Chapter 2

    CALEB DA STEPHANO

    

      Theo drives me to my grandfather's company in downtown Manhattan with an efficiency that reminds me why I pay him so well. The city is bursting with busy people even at a late evening like this one.

      

      I cannot understand the reason behind this emergency meeting. 

      

      My grandfather, Gustavo Da Stephano hasn't been to the companies in two years after giving up it's inheritance to me.

      

      "Stay around." I say to Theo as our eyes meet on the rare view mirror and he nods before I step out.

      Inside the conference room, I can't look past the disgusted look on my grandfather's old wrinkled face. 

      My older brother, who has ever given very little fuck about this company is seated at the corner, minding his business as usual, not caring that I'm even here.

      

      Even though Luca was my half brother, I always looked up to him growing up. But he hated me. Even my mere existence infuriated him. He never liked to see me and left the states a long time ago. 

      

      

      Luca was a successful man. Always quiet and gentle. It is hard to know if he even truly hates me sometimes, especially when he has never raised his voice at me except that time when I was eight. That particular day that I would never forget.

      

      

      "Everyone," my grandfather clears his throat "it is with esteemed honor to be seated with all of you again and I am very proud of the work you have put into this company on my behalf. 

      "But today, I have called this meeting to make an announcement."

      

      His eyes moves over and settles on me "the heir to my empire, my grandson, Caleb seated over there is no longer capable of running this company and as such, I am taking everything back."

      

      Silent murmurs stretches across the table, while I watched him with disbelief.

      I have always made this company my top priority. I put my life behind to make him proud, to make him see me, just as I've always done as a boy relentlessly. So what does he mean he's taking it from me?

      

      Leaning over the table, my eyes throwing daggers at him, I sneer "are you joking, Grandpa?"

      

      "This is what I'm talking about," his words mocks me "you are incapable of handling this company, Caleb, I see that now. Your careless lifestyle will not only spoil my prestigious name but be this great company's ruin. Until you start learning to get your life together, I am stripping you of every right to this company and many other. That's final."

      

      "No!" I screamed, slamming my hands on the table as I rose up. "You have no right to do that! You. You," I point at every face seated around the table "this is all your plans isn't it? Going behind my back! Huh?!!"

      

      "From now on, Your brother Luca, will take over this company as well as the rest. Until you have proved to me that you deserve my companies, I don't want you running any!"

      

      My eyes move quickly to Luca who sat quietly, amusement written on his face as he watched me.

      

      He knew all about this. How dare him? 

      Whatever anger I felt at this news is nothing compared to what I'm feeling now as I see the mocking smirk on his lips.

      

      Moving my chair out of the way, I started towards him. Before anyone could register what's happening, I'm grabbing him by the neck and punching him on the face.

      

      "Caleb!" Everyone starts calling me.

      

      But this bastard doesn't even flinch or try to fight back. Before I can give him another punch, hands are grabbing and pulling me from behind and pinning me against the table.

      

      "Let go of me!" I scream as I struggle to break free.

      

      Luca fixes his tie and says calmly "until you work on yourself, you'll keep being this piece of shit with anger issues."

      

      And then he walks out, leaving me to wail at the table. By the time I was released, neither him nor our grandfather was in the room.

      

      I didn't trust myself not to beat up anyone that comes in my way right now so I leave the building, anger bubbling inside me.

      

      "Sir are we ready to leave....." Theo says as soon as he saw me walking out of the building.

      

      But instead I push him out of the way and enter the car, revving out of the premises and onto the street.

      

      How could they do this to me? After everything I've done for them?! All my life, my sole goal was impressing that old man that I forgot myself while doing it. And he's going to humiliate me like that?! 

      

      I pull up in front of a club house that I have made a habit of going to every week. 

      "Get me a fucking drink!" I yell from the booth and soon, a tender comes running with my regular.

      

      "What the fuck is this?! Get me something stronger, damnit!" I scream at her, flinging the bottle of wine across the room, shattering it. 

      

      My mind is clouded with anger and I needed to find a way to release all that. Drinking might not help but it was better than still feeling all this pain.

      

      I get a bottle of and take a glass to my lips, that's when I notice the girl that walked in. Her eyes are puffy, like she had just been crying. Judging from the bargy jeans and T-shirt with jacket she's wearing, she didn't belong here. Who wears that to a club?

      

      Other than that, she looked lost. She's pretty, too pretty and innocent to be in a place like this. 

      And I knew immediately, she was hurt. Just like me. And maybe that is why I took such keen interest in her, watching her drink every last drop of that alcohol.

      

      She turns after a while and for a second she watched me. Her eyes narrows directly at me and she almost looked familiar. Too familiar. Like she could recognize me from somewhere.

      

      But after what felt like mere seconds, she looks away, pulls off her jacket and walked up to the dance stage.

      

      Seconds later she's swinging and swaying her body to the disgusting men below.

      

      I felt angry for a second, seeing them laugh at her. I try to ignore her but it's hard, there's just something vulnerable about her.

      

      After a while, she throws up all over the men and I almost snort a laughter. Serves them right.

      

      The security bundles her outside before I could intervene. I stand up immediately to go after her but remembered I needed to pay for my fucking drink.

      

      Fuck that, they can add that to my tab. 

      

      I dashed out and as expected, some hooligans are all over her, speaking dirty to her. 

      

      Clenching my fists, I walk over to them and the words that I said next shocked me.

      "She's with me."

      Why did I feel this very strange sense of responsibility over this girl that I didn't even know until some minutes ago. Why do I feel this strange over protectiveness over someone like her? She is way below me, so why?