Chapter 1

“Get up, Samael!” the man shouted and kicked the boy laying on the floor. The boy looked up at the man who happened to be his father and his hazel eyes filled with fear. Though it was tough for him to stand up with one broken leg, yet he managed to do so with the help of the wall.

As soon as the boy stood up, the man held his jaw tightly as he looked at him with pure anger and disgust.

“You are unfortunate kid, aren’t you? I was going to be a father but you took her life too!” he shouted at him and tightened his hold more on the boy’s jaw.

“I – I didn’t do any-.” The boy was cut off when the man shouted, “Shut up!”

“Shut up! You ungrateful kid, I gave you a roof on your head and a meal once a day. You DO NOT talk back to me! Do you understand?!”

The boy nodded his head as he sobbed silently because of the physical as well as mental pain he was suffering through.

“Good. I did a good job naming you Samael. Do you know what it means? It means you are the angel of death and destruction. And look, you are the reason for the death of the people I loved and the reason for my destruction.” The man said in a low but deadly tone and a shiver ran through the boy’s spine upon hearing his father. He closed his eyes tightly as he knew what was coming next.

“Dad, please. Don’t punish me, please.” The boy whispered and started shaking his head continuously. The man laughed maniacally as he threw the boy against the wall and took out a knife from his back which he was holding in his other hand.

“No. Please no, don’t punish me. I am sorry, I am sorry!” the boy cried and begged his awful father as he slid down the wall and tried to hide when he saw the sharp knife in his father’s hand but the man continued laughing and moving closer to the boy.

“Ahh!”

He got up from his sleep as soon as he heard his screams in his dream or more like a nightmare. He was breathing heavily when he looked around him to recognize the place. When he realized he was in his bedroom, he leaned against the bed’s headboard and closed his eyes trying to calm down his heartbeat and heavy breathing.

Getting out of the bed, he opened the window and let the cold air calm him down. The beautiful view of city lights cleared his head a little bit. He sighed when he saw the sunrise as he welcomed a new day of his new life in Fairfield, California with a small smile on his face.

***

Caroline’s POV

“Mam, we are here.” Peter, my driver said. I took my bag and my coffee in each hand. Peter opened the door for me as I got off the car.

“Have a great day.” He said with a smile which I grew up seeing almost every day, “You too, Peter.” I replied with the same gesture and walked away.

‘Martinez’s’ was written on the glass building that stood high in front of me for the last fifty years. Martine’s company belongs to the textile industry which was built by my father, Caleb Martinez.

I, Caroline Martinez am the CEO of the company. I am 25-years-old women who run a business that was built by my father. After my parent’s death, my uncle, Victor Martinez ran it for a few years until I completed my business degree.

My parents died in a car accident a few years back. I lost my happiness that night, the incident changed me a lot in many ways. I was the only child of my parents, so basically, I lost my family. Yes, I have an uncle, aunt, and a cousin but neither completes the void my parents left.

Though I am a little close to my cousin, Mason. I am not very fond of my uncle and aunt, Victor and Maria. Not that I hate them, I just was never very close to them. They are also shareholders of the company though.

“Good morning mam.” My receptionist, Lucy said with a sweet smile. She is the youngest employee I have. She is a 20-year-old girl, who has been working for two years now. I like that she is always professional yet friendly with everyone. Her black hair was tied in a ponytail and her brown eyes looked at me with respect.

“Good morning, Ms. Lopez. I hope the candidates are here.”  I said and took a sip from my half drank coffee. Today I was taking an interview for the position of my assistant. I fired my last assistant because she was lazy and use to take leaves randomly. I hate people who are not disciplined about their work and take it for granted.

“Yes, mam almost everyone has reached” Lucy replied to which I nodded my head while sipping the coffee.

“Have a great day, mam.” She said and continued with her work on her laptop.

“You too, Ms. Lopez” I replied and turned towards the lobby is where elevators are situated, which I don’t like. Because they are at a turn and sometimes people can’t see if the elevator is empty or not.

‘Ding!’ the lift opened and as I entered someone bumped into me and spilled the coffee on my white shirt. ‘Great, I hate the location of the elevators!’

“Seriously! Are you blind or what?” I said and looked up at the person. There stood a man in front of me with worried expressions. He looked like he is in his mid-twenties, his black hair combed backward. He has a tall and lean body with few muscles.  

His hazel eyes looked at me which were behind his frameless rectangular glasses. His eyes are beautiful but… lifeless in some kind of way or tired maybe. Yet his hazel eyes intrigued me.

“I am so sorry.” He said in his raspy yet sweet voice. Sweet? Seriously!?  I have never used words like this for any guy.

“Well, your sorry won’t take the strain away from my white shirt mister.” I scolded him and narrowed my eyes. It just happens whenever I get angry, irritated, or frustrated.

“I am really-” he started but I cut him off mid-sentence, “I don’t have time for this.” I hissed and entered the elevator leaving him standing there as he looked at me apologetically.

I entered the office that is on the 21^st floor and closed the door behind me. My office is huge with sky blue color painted walls. The glass wall is behind my modern desk and chair which is in the middle of the room. A bookshelf, sofa set, tea table on the left side of the room, and bathroom door on the right side of the room.

The full glass wall gives the beautiful view of Fairfield, California which is beautiful and I love to just watch it many times.

I took out a spare shirt that I have in my office for an emergency. I went into my private bathroom which I have in my office. I removed the stained white shirt and wore a sky-blue shirt that matched my blue eyes. I tied my shoulder-length straight blonde hair in a ponytail.  

I left the bathroom and took a seat on my chair. Bring a CEO comes with many responsibilities but I love my job because that’s the only thing in my life currently that I value.

I took my formal black coat from the chair and wore it, buttoning it I took my phone from the desk before I left my office. Taking the elevator, I went to the 15^th floor where I am supposed to take the interviews.

I went into the interview room where there is only a chair in the middle of the room for each candidate that enters the room. The room is plane-white with some thoughts hanging on the wall. A set of chairs and a desk at the end of the room where the interviewer/s are supposed to sit.

“Good morning, Ms. Martinez.” Ava greeted me with a smile. Ava Thomas is one of the HR that works in Martinez’s company. She is a warm 35-years-old woman, who is almost always smiling.

“Good morning, Mrs. Thomas. Let’s settle down, I will inform Lucy to send the candidates.” I replied as I took a seat.

“Sure,” Ava said and took a seat as well beside me while I called Lucy from the telephone the sat on the desk.

“Hello, this is Lucy. How may I help you?”

“Lucy, send the candidates to please,” I said as I replied to a few emails.

“Yes, mam.” She replied and the line went dead.

After a few minutes, one by one candidate came in and gave the interview while Ava asked the questions and I observed the person. I don’t ask many questions in the interview, only a few if I want to.

I saw the next cv, it was not very impressive nor disappointing.

“Good morning, Mr. Wright. Please take the seat.” I heard Ava speak as my eyes were still on the cv.

“Um, Good morning. Thank you.” I heard and immediately looked up and was met with the same guy that bumped into me a few minutes ago in front of the elevator and spilled the coffee on my white shirt. He sat on the chair and looked at me nervously as I smirked at him.