CHAPTER 1

A Child’s Promise.

“Run, run Emerald” they taunted her, as their voices drew close, Emerald's heart pounded in her chest, she needed to escape her cousins who were chasing her with a whip, she could not let them catch her, gods knew she couldn't survive the terrible things they did to her this time, it wasn't the first time she had suffered at their hands and because she wasn't the favorite granddaughter of the Monquress, her grandmother let it happen.

Her breathing was ragged, as she ran further into the forest, she could feel herself becoming weaker with each step she took, a shout of panic escaped her lips as she hit her right toe on a stone and she plummeted to the ground with a loud thud from the corners of her eyes she spotted her eldest cousin with a wicked smirk on his face, trembling she looked for an escape route, but there was none as three other of her cousins had encircled her, she couldn't fight them off she was just a little girl and small gaunt fist couldn't do much damage seeing as her cousins were bigger and stronger than her, suddenly a loud growl which shook the forest resounded in the distance, a black wolf thrice the size of any man appeared into the ground rattled as it walked, she watched as it flashed its razor-sharp fangs threateningly, it stalked towards her and went she stared at it's beautiful yet deadly grey eyes she could have sworn her heart stopped beating for a moment.

The daunting sight of the wolf had her cousins scurrying away like flies, Emerald was grateful that the wolf had saved her. She was scared for a moment, but wolf was calm and motionless, making her relax.

When Emerald saw that her confidence grew, she walked towards it, somehow it dark fur reminded her of a puppy she once had. At that moment, she felt the urge to stretch out her hands and caress its body and when the wolf didn't seem to mind, she leaned even closer stroking its fur. Emerald's eyes roamed the forest, Emerald had been so occupied with running away from her cousins that she had gotten lost, she knew she was far from home and she wondered if anyone would care to look for her, though she doubted it, they would probably be glad to be rid of her, but her mom would be worried sick and she didn't want to make her mom sad, she needed to find her way home.

"Do you know where we are?” she asked the wolf, “I need to get back to my mummy.” The wolf moved for the first time and then she noticed the limp on its leg, “Where are you going? Does it hurt?” she asked following the wolf as it led her through the forest She continued throwing questions at it as though it could respond. It did not take long for the Emerald to notice she had been led to the edge of the forest, she could easily find her house now, so she turned to the wolf

“Thank you, you’re a good puppy,” she said “If your wound hurts, put turmeric on it; that’s what mommy does.”

She stroked its fur one last time, then leaned closer and placed a kiss on its forehead.

“When I grow up, I will marry you”

she said and with that, she ran towards a luxurious-looking mansion.

Fifteen Years Later

Emerald was startled awake by her alarm clock. She rolled around a bit before putting it off. With a sigh, she dragged herself off the bed. If she did not have to redraft this morning, she would not have even bothered waking up this early. She hurriedly dressed and left her house. Even though she was very early, she dared not take a bus. She flagged a taxi just outside her building and entered.

After indicating where she intended to go, she took out her laptop and started working. It seems she was bound to bad luck, the moment she stepped into the office; she came face to face with Ethel Lucius Gruiel, commonly known as Lucy Gruiel.

“Oh, it looks like someone barely slept,” Lucy said in a sickeningly sweet voice.

“If you have time to worry about me, you should put more effort into your proposals, maybe you will have more notable works by then,” Emerald said, walking away from her to her desk.

“If someone doesn’t know, they may think you are the team leader. You even look down on those who came before you,” Lucy sneered and took her seat opposite Emerald.

“It is not that I look down on those that came before me, I Look down on those that feel those that just came should not outdo them,” Emerald snorted and continued with her work ignoring Lucy, who let out a curse

Before she could immerse herself in her work, the Team Leader walked out and invited them both to her office.

“I have seen both of your drafts. Though you are not done, we are already going to pick which direction we will be going,” the team leader said to them.

“But hunter…” Lucy started to say.

“Let me finish,” he stopped her, “ the director says he will be going with yours, Lucy,” he said and a smile lit up her face.

“May I ask why?” Emerald asked.

“Yours is too hard to execute,” he answered, and the smug smile on Lucy’s face widened even more.

“I already have an appointment with creative director, Mark Hartley, can’t the decision wait till my meeting with him this noon?” she asked and Hunter paused.

“As in, Mark Hartley? You really have an appointment?” he asked.

“Yes, confirmed by his assistant,” she answered, and he nodded.

“I will inform the director, so go ahead to your appointment,” he instructed, and Lucy’s face collapsed.

“You actually think you can get Mark Hartley? Keep dreaming.” She snorted and walked past her.

Emerald rolled her eyes, she didn't bother to pay Lucy any heed as she had other important things to do. She had pulled a few strings to secure a meeting with the elusive Mark Hartley. Emerald made sure she was there on time. She prepared her proposal and stepped into his office with a mix of nerves of determination dancing across her eyes. Despite never having met him before, she gracefully took a seat. One would think it confidence, no, she had heard he did not like people groveling.

“Mr. Hartley, I’m Emerald Jackson. I’ve been assigned a one-of-a-kind project, so I had to bring it to you, as I thought you might be interested” she stated

Mark looked up, surprised, yet curiosity danced in his eyes. “Emerald Jackson, I have heard of you. It’s nice to meet you,” he said, and she almost raised a brow. Has he heard of her?

“I know you need my skill, so I have a little proposition for you. I work on your project, you work on my project,” he said, and she quickly became intrigued as this was an honor.

“What project?” she asked.

“I’m working on a new venture, and I’d love your husband to invest in it. In return, I will help out in whatever way I can in yours” For a second, she thought he was joking, but from the look on his face, he was not. Husband? What husband?

“I will be honest with you, I have no intention of taking any project till June next year. But I would not mind taking yours if you could talk to your husband to look into my project. We only need thirty percent more funds and we are willing to give him a fifty percent stake,” he said, and her brain started scrambling. He cannot be serious, right? He is serious? She wanted to correct him, but if she returned without him, her big project would be scrapped.

Swallowing deeply, Emerald responded smoothly, “Oh! Mark, you know my husband has a keen eye for investments. I’m sure he’ll be interested if it is you. How about this, you send me the details, and let me pass them on to him?”

Mark raised a brow at first, then broke into a smile. “Great! Amazing, Emerald. I look forward to our collaboration. How about we talk more about that project of yours?”

As they delved into the project details, Emerald skillfully wove her fictional narrative into the conversation. Mark, only raising a brow sometimes and nodding, became increasingly interested the more she talked about her project.

Once the meeting concluded, Emerald felt a mixture of relief and satisfaction. As she prepared to leave, she heard Mark say, “I will be awaiting a call from your husband,” and she managed a smile and answered, “Of course, let us meet another time,”

Mark nodded, genuinely pleased. “Emerald. Let’s do that.”

Emerald left Mark’s office, marveling at the success of her strategic approach in digging a hole for herself. She wanted to stop and cry. She had thought if he heard her out first, then she could explain she was not married. But he seems adamant about his cooperation with her husband. As she walked out of the studio, she consoled herself; she had, after all, secured a cooperation with Mark Hartley. Now she had to find her husband.