Chapter One

In the heart of the bustling city, amidst towering skyscrapers and the ceaseless hum of urban life, stood the magnificent headquarters of 'Thornton Screen and Stage', the undisputed pinnacle of the entertainment industry, which was owned and controlled by Alex Thornton. 

Born into a lineage of affluence and the only child of extraordinarily successful parents and heirs, Alex was the sole heir to a vast fortune; his path was paved with golden opportunities. Yet, despite his privileged upbringing, he possessed an insatiable drive and a relentless pursuit of excellence that propelled him to the forefront of his chosen domain.

His company helmed an empire of creativity, where dreams were nurtured and stardom was born. His agency, a beacon of hope for aspiring talents and famous celebrities, wielded an unparalleled influence over the entertainment landscape.

He was born into a world of privilege and wealth. His parents, renowned for their entrepreneurial prowess, possessed manufacturing empires, the pinnacle of success in the industry, until they merged the companies together to strengthen their prowess.

From an early age, Alexander was accustomed to the finer things in life, having a world where every desire could be fulfilled with a mere whisper and at his fingertips.

As the sole heir to the 'Thornton Empire', a colossal manufacturing conglomerate owned by his parents, he possessed the Midas touch. 

Alex smiled in satisfaction and joy after he ended a virtual meeting with a high-profile client about an impending contract, which he finally got.

The contract had proved hard to secure, which is why he handled the negotiation himself rather than delegating it to his company's manager.

He knew it was going to be awarded to his company anyway because he had never lost a contract that he had an interest in to anybody or any company. No one could beat his intelligence in the industry.

He remembered that his office line, to which only his secretary had access to communicate with him, rang while he was having the virtual meeting with the client.

He called her and told her to come see him in his office.

"Come in." He heard a rap on the door virtually immediately after I hung up.

She walked in with some documents in her hand.

"I'm sorry, sir. I didn't know you were still having the meeting with the client. It ended longer than I expected." She apologised.

"Yes, that's true." He told her about the outcome of the meeting, and she almost jumped in happiness.

She's not to be blamed for such an unethical act, as the contract was of such significant value that it attracted applications from several international companies.

He told her to inform all the staff members that they were going to celebrate the success the forthcoming weekend. He also tasked her to find a suitable venue for the celebration and get back to him to pay for it and for some other necessary interventions. 

She dropped the documents on his tables after telling him that they needed his signature and told him that his father called the office line.

"He did? What happened?" He inquisitively asked, because his father could have just called him instead if he wanted to talk to him.

"He said that he called you several times, but you didn't pick up, which is why he called. But I told him that you were in a meeting."

"That's thoughtful of you. Thank you." He picked up his phone, which was face down on the table among various papers.

Indeed, he had missed his dad's call three times, as evidenced by the missed call notifications he saw on the screen. He had silenced his phone, which explained why it didn't ring when his dad called.

He intentionally silenced it because he didn't want any disturbance or distraction during the meeting.

"He said that you should ensure that you visit him today and that you have a vital discussion with him."

"A vital discussion?" He was confused because there was no impending discussion he had with him or his mom.

He turned on his phone's screen and saw a message from his dad telling him exactly what the secretary said.

His parents had always wielded their authority like a sceptre, orchestrating his life's trajectory with an unwavering hand. From the elite schools he attended, their decisions had shaped his path, leaving him with no room for personal autonomy.

Despite his outward success, he had always felt like a puppet in their grand play, his desires and aspirations relegated to the sidelines. He yearned for the freedom to make his own choices and chart his own course, but their overbearing presence cast a long shadow over his aspirations.

He dismissed her and contemplated what the discussion might be. 

"Could it be business-related? What discussion could be vital for us to  discuss?"He wondered inwardly because he had never had a vital discussion with any of his parents as he rolled on the swivel chair.

All they did was give him commands and order him to do things.

The anxiety made him leave his office earlier than he normally did.

He texted him to inform him that he was on his way.

Unless a discussion is a matter of urgency, he preferred texting his parents to calling them, especially his dad, because he believed that by doing that, the probability of exerting their authorities and orders on him would be very low. They were the ones who did call him to get in touch with him.

He was sick of the lifestyle, but there was nothing he could do about it. He had accepted his situation, believing that it would never change.

As the grand gates of the estate swung open, revealing a sprawling expanse of manicured lawns that stretched as far as the eye could see, dotted with vibrant flower beds, towering trees, and a magnificent mansion that stood as the heart of the estate, his heart pounded with a mixture of anticipation. 

He pulled up to the front of the mansion and parked his sleek convertible car. Stepping out of it, the warm afternoon air enveloped him, carrying the faint scent of blooming flowers and freshly cut grass.

