The beginning

Calgary , province Alberta, Canada 

  A heavy downpour hit the small city of Calgary with full force , not a single person was in sight. It was as if the entire place was deserted.

   In  apartment Shelby stood in the kitchen washing the dishes whole discussing with her husband 'Mark '. They lived there alone cause their children were all grown up and married and lives in another city . 

   " Dear the energy bills has reduced it looks like our new governor is really pampering us " she said wiping her hands on the napkin 

   He chuckles , his eyes on his phone " well my dear I won't argue with you on that " 

   " Yeah right " she smirks 

  They hear someone knocking on their door 

   " Uh who's that , it's midnight already " mark said standing up 

   Shelby looks at him in fear " I hope it's not robbers " 

   " don't be ridiculous shel , robbers don't knock on people's door " he said walking towards the door with her following closely behind 

  They open the door to see a young girl probably in her early twenties leaning on the door frame and she was pregnant, it looked eight months gone . The lady was looking so exhausted and lean , she was soaked from head to toe, her clothes was worn out and torn . 

   Shelby gasps in surprise as she looks  at her niece she hasn't seen in six years " oh my gosh Scarlett" 

   " A- Aunt " she mutters tiredly 

  Shelby ushers her in , leading her to the bathroom and bathing her with warm water to prevent cold . 

  

  Mark watches in amazement as his wife gently feeds the strange girl with utmost care and then leads her to the guest room and puts her to sleep 

   " Well ... " She said smiling as they stood outside the guest room .

  " Well what , who is she ? " He asks 

  She sighs " well she's my sister's daughter, the one I told you about that cut ties with me for more than 6  yrs now " 

  " Really " 

  " Yeah " 

  " So what is she doing here " 

  Shelby sighs " I really don't know but we will find out tomorrow morning but please let her stay here " 

  He nods " alright but the baby , who is going to take of of him / her " 

  " We will discover tomorrow darling " she pecks his cheek" 

NXT MORNING 

   Scarlett wakes up still aching all over , her body longed for more sleep but her stomach screamed otherwise. She reluctantly stands up and heads downstairs, catching the scent of fried eggs , sausages and baked bread with jam . Her belly growls as if telling her to go for it .

    " Good morning scarl " Shelby said beaming at her niece as she dishes out the food 

   Scarlett smiles " good morning aunt and uncle"

  " Morning Scarlett " Mark said " come seat and fill your belly, I'm sure it's singing to you by now " 

  She flushes red and bites her lips trying to hold back tears , she gently seats down , rubbing her cute baby bump  and hungrily stuffs her mouth with sausages, taking up to three bites , she suddenly bursts into tears . 

  Shelby looks at her startled " what's wrong dear " 

  " Are you okay , is the food not up to your liking " Mark asks 

   Scarlett shakes her head " no not at all , it's been so long since I ate something sweet that's why . " 

  " You will get used to it okay " Shelby said hugging her , she could not imagine what her niece has gone through cause ordinary fried eggs is making her cry like this 

   Mark looks at her in sympathy " you're welcome to stay here my dear " 

  

    She smiles lightly and hugs her aunt back " I thought you will kick me out if I come " 

   Shelby looks at her puzzled"  why would I do that " 

   " Well that's what my mom has been telling other relatives to do " 

   She scoffs " dear your mom and I hasn't spoken to each other for more than 6 yrs now and even if she tells me to do that I'll will never and ever do that " 

  " Very true " mark adds filling his coffee cup 

  Scarlett rests  her head on her aunt's body smiling sadly " my boyfriend denied this pregnancy and his mother who never supported our relationship took the opportunity to kick me out . Mom was ashamed thinking I tried to pin another man's child on the world's Billonare heir so so she disowned me and dad could not even say anything. I was sent packing without any money or clothes so I had to beg strangers for money , some gave me while some chased me away " 

   " Oh baby " Shelby said already in tears  " she hugs her tightly " I can't believe my sister YOUR BLOOD MOTHER will do something like that to you . Anyways I don't care who the father of this baby is because we're going to take good care of him and you okay "

  " Thank you so much aunt " Scarlett said crying in her arms 

4 YEARS LATER 

  Scarlett is seating in front of her makeup mirror brushing her hair hurriedly . She wasn't that girl you saw 4 yrs ago , this Scarlett you're seeing now is the prettiest version. She added weight in the right places ( butt , hips , breasts ) her hour glass figure was top notch and her small round oval face was surrounded by her long black shiny silky hair , her skin glowed like it has been kissed by the sun . You won't even know that she is a mother of a 3 yr old son turning four this year .

  Her son 'Aiden' walks in frowning, he bore a stricking resemblance to his father , the dark full silky hair , brown hazel eyes and a handsome face infact he was the younger version of his dad 'liam' 

  Scarlett always avoided talking about Liam, whenever Aiden asks of  him she simply tells him he died long time ago. Having denied his own son from the womb that makes him dead to Aiden and her, she will make sure he never lays his eyes on her son . 

  " Mommy can I come with you this time " he said eagerly 

  Scarlett sighs and picks him up not wanting to turn this cute face down but she had no choice. " I'm sorry baby, you've school today uh " 

   He pouts his lips frowning his brows reminding her of a particular someone " when can I go then " 

   " Once your school is on holiday I promise okay " she kisses his chubby cheeks 

    Aunt Shelby who Aiden usually calls grandma walks in 

  " well well someone is late for school and oh another one is late for work also "  she said teasingly 

  Scarlett gasps looking at the time " yeah that's true " she pecks Aiden again and gently gives gives him to her before rushing downstairs 

   She greets her uncle watching morning news, forcing a cup of warm coffee down her throat and blows kiss to them before dashing outside yelling goodbye.

