Clydesdale International Hotel, was the best of best Hotels in America and Subcontinent of Asia. Clydesdale was built and modernized in a classic way according to the taste of the rich.
And, Richardson's Imperial Companies at a time, contributed and owned several stocks related to the Hotel and thus, Richard had the power at his disposal to do and undo.
Clydesdale Hotel was famous for their tasty meals, as well as their rich services but the downturn of every luxury was its high costs.
A ticket alone costs millions of dollars, yet, people, mostly billionaires, still troop in and out in huge numbers despite the extravagant bills and high accommodation fees.
Nevertheless, Clydesdale Hotel remained the only spot which had become Richard Lieu's favorite to clear his head off the strenuous activities of life.
Today, Richard jumbled in his thoughts was headed to the Presidential Suite which was exclusively reserved for him as always.
His thinking wasn't straight.
Richard was not even aware of the pretty ladies who rushed behind him, flocking their buttocks in a tempting manner. Their excited eyes got sullen when they realized that he wasn't even paying attention to them.
And one by one, they decreased their tempo, biting their nails angrily.
Suddenly as Richard was about to take the elevator, he heard a familiar voice calling out to him. He stopped amidst track, his sharp eyes dancing in excitement as he caught a glimpse of a tall, familiar figure approaching towards him.
"Richard the Richy!" The tall man exclaimed happily, warming up Richard's large hands in a tight handshake.
Delightedly, Richard caressed the man's big hands, his cold expression faded a little, leaving a tight grin across his face.
"Linton! What a pleasant surprise!" Richard exclaimed.
Linton Anderson was Richard's tight childhood buddy.
Linton was also a very wealthy man, who had millions of assets and had lived in wealth all through his existence.
Just like Richard, Linton possessed an egocentric character - always caring about himself and nothing, but the only difference between the two men was that, Linton Anderson was a chronic womanizer while Richard Lieu wasn't.
This slight difference created a striking variation in the two personalities.
By now, they had reached the Presidential suite and the two men walked in, slowly but steadily, with different thoughts in their mind.
Richard's sanity still consisted of a little bit of Vanessa's, while Linton's mind was full of jumbled questions which needed urgent answers.
Richard reached out to the bar, bringing out a red wine and helping himself to some. He poured some wine into a goblet, handing it to his friend, but Linton instantly declined it.
Richard's face plastered with a deep frown as he stared longer at his friend.
"I know how much you love red wine." He said, his gaze meeting Linton's eye. "Don't tell me that you came here to pick a fight with me." Sounding sarcastic as ever.
Linton stared at Richard, a look of anxiety spreading all over his face.
"Thank God you know I came to fight!" He chuckled lightly and the two men burst out in hearty laughter.
The tensed air around them relaxed, and Linton instantly knew it was the right time to strike.
He lowered his voice as he spoke trying to suppress his emotion,"What happened at the Billionaire's Club today? You and I know you're not so stupid to partner unnecessarily and we don't waste money on mushrooms. So, what was your motive?"
Richard smiled, trying hard on purpose to keep his thoughts together, away from the prying eyes of his childhood friend "Nothing." He answered in a lackadaisical manner, pouring more wine into his goblet and enjoying the moment.
Linton stood up, flared, as he stared daggers at Richard. "What do you mean? Do you realize that you will be losing millions of dollars just in one day?" He raked his hands through his disheveled head and squatted before Richard. "Tell me, what will Morgan say if he sees this making headlines tomorrow? Don't you see, this will be an opportunity for him to strike..."
"Enough!" Richard shouted, cutting Linton short. He was sick of Linton's questions.
"You of all people know that you have no right to include my brother in this!" He fired back, his voice cold and piercing. He lowered his head, trying to take a drink from the goblet, obviously trying to hide his face away from Linton, while he spoke, "We are enemies! If you keep sides with my brother, you are also my enemy!"
Richard reached for his phone, unlocking it and a photo appeared on the screen.
It was a beautiful portrait of a very young lady.
Immediately Richard saw the photo, his anger subsided
It was just as if the lady's photo was a magical dosage, meant to relieve him of his anger.
His trembling fingers unconsciously traced her dark curly hair, caressing her bright red lips and it gave him complete warmth and intense joy.
"You may have a peep," he said, handing his phone over to Linton.
Linton hesitated for a while, collected the phone and his eyes fell on the lady in the photo - she was fast asleep, her black hair running over her smooth face. Linton observed her delicate figure, while she slept and he could feel her weariness by the dark lines which were visible below her eyes.
"What is this for?" He asked, looking somewhat puzzled.
Richard eyed his friend, a faint smile curling on his thin lips, revealing a handsome face behind the cold expression which he always wore.
"Yes? You wanted to know why I made such an irrational choice? There you go! She's the reason behind my move. It was all because of her. Isn't she beautiful?" He asked, a vain smile crossing his face.
