Chapter 1

Emilia Peyton

"Mum, no please, no, Daddy no..." I scream as I wake up sweating profusely. I feel the tears on my face as I realize that it was another nightmare. This has been happening every night since the incident from that dreadful night 15 years ago. I know I should have forgotten the incident considering how long it has been but the image of that night is still fresh in my head, almost like it happened just yesterday.

I check my phone and realize it's still 6am, which means I have two hours to prepare for work. I get out of bed and head to the bathroom. I take my clothes off and stand in front of the mirror. I sigh as I take in my appearance.

"It isn't as bad as the last time I guess." I say looking at my reflection. The bruise is already beginning to fade away and I'm thankful to my uncle for only leaving one bruise on me. He always made sure he never left a bruise that will be noticeable to the others because he couldn't afford to put a stain on his image.

I do my lady stuff before stepping into the shower. A few minutes later I leave the bathroom with a towel around my head and a bathrobe on my body. Walking towards my closets, I take out all the lotions I normally use, apply them and take out out a pair of matching underwear.

I realize that I still have a towel on my head so I take it off and dry my hair quickly noticing that I don't have much time left. I straighten my hair with my stretcher that I got as a gift from Naya, my assistant. Once I'm done, I hold it up with a ribbon so I could wear my clothes.(I love doing my hair before I get dressed by the way).

I take out a semi casual ruffle white shirt and pair it with a beige flared pants. " Looks good to me." I mutter to myself before taking out a nude pointed heels to complete the look. Putting them on quickly, I decide to add a white belt to the look, feeling satisfied with how I look, I pull my hair down and straighten it out again for final touches. I'm not really a fan of makeup because I know I look prettier without them. I just apply and eyeliner and mascara to give my eyes a different glow. I don't bother using a lipstick as I head downstairs for breakfast.

I arrive at the living room which is really quiet and I smile, loving the calmness. You're probably wondering why, my uncle and his family are currently on a one month vacation in Switzerland. Normally, people feel sad when they are being left behind while the others travel around but not me. If anything I am happy that I am not going to be seeing them for a month.

I look around and notice that all the workers in the house are gone. Aunt Claire must have given them the month off to make me do all the work, certainly not something I haven't done before. I check my watch and realize that I'm running late, so I just decide to have breakfast at work.

The drive to work is faster than usual, there's no traffic and I'm grateful for that. I arrive at the company in 30 minutes as I see the 36 storey building of Peyton Inc.

" Good morning miss Peyton" Larry, the company's valet says as I give him a curt nod and hand him my car keys. Walking into the office, the workers get tense seeing me as they all start greeting me. I've always been feared by people and I don't have an issue with it because its better that way. I don't want people to think I'm a weakling just because I let uncle Aaron hit me, not that they know that he does but still. I make my way towards the elevator and go towards my office which is on the thirty fifth floor. The elevator opens and I make my way to my office.

" Good morning Emilia." Naya, my assistant says to me as I approach her. Her office is before mine as you have to get through her to see me. Naya has been my assistant for 4 years now and I really liked her. She was an African American woman and of course,beautiful like all dark skinned women. I've always loved them maybe because my maternal grandmother is a black woman. Naya was six years older and despite her being my assistant, I always respected her.

" Morning to you to Naya." I say with a genuine smile as I walk into my office with Naya.

" You have a meeting at 11:am with Mr Albert Davidson, the owner of Stars Tower." Naya says as she immediately switches into her work mood

" Stars Tower?, I don't remember setting am meeting with them. What do they want now." I say annoyingly.

Stars Tower was a publishing company, I have never liked the CEO, Albert Davidson. He was a disgusting old man who received several bribes from people to write good things about them, mostly fake news. His company was also known for taking fake news about people and publishing it in other to get payment from the people to take it down. He was a cruel man and I wanted absolutely nothing to do with him.

" The meeting was fixed by Mr Aaron, but since he isn't available, he suggested you handle it." Naya says.

" What could they possibly want from us." I say. But then, this meeting was set up by my uncle, so it could only mean one thing, he wanted stars Tower to publish an article about him, praising him for the success of Peyton Enterprise when he had absolutely nothing to do with it. But Uncle Aaron could do that with him l over the phone so why does he need to come here and moreso discuss about it with me.

" Okay, anything else Naya." I ask as I open my computer.

" No, that's all...for today." Naya says and I look up.

" For today?" I ask with a confused look

"Yeah for today, your schedule tomorrow is really full Emilia and just a heads up, you will be going to Switzerland the day after tomorrow. Orders from sir Aaron." Naya says with a pitiful look.

I don't even know what to think right now. Why does he want me in Switzerland all of a sudden, whatever it is that he has to say he could very much say it over the phone so why does he want me there. Deciding not to think too much about it, I dismiss Naya and get on with my work for the day. By 11am Naya returns to the office with a knock.

"Yeah, come in." I say with my mind still buried in work.

" Mr Albert from Stars Tower is here Emilia. Are you ready or should I tell him to wait for a bit." Emilia says noticing how engrossed I was in what I was doing.

" No no, of course not, send him in." I say as I organize myself.

" Okay." Naya says as she leaves. A sigh leaves my mouth as I try to brace myself. Albert from Stars Tower was never a good man, he isn't at all and the fact that I'm going to be in an office with him, alone, scares me.

A knock on the door brings me back to reality and I already know who's behind the door.

"Come in." I say with a bold voice to seem authoritative. Mr Albert enters the office and looks around until his eyes finally sight me.