COCTO INNOVATIONS 

    Scarlett is smartly dressed in a white long sleeve shirt and pencil black skirt with long slit at the front . She catwalks inside 

   " Uh what's going on " she looks around puzzled as she sees everyone packing their things with a frown on their face while some was sobbing , everywhere was crowded with moving people 

  

   She sights a good friend of hers stepping out from their department with a large carton box in her hand  , she walks up to her .

   " Ruby what's going on " 

  Ruby looks at her almost in  tears " our company has been bankrupt for months now na done of us had an idea , only focus to me come this morning to learn that a large organization bought our company and fired all of us (employees) and we're told to leave immediately! " 

  "   What !  " Scarlett yells in disbelief feeling her heart drop to the ground, how will she further her son's education and also support uncle and aunt in their business with now job , it's almost impossible to get a decent paying job in Calgary

   "I've never been so shocked, I really don't know where to start from . I'm relocating to France to stay with my parents " Ruby said sighing 

   " You're traveling" 

   She nods " that's what they requested, I'll miss you girl " 

   Scarlett hugs her " same here hon ,we will talk over the phone okay " 

  " Yeah and oh CEO wants to see you urgently so you've got go there now " she said 

 " Oh okay " Scarlett said 

  Ruby nods and they say their goodbyes and part ways 

  At the CEO office, everything is disorganized, files and documents everywhere and the ceo was looking really exhausted 

  " Err hi morning"  Scarlett mutters " not sure if she should add the good to the morning 

  Frank smiles and gestures her to seat " I'm sure you've been told why happened so I'll get straight to the point " 

  " But why did Cocto become bankrupt , we were doing fine before" she asks 

   Frank sighs " it happened like a dream to me , we could not keep up the economy demands so we're eaten by the hungry wolves. Anyways the company bought here giving me a large price even you can't resist... So you know you're the hardworking and honest type so I don't want your talent to waste , I've secured a job for you in the company's headquarters. It's still the same work you're doing here  but with a huge fat salary and more benefits, that is the only way I can console you . 

   " Wow " Scarlett said surprised " that is a lot for me to take in but where is the headquarters anyway "

   

 He grins " Toronto in Ontario"

  Scarlett body stiffens at the name and bad memories of 4 yrs ago rushed in , the very ones she has been trying to forget . She struggles to breathe as she heard her mother voice in her head , loud and clear  STAY AWAY FROM THIS CITY , I MUST NOT SEE YOU ANYWHERE AROUND HERE IF NOT YOU WILL FACE MY WRATH 

  Working in Toronto will definitely increase her chances to see Liam and other people that hurt her . She is so not ready to face her painful past again and even worse Liam might even take Aiden away from her if he finds out him 

  ". Mrs blackwood are you okay, I've been calling your name since " frank said puzzled 

   Scarlett smiles nervously " thanks for your kindness Mr Frank but it is very impossible for me to work in  Toronto, I have a life and a family here " 

  He sighs " alright, come back whenever you change your mind okay " 

   " Yes sir " she said and leaves 

TORONTO, PROVINCE ONTARIO 

   Liam sat majestically on his office chair swinging side to side gently, his sharp eagle's eye scanning the file containing the company's budget and of course it was not well planned , his cold gaze meets the trembling manager  

  

   " How many times do I've to tell you not to make a low budget and present it to me huh " he said coldly 

  The manager bows still trembling, I'm very boss , I'll have my team do it again " 

  Liam scoffs as flings the file in the floor and the manager picks it and scrams outside 

  Rylan his PA and childhood best friend grins and pats his shoulder " I don't think you can ever change ice man " 

    He scoffs " there is no need to change " 

    " Yeah " Rylan said not pressing any further on the matter , having known him for more than 15 yrs now he can read his expression and knows when he doesn't want to talk about something. 

    Rylan has been by his side since he became Reynolds enterprise CEO and is his most trusted employee. 

   " Any updates from the acquisition deal " Liam asks signing some documents 

   " Oh yes " Rylan said bringing out his tablet.  " we successfully bought COCTO INNOVATIONS and as I'm speaking with you our workers are there making necessary changes " 

    Liam nods " that's good , send some agents to check on it again first thing tomorrow morning and give me updates " 

   " Of course and oh COCTO CEO also said he has a rare talent he will like to give the company she works in the finance department, are you okay with this " Rylan asks 

    " Yeah whatever" he brushes it off , his phone rings and it was his fiancee ' Camilla ' calling " oh gosh what does she want now " 

   Rylan tries his best to hold a laughter that was threatening to break out , Liam sensing it glares at him ...

Liam : hello , Milla you should know I'm at work why the disturbance 

Milla: you did not turn up for our date yesterday*sad* 

Liam : * rubbing his eyes* I remember telling you that it is impossible for me to make it so stop your tantrums 

Milla : I'll tell mom you're bullying me 

Liam: *not moved* how childish, go ok then , I really don't have your time milla... I'll take you for another date tomorrow stop disturbing me 

Milla : *smiles happily* no probs, I love you so much 

Liam : * looking as if she just spoke Chinese * bye * hangs up* 

   " Mr ice man , you're bullying your fiancee " Rylan said smirking 

   Liam scoffs turning on his laptop " shut up Rylan "