CHAPTER THREE

　　"You can run but you can't hide son," Mr Scarface said mockingly. Damien cursed under his breath as he approached him. "What do you want from me? Leave me alone, please " Damien said. He was scared to death but didn't want to show it. He clenched his fist ready to defend himself. Mr Scarface pointed the revolver towards him and said "Ladybird says Adios" he pulled the trigger and Damien fell flat to the ground.

　　Damien jolted out of bed sweating profusely. He had had a nightmare. It wouldn't be the first time. Having nightmares were normal for him. It had been this way since the death of his mother.

　　He sighed.

　　He turned to check the time. It was past seven already. "I hate Mondays" he muttered as he sluggishly stepped out of his bedroom. He stopped at the kitchen for a glass of water and he noticed his housekeeper Mrs Harper was already there.

　　"Good morning Damien" she greeted with a smile on her face.

　　"Good Morning Mrs Harper, you're here early. How are you?" Damien asked

　　"I'm good son, you don't look great, are you okay? She inquired.

　　"Yeah, I'm good. I had to work late" he lied. Mrs Harper wasn’t just his housekeeper, she has been his housekeeper for more than six years and she was like a mother to him. She loved him as a son too and was always ready to make him feel comfortable and loved.

　　Having had a little discussion with her, he bid her goodbye and headed back to his bedroom. Once inside his bedroom, Damien stripped himself of his clothes and entered the bathroom, he stood under the shower and as the cold water dripped down his skin, his body became relaxed.

　　His mind drifted back to the dream he had earlier, the image of the scar-face man became clearer and clearer. He could easily recognize the face, a face he vowed never to forget, it was the face of his mother’s killer.

　　' Lady Bird' he mumbled the name that has always haunted him ever since that night. He squeezed his eyes shut as he remembered that night all over again. The sad look on his mother's face as she looked towards the closet and shook her head and the horror of watching his mother being killed before his eyes. He suddenly felt weak and for a few seconds, he could see the horror of the event displayed before him which made him scared. He hated being scared and weak.

　　Damien felt his body trembling and he quickly dashed out of the bathroom in rage. He swore to find his mother's killers and make them pay. Every single one of them.

　　He quickly dressed up in his pair of blue suits and blue pants. He snatched his briefcase and hurried out of his penthouse.

　　His chauffeur was waiting by the car, when he saw Damien approaching, he quickly opened the door and gave a slight bow. Damien stood for a minute staring at him.

　　"I'll drive, take the day off," he said finally, he stretched forth his hands for the chauffeur to hand over the keys to him, he grabbed the keys from him, got into the car, and without glancing back, he zoomed off.

　　On his way to the office, he couldn't stop thinking about the word the killer said that night which made him curious.

　　"Who is ladybird?" He had no clue. All efforts to find this person led to a dead end. He had thought of seeking help from the cops but he immediately changed his mind.

　　"This is my revenge", he thought aloud.

　　The blaring horns of the cars drew his attention back to the road. He had been so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn’t notice when the traffic light had turned green. Different drivers drove past him swearing and yelling at him. "Get out of the road, dumbhead!" One said.

　　Damien drove into the building's parking lot at 8:30 am and he got out of his black 488 GTB Ferrari 2019 model and entered the building.

　　"Good Morning Sir" the security guard greeted but instead of answering, he grunted and walked away with his hand in his pocket.

　　Ding, came the sound from the elevator and the staff stopped everything they were doing and stood up to greet in one voice.

　　"Good Morning Sir" their voices echoed in the room. Just as always he didn't reply as he lifted his shoulders. He made a straight face as he walked to his office door. He got into his office, took off his suit jacket, and was ready for the day's work.

　　Checking the time, he agreed it was time for his coffee and he decided to ring his secretary "Get me my coffee".

　　In a few minutes, the coffee was served with his hamburger. He buried his head in the laptop. He didn't bother to know who served him. He cared less.

　　He took a sip of the coffee and spat it out in disgust. " What the hell is this? What did you serve me?" Damien yelled

　　The secretary was shocked, she wondered what the issue was.

　　"That's your coffee Sir" she answered. She was beginning to tremble and her voice was shaky.

　　Damien became furious as he yelled and threatened her. She was visibly shaking and was on the verge of crying. She tried to explain herself to him

　　"I'm sorry sir. I'm new here. No one told me anything. I promise it won't happen again". Damien ignored her pleas, he picked up the telephone and called his Assistant James. James was supposed to brief her on what to do and what not to do.

　　"James, my office now!!" He ordered.

　　James opened the door in a rush, he knew there was trouble because Damien had never commanded him in that tone before.

　　"You had one job to do and you failed. How incompetent can you be James?". Damien said in a high tone. James tried to explain himself to him but he was interrupted. " Shut the fuck up. You're fired!!!" Damien yelled.

　　He lifted his head and glared at his secretary. "This is going to be the last time. It better not happen again" he cautioned.

　　He watched as she dashed out of his office.

　　Esme watched from a distance. She saw Annie run to the bathroom in tears. She felt compassion for her.

　　Esme walked into Damien’s office, he scoffed when he noticed her while she gave Damien a stern look.

　　"Not now Esme, please" Damien pleaded. He wasn't in the mood for a scolding.

　　"Really!! Was all that necessary? She is new. You don't expect her to know everything immediately. Oh, and firing James was a stupid idea" Esme said in anger, she was befuddled by his action.

　　He and Esme were best friends. After the death of his mother, he was taken to the orphanage. At age 13, he was adopted by an older couple. Esme lived with her family next door. Damien was reserved and never associated with other kids. He was bullied multiple times in school and Esme as little as she was stood up to defend him and since then they've been close. They shared thoughts and ideas.

　　"Esme, relax ok? Why are you defending her? You don't even know her. She made a mistake and I made sure it doesn't repeat itself. Don't get worked up over issues that shouldn't bother you" Damien said.

　　"You have to stop being mean to people. It's unfair, you don't treat people that way. This is the sixth Secretary you'll be employing in a year and by the way I like her. She's cheerful and beautiful". Esme said though she was still mad at him.

　　"I'm sorry". Damien apologized to Esme. He hated it when she was mad at him.

　　"You should be apologizing to her, not me but of course, you won't because you are proud and rude" Esme lashed at him again. "You're going to apologize to her this minute or else....."

　　"Or else what Esme. You're gonna spank me, huh?" Damien interrupted. He grinned from ear to ear.

　　"Eeww, you're disgusting," she said.

　　They both burst into laughter. Esme walked toward Damien and held his hands before saying to him. "You need to stop this attitude. It's not good for you. I know you've been through a lot but that doesn't mean you should treat people the way you do".

　　She lifted his hands to her lips and kissed them, she gave him a warm hug and left the office. "See you later pumpkin," she said as she approached the door.

　　Damien watched as she stepped out of his office. He shook his head with a smile as he resumed back to work knowing deep down if he didn't answer Esme’s request, he would be getting lots of nagging from her.