Daniel Smith

It’s never enough. This is what Daniel believes in. According to him an insatiable hunger is the key to success. And it was his hunger to get more that fuelled him to take his company to new heights. No wonder, he graced time to time on the cover pages of many business magazines and sometimes fashion’s too. Daniel may look like a Greek God but he is actually a devil in disguise. He is a hungry devil who never gets enough. His subordinates fear and respect him, his competitors envy him, girls fantasize him, and the youngsters aspire to be like him. Not being an easy person, people called him names. People called him ruthless, selfish, controlling freak, psycho and what not. He was all of them but he was more than that too.

“Get this done by EOD,” Daniel orders his secretary. He has a cigarette sitting between his fingers and the legs are stretched on the table crossed. He throws the file towards Fiona and gestures her to leave. The man puffs out a cloud of smoke and closes his eyes. A minute had hardly passed by when Steve entered his office.

“Look at you always smoking your life away?” asked Steve his best friend and COO of the company. He takes a seat across from him. “What do you want Steve?” Daniel says irritatingly before taking another drag off the cigarette. “Nothing. Just wanted to come and say Hii” Steve waves his hand. Daniel arches his brow and say “Hii, now leave.”

Steve chuckles and says “You are an asshole. I hope you know that.” Daniel smirks on his remark. “Why are you visiting that small town?” Steve asks while leaning forward. The question wipes the smirk off his face and he takes his feet off the table. “To finalize the deal,” he explains and turns sideways. He places his right ankle on his left thigh and stubbs the butt of the cigarette in the ashtray.

“You really think I’ll buy that,” Steve frowns. “The CEO of formidable Smith Enterprises flying to a town to buy a company that apparently is taking its last breath? The question wipes teh smirk off his face. “I see potential in that company,” Danny has his eyes fixed on the ground. “Seriously Danny? That Company? Okay. It seems you have made up your mind. I won’t stop you. Do whatever you wanna do,” with that he gets up and leaves.

Daniel gets himself up and walks up to the balcony. He lights another cigarette and leans on the railing watching over the city. He recollects the memories of his mother who left him two years ago. He remembers the promise he had made to his mother. He had promised her to protect her saviour. She had made him promise to stand by the family of Uncle Hemsworth’s who took her in when she ran away from her abusive foster family. The uncle not only gave her shelter but also loved her like his own children.

Uncle Hansworth had kissed goodbye to the world many years ago but his family was still there in Springdales. After his mother’s demise, Daniel did some research on the family and learned that they run a company in Springdales which didn’t appear to be in a good condition. He decides to keep an eye on the family from afar. However, after a couple of years he steps in to save the family from going down in a financial crisis by buying their company. He had planned on returning the company back to Hemsworths.

And now why was he going to Springdales when his subordinates could have handled this work just fine? Well, the reason again is his mother. His mother belonged to Springdales and this is where she met his father Blaine Smith. Her mother had told him a lot about that town. A smile used to adorn her face whenever she talked about Springdales and her good old days. That place was special for his Mom. He wanted to see what was so special about that town.

He closed his eyes and let a gust of wind touch his face. Tomorrow he was flying to Springdales. A knock on the door breaks him apart from his revire. He turns around and finds his father standing on the door.

“Are you planning on spending your entire day here clinging on the railing?” his father questioned. “Yeah, it’s better than clinging on people and breathing down their neck,” Dan answered. “ Come in,” Blaine says. Daniel comes back to his office. “About tomorrow, I still think that going to Springdales and buying that good for nothing company is a big waste of time and resources. It is going to put a dent on our reputation. And as if that was not enough you have decided to spend a week there? Why didn’t you tell me about it?” Blaine puts it plainly.

Dan sits in his chair and gives a bored expression. “I didn’t feel like telling you. I make my own decision.” Blaine is furious “I know why are you going there. It’s because of Julia. Isn’t it?” he knits his brow that accentuates his anger. “ I have been running this business for the last 8 years. I have taken this company to new heights that is impossible to touch for our competitors. In short, I am running this company far better than you did. So, don’t ever give me a lecture on how to run business. I am buying that company because I want to,” Daniel speaks in a stern tone.

Blaine looks him in the eye for a minute and then leaves without uttering a word.

Daniel didn’t have a good relationship with his father. He had been close to his mother. He had seen his mother spending most of his time alone whereas his father remained out working. He had witnessed his mother crying in silence whereas his father engaged in celebrations and parties. It was not lost on Daniel that even though his parents were with each other, they had stopped being for each other. Their trampled marriage had tormented him too. He hated to see his mother cry and to distract her from his pain, he would bring up Springdales in their conversation. And that would lit up her face just like that.

After calling it a day, he came back to his mansion and started packing for Springdales. He lived alone. Dan had shifted here right after his mother’s demise. He didn’t want to live under the same roof as Blaine. His father used to remind him of the pain his mother had endured.

After packing, he went to his study room and started reading some business book. That was the routine. Coming home, getting fresh, have dinner, and then reading a book before going to bed. Even though he was the most eligible bachelor of the country with tons of money in his bank account, he didn’t have any girl in his life. It’s not that he is a virgin. Girls drooled after him and sometimes he used to fuck them to let the steam off. But he never felt anything for anyone. He had never fallen in love. He had planned to never fall in love. But does plans ever work?

The springdales was going to unleash a new devil in his life. Wanna know what’s the name of that devil---Love!!!