Chapter 1

Prologue

Kelvin paced the room restlessly, his face had gone pale, he pulled his hair in frustration and turned to look at Cara who was busy locking her last travel bag.

"But our deal isn't over yet Cara, why do you have to leave?"

Cara ignored his question and dragged her bags to the door, she was done talking about it.

Kelvin rushed to her and held her hands, stopping her from leaving. "Cara, you can't leave, the whole plan will crumble if you do."

"Exactly!" Cara shouted. "You are such a selfish human Kelvin. All you care about is you! Just you!"

She snatched her hand from his grip and looked straight into his eyes.

"I agreed to this plan because I needed the money for my family. It's been months and nothing is coming out of it. I cannot sit here and let this opportunity pass me by all because of your selfishness Kelvin."

"I'm leaving, you can go look for another prey that fits into the deal." She left the room and banged the door, leaving a confused Kelvin standing.

                   **********************************

Kelvin gazed through his window blinds observing the streets as people go about their lives as if nothing else matters. 

It was his favorite view whenever he needed to clear his head. But as he stood watching, he felt choked and wished he could scream out his frustration.

He looked on at nothing in particular, giving no thought to the incessant ringing of his office line.

He cursed under his breath as the phone rang for the fifth time in quick succession.

All he wanted to do was pick up the phone, and have it smashed along with whoever was adding to his headache at such a time. 

He shut his eyes and held the blinds tightly to calm himself and take his mind off the sound, but there was a knock on his door.

The knock came again before being opened. Kelvin refused to leave the spot he was in, and neither did he turn to look at whoever it was. He knew the scent already.

"Sir, Mr. Stone Wallace called to confirm if the meeting would still be held, and Anderson said he was going to call you concerning the ongoing project, I --" 

She paused and glanced at the ringing phone which interrupted her.

"Sir, I think that must be Anderson" she blurted, seeing that her boss wasn't making any move of picking up the call or answering her.

"Sir?"

"Get out Martha!" Kelvin bawled between clenched teeth.

"Sir, the--"

"I said get out!" Kelvin thundered with a voice that seemed not to be his.

Martha trembled and rushed out of his office like her butt was on fire, she wasn't ready for his wrath.

She bumped into Chris on her way to her office and quickly mumbled an apology without waiting to listen to his all-time flattery and flirting gimmicks.

Chris turned to look at her receding figure with furrowed brows. He stood and looked between Kelvin's door and where Martha had dashed to in seconds.

"Seems someone is in a bad mood again" he muttered to himself.

He walked towards the door and opened it without knocking.

Kelvin heard the door open, he clenched his fist as a way of bottling his annoyance. "Didn't I just tell you to get the fuck out of here?!" He scowled.

"Hey, easy man. It's Chris, not Martha." Chris responded with his hands raised in surrender even when he knew Kelvin wasn't looking.

He strolled towards the single sofa in the office and sat without saying any other thing, his eyes remained fixed on Kelvin's back."

Kelvin turned to look at his friend with mixed emotions fighting for a place in his head. He took slow strides towards Chris without wavering his gaze.

"Man, what's wrong? Why are you so angry?" Chris asked with a concerned-laden voice.

Kelvin balled his fist in his pockets while looking straight into Chris' eyes. "You caused all these Chris, you did! I should never have listened to you because you have never had any sensible advice to give. 

You are such a mess, and I wonder how I became friends with a certified loser like you."

"Okay, okay, okay. I won't take those words to heart because I know how insensitive you can be when in your moment. But are we talking about Cara here?" 

Chris queried with a raised brow, looking up at Kelvin who stood a few feet opposite him.

"Such a moron! Who else? You brought about that silly idea of an arranged marriage, I told you it was never going to work. Now see! Cara isn't here anymore, dad isn't making me the CEO, nothing is making any sense!"

He combed his right hand into his hair frustratingly.

Chris crossed his legs and smiled broadly without minding the anger in Kelvin's eyes. 

"Tell me, man," he started, "are you pissed because Cara isn't here and you miss her because you have fallen in love with her, or you are pissed because you are not yet the CEO? Make me understand."

Kelvin glared at Chris and dipped his hands back into his pockets, he silently wished he could punch off the smirk spreading across his face. 

He shook his head and ambled towards his chair without giving a response.

Chris threw his hands in the air excitedly. "Yeah right! I thought as much. My awesome friend is in love but cannot admit it to my face! Awe-mazing!"

"Why are you here Chris?" Kelvin questioned, as he got busy arranging the files on his table, refusing to make eye contact.

Chris got up from the sofa and hurriedly made his way to the visitor's chair, he pulled it randomly and sat, a smirk still playing at the corner of his lips.

"You know if you keep doing that, I'm gonna have to send you out of my office right about now" Kelvin warned, still keeping his eyes on the files.

Chris chuckled and relaxed in his seat.

Kelvin raised his head and stared icily at Chris.

"Oh please, I'm not Martha, you can't scare me with those eyes, okay? You should know that by now." 

He adjusted on his seat and cleared his throat.

"Spill," Kelvin spoke, turning his attention back to the files he was cross-checking.

"I'll be going on a trip to Dubai in two days, I seriously think it's time to have a direct conversation with the Zepan Firm."

"The company can't afford to lose such a deal, I am optimistic it will turn out well if we meet the firm's board of directors."

"We?" Kelvin cuts in. "Are you going with the company's team?" He closed the files and gave his full attention.

Chris massaged his temple and heaved a sigh, "well, yes I'll be going with some of the company's team, but they are my friends as well and that makes the whole work easier. I just want Dad to be proud of me this once."

Kelvin scoffed and reclined into his chair. "Uhm, is that worry I see written all over you?"

Chris glared. "Right. You can gloat, at least you have a father who is ready to give you a chance, and all you need is to get a wife to get it all sealed."

Kelvin shifted his gaze to his laptop and sighed. "What's the difference? There is no wife, dad isn't going to relinquish his position until he is convinced I have one. We are both stuck."

Chris moved toward the edge of his seat and whispered, "I have a plan."

Kelvin shook his head vehemently with his eyes almost popping out of its socket, "no no no Chris, your first plan is why we are here."

Chris ignored his rants and replied, "get her stalked. China is big, but you can always get what you want with the right resources. Such a girl shouldn't make you lose this position."

Kelvin stared silently trying to gather his thoughts, his line blared across the room, disrupting the atmosphere. 

He picked it and the name on it made him panic. "Dad." He groaned.