CH 2 - ADAM

Bang! Bang! Bang!

I wake up to a loud thumping on my front door. I crack open an eye, glancing at the clock: 7:30AM. Maybe if I ignore them, they'll go away. I think and cover my head with the pillow.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Mr. Romano!" A nasally voice calls. I groan, and tear out of bed ready to slam the door in the nose of whatever piece of shit thinks that it is okay to wake someone up at seven thirty on a Saturday. I storm across the living room tense, and practically tear open the door to find a scrawny man with blonde hair and a portfolio standing in front of me. Before I even get one word out, he strolls right inside, sidestepping me through the doorframe. My mouth gapes open, completely at a loss for words as this stranger steps stiffly into my home while I continue to stand there in nothing but my boxers, wondering what has compelled him to walk through my door uninvited.

"Excuse me, sir but we really should be beginning." The blonde hair twit says looking at me, unaware of the rage rising in my chest.

"What exactly are we beginning?" I seethe, slamming the door, "And who the hell are you?"

"I am James Damer, your new PR agent."

"I don't need a PR agent." I growl at him through gritted teeth.

"Well, your father seems to think differently. He said that we needed to begin working on your image right away if you are going to be taking over the company in the future. You have a standard to uphold."

Of fucking course. Here's my dad, meddling in my life because I am not up to the exact standard, he thinks I should be. And by that, he means being the perfect, wealthy gentleman to the world while being a savage within the company; knowing who and when— and how— to make certain deals, and how to keep those deals out of the public eye. "Please sit-down, Mr. Romano." The twit motions a thin hand to my own couch. Begrudged, I take a seat opposite of him on my leather sofa.

My father owns the largest umbrella corporation in the whole state: Brinewick. Brinewick's umbrella encompasses nearly every other business around, basically giving the man an empire, and in turn, me.

I was born in Italy, my parents raised there, but my father moved us to the United States when I was three because the profit here for big business is better. To the world, he is a corporate king; untouchable and unattainable. To the business world, he is known for his shady back-room dealings to get what he wants; no one says no to him and if they try, well, it doesn't happen a second time. I've been working for his company since the day I turned sixteen. At least in public. I have been working for dad from the moment I came from my mom. I know all the ins and outs; am intimately familiar with both his legal— and less than legal— methods of work.

This PR shit is just another way to make sure I don't go and ruin his legacy.

"Okay, Mr. Damer. What has dear old dad instructed that I do now?"

"First you need to get your public priorities straightened away," Mr. Damer replied staring down at a notepad I'm sure came right from the boss. "No more getting drunk at strip clubs or having sex with inappropriate women in inappropriate places," he continued quickly, clearly uncomfortable saying this to me.

"Yeah, sure okay, go on," I tell him not really listening. It's not my fault that he has me working fifteen-hour days during the week, so on the weekends I need to let out some steam. So, what I do it with some busty blond in the front seat of my Audi? I look up, and realize that Mr. Damer is waiting for me to respond to whatever the hell he said.

"Oh yeah sure," I reply.

"You understand that you will need to pass this test in order for your father to be okay with putting you in control?"

"I'm sorry, test?" I ask him tiredly. Why am I not surprised that my father is giving me some bullshit test to perform?

Dick.

Mr. Damer sighs dramatically and looks down his nose at me.

"You must go scout a potential investment your father is looking to own."

"Okay. What's the catch?" I wish this man would get to the damn point, and leave so I can go back to bed.

"The company is a popular club called Oceanna's. Its newer. The owners already looking at expansion. You must go tonight and scout it, gather research, and report back," he paused again looking at me as if to make sure I'm getting all this down. "Your father has, err, requested that you do so without catching the public eye in any major way." I stare at him, nodding silently hoping that he will leave if I just stop responding.

"That means," he still continues, "no –"

"– getting drunk or having inappropriate sex with inappropriate people" I finish for him. "Got it."

"Good. Then I will leave you to it. I will see you Monday morning at the office." I don't even bother to acknowledge him or shake his hand as he gets up, I just head straight back to room and hope he lets the door kick him on the way out.