTER SEVEN.“Since when did you start mingling with thugs?” Linda, the secretary, eyed Cassie, disgustedly, contempt swelling in her neck with every step he took.“He's not a thug,” Cassie defended, trying to wrap her hands around his waist. He shrunk, moving slightly away.Embarrassed more due to her arms not being long enough than his adjusting, she moved with longer strides to a seat.She couldn't sit. There was no way for that.But the message was passed. Linda understood.“Have a seat,” she said, finally, crunching her nose as he sat on the white sofa. The very one she cherished and worshipped the most.She muttered a curse under her breath, more on Cassie and a little less than half of that for Tony.Then, she fell into silence.Cassie cleared her throat and shifted in her seat. It suddenly felt too hot. It was something in the air. She was sure of it.It made her sweat on her back. And made it itch. But she dared not scratch, not with Linda's eagle eyes on her“I've come to

CHAPTER NINEWithout waiting for more words to be said, Tony pushed himself into the room, eyes wild and questioning.He chested out, and tightened his chin. He paused a bit to take in the room. It was painted white, alright, seemingly the colour of the company.“You look mentally deranged, eeww,” Michael paused with the club in hand, making a face, his back directly turned to the window.“Who are you?” He kept a steady gaze on him—more like letting disgust spread on his face.Tony stepped forward, waited, looked and took another step.“Pull off your shoes,” Michael ordered, pointing his club at him. But Tony took in his white shirt and grey pants flippantly, already judging him to be someone weak. He waved through, almost bumping on the security guard, the one that stood at the corner without moving.He regained his bearings and went further, stopping at the office’s middle, the midpoint, where the long black leather sofas lined.“It's time for you to handover,” he said, noting the