Chapter 1: Noah

One thing I’ve learned in life is that opportunities don’t lie around waiting for you. Life doesn’t just give you things; you have to grab them for yourself and take life by the bull’s horns. That is the only way to come out on top.

Every day, I conquered one task after the other, overcoming each challenge with all the focus and dedication I could muster. This was constantly required of me as CEO of a prominent wine label. Work demanded my undivided attention and energy—even more so now than when I’d started my business over half a decade ago.

I had to make a lot of sacrifices over the years, some more rueful than others, but all had been necessary. My commitment to the growth and success of my business had always taken precedence over building close friendships or getting intimately involved with someone.

I wouldn’t say I regretted anything I’d done in the past to get to where I was today, even if it felt like I’d missed something vital along the way. I was exactly where I wanted to be—at the top—and it felt good to command the respect and fame that I did. I had the influence and power to get whatever I wanted. Even my sex life was more than adequately filled with a different beautiful woman, sometimes more, in my bed almost every night.

I had women in bed with me now, actually, three of them with their naked bodies sprawled out around me. I let out a satisfied sigh as I admired the sight. But there’d been a nagging undertone, or rather, a strange scratching sensation under my skin ever since I woke up a few minutes ago.

I couldn’t deny that it made me feel somewhat uneasy. Why, though, I couldn’t say—and this wasn’t the first time either.

 It was still early, but the freedom of the cloudless blue morning outside suddenly called to me.  I couldn’t escape the restless urge to take a scalding hot shower, get dressed in a clean, freshly pressed suit, and leave my house to take a deep breath of crisp air.

As I got out of bed, having to untangle myself from dangling arms and legs, I didn’t bother to be gentle. Rousing them that way was an unspoken hint that it was time for them to leave. Usually, by the time I came back from my shower, they’d be gone.

Last I checked, the brunette girl was Keila, the ginger was Linda, and the blonde was Sam. However, those were not the names I’d seen when I’d wired money to their accounts last night. After everything that happened, I have avoided the possibility of another relationship like the plague. Attaching emotions and commitment to sex only resulted in pain. Now, all my partners were hired by my lawyer and required to sign NDAs, before pleasing me for a single night. They all knew the drill, and small talk wasn’t part of it.

I quickly got out of bed, my eyes catching on my reflection in the long mirror positioned next to my closet. My charcoal-black hair was getting too long, I realized, haphazardly standing in every possible direction in the mornings as of late.

I should contact my hairdresser today to make an appointment, I thought as I hurried my way into my en suite bathroom, and got in the shower. I stepped into the steaming water, willing it to wash all my frustrations away, and calm me.

The stubble on my chin scratched my hands as I washed my face, reminding me that I’d been putting off shaving long enough. That part I got done right after my shower.

I was staring at myself in the mirror while brushing my teeth when the same, incessant thought tried to push its way to the forefront of my mind.

Are you truly happy? It seemed to ask in Brianne’s voice. It even got her assertive tone right.

She’d often ask me that question when we’d still been together—more frequently just before we had broken up. It had been more a case of her cheating on me, and then blaming it all on me for always working too much and not making her feel special or wanted enough.

Every time that question reemerged, along with the reminder of how things had ended between us, this same turbulent emotion would rise within me.

Of course, I’m happy! I mentally shot back at the mirror, even glaring to get my point across. I had everything I could ever want.

Money, success, and good looks. Hell, even the slanted scar through the tail end of my left eyebrow gave me a bad-boy vibe that was always very popular with the ladies. No stupid recurring phantom question from a two-timing ex was going to make me think otherwise.

Even though thoughts and memories of Brianne would often spring to the forefront of my mind—wondering where she was now, who she ended up marrying, and how many children she already had with him—she was my past. There was no going back to her or the way things had been between us.

The longer and harder I looked at myself in the mirror, the deeper my scowl became. This line of thinking was getting me nowhere.

I shrugged on a light blue shirt, buttoned it up, and tucked it into navy blue, slim-fit pants. I wore a matching tie, a clean-cut suit coat, and a pocket square. After styling my hair and spraying on cologne, I looked and felt more capable of facing the day ahead.

Just to be on the safe side, I opened the cabinet beside the mirror, took a pill from the small orange container, and swallowed it down with a glass of water I kept next to the sink. It reminded me of what I’d been avoiding—my therapist. I’d already canceled two of my previous appointments with her.

I had claimed to be too busy at work, but I knew Davina would cut right to the real reason I’d been dodging her in our next meeting, a meeting that was rapidly approaching.

***

I was early today, but a few of my employees were already at the office before me. My secretary, Candice, greeted me and I acknowledged her with a nod.

I didn’t fail to notice the way everyone looked at me as I strode by. Some eyes glimmered with admiration, others with nervousness. Even lust lingered in a few of them. I’d gotten used to it. Whenever I entered a room, people would stop whatever they were doing and stare.

Once I reached my office, I slumped into my chair, finally able to breathe again. I’d been so anxious to get here that I had forgotten to pick up coffee on the way. I felt my stomach churn, having starved it of breakfast today as well.

It was a good thing I had the world’s most competent secretary. She walked into my office with not one but two cups of coffee. I felt my lips stretch and tilt upward with sheer joy as she brought them to me.

“Thank you, Candice,” I practically broke out in song as I took one of the cups from her and immediately sipped from it. The coffee was still blistering hot—just the way I liked it. “You come as if answering my prayers.”

“Good morning, Mr. Hayes. I take it you had a good evening?”

I nodded, feeling myself getting uncomfortable. For some reason, I didn’t want to recall everything from last night and this morning, so that was the only reply I gave her.

She handed me a file containing my schedule and I found out that I had barely any time for myself today, which was preferable. The busier I was, the fewer chances there were for my thoughts to wander and cause me to get anxious about meaningless things.

“Thank you again.” I smiled at her, and she responded with a light one before turning her back to me and leaving my office.

I studied my schedule again. I was meeting with a few clients just before my lunch break. It was a good thing my wine label had become the number one requested brand in the country. We were always in high demand with large hotel chains and restaurants, as well as bar and club owners. I had a new wine we were debuting soon, and I couldn’t wait for these clients to get a taste. I had zero doubts they would be adding it to their line-ups.

Many of my previous ventures might have failed, but I was clearly doing something right this time around.

I was still lost in thought when a call from my secretary almost caused me to spill my coffee.

“Yes?”

“Someone is here to see you, sir.” I held the telephone with my left hand while my right hand covered my mug to keep the heat from escaping.

“Is this person on my schedule?”

“No, sir.”

“You know the drill, Candice. Ask them to schedule an appointment and to come see me at their designated day and time only,” I replied, ending the call.

I took another swig from the cup and could already feel my bad mood dissipating, which was good since my meeting with my first client for the day was set to start soon.

There was a light knock on my door. Candice opened it a little as if seeking my permission to enter. I nodded with a sigh and she walked in.

“What is it?”

“It seems to be a personal matter, sir.”

This was getting annoying. “How personal?”

“It’s family.”

Last I checked, I didn’t have any family. Whoever it was had to be an impostor trying to get money out of me, or even media attention by being associated with me. Again. No matter who this person claimed to be, or whatever they wanted, their absurd claim would be nothing new to me.

“He said he’s your son.”