PROLOGUE

—ROME ARCHILLUS’ POV—

“Is that all?” I asked with a hint of disappointment, looking around, but no one in this room ever met my gaze. I threw the folder on the long table and made a loud thud.

I rose from my seat, fastening the button of my suit. Nothing irked me more than wasting my time.

“Mr. Reyes,” I said, noticing his trembling hands. I cannot believe someone like that was hired by my company. I should check on the HR team.

“Y-Yes, sir?”

“You and your team are all fired.”

I already gave them chances and enough time to prove themselves. Yet, no improvement. Without another word, I turned and walked away from the presentation room. My secretary, Gaille, followed me behind in silence.

“What’s my next schedule?” I asked her while checking the time on my wristwatch.

“You have a meeting with Mr. Ocampo in two hours, and a proposal review with the finance team at four.”

“How about the contract papers?”

“On your desk, sir.”

Just then, my phone rang. One glance at the caller, I immediately answered it.

“Any update?” I said as I put the phone to my ear.

[“Sir, I apologize but—“]

“Finn…” I said in a low voice. “I need that land. I want it.” I sounded desperate, but it was the only way I could close a big deal with the foreign investors. That land is part of the plan, but I haven’t acquired it yet. “Do whatever it takes to possess the land. The cost is the least of my concern.”

[“Sir, the land is not for sale and the owner strictly told us to forget about it.”]

“Even if we offer good fortune?” I insisted.

[“Yes, sir.”]

Now, it is starting to make my day awful. Who on earth would decline a generous offer from the De Herrera Empire?

“Who’s the owner?”

[“Your… ex-wife, sir.”] Finn hesitated to put ‘her’ name into words.

For a moment, I fell into silence, stopped in front of a clear glass wall where I could see the busy streets outside. I tightened the grip on my phone. I shouldn’t feel affected by that woman. She’s nothing but a piece of nightmare from the past.

“Finn… Don’t call until you settle everything. If I hear any negative news from you, don’t ever step into my company again.” I didn’t wait for his response and immediately ended the call. I handed my business phone to Gaille, dusting off the irrelevant thoughts running in my mind.

As I entered my office, a small voice of a kid echoed inside. “Put a lot of cheese… deliver it as fast as you can, please. Thank you.”

What the hell is that kid doing here? I cannot help but to arch my brow, looking at him sitting on my chair like a boss.

“Finally… someone came,” the kid said, carefully going down from the chair. My heart skipped a beat when he almost fell, but thankfully, he managed to set his feet on the floor. “Good day, sir. You are Mr. De Herrera, right?” He politely greeted me.

I was about to respond when Gaille entered my office.

“Sir, Mister…” Gaille, with widened eyes, looked at the kid. “What’s going on…”

“Gaille, call the security, and get that child out of my sight… now.” I ordered, not moving an inch.

“Yes, sir.”

“Who are you?” I asked, keeping my distance from him. Honestly, I hate the presence of kids. They are undeniably annoying and irritating.

“I am Archi,” he introduced himself like an old man, and I was stunned. This is just a coincidence, right? How come his name is the nickname my family used to call me?

He stepped forward and offered a handshake but I refused. “Stay there,” I said.

“Alright…” the kid named Archi cleared his throat. There was no hesitation or fear in his voice, which is so unusual for a kid his age. “I am here to close a deal with you, mister.”

“What…?” I almost laughed at the remark but remembered I forgot how. I have never been genuinely happy with this life after what happened in the past.

“A deal,” he repeated. He showed me a black envelope in his little hand. “I heard you’re eyeing a property—a land for your business expansion, am I correct?”

“How did you…”

“This is the title of that land.”

He is just a kid… how come?

My thought was interrupted by a knock. I let the security in.

“Sir, we apologize for the mishap. It will never happen again.” The head of the security bowed at me.

“Everyone, get the kid and find his parents—“ I cut Gaille off.

