All Chapters of Withstanding the Odds: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

My feet hit the pavement with fury as I clutched the large white bag with all my might. I can feel him catching up to me, but I don't give in. I know he won't catch me. I'm fast, faster than him, and have no intention of slowing down. Spotting a parking garage ten yards in front of me, I head right for the darkened area and duck inside, hiding behind a pillar. "Where did, she go?" I turn my head and look around the large cemented pillar. Security guard number one looks around where the pay station is."I don't know. Did you see what she grabbed?" States security guard number two. He was the one that initially saw me looting, something I normally pride myself on being more discreet about. I've been doing this for over five years, and I could honestly say that I have made it my mission to remain the person no one notices; however, I wasn't counting on The Grove Mall having two security guards in one store. Mick, my boss, has made it his mission to hit this location often and it looks

Mick' s face turned serious. It wasn't often I brought him bad news, and he knew that."Oh?""I had two security officers on me. They knew what I was doing, tried to trap me in one of the stores, but I was able to get away without a trace.""Then I don't really see the problem," Kenneth states still looking over the jewelry. I move my gaze back over to Mick who is looking at his partner with his eyes narrowed."If you don't know the problem, Mr. Alfonso, then maybe I have invested in the wrong man." Kenneth Alfonso looks up and over at Mick with tension weighing heavy on his features. A few blinks later his gaze transfers over to me, I stare him down and answer his question."The problem, Mr. Alfonso, is that, if simple security guards hired only to watch over a local shopping center can figure out who and what we are, then we now have to change up our game plan. That is not a location we can enter for a while, and I am not the one that should be out and in the open right now.""

Some would call me unfair; I have made it my life's goal to surround myself with only people that have the same desire as myself. Asking to leave early, requesting time off for her godforsaken wedding, it's all pushed me in the direction of replacing Bethany. I won't, not if I don't have to, but this is exactly the push she needs to remind herself of what is profoundly important in the walls of this building.My grandfather handed Forthworth Inc. over to me four years ago, and, in that time span I have made it into the enterprise it is today. At just thirty years old, I am the most successful billionaire in the city and have no means of slowing down at any time.I spend the remainder of my time at my desk and answering calls. When I look up at the clock on the wall across the room, I notice the time and see its nearing nine pm. Shutting down my computer and grabbing my phone, and wallet, I leave my office and head for the elevator. I spot Bethany still at her desk, looking down at th

Stepping into the steaming hot shower, the only way I can stand it after a nightmare clings to my sweat ridden clothing, I shut my eyes and go over the last few days. It's been almost a week since I was chased by those goons in badges and since then, I have listened to Mick and kept my head low. I've always hated sitting still, but I know it was for the best.After cleaning my body and washing my hair, I step out and get dressed in tight black jeans and a white tank. I throw on my hoodie and grab my sneakers from the corner of the room. Brody has already gone ahead of me, so I lock up and head out, immediately heading for the stairs.Several seconds later, I tap soundly at Mick's door, rolling my eyes when Charles opens the door with a snarl."Morning Chuck, fish biting today?" I greet him with a smirk and walk inside Mick's suite, watching as everyone nods their head in my direction.Over the last year, I have learned that although we practically live in the same building, all of

I don't stop walking until I end up at the same park I often go to whenever I'm outside the Serendin Atlas.Sitting down at a small white Park bench, I bury my arms in my small gray hoodie and lean back, looking up at the cloudy sky wondering how I'm going to face Brody. A small bump hits my leg and when I look back down, I spot a small girl with blonde pigtails and pink bows tied on each side.Looking around, I don't see anyone else. She's wearing blue overalls with a red shirt and bright red sneakers. Her little pale face is flush and a giant smile glows on her as she looks me up and down."Hi." She proclaims proudly. Again, I look around wondering where this child's parents are. I don't come out here often, even less when Brody was grounded and I was the one doing all the running's, but I've never seen this little girl before."Are you all by yourself?" I look down at her small round face again with apprehension. "Well if you are, then we can play together. I can't find my gra