Chapter one
The car pulled over beside the popular mall in town. Kevin Smith walked down and looked at the familiar mall.
The mall used to be a house where he and his family had lived before his parent's death. After selling it, the house has been demolished and a mall has been built.
Aside from the mall, everything about the neighborhood felt so familiar to Kevin. Well, he had lived almost fourteen years of his life in that so-called neighborhood.
He never believed he would ever be back. Being a successful CEO of a popular company named Tan and shine has given him a lot of opportunities he never knew he could get.
And he has just been moved into the town of Marlow to head the new company under Tan and shine. The Shining hope was a loan company.
Kevin didn't want to take the offer because shining hope was a new company and a decrease in his status.
But he was the only one they thought could do it. So, they doubled his salary and even offered to give him shelter, a chauffeur, and a car of his choice. Everything to make him change his mind.
His properties would be sent over the second day. And he was also given a wardrobe allowance.
In history, Kevin Smith was the second youngest CEO in town. His name and achievement were boldly written in the heart of the upcoming businessmen.
He wasn't a celebrity and no one really recognize his face, but his name had gone farther than him in all aspects.
"It feels so weird coming back here," Kevin whispered, more to himself but the chauffeur heard and sighed.
The next day was his parents death anniversary and, fortunately for him, they were buried in Marlow's cemetery.
Kevin started along the pave way, the breeze doing its job to comfort him. No matter how old he had been, he would never be able to forget his parent's tragic death.
"Everywhere had changed," he complimented, still walking.
The chauffeur followed swiftly but still gave him his space.
He stopped for a while and looked forward to the flower shop, "Do you think I should buy flowers?" He asked matins.
Matins was an employee that also got transferred with him. His specialty was driving.
Martin knew a lot about his new boss because he had always admired him, "Yes boss. I've been a while already since you've been here. I think your parent should be the first person to know you are here."
Kevin sighed and started towards the shop. A lot of flowers were displayed and he quickly thought of getting some for his new home.
There was no one in the shop, "Hello there!" Kevin called, expecting someone to come out to him.
He whirled around to walk away but a woman suddenly trotted out, "Hi," she didn't look up at him.
He turned back to her, "Can I have immortelle? And some nice combinations of flowers that I can put in my living room."
" Sure!" The woman said, " They all amount to 450usd."
Kevin dipped his hands into his pocket for his wallet, then remembered he left it in the car. He looked up at the woman, "Can I make a transfer please?"
The lady finally looked up at him, the look she gave him told him he had just been rejected.
Kevin scoffed and moved closer to Martins. He collected five hundred USD notes from him. He walked back to the woman and stretched it out.
The woman that seemed so fed up with life collected the notes and counted them. She walked away and picked some flowers.
She came back and put them on the frame that served as an obstacle between them, "Can i make transfer too?" She asked.
Kevin looked up at her as if he couldn't quite believe what he just heard, "What did you just say?"
The woman's pretty face watched him, "You proposed it and I thought you might like it."
Kevin looked to his side as if to blow the air away. He turned back to her, "Are you kidding me? You better give me my 50 USD change or I won't take it lightly with you!"
Martin squeezed his face behind him as he wonder why someone as rich as Kevin would fight fifty dollars with a florist.
"Hey! Are you trying to threaten me?" The woman fired back, getting angry at him, "You look younger. I'm sure I'm not your age mate. I must be older!"
" What?" Kevin felt like pulling her out of the shop and showing her what it takes to argue with him, "Are you kidding me? Do you know my age?"
"How old can you be? Twenty-five at most," the lady screamed.
Kevin stood still, still watching the woman. It felt like the woman was paid to fight with him. And somehow, it was annoying to him.
"Hey, bring out your National ID card. I'm sure you are still a teenager. I may look younger but I'm older," she said.
That's it! Kevin had had enough. He pulled out his National ID from his left pocket. He stretched it out for the woman to see.
"See!" Kevin yelled at her, "I'm thirty."
The woman's eyes widen, "You are Kevin smith?"
Kevin raised a confused brow, "So?"
"OMG!" She gasped and ran in.
"Hey!" Kevin called behind her, "Come back here! Show me your ID!" He rattled off, the angry side of him revealing.
He doesn't believe a woman would do him this way. She had him show her his ID but she didn't show him hers.
He believed that he was definitely older. Though, that did not affect him in any way.
Kevin turned to Martin," Did you see what she just did?"
Martin moved to pack the flowers, " We have to go. The agency will be waiting for us already."
" Right," he sighed before he walked away.
They drove into the branch office of Tan and shine.
A man walked before Kevin would get down from his car. He walked to him, "I will show you to your house. Just follow my car," he said and took a car parked opposite Kevin's car.
They arrived at a duplex.
Martin smiled at Steven, "This is a nice house."
Steven looked back at Kevin with a satisfied look, "How do you see this place?"
Kevin held his fingers to his chin as he thought about it, "It's nice but I don't like the color and the decorations and everything."
Steven's smile curled into a dark frown at his distaste, " We can change the color and everything to your taste."
Kevin turned to look at him, " I want another house!" He said with a voice that leave no room for questions.
Steven grunted, "Alright sir."
They arrived at the second house an hour time.
"Do you like this one?" Steven shook slightly beside him.
Kevin shook his head slightly as if he was born to frustrate Steven, "I don't like the way the rooms are placed. I like something unique. So, no!"
They arrived at the third house when it was late into the night. As they walk into the house, Steven prayed that Kevin should like it.
Kevin stopped briefly before the door and looked back at Steven, "I don't like the smell coming from this house, let's go elsewhere."
By the time they arrived at the fourth house, Steven and Martin's looked ragged and tired. Only Kevin felt lively.
He took a few steps and turned around to look at Steven, "Yes, I like this!"
Steven bowed slightly, "I'm so glad you love it," he breathed out like someone who had gone on a marathon.
Kevin walked closer to Steven. He moved his mouth to his ear, "Are you tired?"
Steven comported himself and bowed, " No sir, I'm not."
Kevin smiled, "Better," he said and looked back at the marble staircase, " Shining hope, here I come!"