Chapter 1

The night was cold and quiet. Emily was running fast, holding her pregnant belly. She was scared and breathing hard. The lights in the alley were flickering, making everything look darker.

She heard footsteps behind her. Someone was following her. Emily looked back, her eyes full of fear. She couldn’t see who it was, but she knew they were close.

“Please… not my baby,” she whispered, her voice shaky.

She ran faster but suddenly bumped into a tall man. She fell back, her heart beating fast. She looked up and saw him smiling, but it wasn’t a kind smile.

“Running won’t help you,” the man said.

Emily tried to scream, but he grabbed her neck. She gasped for air, trying to push his hand away. Everything started to go blurry.

Six months ago

Alexander Sterling stepped out of the fancy black car. He couldn't help but stare graciously at the towering Sterling Enterprises building.

“Soon, this company will be mine,” he whispered to himself before entering inside.

He made his way to his office where Emily was already seated at her desk, sorting out some files.

“Good morning, sir,” Emily said immediately she sighted Alex but he just nodded in response and went to his giant table.

“Emily, can I get the financial report you worked on?”

“Yes, sir,” Emily said and walked towards the large shelf where different files were kept. She shuffled through the files and brought out a file tagged financial report.

“Here is it, sir,” She handed it over to Alex before returning to her desk.

Alex flipped through the pages of the file and went through it for some minutes with focus until he was interrupted by Emily who walked up to him with a phone in her hand.

“Sir, your grandmother wants to speak with you. She insists it's urgent,” 

Alex sighed, reaching for the phone, and heard his grandmother's voice from the other end. She sounded urgent but a bit nostalgic. 

“Alexander, my dear. I need to see you. It's related to the handing over of the company.” 

Alex's eyes widened. He has been working hard over the years so that he could be fit enough to inherit his grandmother's company and become the president.

“Erm. Ma..Ma..Margaret, what's it about? I am free at the moment.” Alex trembled.

Hearing his grandmother sound urgent regarding what is related to his handling over scared him because he didn't want anything to prevent him from becoming the president.

“No, Alexander. It is not a matter of the phone.” 

“Is it good or bad?” Alex asked

“Only you can answer the question when I tell you. See me at home after work today. Be good, my dear.” Margaret said as she hung up.

Alexander's focus was halted as several things went through his mind. Seeing his grandmother at the moment was his greatest priority at that point to be sure of what she wanted to say but he knew she was strongly against the workers coming to her house during working hours including himself.

***

Immediately after work, Alex drove to Margaret's house to see her. As he entered the large compound, he looked at the colorful big garden close to the main building. Remembering when he was little and he would play hide and seek with his grandmother. The maids hurriedly came to pick up his suitcase and other documents inside his car as he entered the living room where his grandmother was waiting. A familiar smell of rose mixed with a hint of lavender filled his nose.

Margaret was seated near the window looking fragile in the sunlight.

“Alexander,” she said shakily as she hugged him tightly.

Margaret opened her hand wide as Alex moved closer to her. Her grey hair flowed down like a waterfall, and her eyes, though old, were sharp, like they were searching for something. Margaret had been a very loving grandmother to Alex. Ever since her son, Alex's father died in a car accident with his wife, Margaret had been to Alex as a father, a mother, and also a grandmother. 

“Grandma,” Alex said, returning the hug warmly.

Alex was happy to see her again after a long time. The last time they saw was during the inauguration ceremony of his election as the Vice President.

“You have looked leaner than the last time we met. Are you sure you are eating well?” Margaret said with concern as she scanned through Alex's body.

“I wasn't conscious of that,” Alex said, sounding disinterested in continuing about his welfare. “Grandma, about the call…” he continued and paused.

“Oh yes, come and sit. There's a lot to discuss.” Margaret said softly.

“About the call,” Margaret began but this time around, her tone was deadly.

Alex knew at that point that something was wrong. Everyone had known Margaret to be formidable and strict when it came to the enterprise she built with her late husband. Alex stared at her with prompt attention while she slid a photograph across the center table towards him. Alex's heart fell as he recognized the picture. It was an image of him at the club making out with a striper.

“I-I can explain,” Alex stammered, his mind driving fast to find a reasonable excuse.

Margaret raised a hand, silencing him. "Save your explanations, Alexander. This photograph speaks volumes. The stakeholders of Sterling Enterprises are growing increasingly concerned about your... lifestyle choices."

Alex swallowed hard, his dry throat. He knew the implications of his grandmother's words. As the heir apparent to Sterling Enterprises, his behavior reflected not only on himself but on the entire company.

"Alex, you must understand," Margaret continued, her voice softening slightly. "The board members are hesitant to entrust the future of the company to someone whose personal life is in disarray. They question your ability to lead with stability and integrity. Moreover, Max's parents are doing everything to ensure Max takes over and not you"

Alex felt the weight of his grandmother's words bearing down on him. He had worked tirelessly to prove himself worthy of inheriting the family business, but one moment of indiscretion threatened to destroy everything he had built.

"What do you suggest, Grandmother?" Alex asked, his voice barely above a whisper. 

Margaret leaned forward, her gaze being serious. 

"You need to prove to the stakeholders that you are capable of maintaining a stable relationship. You need to get married, Alexander."