Chapter One Hundred And Ninety-FiveFour Years Later"With all due respect, Miss Fernandez, we would only like to know our stand in these circumstances." Director Noah spoke up, "It's been four years. Now, I understand the Chairman is recuperating but isn't it strange that we don't even know what he's recovering from? And why has he refused to take over his duties?"Lana chuckled slightly as she leaned forward, placing both elbows on the huge mahogany desk in front of her.She was seated at the head of the long rectangular desk, as the acting chairman of the Romero Empire. Behind her, Liam and Diego stood as straight as a rod, their hard gazes identical.Lana was smiling but the icy glint in her eyes was enough to send a chill down the spines of the thirty-two members of Romero's Board Of Directors seated before her.They cleared their throats enigmatically, and shifted their gazes, rearranging their jackets and trying to look more confident than they actually felt."Why has the Chai
Chapter One Hundred And Ninety-Six"Those annoying, grumpy, old..." Lana muttered angrily to herself as she stormed towards the elevator, pressing the buttons with a vengeance. Employees passed by her and bowed respectfully, giving her side looks but she didn't care. "You shouldn't blame them too much." Liam said curtly behind her, staring straight ahead as she waited for the elevator, "They have every right to know about where he is, don't you think?""Yes CEO, getting worked up is not going to solve anything." Diego agreed, giving Lana a nervous look."He's not here." Lana bit the words out. She took a deep breath then exhaled slowly, making her nerves which were on edge to slowly calm down, "When I find him, everything would return back to normal. You know this, don't you, Liam?""I know." Liam replied stiffly, "I also know whose fault it is that he is not here right now."Lana let out a shaky breath, her fingers coming to curl together around the clasp of her bag. Liam's cold wo
Chapter One Hundred And Ninety Seven"Uncle Adrian, when will mommy get here?"The little girl sat upright on the bed and stared expectantly into Adrian's face, with startling deep blue gray eyes. She was a beautiful child, with a full head of blonde curls, a small delicate doll like face and pretty features. Her skin, however, was the unhealthy color of paper at the moment, and she looked too thin and small for her age. Adrian gently caressed her blonde curls, "She'll be here soon, angel." He said softly, as he gently lowered her back on the bed, "You know you have to rest. Do not try to sit up, Arielle.""But I'm not sleepy," Arielle protested, jutting out her bottom lip in a cute pout.However, she did not resist as Adrian gently arranged the covers around her, making sure she was comfortable, especially with the small hand, which had a tube stuck in it, and was attached to a drip bag above her.The large room was filled with medical equipments, monitors beeping quietly and consi
Chapter One Hundred And Ninety-Eight St. Hayes, Moreno. He was in the water again. He wanted to move, but his lungs were burning and his limbs felt like lead. The water surrounding him was colored with the deep red of blood. His blood. He was sinking, slowly but surely sinking. The life was going out of him. He was going to die. Then, she appeared above the water. She, with the red hair, almost like the blood pumping out of his side. Her face was hazy and he wanted to see it so bad for the last time. To touch it, to etch it in every part of his memory as he feels his life slip from him, but he could only hear the terror in her voice as she screams piercingly, "Damien!" He jerked awake, and tumbled out of bed unto the ground, breathing laboriously. It was like he was still in the water and his breath was coming out fast and shallow. The man couldn't breath, he peeled off the light cotton shirt off his body, which was soaked through with sweat, and tossed it to the side. The
Chapter One Hundred And Ninety-Nine. The sounds of cutlery and dining filled the room as they had their breakfast. "Its just a regular breakfast." Pa Eugene grumbled, "Did you have to bring out the silverware? What's the great occasion?" "I'm celebrating being back home after such a long time, grandfather,"Maya rolled her eyes, then winked at Noah, 'as well as being reunited with Noah." "What the heck?" Pa Eugene asked, his eyebrows high in confusion as he was perplexed by his grand-daughter's behaviour. Noah ignored her, focusing on his meal. Maya picked on her food as well, her eyes following every of Noah's movement as he ate. He ate like he was royalty or something, eating fish and rice with such grace. Maya watched as he tried to switch forks while eating, then awkwardly set it down as he realized there was only one meal set. This puzzled the brunette and she asked curiously, "You seem to be familiar with such dining style." She chuckled, "I was going to impress you a li
Chapter Two Hundred Noah doubled over the ropes, trying as much as possible to hold in the discomfort he felt. He was seated on a small fishing boat, which belonged to Pa Eugene, his huge self and long legs almost taking over the small boat, adding to his discomfort. The rhythmic rocking of the boat was enough to lull him to that familiar drowsiness which he always felt whenever he came on expeditions like this with Pa Eugene. But he swallowed hard instead, pushing down the bubbling of air threatening to erupt from his mouth. All around him, in little fishing boats as well were men, toiling hard for their daily catch. They seemed serious, casting nets and pulling them in, gutting fishes and cleaning them, generally making themselves useful. But at the same time, he could feel their eyes on him, watching him, waiting for that moment when he would double over the side of the boat and throw up his breakfast. And then they'd roar in derisive laughter, and talk about how less of a ma
