CHAPTER 1: CARMINE CLARKE

Carmine’s POV

“Working again? It’s already late, you know. You should at least know how to take some rest,” my childhood best friend, Kyle Sterling said to me over the phone.

I didn’t take my eyes off my laptop as I answered him, “I don’t have time to rest when our company is clearly going down. I have to work extra hard so grandpa would be proud of me and assign me as the new director of Clarke Financial Group.”

“I mean, you are the only grandchild he has so of course, you’re the only option.”

“Not really. You know my cousin Portia right? I heard she’s also working extra just so she could be the next director of the company. It’s not like I will let her do that. I didn’t study hard and worked my ass of all my life just so she could steal my dream like that.”

Kyle chuckled, “That’s the Carmine I know. You don’t really know how to give up.”

“Of course. I would rather die than lose that position. I will do everything for the company.”

“Right. That’s the Carmine Clarke I know.”

After finishing all the tasks that I have to do, I finally decided to leave the company building. It was already past twelve midnight and I could feel my whole body aching probably from overworking myself again.

When I got home, I decided to just cook some instant noodles and fried egg for dinner before going to bed as what I usually do. I moved out from my parents’ house when I graduated in college and started working as the vice president of our company. My grandpa assigned me as the vice president simply because he knew I would do well and so did I. Our company has a good reputation when it comes to business world. We became one of the most successful companies in the world not until an ultimate business competitor of us started taking all of our investors and stakeholders.

I was just about to close my eyes when I suddenly received a call from my mom.

“Hello, Mom?”

“Carmine, someone told me you just left the company building. Have you had dinner already?”

“Yes, I’m now on my bed.”

I heard my mom heave a deep sigh over the phone before speaking again, “Carmine, I know how much you care about our family company, but you should also love yourself. You’re already twenty-five, you’re not getting any younger sweetheart.”

“I know that, mom. I’m not getting any younger that’s why I have to do everything for the company. You also know that it’s my biggest dream, right? I know where this is going again. You’re going to ask me when I will be getting married, right?”

“You are our only daughter, so what would you expect? I still want to see my grandchildren grow up. Also, I want you to find a man who will take care of you and love you until you grow old.”

“Mom, I can take care of myself. I don’t need any other person to take care of me when I grow old.”

“But if you keep on skipping meals and deprive yourself from sleep, then I don’t think you’ll be able to grow old.”

“Fine, mom. When everything finally falls back to its right place, I promise I will go to every blind date you’ll suggest. It’s alright now? Good night, mom. I love you!”

“Honey—

“Bye!”

I leaned on my headboard as I ended the call and placed my phone on the side table.

My mom really has this habit of arranging blind dates for me even back when I was in high school. Probably because she’s too afraid that her one and only daughter would end up growing old alone.

And maybe she’s actually right about that. I don’t mind growing old alone as long as I will be the director of our company. I would rather grow old alone but successful than be with a guy that would only make me his housewife.

Even when I was still in middle school, the only thing that I was looking forward to was to become the next director of our company and the most successful director in the country. I strived so hard and not even once did I fail on being the on the highest rank in our class.

That is why now that I am old enough, I won’t stop working my ass off until I reach the top.

And no one can ever stop me from doing that.

“If we don’t work harder than we already do, the company will go bankrupt and all of us will lose our jobs. I’m sure you don’t want that to happen, so make sure you won’t make a mistake when doing the tasks that I have given you.”

“Yes, Miss Vice President Carmine.”

I nodded my head, “Alright. All of you now may leave and proceed to your work.”

As soon as they all left the conference room, I leaned on my swivel chair and started massaging my temples. Just when I am too close to getting what I want that the company suddenly started going downhill.

I was about to eat the lunch that my mom packed for me when I suddenly received a call from my dad, telling me to go to my grandfather’s office.

I immediately closed the lunchbox and stood up. I could feel my heart beating so fast as I started walking towards grandpa’s office. It was as if something bad was going to happen.