“No…” I stopped them. To be honest, I don’t have any more time to spare for a mere child, but curiosity got me. “Let him stay. Everyone out.”

“But sir—“

“Gaille, out.” I repeated, looking at her with authority.

“Yes, sir.”

When everyone left, I sat on my office chair and looked at the kid for a moment, scanning him from head to toe. The way he stands, he speaks… he really acts like a grown man. And his eyes are staring at me as if trying to read my mind. No one can stand my gaze but ‘that woman.’

And now, this kid…

“How did you know about the property I need?”

“I just overheard it somewhere,” the kid answered flatly.

“You know, I hate wasting time. So if you’re just here to fool around—”

He cut me off, saying, “So am I. I also hate wasting time, so if you please? Let’s proceed with the deal, mister.” He pulled the paper out of the black envelope and put it on my table.

“I will call my lawyer,” I said, looking at the piece of paper in my hand.

“Go ahead, but make it quick. I don’t have much time.” The kid looked around before facing me again. “Can I sit on your sofa?”

I nodded as a response, watching him intently. He looked at his wristwatch, then crossed his arms on his chest.

“How old are you?” I asked, trying to busy myself with the papers on my desk.

“Five.”

“Where are your parents?”

“My mom—“

Someone knocked at the door, interrupting the kid. I thought it was Gaius, my lawyer, but Gaille went inside, holding a box of pizza.

“The pizza guy delivered it. Is this—“

“It’s mine,” the kid jumped off the sofa and walked toward Gaille to get his order. He handed her a blue bill, saying, “Here… keep the change.”

I followed the kid through my gaze as he went back on the sofa, putting the box of pizza at the glass center table.

“Eating is not allowed here,” I warned.

“I’m not eating,” he slightly opened the pizza box, “I’m just checking it. Besides, it’s not for me.”

The aroma of pizza reached my nose. Its familiar smell suddenly made my blood boil. Another thing that reminded me of ‘that woman.’

No, I shouldn’t think about her.

“Archi! What’s up?” Gaius entered the room without even knocking. Oh, come on… Where is this guy’s manner? I noticed the kid looking at Gaius in confusion, then I realized… His name was Archi too.

“Oh… You have a little visitor, I see. Wait…” A confusion suddenly formed in his eyes as he looked at me and then set his eyes upon the kid.

“Check this paper,” I said, without wasting any more seconds.

Gaius grabbed the paper and after a few moments asked, “You already bought the land? I thought…”

“Is it authentic?”

“Yeah… this is the original copy. Why?”

So the kid isn’t fooling around? How come he took possession of this important paper?

“Alright. You should leave now.”

“Wait… what?” Gaius asked in disbelief. “You ruined my morning routine just for that shi—“ he looked at the kid who was intently listening to him. “… Sheet of paper?”

“I’ll just wire a fair amount in your bank account.”

“You better do,” Gaius looked at the kid once more before he left.

“Name the price, kiddo.”

“I don’t need your money, Mister.”

Am I really talking with a five-year-old boy? This is the first time I have encountered this kind.

“So, what’s your deal?”

“You know how to play chess?” he asked, glancing at the chess board at the corner of my office.

“Of course,” I said proudly.

“Okay… If you win, I will talk to the owner of this property to sell it to you exclusively,” he explained.

How can he convince ‘her’? Are they somehow related? I wonder.

“If I win, you’ll grant me a wish.”

Ah… Child’s play… as much as I want to get this child out of my sight, I am curious about how this deal ends. He really caught my interest somehow.

He sat across from me, and looked at the chess pieces in front of him. The boy looks so confident but kid… I’ve been a chess master for years.

“Check,” I said.

“Not so fast, mister.” I followed the movement of his little hand. “Checkmate.”

“What…?”

In just five moves… Five moves! I lost the game. I never lost, not until today.

“What’s your deal?” I asked, after recovering from my defeat and a moment of acceptance.

I still couldn't believe what just happened, and couldn’t process it when he said, “Please… remarry my mom.”