Chapter 1

Three months ago, when Layla returned to America, sadness became an ocean, but she forced herself to swim so she could see Ivory being happy again. And after Ivory died, Layla drowned.

“Dear Layla, we are sorry. Maximo Investment can’t accept your submission despite your good qualifications. Try again next year. Thank you.” 

A long blonde-haired lady read out, sitting in front of her laptop. She took a deep, disappointed breath, her eyes withered sadly. Maximo investment was her last hope because it was the fifteenth company she applied to, and the other fourteen companies had rejected her.

Layla shifted the chair back a little and rested her head on the table, her head touching the laptop keyboard. 

When Layla was twelve, she won a scholarship from an unknown organization, which sponsored her throughout her educational years. After she graduated from the most expensive university in New York as the best student of the year, the organization secured her a job in Spain, and she moved to Spain.

When her parents died, she couldn’t come to America for their burial, and after five years of hard work, she returned to America to take care of her two sisters, Ivory and Lily. But she was surprised and heartbroken to meet Ivory, her immediate sister, who used to be everyone's source of bliss, dismal.

Layla did things within and outside her space to find out what happened to Ivory while she was away, but she found no hint, and Ivory didn't open up to her.

When Layla confronted Ivory and asked what anguished her, she responded she yearned to build up justice for innocent people who lost their lives brutally at the hands of vicious souls.

The innocent souls!

Who are they?

Who are the wicked souls that killed them?

Layla attempted to dig deeper, but all her efforts were abortive.

Till Ivory's last minute, a day hardly passed without her telling Layla that revenge would hit her hard and she might spend the rest of her life in misery because she would reap what their father sowed.

What did their father sow?

When Lily fell fatally ill and was admitted to the hospital, Layla spent all her savings to pay for her surgery, and the day she was discharged from the hospital, a car hit Ivory, and she died.

While Layla was still languishing over Ivory's death, resenting herself for being the one behind it and abhorring herself for not being next to Ivory till the last minute, the loan shark knocked on her door. They informed her about her father's debt that Ivory was paying before her death. And since Ivory has passed away, they decided to seize the house.

Layla didn't want the bank to seize the house because it was the place where all the memories of her beloved ones were laid to rest. Besides, it was the only thing Ivory tried to safeguard until her last breath. So she beseeched the bank and asked for three months to hustle for the money.

Layla arranged to go back to Spain, but her boss in Spain said she wasn't welcome back, and since then, she has submitted applications to many companies, but they rejected her.

Layla took her head off the table. She shook her head, and the hair covering her left eye fell to the back of her ear. She picked up her phone and dialed Zuri's number, but Zuri ended the call before it even rang out. She dialed the number again and Zuri did the same thing. She put the phone back on the table and stood up on her feet.

As she wanted to close her laptop, a letter from Perficient Investment dropped into her inbox, but she hissed and didn't bother to check it.

“Small companies rejected me. Why will Perficient Investment accept me?” She thought and shut down her laptop.

She walked to the small cabinet beside the bed and picked up her purse. She opened it and grabbed the last cash in it.

“This should be enough for some snacks.”

She put the purse down and walked out of her room, putting her waist in her hands.

THIRTY MINUTES LATER

Layla strode into her room, exhausted. She fell weakly on the bed, putting the nylon-wrapped snack beside her.

“I need to eat first and walk out onto the street to find a part-time job.”

She stood up and saw her phone blinking the green notification light. She picked up her phone and saw ten missed calls from Zuri, her best friend, and editor, who gave her some petty jobs to feed herself till she could find a better job.

“O-oh! My...” she opened her mouth, dissatisfied. She was angry at herself for not taking her phone with her.

She dialed the number again, and it didn't ring twice before Zuri picked it up.

“Hey dear, let's chat on W******p. There is this bitch sitting next to me.” Zuri said immediately as she picked up the call, and she quickly hung up before Layla could say a word.

Layla quickly turned on her mobile data and sent a message to Zuri.

Layla: Hey!

Zuri: (sent a picture) Do you know this man?

Layla: Yes. The president of Maximo Investment. 

Zuri: Good. You have to meet him right away. He has an assignment and needs an intelligent lady to do the work. He is ready to pay any amount you want.

Layla: What kind of assignment?

Zuri: You will know when you meet him.

Layla: When are you coming so we can go?

Zuri: You are going to meet him alone, and you are going right now. Stand up and dress up.

Layla: but...

Zuri: Don't be afraid. I have told him a lot about you, and he likes you already. Just be your real self when you get there, and everything will be alright.

Layla: but...

Zuri: But what again, dear? I believe you fit best for this assignment, and I am giving it to you because he has the price for success.

Layla: I spent my last cash on a snack. I don't have a transportation fare.

Zuri: (replies after three minutes) I have sent you more than enough for transport. Stand up already.

Layla: (after the credit alert notification) Thank you. I love you.

Zuri: I love you too. I will stop by your place later in the day. I have a gist. Especially about this dude, I stumbled into.

Layla turned off her mobile data and quickly rushed into the bathroom with excitement written all over her face.