If they treated him with tendered love and genuinely cared about him, he would have thought that they trimmed the grass because of him since it had been a long time since he visited them.

With a deep breath, he straightened his suit, making sure that every crease was in place as the tailored fabric hugged his athletic frame perfectly, accentuating his broad shoulders and narrow waist. He had always been conscious of his appearance, and his cloth was impeccable, reflecting his status and sophistication. 

As if it were his first time there, he adorned the intricate facades of the mansion's architecture. The imposing columns framed the grand entrance, their carvings depicting scenes from Greek mythology. A wide balcony overlooked the estate, offering a breathtaking view of the surrounding countryside. 

With a deep breath again, he approached the mansion's entrance, his footsteps echoing on the polished marble floor. 

A wave of nostalgia washed over him as he recalled the countless times he had stood there as a child, eagerly awaiting his parents' return from their business trips. The memories were bittersweet, a reminder of a time when his world was confined to the walls of the grand estate as he stood by the doorstep, about to step into the mansion.

The air inside was cool and crisp, scented with a blend of polished wood and fresh flowers. 

A grand staircase swept upwards to the main living room and bedrooms, its polished mahogany bannister gleaming under the chandelier's crystal light.

The walls, swathed in rich silk damask, were punctuated by imposing marble fireplaces and exquisite works of art. Under his feet was a plush carpet, woven with intricate patterns and shimmering threads, which muffled his footsteps.

"Good evening, sir. It's been a while." A maid welcomed him with a gentle curtsey and a warm smile.

He only returned her welcome with a fleeting smile. 

His smile changed to a frown immediately she uttered, "It's been a while, sir," because he didn't like coming to the house that affected his lifestyle, that gave him lingering traumas, that felt like a hell and a cage to him when he was a child.

He despised coming there and preferred having long conversations with them on the phone instead of being there when the need arose, if they could allow it.

She seemed to have understood him as her beam also changed to an apologetic one.

"What would you like to have?" She asked him as he sat on a grand sofa.

"Inform dad of my arrival." He ignored her.

"Sir?" She gave a quizzical look.

"You heard me right, woman!" He yelled.

She told him that his dad had already informed her of his arrival.

"He is in the main living room with your mom. I think they are waiting for you there." She added.

"With mom?" His fingers gently stroked the soft, well-groomed hairs beneath his chin.

His curiosity about what the discussion was about increased as he heard that his mom was with his dad.

"It is definitely about my my personal life." He concluded inwardly and rose up.

She asked him again what he would like her to offer him, but he only stared at her in frustration and walked up the stairs, not uttering a word.

As he stepped onto the first marble stair, his polished shoes made a soft, muffled thud against the cold, smooth stone. With each step, the sound echoed slightly, reverberating through the grand hall.

As he got to the main living room, where only the family's closest acquaintances were allowed to be, he met his dad and mom there, truly in close proximity, their eyes glued to the television screen, and he greeted them.

He then made his way to one of the empty sofas, his back not resting on the plush cushions but perched on the edge as if he were a stranger.

His father asked why he didn't pick up his call, and he told him the reason.

"What meeting? What was the meeting about?" He asked him.

"Nothing serious. My agency needed the service of a company, so I had to finalise the deal." He lied.

"Really? That is the work of the higher-ups, not you. You are their employee, and that is what you pay them for." He replied.

He told him that he just felt like handling the negotiation and deal, but his father shot him a stare of disbelief, which didn't move him.

If he had told him the truth, he would have come up with many pieces of advice on how he could execute the contract's project successfully, as if he was a newbie in the business. 

"You said we have something vital to discuss in the text you sent to me. So, what is it?" He cut to the chase because he couldn't afford to stay much longer in the house; being there gave him bad and painful memories and taunted him like a person in a spooky dream.

His dad and mom looked at each other.

His dad smiled and said, "Since you can't wait to know what it's about due to your eagerness, which I'm certain of, I would also not beat around the bush." 

His face was etched with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety as he waited for his father's next words, already knowing it's about giving him an order, because that is when he did have serious discussions with his parents.

His heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoing the tension that gripped him, and his face was fixed intently on the floor.

"Do you still remember Hartman?" His father asked him.

"Your friend?" He was confused as to why he had to mention his name out of the blue in the middle of the acclaimed vital discussion.

"A company-related discussion? Thank God." He concluded inwardly because Mr Hartman was his father's friend and business partner.

"Yes. I'm glad you still remember him. Do you remember his daughter that did come with him whenever he visited us when you were a kid?"

"Isabella?" His thoughts changed to confusion as he asked him, because he had no clue where the conversation was headed anymore.

"Yes. The two families have decided for the two of you to marry each other." His father announced.

"What?!" His face turned to a mask of shock, his eyes widened and unblinkingly turned white, and his mouth agaped.