Linton stared at the photo and back to Richard and back to the photo again.
Of course, he couldn't deny the fact that the girl in the photo was a beauty to behold, but how does she correlate with their discussion?
"Who is she?" Linton was forced to ask.
Richard didn't waste any more time, he quickly replied, "She is Vanessa Higgins."
Linton heard the name as it left Richard's mouth. He tightened his eyes, trying to recollect some few things again.
He opened opened them, blinking twice, a look of disgust and pure contempt filling his face. "Isn't she the same Vanessa Higgins? The same lady you once told me about? I mean, the wretched and careless drunkard who destroyed your vehicle some time ago? Or is there still another Vanessa Higgins?"
Lintin waited for a response and haven gotten any, he already guessed she was still the same Vanessa Higgins.
At this realization, Linton'a anger vanished, and was replaced with curiosity and astonishment. "Haven't you gotten rid of her yet?"
Richard's eyes tightened. He knew what he was about to tell his friend might scare him but then, he had no choice.
Struggling with his emotions, he finally spoke, "I'm not getting rid of her anymore, in fact, She is already my girlfriend..."
"G -girl W-what?" The words almost strangled Linton. "No man! Oh! Rich, you can't pull that stunt on me. I caught you already!" He said, laughing hysterically.
"I love her." Richard answered after so many thoughts.
Silence reigned between the two friends…
"What?" Linton exclaimed again, unable to believe his ears. "Richard, she's just a stranger you met overnight! For goodness sake, your life is getting more complicated than ever! What if she was sent by Morgan or from the kingdom as a spy?" Linton asked, looking worried as ever.
Richard sat up, staring at Linton in the eye, a flicker of passion passing through the corners of those dreamy blue eyes of his.
"Vanessa isn't that kind of person, Linton. She is very honest with me.Although, we just met, but anytime I'm around her, it feels as if I've known her for years. God knows how!" Richard said, trying to assure Linton that Vanessa was a good woman, and not the evil he's thinking her to be.
"But..."
"No buts!" Richard interjected, waving his hands in the air, in a bid to discuss another topic because he was already getting tired of the conversation.
"What can lovely gifts can I get for my girlfriend? You know first time gifts!" He winked at Linton, who seemed to be recovering slowly from the shock.
"Gifts? What about wristwatches, gold necklace?"
"No. It won't work." Richard said, discarding the idea immediately as it came. "Vanessa is a very simple lady."
"Clothes? Shoes?" Linton asked again.
Richard thought for a while,then discarded the idea again. "Why are you behaving so cold?" He asked Linton with an unappreciative look on his face. "You own ladies. You are every woman's choice and you have more than a dozen girlfriends! Why are you taking time to respond!" He asked impatiently.
Linton faced his friend, his brain in deep thoughts. His eyes sparkled while he spoke again, "Flowers!" He said.
"Flowers!" Linton repeated again, his mind flickering to a particular scene, when he gifted his girlfriend, Angelina, an irresistible, nice watering bouquet of flowers and how she spent the rest of the day, scenting and smelling until the scents got her in his bed and they made love all day.
Lintin chuckled, remembering how sweet Angelina tasted.
"Get her flowers!" He said, with a hint of mischief playing at the corners of his eyes. "Leave everything to me, I'll get you a nice watering flower that Vanessa can't help but drool all day, but who knows...." He stared at Richard, while he lowered his voice to a whisper. "Something delicious might pop up!"
Richard got the wicked glint in Linton's eyes and couldn't help but laugh out loud. "I'll be announcing Vanessa as my official girlfriend tomorrow. Get the flowers, it will be useful, not for that naughty purpose on your head." A grin appearing across his handsome face.
Linton immediately remembered something. "Ehm. Won't you call your sweetheart now or aren't you missing her?" Linton asked mischievously, teasing his friend.
Richard grabbed his phone and started to text something, he immediately erased all the written texts, staring at the blank space before him.
"No. Not now. Not now! I want her to desperately miss me that when she sees me, she will hang on to me and never let go of me." he said, staring at space while fiddling with the phone in his hands, amusement and excitement playing on his face.
Linton could only gasp in bewilderment.
He had been with Richard Lieu for the past two centuries after their reincarnation. Although, they seem to belong to the same "circle", but never had he for once, experience the love that was radiating all over his friend's face, not even with Molly - his fiancée.
" just pray she's not a spy or an ally of Morgan, else,this battle we've been fighting for, for ten decades will just crash…"
"Stop being negative, man!" Richard snapped, cutting Linton short. He was obviously reading Linton's mind word - for - word and he could tell that his friend was afraid. "It's either I WIN OR I DIE. The kingdom is still in my hands and I'm pretty sure I will kill Morgan first, before he does ." He said, shaking the red liquid in the goblet.
"I can't imagine you so much believe in this Vanessa. It's strange! You haven't gotten this feeling for Molly before. Maybe you're love sick."