ONE HOUR, THIRTY MINUTES LATER...

The car parked in front of Maximo's Investment, and Layla got down. She gave her card to the cabman, and the cabman mistakenly debited the triple amount of the transport fare.

“What's it?” She queried, seeing the exclamatory look on the man's face, but the man couldn't answer her out of shock.

A debit alert came onto Layla’s phone, and seeing it, she quickly understood the look on the man’s face, and she wore a cute smile.

“You made a mistake, don't worry. It’s unintentional.” She collected her card and returned it to her bag.

The man bowed his head excitedly. “Thank you so much. I will pay you back next time we meet.”

Layla bowed her head and walked into the company while the man drove away.

Layla walked into Maximo Investment and entered the elevator to the second floor. She got out of the elevator, and seeing President Mason’s office from a little distance, her heart escaped breath for a few seconds.

She wanted to stop walking, but she propelled herself and kept walking until her legs betrayed her gut and her body froze.

She closed her eyes and opened them. She took a deep breath, placing her hand on her chest. 

“You can do this, Layla?” She said to herself and without delaying for another second, she quickly carried her steps one after the other. And immediately as she got to the door, she laid her hand on it and banged in without knocking.

Because of how Layla opened the door and the shocking aura her arrival built, President Mason was startled, and a pen fell from his hand.

She quickly faked a look of a criminal in front of justice and bowed her head in guilt. “I am sorry, sir.”

President Mason sighed and picked up his pen from the table. He continued working on the file in his front, on the desk and smiled. “It is fine,”

“I haven’t seen this face. Who are you?” He asked.

“I am Layla.” She responded.

He put the pen on the file and closed it, concentrating on her. “How can I help you?”

“Sir?!” She raised her eyebrows, surprised. She didn't expect that question, since Zuri told her she had told President Mason a lot about her.

She quickly composed herself and created a fitting line. “From Zuri, sir. She told me you tilled success in your compound, and I came here hoping it is ripe to tug.”

He lifted his gaze in slow motion and resolved it on her. Her words impressed him, and he quickly had more inclination for her.

“Zuri is right,” President Mason beamed, lightly. “There are a lot of successes to pluck, but only if you are ready to pay the price.”

“What's the price for success?” She asked confidently.

President Mason stood up from his seat and sluggishly descended the three small stairs before he arrived beside Layla. He scanned her from head to toe and walked to the two pairs of couches with a table between them. The couches and table were on the right side of the office, which was for welcoming special visitors and discussing non-official issues.

President Mason sat down and offered, “come and sit.”

Layla walked to the chair on the other side and sat down.

President Mason took out his phone and opened the gallery app. He tapped on a guy's picture and showed it to her. “Do you know this guy?” 

She scoffed and responded, “Lucas Asher, the star of America. The CEO of Perficient Investment, and the youngest billionaire that ever existed. Who won't know him?”

“Zuri told me you came back to the States not too long ago. How did you know him?” He wondered.

“Yes, I just returned, but no daily international news comes out without one of Asher's newly unlocked achievements standing in the headline. His achievement always owns the second and third page of international news.” Layla poured out, smiling.

“Layla, I want you to obliterate this guy.” He voiced it out.

Layla’s eyes dilated in shock, and she goggled at him for a few seconds. “Destroy who?”

“Lucas Asher.” He answered, smiling at the left portion of his face. He easily read the fear on her face.

“B-but...” Layla wanted to talk, but her voice stammered in a mixture of wonder and dread.

He pressed his hands down. “Calm down, Layla. I know this isn’t easy to accept. But I want you to do this just to get justice for the dead, innocent souls.”

Layla thought back to when Ivory brought up the dead, innocent souls, and she took an interest in the discussion, thinking it might be a way to find solutions to her questions.

Layla sighed. She bite the left part of her lower lip and let out her curiosity. “What do you mean, sir?”

“Have you ever heard of Operation MX242?” He asked, and she nodded.

“Yes.”

“The Lucas family was behind it. They collided with the foreigners and assisted them in conducting a project that made hundreds of civilians lose their lives.” He spoke out.

“What?!” She asked in disbelief, frowning her face with her left eye half closed. It was the same operation that killed her mom, dad, her younger brother, and many of their family friends.

“Yes.” President Mason affirmed.

Layla scoffed, bending her mouth to the left a little. “Why would they do that?”

“Because it involved a huge amount of money.” He answered with simplicity.

“Hun?” A surprised tone left her mouth.

President Mason giggled. He understood Layla, and at least he wasn’t expecting her to believe him easily, because the Lucas family was the richest in America. So why would they do that?

He chuckled, nodding. “Dear, the Lucas family is truly the richest in America, but there’s this thing about rich people: they will never be satisfied, even if they use the sky as a bank and fill it with money. They will keep wanting more, and they are ready to do anything to get more, and that’s what the Lucas did,”

“Dear, if we don’t stop Asher now, he will operate another one in the future. And his next mission may affect us.”

Layla slowly shook her head, frowning at him in opposition. “This can't be true.”

“It is, dear,” he confirmed. “Why do you think the government closed the case so quickly?”

