Prologue: part 1

Everyone would thought at this exact moment, that they achieve true success and is proud of themselves.

"Congratulations, to our new CEO, Felix Ren!"

As the master of ceremony called out my name, I have step up and put a smiled on my face. Waving my hand at the crowd who came to celebrate my accomplishment with me.

"Please look this way, Felix! a bunch of people called out my name and took a picture, making me slightly avoid the flash cam as it affected my vision.

"Congratulations Manager Ren," a woman in her usual company clothes and a skirt came to me as she held her glass of wine firmly. "Our team will never forget your hard work you've done with us!"

"I told you I just did my job, Ms. Ahn." I casually replied with a smiled.

"That's what you always says."

"Oh, the assistant is trying to steal our king for the night, let's swarm him."

Manager, Yu, the manager in HR department, a somewhat cunning face with a lot of energy, he's the guy I could'nt really get along with, but as you can probably guess he's the kind of guy who always do this.

"CHUGG IT! CHUGG!" The guys Manager Yu brought, surrended me and gave me huge glass of beer, I couldn't do anything but to gulp one sip to appease.

"Eh that's all?" All of them were surprised and disappointed due to the fact that I didn't drink anymore after one sip.

"You know that he doesn't like drinking yet you tried to force him" Assistant Ahn came to me and stole the beer on my hand and gulp it in an instant.

"To celebrate the one now appointed CEO of our company, Let's welcome Sir Felix Ren again as our new Team leader and don't make fun of him!" she reprimand them and the crowd disperse.

Looking through the room and seeing all the people who works on the company I'm supposed to lead now, I just wondered what am I supposed to do, is this the right thing to do? I asked myself as I watched them getting their own beer to drink, and all of them lifted it and yelled.

"Cheers!"

"Cheers""

As the crowd chime in unison. I leaned back in the corner and drink some water.

Everyone was smiling and chattering with each other as I observe them, I hope I could also enjoy life like them.

"Team Leader, Manage- uhm sorry, I should call you Chief now."

A Woman in her work suit that covered by a Blazer came to me as she leaned closer to on the wall beside me.

This woman is Rika Kei, The head manager in marketing department and as far as I know she's a cheerful and extrovert person. A totally different person, unlike me..

"Don't worry about it, were still coworkers."

"Is that so?" she shook her glass of wine for a moment."it would be nice if you could at least drink with me in celebration, don't you think so?"

"Sorry, I don't like the taste of alcohol."

"Hmm... Too bad."

* Ring...*Ring.* my phone vibrated on my thigh in that moment, causing me to jolted in surprise.

"Wait I'll answer this one..""

"Uh that's okay. Chief, don't worry about me," she reassured. It must be an important call."

"Then see ya, and calling me Chief, it's fine to call me like before,"

"Okay, then...Fel.""

As I bid my farewell and slip out of the crowd and Head towards the veranda. The sound of hustling and muttering of the crowd soon lessen but despite This place being this huge, to think that it would take a time just to get here, the sound of them partying is still heard here. The company had rented out this big hotel and have all the employees gather, to celebrate my promotion that they just announced today, I didn't expect this to happen soon though. .

when i finally get to the place where I could finally I answered the phone, I was Immediately open my mouth when I saw that it is Mom.

"Hello, mom,"

"Ah my son, it's been a while since I heard your voice." a soothing voice that echoed onto the speaker, I couldn't help but put on a smile.

"What do you mean, I just talked to you last week.."

"Heheh that's not important... Why didn't you tell us?"

"What is it?"

"You becoming a CEO, your sister suddenly barge in our room and jumping proudly as she showed us your picture being appointed as a CEO, We should've come there if we know."

"Sorry, I was actually surprised by this sudden event too, they did surprise me too, so I wasn't aware just a moment ago."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah.."

"Ohh silly.me, You must be at the party right now, celebrating and enjoying, I'm bothering you, right,"

"Not really," I said as I stared on the buildings that shone with lights of different room. It looks like a christmas tree but in a different way.

"I'll hang up now, make sure to get here this weekend we'll celebrate it , and make sure to bring along Hannah, I'll cook for the two of you, especially your favorite Tinola and Adobo, so make sure to get a day off then.. Bye, proud of you,"

"wait, how about father? Is he alright?"