Chapter Two Hundred And OnePa Eugene gazed at Noah for a long time, before he nodded and turned away. He was very much aware that Noah had been struggling with recovering his memories.He knew how much the young man struggled with insomnia and his dreams. Sadly, there were no doctors in the small town could help him.They believed a part of himself which was lost in his accident was only trying to reveal itself. If he could harness it, he would be able to get clues from it to recover his memories.But the problem with the dreams was that, even though it was the same thing that repeated over and over again, it was still as vague as it had been four years ago.Pa Eugene really wished the young man would get his memories back, so he would be happy.Noah was very much out of place here, and even though Pa Eugene tried to make things as comfortable as he could for him, it was only right that he regained his memory and his roots.He was an energetic young man, always eager to work or learn
Chapter Two Hundred And TwoThe men laughed rauciously, except Pa Eugene. They winked at each other at what they thought was Noah's foolery.This gigolo looking guy, who does not even remember his name wants to sort out a book of accounts.They snickered and nudged each other in derision."Looky here, Noah, we know you like to show off, and strut around like some kind of mysterious guy," Jeb said harshly, "But this is not something for you to do. Give it here!"He yanked the book right out of Noah's hands, and threw it down on the table, eyeing him with derision, "you can't even gut a fish and yet you want to sort out a book of accounts. What a fool, ha ha ha."The men laughed once more, but this time the laughter was cut short by Pa Eugene who slapped the back of Jeb's head hard."Oi, what you hitting me for?!" The young man cried out in pain, rubbing the back of his head. He glared at the old man who wagged a thick, stubby finger in his face,"He says he wants to try." The old man s
Chapter Two Hundred And Six"What?! Its working?!"Pa Eugene exclaimed as the screen of the cellphone turned bright.However, in the next second, it immediately went blank and would not come back on, no matter how many times Noah tried the power button."It needs fixing." Noah said eagerly, "Where can I fix this?""Not in St. Hayes, no sir." Pa Eugene sighed as he relaxed on his chair, "Not many of the people here use cellphones such as this, except the young ones who come for a visit. What on earth would a fisherman need a cellphone for? The payphone is all we need. Convenient too."Noah had shut out the old man's ramblings. His head was spinning with different thoughts, and his heart was beating loudly in his ears.He had this cellphone all along here and Pa Eugene had to wait four years to give it to him?!Inhaling deeply, he tried to calm his erratic nerves. He knew it wasn't the old man's fault and the cellphone was on a bad condition in itself, with the screen cracked and chippe
Chapter Two Hundred And Five"Oakcrest City?"The men stared at her in shock and she nodded quite seriously, giving them a straight look."If you say he's your boss, then why hasn't he contacted y'all yet?" She asked the men, feigning curiosity."That's impossible." One of the men muttered, then raised an eyebrow at Maya, "Are you telling us the truth?""Of course, we can't just keep him here forever." She said, flipping her hair behind her shoulder, "I mean, we took care of him for four years, don't you think that's enough?""How come he was here for four years?" The other man asked, "Did y'all keep him here against his will?"Maya scoffed in disbelief, her mouth twisting with rage, "Why on earth would we do that? What do you take us for, huh, some kind of primitives?" She hissed at them, then smirked, "You are just trying to pass blame because for four freaking years, you were not able to find your so called boss. Incompetent! Get off my stoop!"With that, she slammed the door again
Chapter One Hundred And Four.Maya swallowed hard as the men stared at her, waiting for an answer.She shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other as she tried to make sense of the situation, although she needed no seer to tell her that they were talking about Noah.What did the detective say just now? Our boss?!Was Noah in some kind of gang or Mafia?The men had mentioned Oakcrest.Oakcrest was a mega city on its own and had a lot of powerful people. Maya had never been there herself and she hoped she would soon but Noah was from there?!That explained his regal grace and character. He must be one of those powerful people.A slight smile curved her lips as she thought of these. This smile died down however, as soon as she looked at the men in front of her.They did make her unsettled."Where is the town head?" The man spoke up again, making Maya jerk slightly from her tied up nerves.She inhaled and exhaled deeply, and fixed the detective who spoke with a stern glare, "I alread
