Isabella Gerald

"Chairman, it's an absolute honor to have you here today. I must say, we were all thrilled when we heard that you acquired the Verrazzano Bridge on your way here," The Oracle exclaimed, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "Of course, we were slightly concerned that you might close down the bridge to us low-class folks. But I trust you won't do that, right?"

Damien Malone, chuckled heartily as he stepped out of his sleek black Jeep. He glanced at the Oracle, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Come on now, enough with the whining. You know I'm not that heartless," he replied with a playful tone. As he strode forward to stand before the Oracle, he couldn't help but admire the grandeur of the company building.

"Tell me, what about the personal assistant I requested?" Damien inquired eagerly, his eyes scanning the vicinity. "I was expecting a grand reception, more than just your usual guards," he added, nodding towards the ten armed guards stationed near the main entrance.

The Oracle nodded, his expression calm yet secretive. "Ah, yes. We did receive several applicants for the position, but I handpicked the one I believe will be the perfect fit for you. We need someone capable and trustworthy to be by your side." He motioned for Damien to follow him, gesturing towards the entrance of the building. "And as for the crowd you were anticipating, well, let's just say things didn't quite turn out as expected. But fret not, Chairman. The surprises lie within these walls."

As Damien Malone stepped into the luxurious building, flanked by his two main bodyguards, Kai and his accomplice, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Though he had grown accustomed to having Kai by his side in the past few days, the presence of two armed men following his every move made him uncomfortable. He yearned for a more feminine figure, someone who could attend to his needs and make his workload much easier. However, both Kai and his accomplice were solely focused on protecting him.

As they entered the reception area, Damien's eyes scanned the magnificent space adorned with high-end office furniture. Yet, there was an eerie absence of people, especially the receptionist. It struck Damien as highly unusual, and he couldn't hide his concern. The Oracle, noticing Damien's perplexed expression, feigned nonchalance and briskly made his way towards the elevator. Damien followed suit, but not before Kai instructed his other bodyguard to remain on the ground floor, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious or untoward.

Inside the elevator, the atmosphere was tense, the silence broken only by the soft hum of the ascending lift. Damien couldn't help but steal glances at The Oracle, a man with greyish white hair that testified to his old age. The Oracle's missing limb served as a constant reminder of how he had saved Damien when he was just a baby.

Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Damien broke the silence. "Oracle, do you ever wonder what life would be like if you hadn't intervened that day? If you hadn't saved me?"

The Oracle remained silent, causing Damien to grow increasingly uncomfortable. He couldn't help but wonder if the Oracle had even heard his call.

"Oracle... or should I say, Sebastian?" Damien tried again, feeling uncertain about which name to use. The Oracle, still not turning around, sported a mischievous grin.

"Now that you find yourself in a position of immense wealth and power, I expect you to be brimming with pride and confidence," the Oracle said, his voice filled with a hint of amusement.

Damien's brow furrowed as he contemplated the Oracle's words. "It's strange, isn't it? I can't help but feel like I don't deserve all this. Maybe you've mistaken me for someone else."

The Oracle finally turned around, maintaining eye contact with Damien. He spoke slowly, emphasizing each word. "From the very beginning, I have always been by your side, monitoring your every move. When you suffered maltreatment in school and went hungry night after night, I was there. My sole purpose was to ensure you didn't meet an untimely demise. I had strict orders not to interfere, but I made it my mission to protect you."

Damien's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, you mean you've been watching over me all this time? But why? And why reveal this now?"

The Oracle's gaze shifted to Kai, who stood vigilant beside them but The Oracle was still talking to Damien. "You could have known your true identity from the start, but believe me when I say you wouldn't have survived the trials and tribulations that awaited you. The time for you to take over and restore power to The Nexus has finally arrive and…"

The elevator door opened abruptly, jolting The Oracle to a stop. He quickly swiveled back, forcing himself to step out, and turned to face Damien, accompanied by Kai. The Oracle smiled and spoke, "And more, you can call me Sebastian, but preferably The Oracle by my enemies. But you, Chairman Damien Malone, you are my boss and good friend."

As they exited the elevator, the trio found themselves in front of a towering glass door. The glass wasn't transparent, but blurry movements inside hinted at a busy room. Standing in front of the door were two armed men, who immediately saluted upon seeing Damien approach with The Oracle and Kai.

Curiosity piqued, Damien asked The Oracle, his gaze fixed on the two men, "How many soldiers does The Nexus have?"

The Oracle replied, "56,000 ground troops the last time I counted. And they are not soldiers, they are mercenaries. However, most of them are retired officers who still seek action."

The door swung open as Damien, The Oracle, and Kai approached. Inside, the room was filled with almost a hundred people, scattered about, each holding a glass of wine. Solemn music played through the implanted speakers, setting a somber atmosphere. Damien realized that this was the main reason they hadn't encountered anyone from the reception until now. It was meant to be a surprise, but he couldn't help but feel that the silence didn't match his expectations. He wondered if this was how rich people behaved, suppressing their exuberance. If he wanted to fit in, he realized he would have to blend in with the rich.

The Oracle whispered to Damien, bringing his head closer, "I know it's not exactly what you were expecting, but here are most of our major shareholders, well-wishers within Nexus, and friendly empires. However, Chairman, I must warn you, don't trust anyone here. Not everyone is happy about you taking the chairman position."

Damien stepped into the vibrant party, his sleek brown suit drawing everyone's attention. He exuded confidence, knowing he was the man of the day. As he made his way through the crowd, his trusted bodyguard, Kai, stood by his side, adding to the power he possessed.

Greetings filled the air, each person wanting more time with Damien after their initial exchanges. However, with the room buzzing with excitement, it became clear that everyone wanted to meet the dashing, handsome young Chairman. Damien gracefully navigated through the throng of people, smiling and exchanging pleasantries along the way.

The party continued for a couple of hours, the atmosphere filled with laughter and celebration. Slowly, as the night progressed, the crowd began to disperse. Damien, feeling a sense of relief, took a moment to catch his breath. That's when he noticed something that made his heart skip a beat.

Standing across the room, amidst a group of men, was Isabella. Her presence sent a shockwave through Damien's being, his eyes instantly locking with hers. Isabella, looking just as stunning as ever, raised her wine glass to her lips, her gaze never leaving Damien's.

As if guided by an unseen force, Isabella gracefully maneuvered through the dispersing guests, making her way toward Damien. Her elegant dress accentuated her beauty, and the smile on her face seemed unshakeable, undeterred by Damien's surprise.

"Hi Damien," Isabella said with a mixture of warmth and intrigue as she reached him.

"Hi Isabella," Damien struggled to find the right words, feeling a rush of the memory of Isabella sleeping with Robert. He gently placed his glass on the ceremonial table that separated them. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his eyes locked on Isabella, still trying to process her unexpected appearance.

"Oh, Chairman Malone, I see you've met your new personal assistant," a familiar voice interjected. The Oracle, joined the scene, swiftly approaching Damien and Isabella. "Here is Miss Isabella Gerald, and she is the most qualified of all the applicants to be your PA."