Chapter Two-Oh Billionaire

Chapter Two-Oh Billionaire

“Hey!” The first yell was mild as she noticed the wheels of the SUV suddenly backing up.

“Hey!!” She screamed now as it made a turn, “My car!!”

She had two options—call the cops or jump onto the slowly retreating car. None of them seemed pliable in her case.

She was about to be the victim of a hit and run, disheveled beyond remorse and at a loss for what to do. This simply couldn’t be happening to her, not when she’d suffered through a traumatic shift enough.

“Stop!!!” She cried out one last time as the driver put a step on it, driving away. She started to run, with the last bout of strength she had in her, and hoping the SUV and its operator would lay pity.

There was no remorse and the car wouldn’t stop either. So she took out her phone and quickly took a picture, a small crowd already gathered around her car by the time she returned. She panted heavily, staring at the damage right in front of her. It would cost a fortune to fix, not only that but she was missing her appointment with the blood bank.

Right here and then she clamped her eyes with both hands, crouching next to her and bursted into tears. The tragedy couldn’t get any worse as she stared at the photo which she’d taken with her phone. It was blurred from her franticness, another misstep which made her start sobbing all over again.

It took a minute of trying to pull herself together, when she suddenly spotted a bumper sticker which looked all too familiar,

“Property of C and A corporations?.” She murmured to woe-ish self.

*********

At the age of eighteen he’d his first million from a tech acquisition, now he was the CEO of a billion dollar corporation, and yet he couldn’t find a competent assistant for the life of him.

There was a scuff on the lapel of his jacket, one which made him scowl deeply as he tried to dust it off. For a moment he considered firing Cillian, his new assistant, but he tolerated him far too long to be bothered with it now—so his assistant’s poor excuse for driving was forgiven, even though they’d damaged the car of a random woman.

It was partly her fault, Stephan mused. A beat down vehicle had no business existing, much less being on a bustling road like that of manhattan. Partly he was doing her a favor, if she needed the motivation to get a new car she’d gotten one.

Just then, Abigail, his PR manager waltzed in with a smile on her face and a file in grasp. Stephan frowned deeply, he hated her wide grin as much as he hated that champagned colored car which annoyed him more than it should.

“I have a whole new list of candidates Mr Ashford. I suggest you—

“I went through your list.” He interrupted, abrupt and brusque, “It’s all futile.”

“But sir—

“I need someone who doesn’t care about my background. Every woman on that list is a social climber, they’d do whatever they can to latch onto my family name and position. Find someone else.”

“Seventy women. Mr Ashford.”

“Pardon?”

“Seventy women.” She repeated, “I’ve been counting. We’ve gone through a list of Seventy women. You’re telling me no one is up to your standards for carrying your child?”

Stephan’s brow furrowed deeply as he stroked his jawline. Abigail was right. They’d gone through every list of potential candidates—tall, average and short, petite, anorexic and chubby, Blonde brunette and even redheads; none to his liking. Something was all missing from all of them, despite their physical appearance and health being up to speed.

He grunted, “Find me a new batch, Abigail. I do not enjoy repeating myself”

Abigail suppressed her groan as she turned around to leave. They were running out of time, the board was on his case to clean up his image—which wouldn’t be a problem if he didn’t go around poking their rivals, now they’ve unleashed a bountiful amount of bad press against C and A.

He needed to present the front of a CEO who’s happily married, just to dispel the negative rumors and not get his position in the clutches of those evil board members. All he needed was a wife, however she was confused as to why he needed a child also.

Stephan rose to his feet, ready for his first meeting of the day when the landline on his desk started to ping. His frown grew even tighter, it was a call from the receptionist which only meant he was about to be bothered, and his schedule deterred.

“This better be good, or you’re dropping a termination letter on my table, Johnson.”

Johnson, the fretting receptionist who had his arm spread out to prevent getting hit, “Mr Ash….Mr Ashford??”

“I’m impatient.”

The receptionist trembled, “There’s someone here to….t..to see you Mr Ashford. I apologize but it’s a matter of grave importance.”

Stephan’s brow arched as he could hear a ruckus from the other side of the phone, almost like a woman yelling, but he was sure he got water in his ear from the hurried shower he had this morning. So he rolled his eyes, “Five minutes.”

He slammed the phone back and let out a deep breath. Adjusting his tie, he grunted again spotting a speck of dust which irritated him greatly, maybe it was time he fired his housekeeper. He heard footsteps, like a bull running towards crimson red.

The objection of secretary followed immediately, “Ma’am you can’t—

“You bastard!!!” Someone screamed as he heard his door being slammed behind, it was fortunate the glass was of the highest quality otherwise it would’ve shattered to pieces, “You wrecked my car!!!”

He finally lifted his head up. It was the woman with the impoverished Volvo.