11

Trent Matthews was having a really tough year.

He had been in an unconventional marriage, but witnessing his wife suffer from cancer and finally lose the battle after six months had been a sad experience. It had brought them closer, but it was also too late and he still had to live with that regret.

His career had also survived many ups and downs. Fortunately, all the public relations had paid off. The board voted and decided to have Trent assume the role of president of the company in addition to being CEO. Since his father, the founder, had retired three years ago when Trent was 25, he

faced numerous battles maintaining the position at the top of the corporation. He now had full decision-making power over the conglomerate's many subsidiaries, a role he would have had to share if someone else had been elected president in his place.

With the professional side of his life well in place, Trent believed it was time to focus on his personal life. He called his bodyguard Max into the offi