"Fu*ck Molly!" Richard cursed, deep frown caressing his face as he spitted the stressed words out. "I never loved Molly. It was just to recheck the prophecy. As for now, I'm in love with Vanessa and only Vanessa Higgins." He answered with a srict tone of finality.
"So, what will you do now?" Linton asked, confused as ever.
Richard stared at his friend, the amusement releasing into a wicked smirk. "I'll be going back first thing tomorrow. I need to see Vanessa again."
"WHAT? But you just spent just two days here. Is it to such an extent as this?" Linton gulped, his saliva burning his throat.
"So get ready. You'll be taking over the company's activities as from tomorrow morning. My heart aches." Richard Said , holding his left hand to his chest. "I can't stop thinking about her."
"The ball is in your court then. If you need help, I might help you investigate her." Linton answered, resigning to his fate.
'So he is leaving these companies behind because of a strange woman? Who is this woman?' He thought. 'Maybe, I'll go do some investigations myself. I must find out for myself about the hidden identity of this mysterious woman!' Linton thought, finishing up with the drink in his hand, as he faked smiles with his friend.
_____________
Meanwhile,a young woman could be seen in distress. Her eyes swollen as torrent of tears cascaded down her cheeks leaving her helpless. Her dark hair was in disarray,scattered all over her face. She was not only crying but was also in pains - fretting and sniffling uncontrollably, like someone who had been hurt from the abyss of emotions.
Suddenly,a woman walked up to the crying woman who sat helplessly on the ground. She was beautiful, dressed in royal regalia and an archaic crown was sitting honorably on her head. Many servants crowded behind her,holding the helm of her dress and fanning her with a hand fan - made from human bones. Her thin eyes sparkled with emotions when she beheld the crying lady.
"What brings you to the palace,Molly." Her smooth voice cried out.
The crying lady held her head up when she realized that the woman who she came for had finally arrived. She stood up,dusting her dress which had been soiled with tears and running towards the Queen. She threw herself at the Queen's feet,her hot tears streaming down her beautiful face as she spoke,
"Your..your Majesty. It is Ri.. Richard." She said amidst sobs.
The Queen's face tightened. She was not expecting her reply after all,the woman here was her son fiancée. Her fingers trembled,while she stooped, stroking Molly's pale skin. "What happened to my son?"
Molly paused for a while,looking into the Queen's eyes,her swollen eyed seeking for mercy. She opened her mouth to speak,but the words seemed to be hanging in her throat. "Mother.." She eventually said,after so much effort in saying out the sentence. "I don't think this can work between I and Richard anymore." Tears strolled down her cheeks, her voice laden with intense pain and guilt.
Molly Lanes was the fiancé to Richard Lieu. The Lanes were a very wealthy family in the clan of the vampires. Rumors had it that they were "kings" ruling in the ancient times,before royalty was handed over to the Lieu's. The two families needed 'the fame' and thus, they had a marriage contract, binding their children together - Richard and Molly.
Not that the Lieu's were poor,but they believed that with the help of the Lanes by their side,the Vampire Kingdom will be a strong one and this will only happen by the successful marriage of Lord Richard Lieu and Molly Lanes.
Richard's mother - Queen Vera, being a smart woman already knew how to go about this things through her reliance and daily check on the prophesy. That was why,she was trying hard to manipulate her son's soul and take him off from the land of the living into the vampire kingdom.
Interestingly enough,their wedding is scheduled to take place soon - the D-day of the blood moon.
Queen Vera froze to the spot,her calm face slowly becoming dark and replaced with quick fury. She stared at Molly and she could see the pain which this desperate woman was passing through all because of her son. "Molly." She called out,trying to remain calm. "You just don't have to accuse your soon to be husband like that! What will the palace say when news fly around that the Princess is trying to terminate her marriage to the soon to be Lord of the throne?" She rhetorically asked. "What did my son do to you that will you accrue such disdainful claims against the people of Zu-Vendis?"
"Your Majesty.." Molly started off. "You are meek and just,but I can never misuse your kindness. Richard seem to loose interest in me during the recent times. I tried everything possible in order for me to win his love but it's impossible. I know am a failure..."
"Molly!" Queen Vera's voice thundered like thunder breaking through glass. "You are and will always be the kingdom's choice. I know what I'm doing and I'm forever right. Now is not the time to wail but for action. Only the weak cry."
"If you wish to win the love of my son, you have to jerk the bull by it's horn. Have the heart of a QUEEN."
"Listen, I'll send you back to the world and I want you to take full advantage of my son. Manipulate him whenever you have the chance and finally, lure him into your bed. There is no time to waste." She said,commanding Molly Lanes.
She stretched forth her two hands and laid it before Molly,uttering few prayers. "You're the woman in the prophesy. With you,I believe I can get my two sons off to where they are originally from which is here. Go,and be the BRAVE WOMAN I WANT YOU TO BECOME."