Two: Lex

Meanwhile…

“I’m sorry for having second thoughts about investing in your company Lex, Preston tried to sway me with offering more shares from his company.” My biggest investor and longtime family friend says on the phone “As much as the offer was tempting, I’m loyal to you and your father, You’ve both treated me well in my partnership with Moore Industries for 35 years.” He added

“Your loyalty to my father and I is greatly appreciated Harry. Though I have to give it to Preston for trying to steal one of my biggest investors, he has bigger b*lls than I thought.” I chuckled humorlessly “He’s tried to outsmart me over the years but I’ve been always one step ahead of him.” I smirked.

“That you are, my boy. And I appreciate you including my company in one of your bigger projects in the coming months.” He says gratefully

“Consider it as a reward for not falling into Preston’s trap to steal you from me.” I said just as I hear another call coming through, and I knew who it was instantly. “Speak of the devil, I’ll see you in a few days to discuss my plans in person Harry. I presume he didn’t take the news well or he’d come calling to gloat.” I chuckled

“Good luck with handling him Lex, my personal assistant already got an earful from him as I told her to reject his proposal. I’ll see you soon.” Harry chuckles before hanging up.

I quickly answered Preston’s call, deciding to irritate him a little bit more than he already was. “Good morning Pres, were you able to successfully steal Harry Samuels from me?” I said mockingly “Did you really think he’d gladly take your offer and jump ship despite working within my family’s company for 35 years? And I thought you were the valedictorian of our class back in high school and summa cum laude at Harvard.” I added with a chuckle.

Preston scoffed “You think you’re so smug Lex? One of these days, Moore Industries will fall and King’s Corp will be on top and so will I. And I will show Camille that she made the wrong choice of marrying you, even in her grave.” he says smugly

“When will you learn huh? No matter how much you try to outsmart me and cheat your way to the top… I’ll always be miles ahead of you and King’s Corp. Oh and congratulations to your son on becoming the new CEO, hopefully he’s a better executive than you are.” I chuckled “And honestly speaking, Camille never saw you as more than a friend, she loved me till her last breath. She’ll never love you the way that she loved me.” I heard him hang up, shaking my head as I placed my phone down on my desk.

Preston and I had been rivals since we were children. We fought against each other for honors in school, popularity, friends and even women… Two women to be exact.

Camille was my father’s goddaughter and she was my high school sweetheart but she was also Preston’s childhood friend and he had feelings for her, but she chose to be with me because she only saw Preston as a friend and she loved me back.

I married Camille when I turned nineteen and she had become my rock when I inherited Moore Industries from my father who passed away from a plane crash three years after our wedding.

My marriage with her was happy despite not having a child for several years. But it was devastating to learn that we couldn’t be able to make one biologically due to Camille’s newly discovered ovarian cyst so we adopted a daughter that we named Rosella Dawn, our family became complete when we took her home.

But that didn’t last long as Camille’s health worsened a few months later, and she died a month before Rosie’s first birthday.

Losing Camille and becoming a single father while working became hard at first but I had help from my babysitter and eventual girlfriend named Giselle.

But it didn’t last either…

I shook my head and turned my attention to finding myself a new personal assistant, having fired the last one for being very inappropriate and unprofessional towards me.

“There’s the birthday boy!” My best friend exclaims with a grin as he stepped inside my office. “Are you ready to get wasted?” he adds with a smirk, sitting on the small loveseat in front of the coffee table.

“My birthday isn’t until Friday Leo. And you know I don’t celebrate my birthday anymore.” I shrug

“And I’m aware of that, but I recently acquired the hottest nightclub in Seattle, it would be a shame not to celebrate your birthday inside a club for once in your life.” He points out

“I’m turning 46 Leo, I don’t have time to celebrate my own birthday, let alone celebrate in a nightclub.” I say, fixing the stacks of resumes neatly “Besides, I’m busy looking for a new assistant.” I added

“You can ask Wilma to do it for you Lex, you haven’t properly celebrated your birthday ever since Camille passed away.” He smiled sadly “I promise you’re going to have fun and it’ll be a birthday to remember.” He promised

I sighed in defeat and smirked at him “Alright, but no funny surprises.” I warned playfully

“Where’s the fun in that?” he winks and stood up “I need to finish the presentation due next week and I’ll get your surprise ready.” He fixed his suit jacket a little bit and left my office “You’ll enjoy the surprise my man!” he hollers one last time as he went to his office.

“Promise me you’ll enjoy life even if I’m not here anymore Lex.” Camille smiled weakly as we celebrated my 40th birthday.

“Don’t say that Cam, we’ll grow old together. We’ll be here when Rosie gets her first ballet recital, her first high school dance, even in her wedding! And we’ll even help her with our grandkids.” I say optimistically and kissed her forehead.

She chuckles softly “As much as I love your optimism, the doctor said that the cancer is rapidly spreading in my body.” She sighed “But don’t worry, I’ll still be here, watching over both of you from above.” She adds with a grin.

I nodded, pulling her in for a very tight hug as tears spilled out of my eyes like a waterfall.

“I love you Camille, so f*cking much.”

“I love you too Lex, always remember that.”

I shook my head and wiped my tears, remembering the last time that I celebrated my birthday properly. Two months after that, Camille had succumbed to her sickness. I sighed as I turned my attention to my work, slightly dreading the arrival of my birthday.

But I’ll try to fulfill my promise to Camille… Even if I’m a few years late.