“I'm not sure, but I believe it is for the best of people.” Layla spoke her mind.

“For people’s interest?” He let out, surprised. He was shocked that Layla believed the lie, just like the others did.

“The government didn't close the case for people's benefits; they did so because the Lucas had a great impact on the state economy and no government wanted them to turn against them,” he disclosed.

“Layla, the public didn’t know the fate of the victims' families that protested then, but I witnessed the Lucas sending some of them to jail for an offense they didn’t commit,”

“Some committed suicide, while others that are alive now live a worthless life, hoping that justice will arise someday. But if not now, when will it be, Layla?”

“Layla, I am not the only one who knows the Lucas’s dirty secrets, but others are afraid to voice out. But I am ready to get justice, even if it will cost my life,”

President Mason kneeled, and Layla quickly stood up. She walked to his side and raised him. She forced him to sit down, and she returned to her seat with her eyes full of tears that were fighting for the freedom to come out, but she forced them back.

Tears rushed out of President Mason, and he wiped them. “Layla, doing this means killing two birds with one stone. You will pay the price for success and be the voice of the voiceless. Pathfinder for the weak and justice realm founder,”

“Please, help me, Layla. I can't do this alone. I need your help. Please.”

 “What makes you think I can help you?” She raised a question.

“I don’t know, but I have a feeling that you have a pure heart and you hate injustice.” He answered.

Layla sighed and acted like President Mason’s words didn’t touch her. She raised her chin, interrogating, “why are you lying against Asher? Is it because he is your business rival?”

President Mason scoffed. “Asher isn't my rival, but my savior. He is my soon-to-be son-in-law.”

“So, why are you doing this since he is good towards you? You should just act like you don’t know the truth.” Layla spoke her mind.

“Yes, you are right,” President Mason smiled. “But Asher isn’t nice to me alone, but to the entire audience. He won three philanthropist awards in a single month and broke the world record for the first person to contribute lavishly to orphanage homes,” 

He sighed and looked down, adding, “but in camera, Asher is a beast. He sucks the blood of people around him.”

“What do you mean, sir?” She investigated.

“You can’t understand even if I use a whole year to explain to you, and if you do, you won’t believe it. The best thing is to get close to Asher and then you will find out the truth,” he said.

President Mason stood up and walked to Layla’s side. He sat down beside her and held her tiny hands in his hands. He fixed his eyes on her and let tears rush out.

“Layla, I shouldn’t be doing this because Asher respects me a lot, but I can’t continue to watch injustice take over,” he released Layla’s hand and hit the left part of his chest, weakling. “Scary nightmare haunts me and gives me a sleepless night. The cries of dead souls don’t let me rest, and I can’t live my life till justice reigns.”

Hearing President Mason’s last line, ‘Justice shall reign’, the reflection of how Ivory painted her bedroom wall with the words appeared in front of Layla, and she recalled a hundred sheets of papers she packed under Ivory’s bed with the same words on them.

“No!” Layla screamed. Her head caged in her hands. She couldn’t control herself as she remembered fighting Ivory an hour before her death and the sad look on Ivory’s face, even after her death.

President Mason touched her with concern. “Are you okay?”

Layla came back to reality, breathing heavily. Her heart pounded at its highest rate, but she still felt she wasn’t breathing.

She let hot tears roll out of her eyes for three minutes.

She wiped her face until it dried and she rubbed her hands together. She brushed both her hands over her face and inhaled until the air blocked her lungs.

She locked her eyes with President Mason, looking desperately. “Let's begin right away. Let's light the world so the innocent one will be free and Lucas Asher will suffer.”

“Are you sure about this?” He asked.

She nodded. “Yes, sir. But you will do me a favor.”

“What’s the favor?” He inquired. “I am ready to do anything.”

She looked down, embarrassed. She didn’t want to say out her wish because she felt it wasn’t right. But she had no option but to say it.

“Sir, please, I need your help,” she said in a low voice, squeezing her hands on her lap. “I want you to send my younger sister abroad to study and pay my father’s debt.”

“Is that all?” He asked with a belittling expression, and she nodded.

President Mason took out his phone and dialed a number and it didn’t ring twice before the person he called picked it up.

“A lady will bring her sister to you. Make sure you prepare her document within three days.” He ordered and hung up. 

She smiled insincerely. “Thank you, sir.”

“Bring the bank representative. I will pay half of the debt tomorrow.” He said. 

“Why half, sir?”

“I will pay tomorrow and pay the remaining half after you complete the assignment,” he assured, but she still frowned her face, dissatisfied.

He understood the look on her face and he smiled at her, adding, “don’t worry, the bank won’t disturb you.”

“Okay, sir,” she said.

She stood up to leave. “Bye, sir.”

“Bye. Till tomorrow.” He responded.

She bowed her head and walked toward the door. As she laid her hand on the door handle, his question came from behind.

“Layla, are you sure you want to do this?”

She glanced back at him and nodded with morale. Her mouth crammed with a tough smile. “Yes. From now till I, John Layla, destroy Lucas Asher, no more rest!”