"Don't worry, he's drunk right now, he's been drinking with his friends and has been bragging right now with them that he's son is a now a CEO."

"Is that so. Glad he's doing fine after being discharge from the hospital"

"Right, right, don't worry about us and just enjoy tonight , okay.""

"Okay mom."

BEEP.

"My mother seemed more.happy than usual.." Sighed..

I'm tired, I wanna sleep... Should I come back inside or just go home?..

Nah, they made this celebration for me, I might as well be there even though I don't feel like it.

*Ring... ring..*

I was about to go back inside when another call rang up my phone .

Is it mom again?

She really.. Oh it's not mom.. it's Kiyara.

"Hello?"

"Hey, what's with this? You didn't tell your best friend that you've got promoted, and what's more as a CEO, are you still there?"

"Yeah and I was about to go inside.. and actually I also.."

It's hard trying to explain it to them that it was also a surprise to me to get promoted this fast, He didn't even tell me.

"Oh man, I was hoping to ask you for a drink though."

"Sure"

"Oh it's fine, I'm used to you rejecting my-- what?"

"Where?" I asked.

"Seriously? That's the first time."

"Don't be that surprise, it's not like I don't hang out with you,"

"Yeah, I guess.""

"So where is it""

"Okay then come at Xxxx..Place street.."

***

"Pretty sure everyone around you is proud and jealous of you" The woman in front of me, who's sharing a table with me crossed her arms as she sipped her tea. This woman is Kiyara, apparently we've been friends for a long time, we met in graduate school and become friends, I don't know if I'm the only one who think about this but she's beautiful, she has beautiful long hair that extends through her shoulder and have black eyes, totally someone that can be my type. She seemed to like hanging out with me for no reason.

"Owning a rental properties that provides cash flow and other assets and now being promoted as a CEO,

She teases. and leaned forward, so close ai could hear and feel her breath.

"Stop teasing me! I'm pretty sure you already know that me becoming a CEO will happen eventually and to think it would be now, I'm not even prepared.."

"Yes yes Mr. CEO, you must be proud of yourself" she didn't listen and continued to talked playfully with her words.

"Proud of myself huh.." I muttered while I put back my cup of tea on the table.

"As if you're no different, A famous fashion clothes that's earning a dozen of million every quarter, That's what your company right?"

"Yeah, but it was also thanks to you that I manage to build that, I'm really glad I met you."

"Really? That's good then. So stop with calling me CEO."

I've come this far in my life, my family is happy, my friend feel happy for me, my teachers are proud that they I was the one they used to teach. Everyone thinks highly of me and respect me, I have money and can afford almost anything, pretty sure in other perspective of people, if they see me they would desire what I have. I never thought of reaching this far but... But.. what's this feeling that's been bugging me?

"Oh, our order is finally here." Kiyara couldn't seem to wait, she stood up and got the food from the waiter.

"Let's eat!"

"Are you that eager to eat a cake? Your eyes is sparkling you know?"

"What's the matter? It's been ages since I had one, those shitty man, always trying to stop me to gain weight for me to model." She gritted her teeth and immediately went for the cake.

"your manager, huh.. You still call him like that?"

"Of course!""

" But..You, you ordered a fancy food again, I told you anything is fine."

"Why, it's a celebration "

"But" I tried to explain but she immediately blocked me with

"You said anything is fine, so eat."

"sighed,

"sighing heavily in front of me, is something the matter? And why did you call me out here for a drink, aren't you supposed to be celebrating with them? Don't tell me you left the party?""

"Yeah"

"Eh," Kiyara jaw hang in open with a surprise look in her eyes.

"Why are you surprise?"

"Well, i'm just wondering,"

"Wondering about what?"

"I mean, why me? You have a beautiful wife, and you're here drinking with me instead of her?"

"Don't talk about her, you know my situation, she's not my wife because of love, it was an arrangement, what would you expect me to do? Take advantage of her?.."

"Is that so... But are you really sure that's only the reason she married you?"

"Stop talking about her and let's eat."