Chapter Two Hundred And ThreeMaya hurriedly placed the lunch box, with packed meals on the kitchen counter top, before hurrying over to dish the breakfast they'd be having that morning.She was bubbling with excitement, mostly because of the activities of that day. Finally, after four years of waiting, Noah would be moving with her to the city. She almost did a little twirl as she ladles soup unto a bowl and placed it on a tray.Everything was really going smoothly for her benefit though, and that literally made her want to scream for joy. Its about time Pa Eugene sends him to the city anyways.It was clear the man does not belong in this little fishermen town. She'd take him to the city, have him brush himself up and thereby, have him start a good life altogether.She was sure Noah would be able to fit in well in the city. Once she'd gotten him settled, he'd be so grateful that he had her in his life and then they'd think about their future together. With these delusional thoughts
Chapter Two Hundred And TwoThe men laughed rauciously, except Pa Eugene. They winked at each other at what they thought was Noah's foolery.This gigolo looking guy, who does not even remember his name wants to sort out a book of accounts.They snickered and nudged each other in derision."Looky here, Noah, we know you like to show off, and strut around like some kind of mysterious guy," Jeb said harshly, "But this is not something for you to do. Give it here!"He yanked the book right out of Noah's hands, and threw it down on the table, eyeing him with derision, "you can't even gut a fish and yet you want to sort out a book of accounts. What a fool, ha ha ha."The men laughed once more, but this time the laughter was cut short by Pa Eugene who slapped the back of Jeb's head hard."Oi, what you hitting me for?!" The young man cried out in pain, rubbing the back of his head. He glared at the old man who wagged a thick, stubby finger in his face,"He says he wants to try." The old man s
Chapter Two Hundred And OnePa Eugene gazed at Noah for a long time, before he nodded and turned away. He was very much aware that Noah had been struggling with recovering his memories.He knew how much the young man struggled with insomnia and his dreams. Sadly, there were no doctors in the small town could help him.They believed a part of himself which was lost in his accident was only trying to reveal itself. If he could harness it, he would be able to get clues from it to recover his memories.But the problem with the dreams was that, even though it was the same thing that repeated over and over again, it was still as vague as it had been four years ago.Pa Eugene really wished the young man would get his memories back, so he would be happy.Noah was very much out of place here, and even though Pa Eugene tried to make things as comfortable as he could for him, it was only right that he regained his memory and his roots.He was an energetic young man, always eager to work or learn
Chapter Two Hundred Noah doubled over the ropes, trying as much as possible to hold in the discomfort he felt. He was seated on a small fishing boat, which belonged to Pa Eugene, his huge self and long legs almost taking over the small boat, adding to his discomfort. The rhythmic rocking of the boat was enough to lull him to that familiar drowsiness which he always felt whenever he came on expeditions like this with Pa Eugene. But he swallowed hard instead, pushing down the bubbling of air threatening to erupt from his mouth. All around him, in little fishing boats as well were men, toiling hard for their daily catch. They seemed serious, casting nets and pulling them in, gutting fishes and cleaning them, generally making themselves useful. But at the same time, he could feel their eyes on him, watching him, waiting for that moment when he would double over the side of the boat and throw up his breakfast. And then they'd roar in derisive laughter, and talk about how less of a ma
Chapter One Hundred And Ninety-Nine. The sounds of cutlery and dining filled the room as they had their breakfast. "Its just a regular breakfast." Pa Eugene grumbled, "Did you have to bring out the silverware? What's the great occasion?" "I'm celebrating being back home after such a long time, grandfather,"Maya rolled her eyes, then winked at Noah, 'as well as being reunited with Noah." "What the heck?" Pa Eugene asked, his eyebrows high in confusion as he was perplexed by his grand-daughter's behaviour. Noah ignored her, focusing on his meal. Maya picked on her food as well, her eyes following every of Noah's movement as he ate. He ate like he was royalty or something, eating fish and rice with such grace. Maya watched as he tried to switch forks while eating, then awkwardly set it down as he realized there was only one meal set. This puzzled the brunette and she asked curiously, "You seem to be familiar with such dining style." She chuckled, "I was going to impress you a li
Chapter One Hundred And Ninety-Eight St. Hayes, Moreno. He was in the water again. He wanted to move, but his lungs were burning and his limbs felt like lead. The water surrounding him was colored with the deep red of blood. His blood. He was sinking, slowly but surely sinking. The life was going out of him. He was going to die. Then, she appeared above the water. She, with the red hair, almost like the blood pumping out of his side. Her face was hazy and he wanted to see it so bad for the last time. To touch it, to etch it in every part of his memory as he feels his life slip from him, but he could only hear the terror in her voice as she screams piercingly, "Damien!" He jerked awake, and tumbled out of bed unto the ground, breathing laboriously. It was like he was still in the water and his breath was coming out fast and shallow. The man couldn't breath, he peeled off the light cotton shirt off his body, which was soaked through with sweat, and tossed it to the side. The