CHAPTER 2

Max stared down at the phone and almost slammed it down on the receiver,today hasn't been his day.First his lover or should he say ex-lover publicly humiliated him by asking him to marry her and when he had refused she had created a scene right there in the restaurant.Come tomorrow he'll be front page news and trend all over social media and the gossip blogs about how he's a cold bastard,and only use women for his own selfish needs.It wasn't his fault that women throw themselves on him every chance they get and he is a man after all so why should he refuse when they are willing and ready.

He will never get married life was way more easier without any complications and clingyness it wasn't his fault that some women are too stubborn to get through their heads that he will never settle down or belong to any woman.To make matters worse he's just found out that his godmother has a grand daughter and if that was true he'll never be able to retain one hundred percent control over Torrés&White Industrials a company his father had started from scratch and made it a success along with his best friend Daniel White.

After his parents passing years ago he had joined the company taking over his father's fifty percent shares along side uncle Daniel he had learned and master every detail of the company his father would've wanted that and it was his birth right.In a year he had know every aspect of the business in and out even uncle Daniel had been impressed,from there he had stepped aside and let Max run the company to see what skills he had and if he was capable of running such a big company.He had told Max if he can succeed in making his first million in a year he'll happily sign over his other half of his shares since he didn't have any son to take over his shares,Max had shown him he was more then capable but before the paper work could be processed uncle Daniel and his wife had died in a plane crash a year ago on their way back from a Carribean cruise.

He cannot allow this woman to come and ruin his plans,he has big plans for the company and want to expand it further making it even bigger than it is now,the business was striving even better under his management his godmother had said so herself.If she really has a granddaughter then she'll probably take over half of the company and he will not allow any stranger to come and destroy a business his dad and uncle Daniel had worked hard for to make it a success.

He has no idea who she was,where she comes from and what her real intentions was,he has already asked his best private investigator to find out more about her all he needs from his godmother was a name and tonight he'll get it along with answers too,he knows she needs to rest especially after her last surgery but he has to know the truth.The company was at stake here,his fathers legacy was on the line along with their hard earned reputation. Knocking softly he heard the nurse's voice say come in,he entered and shut the door behind him.Her health is deteriorating even further her skin is almost paper white and her face has lost it's beautiful smile,he walked over to her and sat down on the chair next to her he took her hand in his,she stirred and looked at him a faint smile spread across her face.

"I thought you've forgotten about me."Her hand reached up to stroke his face.

"That's not possible.You the only important woman in my life and you know that."He covered her hand with his own and brought it to his lips,after his parents death she had taken him in and raised him as her own,the love she had showered upon him never made him long for his parents and to see her like this killed him from within he loved her deeply and to know soon she won't be here anymore crushed him day by day.He told her private nurse to give them a few minutes alone.

"Such a charmer,ask whatever you wanna ask."She told him.

She knows him well he thought."Is it true?"

"I take it you've found out."When he didn't respond she said."It's true Max,I have a granddaughter she is Daniel's daughter."

He was shocked and for a full minute he was silent."Uncle Daniel never had kids."He said after a while."It's impossible."

"It's true Max and I've met her personally she's a nice girl and when I talked to her it was like I was talking to Daniel she reminded me of him with her blue eyes,and dark brown hair that looks black.She even agreed for me to do a DNA test to confirm it and I didn't even ask her but in my heart I knew she was my granddaughter I could feel it and when I got the results it confirmed my suspicion."

He stood up and walked over to the window."How's this possible?Where was she all this time and who is her mother." For the next hour he listened to his godmother and the whole story surrounding this woman her name was Adriana Woods and she stays in a small town called Barclays.He cannot believe this was happening,how will he be able to take over the company there was no way in hell that he'll be able to go forward with his future plans if she gets the other half of the shares she can dismiss his plans and disagree.What the hell was he gonna do now?

"You wondering about the company and what will happen to the other fifty percent shares.I trust you completely and have immense faith that you'll take the company even further than it is now.Your uncle Daniel saw that no wonder he didn't hesitate to give you full control over the business.I also know about the deal he made with you,he left me a letter explaining everything in there.Look in my top drawer right next to me you'll find the letter."He walked around the bed next to her and opened the drawer,he saw a letter with his name on it taking it out she said."Read it when you'll be alone."

"Why?"He wanted to know.

"I'm tired Max you've exert me by asking all your questions and me relaying the whole story for you.I need rest we'll talk tomorrow.Goodnight."He bent and kissed her cheek.

"Forgive me it wasn't my intention.A woman called earlier asking for you."He told her.

"Did she say who she was."

"No,she just hung up on me.Goodnight."He said and left going to his own room a few doors down the hall,ever since Diana's diagnosis he has moved into the house to be here for her.

Diana couldn't help but smile she knows it had been Adriana who had called and she now know that she and Max would make a perfect couple just as Daniel had predicted and when Max is gonna read that letter she can already see him bursting with anger,she gently closed her eyes and slept.

Adriana was busy inside the kitchen the following morning making breakfast for Amelia when her phone rang,she rushed to answer it.Fifteen minutes later she sank down on the couch and gazed at Amelia that had been the social worker and for these past three months Adriana had fought for her niece to stay with her,she has applied and followed all the legal steps to adopt her but unfortunately her application had been denied and when she had asked the social worker why she had given Adriana a whole list of reasons as to why she didn't qualify.

Firstly she was single and staying alone,apparently they are afraid that she will date and bring different men into Amelia's life Adriana knows she'll never do that and when she had said so the social worker hadn't believed her. Second had been her financial issues they also don't think she will be able to take care and look after her niece on her salary because she has alot of expenses and can barely make ends meet,they are surviving now Adriana thought. Last but not least the house they were staying in isn't up to their standards Adriana knows the place needs to be renovated but at the moment she's broke and doesn't have that kind of money to redo the entire house.