"Okay got it CEO.."

"I told you to stop calling me that."

"Hehehe..okay CEO...""

"...Cheers for becoming a CEO!

I Sighed," you're something else. Not listening even to me.""

"Must be good having you as a husband."

"Then get yourself a husband, anyone will basically be over heels for you.""

"Does that also applies to you?"

"Stop that and drink" I poured her a glass of wine. and she looked at me intensely

"But..I thought we're here for drinking, why am I the only one drinking this much? You've only been sipping a bit.""

'You know that I don't like alcohol.""

'Then why are you drinking something you don't like?'

"I'm just trying it."

"All.tis time we've known each other this is the first time you tried tasting some alcohol... "

"But it doesn't seem like for celebration... You seemed unhappy too..'

"..."

"is there something wrong with your company?" She asked.

"Not at all" and I immediately denied.

" Then, Did something went wrong at the party? That's why you ditch it and come over to me. I'm here, so lets hear out your complain this time.""

"No I just wanted to really try drinking to celebrate.."

"Surely you're not here just because of that."

"I told you it's nothing, stop being persistent!"

"Okay okay, I won't pry, But don't underestimate this friend of yours, we've been friends for 10 years, I know you very well.."

"Oh Well, if you insist on drinking despite being a model student for years, then I might take advantage of this situation...".she mumbled.

"What are you talking about, just drink and Don't tease me. "

"But why did this thing taste so bitter, I thought it would be something sweet since people.always crave this thing.""

"Hahah! What are you a child to be thinking about that.. Sighed really.. you're too cute.."

"Don't tease.me!"

"If only you didn't get married.... I would be the one with you."

"Huh? Did you say something?"

"Nothing. Just trying to talk to.myself.

...

"Kiyara,

"WHAT IS IT?

"I pursued everything to make everyone proud of me, and ended up here.. I ... It's not like I don't enjoy my life, if you ask me it's actually fine but lately, I found myself thinking of things If this is really the life I did want."

I don't know if it was because of the alcohol or just heat of the moment but my mouth just blurted out my thoughts..

"th-that's....Is there something you've been avoiding up to this day?""

"What do you mean?"

"From my experience, it seems like there's something you've been wanting to do, I don't know why but you keep avoiding it, right?"

"Avoiding it huh..."

"Then what do you think i should do?"

"I don't really know myself, but you've been avoiding it because there's something in the way right? for example, not telling your feelings to your friend because you don't want your relationship to end just because of that,. something like that.""

"But im not talking about something like that.""

"Idiot it's just an example!"

"Yeah, yeah, don't pull my ears"

"RING RING""

HUH? tHIS IS THE THIRD TIME, why is everyone been calling me?

"It's fine, answer it"

"Okay then"

"Sir,"

"Joan?"

"Why are you calling me at this hour, shouldn't you be talking to marco? He's my assign manager of that big apartment."

"Sir, the thing is... Marco has been missing for a few days.. I thought he just left for a sick leave so I didn't tell, but now there's a problem on the 3rd floor and all the tenants there is demanding for a presence of the landlord.""

"Did you try to call the other landlords I assigned on different places?"

"Yeah I did but they can't make it as they are very far. You're the only one near so I thought I'll call and-"

"I'm coming."

"Reall sir , thank y-" I cut off the phone call and dash towards the exit of the room after leaving a text message to Kiyara,, I hope she doesn't get mad later about this.

I can't afford to just ignore that place, sighed, now of all times, that apartment is still new and haven't produce much compound interest and there's already a problem with its structure.. And just where did Marco go?

"Beeepp!!"

Beep!

"Hey, are you planning to die?

"Ugh shit...If I got delayed more,""

As I can't drive since I drank some beer and wine, I at least need to catch the train, If I got delayed more I wouldn't be able to catch it.

I need to catch the last train, the cab is all booked.. what a wrong timing

ugh.. the sign is still red, there's no car so it should be fi-

Bump!

As I noticed A light shone on my face, before I could turn to looked towards it, I saw a red Ferrari upside down. In a few seconds, I found myself receiving an impact from the ground as gravity pulled me in. I felt a sudden heat on my oblique, "HUH?.."