1: Our First Meet

Althea

Life has given me lots of surprises since I was born, and I thought it could not surprise me anymore. I’ve already gotten used to it. 

The first surprise life gave me was the fact that my parents might be a couple of bears, penguins, owls, or I was a failed product of a science research. I never knew who my parents were, or even if I ever had one. Granny always told me that it didn't matter. 

And it did not.

Growing up, I had times when I believed Granny was a fairy godmother, minus the dresses and magic stick. She did not fly, but she held my hand every time I needed her to. Even when she chose to leave me all alone.

“Guess what, Thea. I’m drying.” She said that after the doctor diagnosed her with the final stage of cancer. “I guess I’m winning the race.”

It was not the first time she kept joking about her dying. I was only 10 back then, and I could barely tell the difference between cancer and a bad cold. Nobody taught me it could take the only person I had in my life.

But that was life anyway, right? Full of surprises. It gave and it took away. It would let you be  at peace for a while, before screwing your life up and down. It gave you a full scholarship, only to be taken away by some rich kid who was “smarter” than you–spoiler, he was not. His parents just wanted good publicity for their boy. The life of a nobody was nothing to be concerned about. You barely finished your major, while a beast called student loan was waiting at your door. Or maybe, your job application was rejected because you would not let the interviewer look at your tits for a few more seconds.

A buzz from my apartment door wouldn’t be able to give me another surprise.

At least that was what I told myself a few days ago. Now that I was in the lift  to floor 76 of the Beauty Dear Company, I could not help but wonder what other prank life would give me.

“We’re here, My Lady,” said the old man who took me from the lobby. No one ever called me that, and I felt uncomfortable rather than pleased. 

I gave him a small nod as I entered the room, letting him close the door behind me without following me inside. But I was not the only person in the room. There were a few men inside, and I knew none of them. I couldn’t help but let my eyes wander, counting the paintings on the wall that I knew cost more than my annual salary. From where I stood, everything in this room looked so expensive. Even if I tried to wear the most decent dress I had, it was easy to see I was the cheapest thing here. 

“Welcome, Althea. Come on in.” The man with a dark gray suit stood up from his desk. For a moment I thought I would be sent away. 

Both men who sat on the sofa looked at me. I had no idea who they were, but the one without the suit looked younger than the other two. His blue eyes stared at me straight, making me gulp in silence. His left brow arched slightly, like trying to ask why I came.

Yeah, buddy. You tell me.

“Please, sit.” The other old man with the navy suit told me to sit near the younger man. I prefer to sit on the floor, but that was not an option, so I just followed the given instructions.

“Now that I can see you in person, you really look like your father, Althea,” said the gray-suited man. 

I had no idea who my father was or what he looked like, but thank you … I guess? 

“I’m Leonardo Davos,” he continued, then pointing to the navy-suited man with his chin, ”and this is Josh Smith, your father’s right hand. He was serving the Lewis family from time to time, and he will help you from now on.”

Josh smiled and nodded,  “I know this is all new to you, but I’ll make sure to help you adjust.”

Adjust to what exactly?

Despite all the questions in my head, I knew this wasn’t my time to speak. I clasped my hands on my lap, listening. At least that wouldn’t piss anyone off.

“Your father, Jessen, was a great man. He is also the biggest shareholder of this company.” I heard a sniff from the man beside me–or maybe that was just how he breathed–but Leonardo kept going. “Losing him was a big loss for us, but the business needs to continue. We didn’t know he had any family members before, but your name was written on his will.”

Well, neither did I. 

Sometimes my dorm mate, Katy, joked that she wished her parents were secretly a billionaire, and the life they had was only a test or something. It was funny when you’re only imagining it, knowing that wouldn't ever come true. Or maybe it would be easier if you know your parents in the first place.

Everything felt surreal for me. The father I never knew ever existed was a billionaire, and I inherited his will and all the things he did before. And I knew nothing about business.

“This might be too much to take for now, but we can’t leave the matter for too long,” Josh said. “For now, we only need you to make the document about you replacing your father’s position. And you also need to move. Your place is quite far from here, right?”

I lived in New Jersey, and getting to Manhattan took forever, I should admit.

“It’s okay, I’ll manage it all for you. Jessen had one suite just a few blocks from here. I think you will like it,” he added. 

“Does that mean I don’t have to pay?” I didn’t realize I spoke that loudly, because Leonardo and Josh laughed. Except the man beside me, of course. He hasn't even said a word since I walked here. 

Maybe he was some kind of artificial-intelligent robot. Rich people had many weird things, so that was possible. But why did  his cold stares feel so fierce? Robots weren't supposed to have feelings, were they?

“Let’s make this short, since I have a meeting to attend in a few minutes,” Leonardo said, bringing back the topic. Josh stood up and took all the documents from his desk, then put it in front of me. 

“It’s all just a regular document, so you just–”

“She can’t just sign all that.”

For the first time, the robot finally spoke. I spontaneously turned my head to him as he got up all of a sudden. He seemed angry, which was weird, but then he lowered his head to me. Those blue eyes weren’t cold anymore–they burned. 

Was he angry at me? I did not even do anything to him. We barely even talk, for God sake!

“You ….”

I blinked, confused. But before I got the chance to say anything, he took my hand and pulled me 

“We need to talk.”

*