Jessica Bradford. Born in the Northern California Bay Area which happens to be one of the richest city in the US. Life happens. And now, the rich and elegant lady with her mom lives in Philadelphia. A bad turn around. Have you ever read a story in which the reader knows what the characters doesn't know? Or see things ahead of the characters? Hidden(for the characters) in the open( for the readers). Any of you ever saw a beauty goddess before?...guess you have never or probably, you only saw her followers. Pretty, but not as her. You can call her a beauty goddess. That,I know. But, that was then. Not anymore. Now, she looks like a homeless girl. Not that she doesn't have a place to rest her head but really, not the rich Bradford Jessica anymore. Since she lost her dad, and then his family took over their wealth and her dad's company was hijacked by her uncle. Jessica and her Mom was chased out of their mansion and now, she had to drop out from the University as an undergraduate. She is saddled with the responsibility of finding her life back and uplifting her mother's life back to the rich woman she was before. Will her encounter with the CEO of Shawn constructive company helps to elevate her current status?
JESSICA'S POINT OF VIEW
"All she does all day is to sleep!...I wondered if this how she planned on spending the rest of her life... sleeping!!!" My mom nagged.
I guess she thought am still sleeping...but in actual fact, have been awake even before her but I just had to pretend still asleep.
"My baby...my pretty Jessica...am sorry you have to pass through this...am so sorry you have to drop out of school...am really sorry you have to feel so much pain... please forgive your mother" she cried softly while patting my back.
She gentle ruffled my hair before I heard her stand up.
I can't bring myself to open my eyes because I don't know what word to say to soothe her.
When I heard footsteps and closing of door, I know she's out.
"Oh fuck!!!" I groaned before standing up to stretch my body.
Am lazy.
Too lazy.
I felt pity for my mom.
Now that I dropped out of school, shouldn't I at least find something doing? But no!.
I decided to be a liability to her...the only thing I does is sleeping while she go work her butt off as a cleaner at the big company not far away from our house.
I could remember the joy on her face when she got the job.
"Aiiiishhhh!!! Goddamnit! Is all their fault!" I angrily let out.
We had suffered a lot.
Mom's monthly pay is not enough to feed us talk more of paying our bills.
I love mom.
She is trying... trying hard not to make me feel anything but can I really not feel it?
Of course I can't.
I can feel every inch of it.
"I don't believe in God but I think I should now because he is the only one that can help me...just one angel... someone to help this bastard!" I mumbled painfully.
My dad's family called me a bastard and so they claimed I have no access to his inheritance.
"I just want to sleep this out!" I groaned before jumping back in bed.
When I wake up, I will think about my life again.
A handsome man in his early thirties is seen sitting and on him, a grey suit matching the colour of his mustache. Not indicating how old he is but making his facial look more attractive . He was, well, different from all others. He was handsome, not perhaps in the conventional sense, but he had that appearance which could make him stand out in the crowd. He was fair, almost pale white. His unfathomable, golden brown eyes contrasted exceptionally with his light toned face. His eyes were as deep and expressive, where you could get lost if you stared long enough.
"I want the file on my desk now or else you are fired!" I shouted angrily at the person on the other end.
Nonsense!
This is my company.
My job.
I don't joke with it.
I gave my secretary some files two days ago and she has failed to set up a meeting with the other company which we were supposed to discuss how to go about the business in the file with.
One thing I hate in this world is laziness.
Don't deal with me if you are lazy.
I won't take that.
And that's it, if she fails to get it to my desk, she won't resume here tommorow.
Am Derrick.
Derrick Shawn.
CEO of Shawn constructive company.
Even though am the CEO, have always been the first to get to work, and also the last to close for work.
Have heard a lot of gossip about me.
Some called me a devil.
Wicked.
Strict.
Ugly.
But the one I heard that scares me the most is gay.
Gay?
Why would they call me that?
Some said me and my manager are lovers?
Me and Steve?
For holy Christ sake!
Steve is my cousin.
But no one knows because business is business and family is a whole different thing.
"Gosh" I let out.
If I should start thinking about that, no doubt am gonna develop an headache.
" Sir these are the files" I heard Mabel shaky voice.
Apart from being lazy sometimes, Mable is the best secretary have ever had.
Diligent, selfless, bold, beautiful, beautiful? Oh no.
I won't say that.
I don't care about her beauty.
I think those qualities are enough for her except beauty.
"Have you set a date for the meeting?" I directed at her while maintaining a hard face.
"Ye...ye... yes sir" she stuttered.
"Good!...you can leave" I commanded and heard the clicking of her heels.
"Isn't she beautiful?" My inner mind scolded me.
Whatever!.
The day I will see someone and agree with my inner mind that she's beautiful, then I think am going to put a ring on her finger for fuck sake, she's going to be a beauty goddess for me to admit that.
STEVE'S POINT OF VIEW
"Morning!"
"Morning!"
"Morning!"
"Morning"
I replied to all the "good mornings" while waving and smiling the whole time.
This has been a routine.
People would say am the opposite of Derrick.
Ice and water.
Ice and fire.
Strick and cold Derrick and gentle and calm Steve.
I guess am late for work today also.
If not that we are cousin, I would have been jobless long time ago.
Despite his business is business, he still couldn't bring himself to fire his lovely cousin.
"Gay lovers!" I remembered the gossip and I let out a loud laughter.
So funny.
How in earth sake do they thought of that absurdity?
I was about to enter my office when my eyes landed on a middle age woman.
A cleaner?
Yes...she's putting on the office cleaner uniform.
But why is she that way??
Holy fuck!!! I shouted and everyone attention was on me.
Even though I quickened my steps, I still couldn't help it because she already landed in the cold floor before I could get to her.
"What happened to her?" Everyone was asking rhetorical question.
She fainted.
I got to her and carried her up...other workers are already there but I did not mind.. securities came rushing at us....some offered to carry her but I declined.
"Opened the fucking door for me!" I shouted.
I hurriedly carried her into the back sit.
"Sir... should I drive the car?" One of the security I recognized his face asked.
"No nevermind" I went to the drivers sit and ignited the engine before zooming off.
I don't know what's wrong, but I can't just witness such scene and be calm...maybe because my mom has been fainting a lot since I was a child.
She has been fainting frequently this days too.
So whenever I witness anyone fainting, I become tense.
A cleaner??
I don't even know her.
"Nurseeeeeeee!" I drawled loudly.
Three nurse rushed at me with a stretcher.
She was placed on it and so, I followed behind and waited at the waiting room.
I know she would be alright.
Chapter 1 I don't believe in God.
01/09/2024