" Aha.... If it isn't the famous Emilia Peyton." Mr Albert says with a creepy look and it takes all the self control in me to not send him away. His wrinkles show how old he really is and not the fake age he puts on the internet.

With a brown hair that I'm sure had been dyed thoroughly because there wasn't a strand of white hair. He puts in so much effort into looking younger than he already is, so that he could go around flirting with young girls, not that he even needs to look younger to flirt as his money could do it for him.

" Good day Mr Albert." I say with my most professional look as I extend my hand to his for a handshake, not that I even want to touch him. I just do it out if courtsey

" No need to get all serious with me young miss, but my my, if I must say those pictures in the tabloids do you no good my dear, you look ravishing in reality." He says and I inwardly gag at his disgusting attitude.

" Thank you Mr Albert, please sit." I say hoping he gets that I don't plan on chatting with him.

" So Mr Albert, what brings you to Peyton Inc, as you already know, this meeting wasn't discussed with me so I don't know what it's about." I say with a stern look.

" Ah yes, it was discussed with your uncle a few weeks ago, but seeing how you weren't informed, I doubt the relationship between the both of you is as they say." He says with a mischievous look. I already know where he is heading to. He was an expert at manipulation and he was going to do anything, even if it meant bringing other people down to benefit himself.

" Well, Mr Albert, the relationship between I and my uncle doesn't concern you. If my uncle wanted me to know about it, he would have told me, the fact that he didn't tell me implies that it isn't anything serious, so please enlighten me." I say not giving him a chance to pry for information that might benefit him.

" Hmmm, if you say so Emilia, well, a few months ago, I called Aaron, your uncle, asking for an investment in my company, as you already know Stars Tower is on the rise these days and I'd be doing Peyton Inc a favour by letting you guys invest." He says with a smug look. I laugh inwardly. If his company is getting as much profits as he says then he most definitely doesn't need our investment. This means there's something else involved.

" I don't quite understand Mr Albert." I say. " Why are you telling me this, if your company is on the ' rise ' why would you be going around looking for investment like a start up company." I finish looking at him. I notice him tense up but he quickly covers it up with a cough. There's definitely something.

" This has already been discussed with your uncle and since he is the CEO, it has been finalized with him. You should be thanking me and not asking questions dear." He says and gives a victory smile. I lean into my chair with a smile.

" Okay, so why are you in my office Mr Albert. Like you said, it has been finalized with Uncle Aaron, so why are here with me and not him." I say with my hands in my face, pretending to be thinking. I know fully well why he's here and not with my uncle.

My uncle might be the CEO on paper but in reality, I run this company. He doesn't even understand how it works or knows what to do except spending the company's money that I work so hard for. So he can't get deals done without me being aware. He might abusive with me but he doesn't do anything that would bring loss to the company. I had a degree in Business Management from Havard University. He was forced to send me there because it was in my dad's will and he couldn't do anything about it.

That actually confuses me because according to the will, Peyton Inc is supposed to be mine but a few days after I read the will, it miraculously changed from my name as the benefactor to Uncle Aaron. Every other thing was left intact but the company's ownership was changed. I couldn't access the other assets till I was 25. Uncle Aaron doesn't know about this because it was in a different will that wasn't given to him. He doesn't even know that those assets exists, if he did, he would have coveted them already and given them to me to run for him as he is too lazy and stupid to run anything properly.

Back to Mr Albert who was sitting in front of me. He looked annoyed and I knew exactly why. My uncle might be stupid and easy to fool but I wasn't and everyone in this business world knew that, which is why they always went through my uncle whenever they wanted something from us, this was because I always looked into every company that wanted an investment or partnership with Peyton Inc as I didn't want anything thing to do with fraudulent people. But of course going through my uncle doesn't guarantee that they'll get what they want as Uncle Aaron would always send them back to me because he didn't have any idea how things worked in the business world and this was no different.

" Well, for some reason, your signature is needed to get things done around here. I don't understand why, when you clearly are not the CEO." Mr Albert says with an annoyed look.

" That's correct Mr Albert, and I think you already know that I won't be signing any document from your company." I say.

" Why not, this has already been finalized and your opinion isn't needed, all you just need to do is sign the damn papers." He says raising his voice.

" I'm sorry Mr Albert, but I refuse to invest in a company as corrupt as Stars Tower however profitable it might be. I would not be entangled with a company like that. I have done my research on Stars Tower and believe me, the results aren't good." I say looking at him. He looks insulted and is about to say something but I cut him off.

" You can't be ser—." He starts but I quickly interrupt him.

" Your company might be profitable but that's only because of the illegal activities going on. I am well aware of all them you know. Like how you took 2 million dollars from Nova hotel to cover up the Rape case that was supposed to have them sued. But of course, your company published an article, after threatening the girl involved, saying that nothing of that manner happened and it was consensual." I tell him with a smirk. Sweat forms on his forehead and I can tell that he is scared.

" H-h-how do you k-know about that." He stutters and I smile at him.

" You see Mr Albert, I did my research well and judging by the look on your face, I'm very correct." I say

" I also know that you need this investment because your company took a loan of 10 billion dollars from Kings Corp seven years ago and are yet to pay. So you see, I just can't help you." I say with a pitiful look.

Kings Corp was the richest company in the country and beyond. The CEO, Liam King who inherited the company from his father, Richard king, was a very ruthless man according to the tabloids. I had never met him in person but I had heard a lot about him. I also knew that he was 4 years older than me which meant that he was really young.

At the mention of kings Corp, blood drained from Mr Albert's face and he started trembling.

" With that said Mr Albert, the door is that way."